Pacifica April 2016

DayTripping: Shooting targets and meatball subs

PACIFICA APRIL 2016 • Vol.1 • No.8

DIRECTORY

SUMMER CAMPS!

TONS OF FUN OPTIONS. TAKE A LOOK.

AGAINST THE TIDE

SWEET TREATS INSPIRED BAKER CREATES GORGEOUS GOODIES AND THEY’RE NOT FOR SALE ... YET

BATTER UP! LOCAL BATTING CAGE IS A HOT SPOT FOR BASEBALL ...

AND JUST HANGING OUT

E X P E R I E N C E

M A K E S

T H E

D I F F E R E N C E

SOLD

PENDING

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PACIFICA

Contents

APRIL 2016

Features

Departments

10 She takes the cake

CoastalGarden

Pacifican’s sweet hobby is tasty treat for family, friends. BY CAT CUTILLO

14 Water just right

Swim club teaches skills necessary for life on the coast

BY VANITHA SANKARAN

18 Batter Up!

Pacifica Cages is place to work on game and just hang out.

BY JOHN MURPHY

30 In his own words

Q&A | Lindstrom’s novel connects with young adults. BY VANITHA SANKARAN

Create a winter garden ritual. 17

DayTripper

Archery range and Italian hoagies. 34

CoastalCanine

Buffy the Peekapoo. 36

Publisher’s Note 4 Flashback 6 Upcoming 8 Real Estate 38 ON THE COVER

Pacifican Wendy Gee shows off some of her goodies.

Cover photo by Cat Cutillo

CAT CUTILLO

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PACIFICA

Publisher’s Note

APRIL 2016

Backyard discovery may save neighbor’s pets

W

e bought our 13-year-old son a bow and arrow set for his birthday last year — and so far no puncture wounds to any family members or pets. I realize this is a pretty low bar, but when teenagers and potentially lethal weapons are involved, you need to put things in perspective.

What we do have in our backyard is a stack of rotting straw bales and an old painting of mine on which I spray-painted a target. It was a lousy painting anyway. For a few months, this sufficed. Then, bored with a 20-foot target, my young archer started backing up to the deck and then eventually across the yard to make his shots more challenging. That’s when the neighbors start putting away their bichon frise and I start looking around for better places for my son to shoot.

Enter the San Francisco Archer center, one of the most refreshing backyard discoveries I’ve made in a long time. Not only is the facility five minutes from our house, it’s inexpensive, well run by the friendliest volunteers you can imagine, and located in one of the most beautiful spots on the Peninsula. It’s impeccably clean and organized, and there is freedom to wander and discover the parklike facility on your own.

If you’re thinking it would be filled with hard-core hunters in camo clothing or Renaissance Fair fans channeling their inner Legolas, you’d only be half right. The other half are family guys looking for an activity to do with their kids and hoping to avoid lawsuits from their neighbors.

After one visit, we’re itching to return. I may even get to reclaim the precious real estate taken up by our backyard range and not have to shout “Cease fire!” to get to the garage.

SUBSCRIBE TO PACIFICA! If you’d rather have a copy arrive in your mail than pick one up around town, you can now subscribe. Just go to pacificamagazine.com and click subscribe.

A 12-issue subscription is just $25.

OOPS! The photograph of the band The Dirty Heat, which ran in “Upcoming” in the March edition, should have been credited to Nick Radcliffe. We got the photo from the band’s publicist, who didn’t tell us who deserved the credit. Sorry, Nick.

The archery center is featured in our Day Tripper section this month.

The nonprofit is open every day of the year and hosts special events.

PUBLISHER Bill Murray bill@pacificamagazine.com EDITOR Clay Lambert clay@pacificamagazine.com

Comments, critiques or contributions?

We’d love to publish your letters and photos. Send to our editor Clay Lambert. clay@pacificamagazine.com

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WRITERS Vanitha Sankaran Clay Lambert Cat Cutillo John Murphy

2016

COPY EDITOR Julie Gerth

BUSINESS OFFICE Barbara Anderson

PHOTOGRAPHER Cat Cutillo

CIRCULATION Lynn Altwer circ@pacificamagazine.com

ADVERTISING SALES Linda Pettengill Randie Marlow Kathy Schramm Sally McGee

DESIGN Bill Murray CONTRIBUTOR Paul Slavin

BILL MURRAY Publisher bill@pacificamagazine.com

CONTACT US (650) 726-4424 www.pacificamagazine.com SEND LETTERS AND PHOTOS Your contributions are welcome. Please send photos and letters for consideration to clay@pacificamagazine.com. ©2016, Pacifica Magazine Subscriptions are $25/year.

Email circ@pacificamagazine.com

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Flashback A reminder of the schooner James Rolph

M

ost Pacificans have noted at one time or another the large, old-fashioned ship’s anchor mounted along the Sharp Park seawall, just south of the fishing pier. It stands upright, some six feet tall. It’s badly decomposed and at its base is a small, engraved, bronze plaque embedded in the ground.

It reads: ANCHOR OF THE BRIG ROLPH A FOUR-MASTED SAILING VESSEL SUNK OFF POINT SAN PEDRO IN 1910 ANCHOR RAISED BY THE SEA LIONS CLUB IN 1963 AND DONATED TO THE CITY OF PACIFICA WEIGHT 2,000 POUNDS The four-masted schooner James Rolph (with all respect to the Sea Lions Swim Club, a brig is a two-masted vessel) sailed from San Francisco on Aug. 2, 1910, bound for the Hawaiian Islands.

Captain Andrew Olsen, a veteran mariner and master of the James Rolph for nine years, had on board his wife and a crew of eight. He sailed south, down the fog-shrouded coast. He misjudged his position and struck the rocks off Pedro Point at 10 p.m. that night.

There was no loss of life, but the vessel was doomed. Mrs. Olsen gave this lucid account to the San Francisco Chronicle: “The schooner was carried in through a thick fog by a strong current. There being hardly any wind, we could not tack about when the rocks loomed up. The vessel worked right among a nest of rocks and then seemed to settle on one immense pinnacle, which punctured the hull. The hold filled rapidly and the cargo swashed about as the vessel rolled with the swell.”

Efforts to haul the stranded schooner off with a

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Redstack tug the following day were unsuccessful.

By an amazing coincidence, the James Rolph sank right on top of an earlier wreck. The British four-masted barque Drumburton had sailed from San Francisco on Sep. 3, 1904, and, in circumstances eerily similar to the ill-fated schooner, struck the very same rocks. Pedro Point was a dangerous place in those longgone years before radar and global-positioning.

— Paul Slavin is president of the Pacifica Historical Society

Want to know more? Visit pacificahistory.org to learn more about the Pacifica Historical Society and programs at the Little Brown Church. Go to a board meeting. They are at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month at the Little Brown Church museum, 1850 Francisco Blvd.

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oks o B s ’ y e Flor Florey’s Books invites you to attend our Monthly Events You can get information on each event, as it approaches, on our sites: www.floreysbooks.blogspot.com www.facebook.com/FloreysBookCo

Florey’s provides FREE WI-FI internet access!

