Pacifica Riptide

Assemblyman Jerry Hill Honors Pacifica Beach Coalition

Assemblyman Jerry Hill has honored Pacifica Beach Coalition (PBC) with the 19th Assembly District’s Environmental Leadership Award for PBC's many years of volunteer service in the community. Hill presented the award to PBC President Lynn Adams at "Java with Jerry," a community gathering on October 27 at Mazzetti’s Bakery in Pacifica.

“San Mateo County is rich in natural beauty, and some of its greatest treasures are here in Pacifica, with its more than six miles of beaches and shoreline habitats,” Hill said. “Much of it is staggeringly beautiful, and were it not for some key organizations in the community and their members, those very beaches could well be a staggering mess. Today, I’d like to recognize an organization that has been a great environmental leader, working with the city and residents – that’s the Pacifica Beach Coalition.”
 
Founded in 1997, PBC expanded its annual Earth Day in 2005 into a citywide event to remove litter from the streets before it reaches the beaches. PBC's Earth Day 2012 cleanup brought more than 8,100 people to Pacifica beaches and creeks, and Coastal Cleanup Day drew more than 1,100 volunteers.

Since 2005, almost 35,000 volunteers have participated in PBC's annual Earth Day and Coastal Cleanup Day projects, removing more than 115,000 pounds of garbage from Pacifica beaches, creeks, parks, parking lots, and streets.

PBC has five monthly cleanups at Pacifica beaches, and special activities throughout the year, like gathering 35 gallons of fireworks debris by two members on the Fourth of July, and cleanup of more than 250 pounds of plastic bags and other trash from Pacifica’s “Secret Waterfall” after the first heavy rain.

PBC praises Hill for his support of efforts to reduce waste and preserve the imperiled Pacific leatherback sea turtle. Hill was among lawmakers who voted for legislation by Assemblyman Paul Fong (AB 1776) to declare the Pacific leatherback sea turtle California’s official state marine reptile. Under the new law, October 15 is now officially Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Conservation Day.
 
Caption for photo above: Left to right, Pacifica Beach Coalition members Tom Whitaker and Steve Fairbairn, Coalition President Lynn Adams, and Assemblyman Jerry Hill.

Teamwork: Pacifica Beach Coalition & Public Works Dept.

Pacifica Beach Coalition (PBC) and the city's Public Works Department once again have come to the rescue of the Secret Waterfall, collecting 243 pounds of trash after the first big rain, mostly plastic bags. Styrofoam pieces were too numerous and too small to collect.

PBC's Ian Butler had called an alert, and within an hour the city's Public Works Department had six guys down at the waterfall helping PBC members pick up washed-out bags and debris. Ian says, "Unfortunately, this was only a tiny fraction of what was washed out to sea."

Public Works is investigating the sources of Styrofoam waste that flushes out of storm drains with each rain. The investigation includes businesses on Hickey. Public Works is seeking funding to put in a storm drain catchment device by Fairmont Park for the largest stormwater pipe going to the Secret Waterfall. It recently installed such catchment devices at seven other storm drains that flow to the waterfall.
 
Related News: Esplanade Beach cleanups are on the second Thursday afternoon of each month. Please spread the word to students, retirees, and those looking for a weekday cleanup. Email Lynn Adams at lynn4promos@aol.com to sign up and get more information about all Pacifica Beach Coalition cleanups, restorations, and other events and volunteer activities. To appreciate the significance of beach cleanups, see:
 
Sperm Whale Killed by Plastic Bags

NerdWallet Names Pacifica Beach Coalition a Top Nonprofit

Click for Press Release

Congratulations to Pacifica Beach Coalition for earning this honor. It's also amusing that the state website (see landmark link in text of press release above) says Linda Mar State Beach is in "downtown Pacifica." Downtown Pacifica? That's news to us.

Join the Green Team: The Beach You Save May Be Your Own

LINDA MAR BEACH CLEANUP AFTER THE FIREWORKS: Sue and Myrna walked the high-tide line at Linda Mar Beach on the Fourth of July, removing more than 35 gallons of firework debris that would have otherwise washed out to sea. Sue said that the beach looked like a war zone. Some people brought buckets for their fireworks debris, but they were in the minority. Some people were setting off fireworks at the water's edge, where the next wave would take it away. One person unwrapped fireworks and discarded the plastic wrap on the ground. Most of the fireworks were so-called safe and sane. It looked like most people on the beach were visitors to Pacifica. How many of them bought their fireworks in Pacifica is unknown. All of the provided garbage cans on the beach were overflowing with debris. Public Works was out at the beach by 7 a.m. the next day with a tractor and bucket to collect garbage. As short-staffed as they are, they did their best, as they always do. Some local fireworks sellers showed up at the beach cleanup.

