Pacifica Riptide

Pacifica Pilot Projects

Schoolwork has been keeping me a lot busier then I'm used to, but I did get a chance to finish my research on the history of Eddie Andreini's P-51. It was a fun and interesting project and I really appreciate the help I got finding all the information: CLICK HERE

More pics: CLICK HERE

Evan Isenstein-Brand

Woof! Woof! Pacifica Dog Park Celebrates Grand Opening

Calliope

Posey

Dave Yuhas photos

High Tide: Why You Need to Stay Alert at Pacifica Pier

CLICK FOR VIDEO

Opinion: Pacifica—One Expensive Place to Live

By Lionel Emde, Riptide Correspondent

Venturing outside of our insular community, I happened upon the neighboring community of San Bruno, where city staff actually provides information to city council that (gasp!) is in context. What is that? It is knowing what other communities charge for basic services, for example.
 
So in perusing the San Bruno City Council agenda packet for March 13, 2012, I happened upon some interesting charts.

Pacifica, as illustrated on the chart Monthly Single Family Residential Sewer Rate Survey, Feb. 2012, pays the third-highest sewer rates in two counties (San Mateo and San Francisco).

With the current 11.14 percent increase proposed by the City of Pacifica, and an unknown increase that will be apparent next year, we could well vault into the number two spot.
 
In water rates, Pacifica is only fifth-highest in three counties (San Mateo, San Francisco, and Santa Clara). We're going to have to try harder in that category.
 
And then there are the garbage collection rates: Pacifica has the second-highest residential collection rates in San Mateo County, and has the highest commercial garbage collection rates. The lie being propagated is that because we have less commercial collection, we pay more. In fact, we subsidize garbage collection south of Devil's Slide, where residents of Montara, El Granada, and Moss Beach pay half as much as we do for garbage collection from the same company, trucks, and employees.
 
Maybe our opaque style of governance should change?

Coastside Hope: Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Need

CLICK FOR DETAILS

Red-Tailed Hawk on Gopher Patrol

Paul Donahue

Snowy Plovers and a Ravenous Gull @ Linda Mar Beach

The three Snowy Plover photos (top) represent three individuals. These birds should be departing from Linda Mar Beach any day now to head off to the beaches where they nest. On one of them, you can see that the wing coverts are very badly worn, with not much more than the feathers' central shaft remaining. That's what happens when you live on a sandy beach with blowing sand.

The bottom two photos show a Western Gull choking down an Ochre Sea Star. This particular food item is more popular with Glaucous-winged Gulls, with some individuals seeming to specialize on the sea stars, but Western Gulls also eat them occasionally.

Paul Donahue

Bald Eagles Back in San Mateo County: First Since 1915

By Lisa Krieger, SAN JOSE MERCURY, March 24: A pair of bald eagles is nesting on the San Francisco Peninsula for the first time in nearly a century, a milestone for the once-endangered symbol of strength and grandeur.

CLICK FOR FULL STORY

Sequoia Audubon volunteers are on hand Saturdays and Sundays along Lower Crystal Springs to help visitors see the eagles. WHEN: 9 a.m. to noon, Saturdays and Sundays, through nesting, hatching, and fledging (at least through early June). Rain cancels. WHERE: From 280, take Black Mountain Road west toward Crystal Springs watershed and golf course. Turn left on Skyline Drive toward Crystal Springs Dam and Sawyer Camp Trail. Drive about 1.5 miles south until you see a gravel pullout at the first sight of the lake, right before the Kiewit Construction gate. Park on the gravel shoulder.

Sons of Single Mothers

Shakshuka: Low-Carb Israeli Delicacy

Shakshuka (eggs poached in spicy tomato sauce). Adapted from Saveur and further modified for the labor-saving cuisine of Chef Juan Mayburrito, with apologies to the nation of Israel. This dish is easy, delicious, nutritious, and low in carbohydrates. Feeds a small army.

1/4 cup olive oil
Chopped chiles or sriracha chile sauce, to taste
1 onion, chopped (fresh or dehydrated)
5 garlic cloves, crushed, sliced (or pureed fresh garlic)
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 tablespoon of paprika
28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, undrained
Salt, to taste (kosher sea salt from the Dead Sea…kidding)
6 eggs
1/2 cup of crumbled feta cheese
1 tablespoon of parsley

Heat olive oil in a big frying pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add chiles and onions. Cook and stir for 6 minutes. Add garlic, cumin, salt, and paprika. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and their liquid. Reduce heat to medium, simmer, and stir until mixture thickens, about 15 minutes. Crack eggs and distribute evenly across the top. Cover the pan and cook until the egg yolks are set, about 5 minutes. Using a spoon, baste the egg whites with sauce and without breaking the yolks. Sprinkle with feta cheese and parsley. Serve hot as a side dish or dip with pita bread.