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C O N T R I B U T E YO U R E V E N T

Upcoming

Tour the castle

Do you have an event that might be a good addition to our Upcoming page? Email editor Clay@pacificamagazine.com for consideration.

~

What: Spend a lively hour and a half with Bridget Oates, author of “Sam’s Castle,” as she leads you on an exclusive tour of one of Pacifica’s great landmarks. Bring your camera: You’ll want to capture an only-on-the-coast adventure with spectacular views.

When: Noon to 2 p.m. or 3 to 5 p.m., April 9.

Where: 900 Mirador Terrace, Pacifica.

How much: $35 available at http:// www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/819177#sthash.oD9UvQ4V.dpuf More info: sammazzafoundation.org

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~ Kiss Me Kate What: Terra Nova High School drama students present “Kiss Me Kate,” Cole Porter’s answer to “Oklahoma!” The memorable music is so important that last year the 1949 original cast recording was inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. Give it 65 years and the TN musical might win similar accolades.

When: March 17-26.

Where: 1450 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica.

More info: Check juhsd.net/tnhs for prices and other details.

~ Maggie the

Magnolia

What: What if you were a small tree, taken from your friends at the nursery into a new environment? What would it take to help you flourish in your new home? These are the questions children’s author Kathy Wall asks her young readers to ponder in a picture book based on a true story.

When: 2 to 4 p.m., March 26.

Where: Florey’s Book Co., 2120 Palmetto Ave., Pacifica.

How much: Free.

More info: floreysbooks.blogspot.com.

~ Got the blues?

What: Bay Area blues trio, the Mighty Mississippi, chugs into A Grape in the Fog on April 2. Take a musical trip from the Delta up the Mississippi River to Chicago with a band that is true to the music. “Mighty Mississippi is the real acoustic deal,” says the Boston Blues Society. See and hear for yourself.

When: 7 to 10 p.m., April 2.

Where: A Grape in the Fog, 400 Old County Road, Pacifica.

How much: No cover, but you must be over 21.

More info: agitf.com.

~ Listen to a rainbow

~ Celebrate Mother Earth

What: Pacifica’s second annual Rainbow Fest, a children’s music and art festival, is a family fun day sponsored by Pacifica Co-op Nursery. There will be activity booths, a raffle, food and drink and music by Charity and the JAMband.

When: 12 to 4 p.m., April 16.

Where: Mildred Owen Concert Hall, 1220 Linda Mar Blvd., Pacifica.

How much: Children are $5, adults, $10. Available online at https://rainbowfest.yapsody.com/ event/book/24609/141800#sthash.q674S0hu.dpuf More info: pacificacoop.org.

What: Earth Day is cause for celebration and contemplation the world over, but nowhere is it more important than Pacifica. It starts with a morning of volunteering on April 23. There are opportunities from Tunitas Creek in the south to Mussel Rock in the north. Volunteers will pick up trash, restore habitat and more. Afterward, stay for Pacifica’s famous Eco Fest, which opens with a drum line this year.

When: 9 to 11 a.m. work time, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eco Fest, April 23.

Where: Eco Fest is at Linda Mar Beach. Check website for details on cleanup locations.

How much: Free.

More info: pacificabeachcoalition.org.

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HMB Feb 2016XX_Layout 2 1/22/2016 3:00 PM Page 1

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Againstthetide

PACIFICAN’S SWEET HOBBY IS TASTY TREAT FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS

SHE TAKES THE

A

nyone who has had the good fortune of crossing Wendy Gee’s path in Pacifica will quickly learn she leaves a sweet impression.

Quite literally.

This neighborhood cake queen is baking the world a better place.

She creates dessert tables out of a magazine spread for the playground birthday bashes, brings treats to her children’s school each month, handing out goodies to everyone from the teachers to the crossing guards, and runs a tray of cupcakes down to the Pacifica firefighters on Valentine’s Day. If there is any complaint it is that her treats are so pretty you almost don’t want to eat them. Almost.

Nicknamed Betty Crocker by her family when she was just a child, Gee’s passion for baking traces way back.

“I baked a lot as a child on my own,” says Gee. She recalls making her first batch of sugar cookies by herself at just 9 years old. “My family would get together every Sunday for dinner so I would almost always make a little treat.”

She grew up the second youngest of seven children in , Utah, a city about 45 minutes

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STORY BY CAT CUTILLO

CAKE

“I HAVE A HARD TIME SITTING STILL. I THINK THAT IT IS GOOD FOR ME TO HAVE A FEW EXTRA BALLS UP IN THE AIR.” — WENDY GEE, MOTHER OF 3 AND CAKE-BAKING EXPERT

CAT CUTILLO

Wendy Gee’s children Madeleine (8), Davis (2) and Austin (5) are the lucky taste-testers of most of Gee’s sweet creations.

CAT CUTILLO

WENDY GEE

SAMANTHA BERG

outside of Salt Lake City. Early on, she learned the secret ingredient to baking.

“It made people happy. That’s where a lot of my passion still comes from, is that it makes people happy,” says Gee. Now living in Pacifica with her husband and three children, Gee says her passion for baking only increased when her oldest child, Madeleine, was born eight years ago. “That’s when I became a stay-at-home mom,” she said. “It’s not that I had more time on my hands, it’s just that I was in my house more.”

Ironically, she worked as a dental assistant for many years. After leaving the workforce, she started learning how to make cakes from scratch and understanding how ingredients work together.

“There is a science to it,” she says. “There are substitutes you can do, like instead of adding water you can substitute buttermilk. But you have to keep the proportions the same, the liquids and the fats.” She is constantly reading online recipes and learning new

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techniques to gather ideas.

“I will puree fresh berries and, instead of just adding milk, I will add fresh berries and milk, and it will make this really yummy butter cream. Or fold in chopped up Oreos to make cookies and cream frosting,” says Gee. She finds reason to bake for people in her community every other day. It could be a teacher’s birthday, a friend’s baby shower or a gathering at her church. Gee never has to look far for inspiration.

“Pacifica is such a great community. It has a small town beach feel to it,” she says. “I feel like people are more involved with each other.”

Juggling three kids ages 8, 5 and 2, she is clearly good at multitasking, but she says baking calms her. “I have a hard time sitting still. I think that it is good for me to have a few extra balls up in the air,” she says.

And she’s learned some tricks of the trade.

“I don’t do everything at one time,” she says.

“There are things that you can freeze. Cake actually

SAMANTHA BERG

Neighbor and photographer Samantha Berg worked with Gee on several food photography shoots to permanently capture her food art before it got devoured. stomachs. People needed to see this, not just eat it. It was a tragedy to me. It needed to be documented permanently in some way,” says Berg, who eventually worked with Gee to carry out several food photography shoots.

Some of Gee’s most underdocumented events remain her most memorable. Take her daughter’s “Chef ” birthday party, to which children wore homemade chef hats, decorated their own personal mini-cakes with candy and frosting, and drew pictures on sugar cookies with edible markers. It will come as no surprise that her children start planning their birthday cakes 11 months early.

As for the future, Gee says she’d eventually like to turn it into a business, but right now she is content spreading the happiness, one cupcake at a time.

And perhaps the sweetest part is that it’s starting to come full circle for Gee. Her oldest daughter is now the age she was when she first began baking.

“It’s fun to see her get excited about it. She’s getting really into it. She was dipping pretzel rods the other day and she literally did a better job than most adults would do,” she says.

And, for Gee, passing on this passion is the icing on the cake. PACIFICA

CAT CUTILLO

tastes better after it’s been frozen,” says Gee, explaining that fruit gets mushy after being in the freezer because the cells freeze and burst, whereas cake gets more tender and dense.

Neighbor and friend Samantha Berg remembers meeting Gee at the local playground.

“We were both very pregnant at the playground and we were due a couple of weeks apart from each other. It was just an instant conversation starter,” recalls Berg. Gee soon found out Berg had a gluten allergy and said she had a great recipe for gluten-free cupcakes. The next time they saw each other Gee had a surprise.

“She handed me this cupcake and I had to take a picture of it and send it to my husband. It looked gorgeous and had this beautiful rose on top,” says Berg.

“She can do a giant wedding cake or carshaped cookies for a 2-year-old’s birthday party and she’ll never fail to impress.

She gives it all the same level of love and attention.” Berg, a photographer, urged Gee to let her photograph some of her creations.

“When I saw her talent and creativity I knew it needed to be photographed properly. This beautiful stuff shouldn’t just be gobbled up and sitting in people’s

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“WE OFFER THIS SWIMMING PROGRAM OUT OF A LOVE FOR THE SPORT, BUT KIDS (IN PACIFICA) NEED TO BE STRONG SWIMMERS.” — VICKI RUSSO, ASSISTANT COACH FOR THE PACIFICA SEA LIONS

WATER JUST RIGHT FOR

SEA LIONS

By Vanitha Sankaran Photos by Cat Cutillo

Above, the Sea Lions get set to race at the Brink Swimming Pool in Pacifica.

Right, the large pool hosts club, school and public swimming events.

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F

or many Pacifica residents, a great day means warm weather, a picnic at the beach and jumping into the water to surf, kayak, or just play. But as any Coastside dweller knows, you need good swimming skills before you can truly enjoy ocean sports.

That’s where the Pacifica Sea Lions Aquatics Club comes in.

“We offer this swimming program out of a love for the sport,” says Vicki Russo, assistant coach for the swimming program, “but kids (in Pacifica) need to be strong swimmers.”

It’s a message that resonates with families both in Pacifica, and around the wider Bay Area.

The leading cause of accidental death in children 5 and younger is drowning. “We do save lives,” Russo says of the club. “Parents tend to be very invested in seeing their kids succeed here.”

The foundation of the aquatics club dates back to 1962, with practices held four times a week for a fee of $1.75 per month. Workouts

soon became daily, and, in 1974, the city passed Proposition C to help build an indoor pool at Oceana High School. The Jefferson Union School District provided 65 percent of the funds needed and the city provided the rest. Oceana Pool formally opened on June 19, 1978.

More recently, the pool went through substantial renovation and was renamed the Jean E. Brink Swimming Pool after the master swimmer who has been using the pool since its opening. The current pool is a 10-lane, 25-yard facility that is open year-round and kept at 82 degrees. Water depth ranges from 3 feet to 12 feet, and the pool offers both a 1-meter and a 3-meter diving board. Dressing rooms and lockers are provided, but swimmers must bring their own locks and towels.

The club strives to teach the Sea Lions four basic strokes — breast, back, fly and freestyle — as well as racing turns and dives. The goal is to build strong swimmers through good aerobic and anaerobic workouts, and give those swimmers opportunities to compete. Current Head Coach Magda Carranza brings her own experience from when she was a young swimmer to the kids she coaches today.

MORE ON THE BRINK SWIMMING POOL The Brink Swimming Pool is open to people of all ages. Outside of the Sea Lions, the city Parks and Recreation Department offers a number of programs targeted at swimmers of all ages. Seniors often use the pool for help managing long-term disabilities, and parents bring their newborns in with them to learn water safety. The city also offers programs in lifeguarding, as well as opportunities for lap and recreational swims, water aerobics, and water polo. The Wet and Wild Water Camp is offered during the summer and consists of pool lessons, games and races, as well as the chance to head out to the beach.

More details can be found at: http:// www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/rec_department/ aquatics/default.asp APRIL

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Sea Lions dive into Brink Pool at one of their events.

“Water soothes you,” she says, “and once you learn those four strokes, you can keep your body young for life.”

Carranza emphasizes that swimming in general is healthy because it’s a low-impact sport. Children can learn to swim at a young age and use that endurance in their other sports and activities. The Sea Lions club accepts kids as young as 5 in its lessons. Once kids can swim a half lap, they are eligible to join the team and can stay on until they are 18. The best-case scenario, she explains, is for a young child to take lessons, join the swim team and compete, and hopefully embrace swimming as a long-term sport. Many kids stay until they age out, or go on to join the adult swim team.

The Sea Lions is a popular and affordable swim team, and word of mouth travels. The majority of the kids on the swim team come from Pacifica, but some drive from Millbrae, Daly City, San Francisco and even the East Bay. Says Recreation Coordinator Anthony Schriver, “Our program creates endurance and camaraderie as well as a sense of team.

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We teach kids how to be responsible and have discipline. Who wouldn’t want to be a Sea Lion?”

The kids seem to agree as laughter echoes across the pool just before a pair of girls dive into the water and are cheered on.

Part of the Sea Lions’ success, Schriver believes, is due to the different tools the coaches use to achieve their goals faster. “All you need to swim is a suit and some goggles,” he says, but one of the coaches occasionally brings in an underwater camera to show kids how they are actually swimming and what they can do better. What the coaches are doing seems to be working. The Sea Lions club has had swimmers go on to compete in the Junior Olympics, the Far Western and National Championships, and even the Olympic trials.

It comes back to the love of the sport, as Carranza says.

“We have children of surfers who come to learn skills so they can join their parents,” she said. “It’s a gift to know they’ll have the ability to have fun and be safe in the ocean.” PACIFICA

BE A SEA LION The Pacifica Sea Lions swim team holds tryouts during the last week of every month. Individuals may be placed on the competition or precompetition team, with practices held from 4 to 6:15 p.m., Monday through Friday, for the competition team, and from 6:15 to 7 p.m., Monday through Thursday, for the pre-competition team.

The cost to join runs from $62 to $72 a month, plus a $5 initial sign-up fee. All team swimmers must also join USA Swimming, which costs $73 per year.

To learn more about tryout times and program details, contact the Aquatics Recreation Coordinator Anthony Schriver, at (650) 738-7461.

CoastalGarden

Enjoy the rain!

ADVICE TO GROW BY

I

n the rainy season, our home gardening activities shift. We are focusing on rainwater collection and use, rainwater redirection and erosion control, and protecting our home foundations.

Ann Gahagen, a University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties, shares some simple and inexpensive tools she’s using to accomplish alternative rainwater management.

“Last year, our family started diverting rainwater from downspouts using a variety of simple systems that redirect the water to 17-gallon buckets, the landscape or a drainage system,” Gahagen said. “From the buckets, we dip and pour the water using a onegallon pail to distribute the water to front- and backyard trees and plants. The buckets fill with about a quarter-inch or less of rainfall. If more, I don rain gear and distribute the water so that the buckets can refill. It’s great exercise!”

She shares four photos of the various ways she redirects water from her downspouts. The first photo shows one downspout draining into an existing French drain pipe. The second photo demonstrates the use of a short plastic extension, which redirects rainwater away from her home’s foundation to open landscape,Ann has added a metal downspout extender to direct water to some of her shrubs. And in the last photo, rainwater is collected in a 17-gallon bucket.

These are all great ways to use water wisely.

These tips are provided by the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of San Mateo and San Francisco Counties.

CONSULT A MASTER If you have a gardening question or problem, contact the University of California Master Gardener HelpLine, which is staffed

by UC-certified master gardeners who are ready and able to provide research-based home horticulture advice. The HelpLine is generally open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. Send your question and information, along with photos, to: mgsmsf@ucanr.edu or call 726-9059 Ext. 107. You may also stop by the Half Moon Bay office located at 80 Stone Pine Road, No. 100.

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The Pacifica Batting Cages attracts a wide variety of baseball and softball athletes, from Little Leaguers to adults.

rphy

By John Mu at Cutillo C y b s to o h P

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E TO C A L P IS S UST E J G A D C N A CA PACIFI K ON GAMEHANG OUT WOR

OUT B A G THIN ON’T FIND Y R E V .”

ID EE “I LOV AGES. AND TIMIDATING THE COYS HERE INN THE BSIO, PACIFICA CAGES FA A TAS

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nybody who has grown up on the Coastside, where the nearest movie theater is miles away, knows recreational opportunities for children are scarce. That’s where Pacifica Cages comes in.

It’s a gem hidden at the end of a nondescript row of businesses on Crespi Drive.

Every day players of all ages are drawn to this baseball and softball mecca like moths to a flame, hoping to get in some swings, soak up some knowledge and — perhaps not consciously — partake in the communal atmosphere Cage dwellers say exists there.

“The kids who come in with their teams seem to enjoy being with their friends and relaxing,” said Pacifica Cages employee Kyle Burns, a Skyline College student.

“The parents are a little more ‘OK, let’s get down to business.’”

THE HEAT IS ON After passing through a room on the right with an array of baseball gear for sale and leather couches on which to lounge, visitors enter the practice area. It is likely to be a maelstrom of activity.

There are two pitching machines for baseball and one

for softball that were being put to great use on a recent day by the Pacifica Heat travel team. A bespectacled 10-year-old girl is pitching to her mom. And there is a crowd of other ball enthusiasts and coaches.

“There’s a pitching machine, and it’s cool,” said Heat third baseman Devin Hawkins. “You can get lots of hits in and someone doesn’t have to pitch to you.”

Heat manager Jason Hawkins, Devin’s dad, agreed.

“It’s more productive,” Jason said. “The pitches are consistent and each kid gets more pitches (than in a normal practice).”

A COMMUNITY HOME PLATE Heat assistant coach Bryan Ferretti, the pastor at Grace Community Church in Pacifica, said that, beyond mere baseball, the Pacifica Cages has developed a reputation as a business that supports the area.

“It’s family-oriented,and it’s unbelievable what they do,” Ferretti said. “There’s a girl in Pacifica who is 10 years old named Bella who has leukemia. There was a benefit concert for her that my son’s band, the Helmets, played at.

Mo (Pacifica Cages partial owner Mauricio Martinez) opened his facility for the after-party.”

The party was attended

by Robert Trujillo, bassist for Metallica, the iconic hard-rock band. It seems his son, Ty Trujillo APRIL

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met Ferretti’s son, Bryan Noah, at a rock camp at a business next door to the Pacifica Cages. One thing led to another and Bryan Noah became the lead singer of the Helmets, who have journeyed to such foreign lands as Santiago, Chile, to perform.

Bryan Noah is also a baller.

“There’s the rock star,” someone said when Heat player Bryan Noah Ferretti entered the Pacifica Cages on this day, his brown hair just a little longer than the rest of the players. Take away the stylish locks though and he was just another player.

“It’s fun,” Bryan Noah said of the Pacifica Cages. “I like hitting and practicing with my team and talking to my teammates and just hanging out.”

TOP COACHING AVAILABLE Brian Powers, who played at Terra Nova High School, Skyline College and the University of Mississippi, is a Pacifica Cages coach who was hard at work on this day, giving one-on-one hitting instruction to a pre-teen boy.

“We have a full cage here with a mound that is 60 feet, 6 inches away,” Powers said.

“We have classes and camps, and parents like to bring their kids in here after work to get some swings in, especially if it’s raining. A lot of teams rent the facility when it rains.

Or, in the case of the Heat, even when it’s not raining outside.

“It’s not just teams from Pacifica either,” Powers said. “They come from Half Moon Bay, South City, San Bruno and the Sunset area of San Francisco. I wish this place was around when I was a kid.”

Among the instructors at Pacifica Cages through the years was Rich Morales Jr., a Pacifica native and current Baltimore Orioles scout. Former big leaguer Greg Reynolds, out of Terra Nova High School, Greg Gonzalez, the pitching coach and strength coach at Skyline College, Bryan Faulds, the associate head coach and pitching coach at College of San Mateo, and former Terra Nova High School coach Joey Gentile have been on staff.

“We’ve been open two and a half years,” Powers said. “It’s kind of a hidden gem that’s a great facility for baseball and maybe for a family that wants to plan a birthday party and have a place where the kids can hang out.”

Girls like the Cages too. Ten-year-old Gianna Tassio, a Pacifica girl with eyeglasses had no trouble locating the strike zone as she pumped pitches into her mom’s glove.

Gianna plays for the Millbrae Thunder 10U recreational team because she finds the Pacifica league not competitive enough.

“I love everything about the Cages,” Gianna said. “And I don’t find the boys here intimidating.”

A PLACE FOR BONDING The Cages have been a help to Westmoor High School coach Vic Messer, whose fog-shrouded school does not have a batting cage at all much less like the indoor cages at Serra High School that were donated by alumnus and former big leaguer Gregg Jefferies.

“I’ve taken our team over there when the weather was bad,” Messer said of the Pacifica Cages. “It’s a great opportunity for team bonding and to experience an indoor facility.

Otherwise, the closest batting cage to us is over at Jefferson.”

Carlos Roman, of South San Francisco, coached El Camino High School for 30 years and is a well-respected baseball person around the bay. He also is general manager of the ClubHouse Training Schools in South City, which features batting cages and more.

As a longtime employee in the sports uniform industry and now a dabbler on the batting cage scene, Roman has seen it all.

“Batting cages are a great place if you want to get a serious bunch of swings in and want to practice at all times of the day,” Roman said. “It’s a tough business, but there’s a profit that can be made when travel teams rent the cages and the owner can give a deal to the team. There’s a need for (batting cages) and there’s a lot of them popping up.”

True, but not all of them perhaps have the warmth of the Pacifica Cages, according to Heat assistant coach Ferretti, who could almost be a paid spokesman for the place.

“This place has won business awards,” Ferretti said. “The staff encourages the kids and gives them a sense of purpose and self-worth.

There are life skills being taught here, like to just keep swinging.” PACIFICA

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r e m m u s l a u n n a y r o t c e r i d p m ca

programs fill up fast. it’s time to start thinking about

summer camps!

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take a look and see what might be fun for your kids!

La Petite Baleen The HEAL Project Mercy High School – Tools 4 School Half Moon Bay Yacht Club Youth Sailing Camp Gymtowne Gymnastics Summer Day Camp Susan Hayward School of Dance Sanchez Art Center Nueva School Pacifica Athletic Center Fitness Fun Camp junior chef stars

HALF MOON BAY YACHT CLUB presents

Spring Break and Summer Youth Sailing Camp

Spaces are limited and fill up quickly – sign up soon!

SPRING BREAK YOUTH SAILING CAMP Age groups: 8 -12, 13 -18 Dates: April 11 - April 15 ~ Hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm SUMMER YOUTH SAILING CAMP Age Groups: 8 -12, 13 -18 Dates: June 13 -17, 20 - 24, 27 - July 1, July 5 -8, 11-15, 18 - 22, 25 - 29, August 1-5, 8 -12, 15-19 ~ Hours: 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

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learn new things and meet new friends.

Dates: Monday, June 20 through Friday, July 15 (Monday, July 4 will be a holiday) Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily.

Cost: $1000 if registered by March 1, $1200 after; molives@mercyhsb.com

Half Moon Bay Yacht Club Youth Sailing Camp

La Petite Baleen Swim School

Nothing says summer like swimming, and at La Petite Baleen it’s summer all year long! Now offering FREE trial lessons and FREE infant lessons (under 6 months of age). Enrolled students can enjoy FREE family swim and a FREE splash ‘n’ dash lesson! Call now for your FREE trial lesson: www.swimlpb.com.

866.896.3603

The HEAL Project

Dig into summer at the San Mateo County School Farm! Children will spend fun-filled days outside exploring our farm, harvesting and preparing fresh food from the field, learning about our agriculture heritage, and hiking around the Golden Gate National Recreation 24

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Area that surrounds the farm. We offer 5 weeks of camps for kids age 6-11 and one week of youth camp for ages 10-14.

Our staff fosters a learning environment rooted in curiosity, exploration, and respect for each other and the natural world. The San Mateo County School Farm is located in El Granada. thehealproject.org/camps

Mercy High School Tools 4 School

This four-week program is designed for girls entering grades 6th and 7th grades in the Fall of 2016. Classes consist of math skills, reading and writing groups, beginning computer coding, design tinkering, musical theater, drama, dance, swimming and cooking. The first three weeks will include a field trip for further exploration. Tools for School is designed to encourage creativity, build confidence,

Learn to sail! This is a safe and fun way for young people ages 8 through 18 to learn how to sail in our 1- and 2-person sailing dinghies, in the calm and protected waters of our own harbor.

This camp teaches basic sailing as well as developing confidence and seamanship; no prior experience necessary. In our fun-filled camps, students will learn • Basic sailing skills • Water safety skills • How to read the wind • Critical thinking skills • Teamwork, working in small groups to rig and sail boats. Camps are M-F from 8:30am to 3:30pm each day. Ten one-week sessions are offered from 13 June through 19 August. Sign up now—availability is limited. hmbyc.org/ youth-sailing or youthsailing@hmbyc. org.

Gymtowne Gymnastics Summer Day Camp

Gymtowne Gymnastics Summer Day Camp for boys and girls ages 4-11 revolves around basic gymnastics, with additional activities spaced throughout the day. Our experienced coaches are happy to get your child tumbling with an eye toward the basics of fun and safety.

No prior skills are required. Learning new skills is an attainable goal for every child in camp. Activity Examples: Relay Races, Active Games, Trampoline, Arts and Crafts, Nature Walks, Lots of Gymnastics, Obstacle Courses, Zipline, Tumble Trak, Parachute Games,

Farmer Science Ages 6-11, June 20-24 Farm-to-Fork Sr. 10-14, June 27-July 1 Flowers and Fairies 6-11, July 11-15

Farm-to-Fork Jr 6-11, July 18-22 Artists in Nature 6-11, Aug 15 Farm-to-Fork: Cooking Around the World 6-11, Aug 8-12

REGISTER NOW!

www.thehealproject.org/camps Camp hours: M-F 9-3pm, $275 per week All camps held at The San Mateo County School Farm in El Grananda

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Plant Harvest Cook Laugh Explore Learn

and brand-new this year, Ninja obstacle course! Morning Camp: 8:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Afternoon Camp: 12:45 p.m.

- 4:30 p.m. All-Day Camp: 8:30 a.m - 4:30 p.m. Sign up for the entire week, partial week, or even just one morning or afternoon. gymtowne.com. (650) 563-9426 (Moss Beach).

(650) 589-3733 (SSF) Dedicated to creating community through art.

CHECK OUT OUR SUMMER CAMPS at SanchezArtCenter.org!

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Click on “Classes� to see and enroll in our fine arts and IncrediFlix filmmaking camps.

Each camp runs for 5 days, Monday through Friday, either mornings or afternoons.

Sanchez Art Center offers over 20 FREE EXHIBITS annually, ART TALKS, SUMMER ART CAMPS for kids, and more.

1220 Linda Mar Blvd, Pacifica, CA 94044 650.355.1894 u www.SanchezArtCenter.org 26

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Susan Hayward School of Dance

Susan Hayward School of Dancing 31st Annual Theatre Arts, Music and Dance Camp: Students will explore many ways of expressing themselves through drama, music, different forms of dance, jazz, tap, ballet and folk, and they will have an opportunity to choreograph their own dances. Camp includes many aspects of theater arts, set design, props, costumes, stage management, creating posters and performance programs.

Students enjoy the camaraderie with other students, sharing ideas and working together as a team. And most exciting of all is the end-of-camp performance where they can present their work to an audience. SHaywardDance.com. 650-728-7519

Sanchez Art Center Summer Camps Summer is a great time for kids to explore and develop new skills. Sanchez Art Center welcomes kids ages 5 to 14 to our

Summer is for exploring . learning to code making friends design thinking rock climbing building robots

Splash into Summer!

doing

at La Petite Baleen!

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Learning By Caring.

Learning By Doing.

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www.swimlpb.com

866.896.3603

Now offering weekly, five-week, and immersive camps inspired by core Nueva School curriculum.

Grades K–3 at the 33-acre Hillsborough campus, grades 4–8 at the state-of-the-art Bay Meadows facility.

(650) 350-4555 | summer@nuevaschool.org | nuevasummer.org

Susan Hayward School of Dancing SUMMER CAMP 2016

AGES 1 to Adult

Gymnastic classes

32nd Annual Theatre Arts, Music & Dance Camp

June 20th–July 1st Art, Scenery Design, Costume Design, Folk Dancing, Jazz, Tap, Music End of Camp Stage Production June 30th - 4:00 PM Come and join in the Fun! Nipper Camp (Ages 5–7 1/2) (Theme Fairies,Elves & Goblins) June 21- June 30 (T.W.Th. 10:30–2:30) June 30 10:00–5:30 $500 Junior (Ages 8–11) & Senior (Ages 12–17) June 20 -July 1st M–F 9:15-3:15 $680 July 1st camp ends 1:00 PM Daycare available before and after camp 8:30–5pm @ $8/hr.

Information and Camp registration form 728.7519 or 496 6th St. Montara

1/2 OFF FIRST MONTH’S TUITION* *New Students Only. (Not good with any other offers)

Instruction • Summer Camps Birthday Parties ~ Two Convenient Locations ~ 850 Airport Street, Unit 7, Moss Beach (650) 563-9426 389 Oyster Point Blvd., Ste. 5, So. San Francisco (650) 589-3733

www.gymtowne.com APRIL

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FITNESS FUN CAMP Have Fun! Get Strong!

Have an active Summer with us.

Time: 8-3:30 Ages: 5 - 12 Cost: $ 250

Pacifica Athletic Center 640B Crespi Drive Pacifica, CA 94044 2 blocks off Hwy

Call 650-738-1683 to register or visit www.pacificaathletic.com for details

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Dates: 6/20 - 6/23 7/11 - 7/14 7/18 - 7/21 7/25 - 7/28 8/1 - 8/4

summer camp program. Each camp runs for 5 days, Mon. to Fri., either mornings or afternoons. Whether it’s a fine arts camp learning to make sculpture, fiber artworks, or handmade storybooks, or a filmmaking camp learning about animation, storyboarding, and doing voice-overs, campers will have a great time. Guided by qualified instructors, campers may choose to focus on learning the fundamentals of drawing, including perspective, light and dark, and design concepts; or they may choose to work with materials from nature to create functional and decorative masterpieces of all shapes and sizes. To read about all our camps and to enroll online through BrownPaperTickets. com, visit www.SanchezArtCenter.org and click on Classes. To contact us: (650) 355.1894, info@sanchezartcenter.org. We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Nueva Summer

Everything from baking your own 3 tiered cake, creating fantastic cup-cake creations, and cooking up some pretty incredible eats, we’ve got something for your Junior Chef this summer!

Pacifica, San Carlos, Foster City, San Mateo, Burlingame, Redwood City, Belmont, Menlo Park and many more!

1027 Terra Nova Blvd. Pacifica www.juniorchefstars.com 650.898.8742 28

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At Nueva, we strive to create an experience that is as immersive and enriching as it is fun. Our summer programs are no exception, as we are all dedicated to creating an authentic and meaningful experience for your child. Our summer counselors and lead teachers are a unique mix of alumni, Nueva faculty, and experts in the content they teach.

Nueva Summer offers families a variety of options for participation. Many families choose to take part in our one-week programs. Most offerings at each grade level can accommodate multi-week campers, providing them an opportunity to build upon their newfound or developing interests in art, writing, programming, or design thinking.

Please feel free to browse our offerings, which will be continually updated over the coming weeks.

We look forward to seeing you and your family in June!

FITNESS FUN CAMP AT PACIFICA ATHLETIC CENTER

Get moving and join us for a week of fun and fitness. Located at Pacifica Athletic Center, our trainers and instructors will provide fitness activities, competitive sports skills, non-competitive games and strengthening tools. Being fit feels good. Learning fun activities to reach your fitness goals will stay with you for your entire life. Serving youth ages 6-12 years old, we offer day camps weekly, Monday through Thursday, 8am - 3:30. 650-738-1683 www.pacificathletic.com

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LINDSTROM’S NOVEL CONNECTS WITH YOUNG ADULTS Interview by Clay Lambert Photos by Cat Cutillo

E

author’ own words

ric Lindstrom’s “Not If I See You First” was published late last year, and such momentous occasions represent dreams come true for any author.

It’s a young adult novel about a perceptive teenager who happens to be blind. She doesn’t need eyesight to look into her past, nor to run on the track team.

Lindstrom’s Parker Grant is a strongwilled young woman and she was created by a Pacifican who was equal to the challenge.

Lindstrom has worked in the interactive entertainment field, serving as creative director, game designer and writer. He has also worked in schools, as a volunteer, substitute teacher and part-time kindergarten teacher. That is where he discovered the joys of YA literature.

Lindstrom agreed to answer some questions about how he came to his craft. You can find out more at ericlindstrombooks.com.

— Clay Lambert 30

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Pacifica Magazine: Congratulations on your new novel. I know you’ve written others, but selling it to a publisher must feel terrific. Is this a lifelong dream?

Eric Lindstrom: Thank you! It’s fantastic.

Yes, this has been a goal of mine for almost as long as I can remember. I started writing on my own — outside of completing school assignments — in elementary school, and then I began submitting short stories to magazines in high school. I’ve since been a working writer in various capacities my whole career, but only now accomplished that first goal of seeing a novel published.

I get impatient with anything that doesn’t advance what’s happening in a scene, such as elaborate or detailed descriptions, no matter how poetic they may be. I find that with young adult novels, the odds are much higher of getting a story about relationships. I also enjoy how YA novels are unashamedly expressive of honest emotion on subjects many adults have come to view as no longer important. To me, all those topics are as meaningful now as they ever were.

PM: You’ve said you mostly read young adult books. Why is that?

EL: I’m most interested in direct

yes, most games have an important fictional context, and many have elaborate narratives, world-building, plus character dialogue and growth. Part of the reason it took so long to get a novel published, despite wanting to since childhood, was because I was successfully writing fiction in

human interactions and relationships, experienced up close, which mainly consist of what people do and say to each other. I like seeing situations play out, so

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PM: You have also written and designed video games. Is that just another form of storytelling?

EL: It depends on the video game, but

video games. But this was not a distraction; it significantly contributed to my skill and experience as a writer in ways that led directly to my novel writing.

PM: Do you think you have a particular understanding of the problems of teenagers?

EL: I don’t feel I have unique insight

into the experience of being a teenager, but I have a number of things going for me. Many adults grow up and put away childhood things, and they trade their high school concerns for those of adults looking for work and paying rent or mortgages, but I never did. Yes, I worry about work and paying bills, but I also go see every Pixar movie in the theater, sometimes on my own since my kids are all grown. On TV, I’ll watch the adult political drama “House of Cards” and then follow it up with an episode of the Disney cartoon Phineas and Ferb. Random conversations

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PM: Do you read old-fashioned books, or are you a tablet or phone reader? What do you like about the medium you choose?

EL: I read all of those, but my

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preference is to hold a traditional paper book. My reasons, though, aren’t romantic; I just don’t read in a straight line. I frequently flip back to remind myself of what characters said on the previous page, or two chapters back, before returning to my place and continuing, and this is vastly faster and easier while holding a book. With e-books, I don’t get a mental map of the book developing, so it’s hard to flip back quickly and find what I want.

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PM: Americans seem to read less than they did a generation or two ago. Why is that?

EL: I’m not in a position to know, but

I’m not sure it’s true. When I was a kid, we had a library, a book store, a single newspaper delivered to the driveway, maybe a couple of monthly magazines in the mailbox, and no Internet. Today, I don’t read nearly as many novels as I used to, but I spend more minutes a day reading than ever because there’s so much more readily available material. I know teenagers who don’t like novels, so in my generation they’d have done very little reading at all, but today there are so many different things to read and it’s all more accessible, so they actually read much more now than they would have in earlier generations.

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between adults often bore me, but teenager conversations rarely do. So, the fact that I remember and am still interested in the experience of childhood, but can also view it with the experience of my adult life and education, gives me useful tools to write novels for young adults.

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Daytripper

Archers can test their skills at the formal range or take a tour through one of two courses. Bill Murray / Pacifica Magazine 34

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FAIRMONT

PLACE TO GO

Colombo’s Deli

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San Francisco Archers, Pacifica

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San Francisco Archers

The white and red courses are a series of 28 targets positioned throughout the forest, each with a unique animal target set up to make it more interesting. The ‘holes’ range from 20 to 90 yards and have markers for adults and “cubs.”

Beginners should expect to lose a few arrows, as there is little margin for error on some of the targets.

You’ll need to bring your own equipment as there is none on site, but if you time your visit right, you can join some demonstrations and have a chance to use a surprisingly wide variety of bows, each with its own style and purpose. The most popular event is dubbed the One Million BC shoot, in which the straw bale targets are replaced with large foam dinosaurs.

There are contests for all styles of shooting.

Even if archery doesn’t become your passion, the Pacifica facility is worth the effort to find. If nothing more, it is one of the prettiest spots in Pacifica and on the Peninsula.

Open every day of the year from sunup to sundown. The outreach program is usually conducted on the first and third Sundays of each month from February to November.

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VALLEMAR

P

In the crowded Bay Area, it is truly a wonder that this facility exists and even more of a wonder that it is run completely by volunteers. After a self-serve payment of $5 per adult, skilled and beginner archers have full access to both the formal ranges and two golf-course-style courses.

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Despite the name, this extensive archery facility is actually in the heart of Pacifca, but if you’re not aiming for it you’ll miss it entirely. Tucked away above the Sharp Park Golf Course is this improbable piece of undeveloped property devoted to the sport of archery.

SAN PEDRO POINT

LINDA MAR

TUNNEL

MONTARA MOUNTAIN

PLACE TO EAT

Colombo’s You’d have to live under an archery target to not know of this Pacifica institution, but if you’re not from the area, Colombo’s is the go-to Italian deli for some of the tastiest sandwiches around. If you’re looking for quick and cheap, keep looking. Colombo’s is neither of those. But if you have the patience to join the line and a few extra bucks to spend on a sandwich, you’ll be rewarded. And you’ll come back. The classics are all there, but their signature sandwiches are really what they’re known for. Try the Goldminer with roast beef and blue cheese or the smoked salmon sandwich with cream cheese and capers. The shop is also packed with unique Italian delicacies to peruse while waiting for your masterpiece. 484 Manor Plaza, Pacifica, (650) 355-5023.

Scan here for more information on the San Francisco Archery Range APRIL

2016

PAC I F I CA

35

CoastalCanines

Buffy Age: 13 years Breed: Peekapoo (Pekingese crossed with a poodle)

B

uffy is a spring-loaded free spirit who traces her roots to a Pacifica landmark — Nick’s Sea Shore Dinners, out at Rockaway Beach. She joined bartender Joyce McGraw’s family by way of one of Joyce’s customers at just a few months old.

It was the right time to add a new dog to her home, Joyce thought, since she’d just lost her 13-year-old shih tzu. But Buffy was no easy pup to take on.

Only 3 months old, Buffy came to her as a traumatized dog.

“Buffy hated everyone back then,” Joyce recalls. “She hated being crated, hated people coming around, just wasn’t happy.”

Things may have gotten off to a rough start, but Buffy has come around. She still barks at strangers but only to protect her parents, especially her dad.

“She’s his princess,” Joyce says with a laugh.

Only a short while back, when her dad was in the hospital, Buffy wouldn’t eat until she heard him talking over the phone. “I had to hand-feed her scrambled eggs,” Joyce says.

She goes on to say how ecstatic Buffy was to visit her dad in the hospital. “She cried when she came back home and he wasn’t there.” Luckily for Buffy, dad’s on the mend and she can take care of him herself.

Buffy’s managed to make a few other friends, too. She loves going camping with the grandkids, but her best pal turns out to be … a crow. “The crow’s her little deck friend,” Joyce explains. The bird comes to their deck every day to use the clay bath.

Buffy is always there, watching. After a while, the crow started bringing presents for Buffy: peanuts in the shell, a piece of bread, and other little treasures. Buffy’s dad was the one who understood the friendship right away, and he helped Buffy give the crow little dog treats in return.

Buffy is a firecracker in a small package. Or as Joyce puts it, “She’s definitely her own dog.”

— Vanitha Sankaran photo by Cat Cutillo / Pacifica 36

PAC I F I CA

APRIL

2016

COMPLETE HEALTH CARE FOR YOUR PET Open 7 days a week • Internal Medicine and Surgery • Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine • Digital Radiology & Ultrasound • Dental Procedures & Radiology • Laser Therapy • Preventive & Geriatric Care

• We welcome your family’s dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs & pocket pets • In-house lab, Digital X-ray, and Pharmacy • Open Monday through Saturday • Small hospital with compassionate care

Customized care for your cat!

www.lindamarvet.com

Customized care for your cat!

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(650) 359-6471

JEREMY GROSSBARD, DVM 225 Carmel Avenue, Pacifica 94044|650-359-VETS | www.allcarepetpacifica.com

Family Owned & Operated Since 1943 founded on the love of pets

DOG SOCIALS

• Full Service Hospital • Boarding • Dental Care • In-house Lab • Pharmacy • Pet Pals Referral Program

1290 Danmann Ave. • Pacifica

650-359-5770

www.CoastalCatClinicPacifica.com Earn a $25 credit when you refer a new client to Coastal Cat Clinic

First Saturday of Every Month Friendly Pets And Their People Mingle!

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et Ser vices than Ever!

More P • Comfortable inside boarding areas with access to the outdoors • Expert Training & Puppy Classes • Complete Grooming Services • PLAYCARE – Our version of day care • Nature Hikes for your dog

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985 Linda Mar Blvd.

Pacifica, CA 94044

A unique dog ranch nestled in a secluded coastal valley.

Open space on 200 acres, fresh air,and a quiet serene setting.

650.359.1627 | www.shamrockranchkennels.com | Shamrock Ranch, Pacifica

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APRIL

2016

PAC I F I CA

37

RealEstate RECENT SALE Address 146 Shoreview Avenue, Pacifica Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 2 Sale price $1,180,000

SUE VATERLAUS, REMAX/STAR PROPERTIES

All about the views

Spectacular oceanfront location is an understatement. Newly refinished hardwood and parquet wood floors leads to a panoramic window that beautifully frames the blue Pacific. Whale watch and check the surf from your living room sofa. New paint and recent roof make it move-in ready.

PA C I F I C A S N A P S H OT

Median home sales price

$775,000 +7.3% Year over year

TRULIA.COM MARKET TRENDS 38

PAC I F I CA

APRIL

2016

RealEstate Select recent Pacifica transactions Seller

Property

Buyer

Amount

Thomas E. Byrne, trustee

1147 Fernandez Way

Stephen E. Richert

$690,000

Michael R. Sanderson, trustee

976 Rosita Road

Penjak LLC

$750,000

Joe and Canis Chang

961 Park

Yizhang Jing and Edwina O. Chen

$988,000

Metis Assets LLC

311 Inverness Dr.

Chris and Lymaebel Dibble

$838,000

MOAB Investments Group LLC

1534 Terra Nova Blvd.

Ian and Michelle Sinapuelas

$828,000

Steven M. and Katianna E. Candito

1248 Lerida Way

Dimiter Milev and Michelle LaPointe

$946,000

Julianne Mullins and Elwood T. Elder, Jr.

1145 Oddstad Blvd.

Jennifer V. Henschel; Jeff Kersten

$640,000

John and Sherrie L. Taylor-Bottali

1443 Serra Dr.ive

Darren Tabut and Heather Brooks

$728,000

Teresa Vaux

1648 Toledo Court

Jennifer R and Nicky C Chen

$860,000

Lawrence R Bradshaw

116 Berendos Ave.

Noemi B and Edgar Aguinaga

$625,000

Jorie B. McCarthy

937 Fassler Ave.

Dennis G Jimenez

$760,000

Hazel Beck

16 Acacia Court

Keith B and Melissa M Irish

$843,000

Keith B. and Melissa M Irish

1 Beverly Pl.

Magnolia Caswell-Mackey and Brian C Bick

$727,000

Charles J. Sette

275 Lauren Ave.

Steven M. and Katianna E Candito

$815,000

Gary Hughes

23 Picardo Court

Alvaro R. Mora

$775,000

Estelle H. Kelley

804 Prairie Creek Dr.

Michael P Killigrew and Heather L Henwood

$830,000

Renato Franca

360 Birghton Road

Sue Kokalis and Shannon McMahon

$680,000

Robert J. Nolan

1187 Alicante Dr.

Michael J. Gibbs and Dawn L. Rege

$743,000

Patricia S. M. Cook

1244 De Lolo Dr.

Dean R. and Jennifer R. Offenbach, et. al.

$660,000

The Gold Team

PACIFIC COAST REAL ESTATE With an emphasis on service and unparalleled support, Roseann plays an active role in the success of her clients’ real estate transactions. Her level of professionalism, knowledge of the market and ability to take the broad view makes her a valued and trusted resource to buyers and sellers alike.

Alliance

Melina & Rich Gold

From the Golden Gate Bridge to Silicon Valley, our 17 years of experience and team of lenders, escrow officers and property inspectors will guide you through a smooth and rewarding transaction.

To look for a home or find your home’s value, visit homesbyrichgold.com.

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THE GOLD TEAM provides the GOLD STANDARD of service to our sellers and our buyers.

Roseann’s goal is to give you the very best experience you could possibly have when it comes to the sale or purchase of one of your most valuable assets – your property!

Roseann Garza Realtor BRE # 01228971 Pacific Coast Real Estate 1005 Terra Nova Blvd., Suite 5 Pacifica, CA. 94044 Cell 650-440-3115 Email roseanngarza@aol.com

Mention this ad when you use the GOLD TEAM to buy or sell your home and receive a FREE HOME WARRANTY at close of escrow!

Melina’s Cal BRE #01978733 650-745-5226 • melinahgold@gmail.com Rich’s Cal BRE #01235295 650-763-6480 • r.royce.g@gmail.com

REALTY WORLD ALLIANCE

Call Roseann for all of your Real Estate needs!

2488 Junipero Serra Blvd • Daly City, CA 94015 homesbyrichgold.com

Providing Experience and Service Exceeding Client Expectations

CA BRE: 01187747

Marilyn S. Hall REALTOR, SRES, NOTARY Realtor since 1993

I make it happen.

You make it home!

Marilyn S. Hall Pacific Coast Real Estate 1005 Terra Nova Blvd.

Pacifica, CA 650-787-1407 marilynstgermainhall@gmail.com

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ROSEANN GARZA

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APRIL

2016

PAC I F I CA

39

RealEstate Things to consider before buying an investment property

R MICHAEL JIMENEZ, REALTOR ® PACIFICA HOME SALES SPECIALIST BRE# 01961866

Custom Marketing Plan

Unparalleled Customer Service

Peace-of-Mind Transaction

650 | 898-8869

TOR ®

94044realtor@gmail.com

LIST

www.pacificarealtor.com

eal estate can be an incredibly fruitful investment. Buying a property at the right time can provide investors with a substantial return when they decide to sell, and that opportunity compels many men and women to consider investing in real estate.

While there’s no denying real estate can yield a great return on buyers’ initial investments, there’s more to making money in real estate than simply buying a property and waiting for its value to rise.

Price trends Recent sale activity in a given town or neighborhood is something prospective real estate investors should study before buying an investment property. t Taxes Investment properties are not eligible for as many tax benefits as primary residences. However, landlords can write off repairs, management costs and other fees associated with rental properties. But it’s not

just their own tax bill prospective investors should consider before buying an investment property.

Location Prospective real estate investors no doubt know the value of location with regard to real estate, but if you can’t afford to buy in a neighborhood that’s currently hot, that does not necessarily mean you can’t still capitalize on that area’s popularity. When a town becomes popular, its property values rise, and many buyers find themselves just barely priced out. When that happens, the surrounding towns tend to become the next hot neighborhood, as these areas are nearly as close to the attractions that make the initial neighborhood so desirable.

Real estate can be a fruitful investment, and investors who want to benefit the most from their properties will explore various factors before purchasing a home or homes.

CA BRE: 01077482

Sue Vaterlaus • Realtor since 1990 • Selling Homes for Over 25 Years!

• Realtor of the Year 2007

CA BRE: 00858866

Taryn Smith Real Estate

“After interviewing three different agents for selling a property for the first time, I decided to choose Paul Benson. He presented himself in a professional manner and listened to my needs.

From the start, we were both on the same page.

Working with Paul made things go so smoothly and with no stress! Communication was never an issue. I would highly recommend Paul Benson to anyone who is interested in selling or buying property. Good job Paul Benson!”

— Carmen P.

Building dreams and creating lifestyles Taryn is passionate, knowledgeable, and a true professional. She epitomizes great service. With her design/art background, her service goes beyond that of the typical real estate agent as she beautifully staged our home. visit my Web site

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• President San Mateo County Association of Realtors 2011

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Providing Experience and Service Exceeding Client Expectations

40

PAC I F I CA

APRIL

2016

www.tarynsmithrealestate.com tarynsmith8888@gmail.com 650 465-3997 direct Cal BRE# 01390002

Ryan A. Henspetter D.M.D Christopher Jen Kin D.D.S. We Welcome New Patients State of the Art Equipment & Techniques Cosmetic Dentistry Implant Dentistry “Caring about Complementary Iamplant Consultation Gentle and Friendly Care for three Cosmetic Teeth generations” Whitening We’re glad to help with your insurance Evening & Saturday Appointments Available 669 Crespi Dr., Suite F, Pacifica ConvenientIy located pacificadentist.com just off Highway 1

HEALTHY SMILES

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(650) 359-1646

ER

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© 2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker %AE is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC. Real Estate Agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are Independent Contractor Sales Associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or NRT LLC. CalBRE License #01908304.

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