Click for news story

NEW RECYCLING LAW: New state law requires California businesses and multifamily dwellings to recycle if they generate four or more cubic yards of garbage weekly. 

New Recycling Law
 
"Climate Change and Gray Whales" brought to you by the American Cetacean Society, Thursday, July 26 from 7 to 9 p.m., Bay Model Visitor Center, 2100 Bridgeway, Sausalito. Climate change can occur naturally as well as from human activities. The impacts of climate change on large mobile organisms are often difficult to assess or predict. In this presentation, Dr. Jonathan Stern discusses implications of climate change on Eastern Pacific Gray Whales. These whales are seasonal migrants along the California coast, and can be seen very close to shore. Research on these whales and their feeding grounds suggest a few scenarios that gray whales may face in the very near future.

Our first Earth Day video is out, thanks to Margarita Cardenas of PCT:

Click Here for the Video 

On July 21, we have a table at the Dog Daze event. Thanks to Helen, Deirdre, Beth, Judy, and Kristina for answering the call!

Lynn and Linda Tringali are working on a program to engage high school students in teaching ocean stewardship courses to elementary school kids. If you want to help, let us know!

Lynn Adams, Pacifica Beach Coalition, 650-355-1668 Office, 415-309-5856 Cell

Earth Day Media Coverage: Share Your Stories & Photos

You made the news! Thanks to Charlene Boysen of Vallemar School for outreach to NBC News.

 

Thank you to Pacifica Beach Coalition and Earth Day Heroes. Congratulations on the amazing action and celebration that followed. Please keep your stories and photos coming. Your stories should be heard, seen, and shared! Need help uploading photos? Send them to me and I will get them to someone who can help. (Did you think I knew how? Think again!) I also take photos on CDs so I can share them when opportunities arise. Nothing like your story in your own words. Thank you to the many who have shared their projects with me. I have started a document and hope to have the 52 weeks of Earth Day featured in the Pacifica Tribune over the next year. Can happen only if I get your stories and photos.

Facebook

Pacifica Tribune

Pacifica Patch
 
From Terra Nova High School Principal:

And, of course, photos and info on our very own amazing website (thank you, Sherry!)

Pacifica Beach Coalition

L Y N N . A D A M S
President, Pacifica Beach Coalition
650.355.1668 Office
415.309.5856 Cell
Monthly cleanups at 4 beaches and more

Westborough Middle School Students Help Clean Beach

Seventy students and parents from Westborough Middle School in South San Francisco came to Pacifica Saturday, February 18 to help our beaches and marine life. Under the direction of Pacifica Beach Coalition, they cleaned the entire Linda Mar State Beach and four parking lots from Pedro Point Shopping Center to Linda Mar north parking lot. Altogether, they collected 200 pounds of trash and 20 pounds of recycling. Most of this was lightweight plastic wrappers, straws, bottle tops, and cigarette butts, so you can imagine how much trash they removed from the environment!
 
They split into two groups, and while one group cleaned the beach and parking areas, the others removed invasive weeds from a patch north of the Community Center near the cypress tree by the bike path and planted more than 200 native plants donated by Go Native, Inc. Most of the invasives they removed were oxalis, mustard, and wild radish. The former weedy patch just north of the cypress tree is now home to 200 native coyote bush, coastal sage, and lizard tail, which we hope will grow into a rich resource for the snowy plovers and other native insects, birds, and mammals that rely on a healthy beach habitat.

If you travel in this area, please stay on the bike path and help us give them time to root and mature into the beautiful coastal habitat we see along the bike trail closer to the parking area.
 
A special thanks to teacher Danny Yanow who has brought his students to Pacifica for beach cleanups for the past five years, and to Kathy Kellerman (and Go Native, Inc.), who has dedicated so much of her time to growing the native plants and assisting at many of the native plantings on the beach and at  Pedro Point Headlands. Also a big thanks to the Linda Mar site captains Jim, Ana, and Michael, who lead the cleanups and habitat restoration events each month, and to PBC members who joined the cleanup to help teach these students all about litter and our special coastal beach habitat.
 
If you have a group and would like to help us clean up a beach or restore habitat, Pacifica Beach Coalition hosts three cleanups and a Habitat  Restoration day each month, and your group could be just the one to make a huge difference. Please see www.pacificabeachcoalition.org or call 650-355-1668.

Pacifica Beach Coalition: Party Photos, Ongoing Projects

Thank you for making our first Party on the Point such an awesome, fun event. 

CLICK FOR PARTY PICTURES AND STORY 

See you at the next Party on the Point. If you would like to do more for Earth Day and help with the planning process, please join us at our Earth Day Stakeholder meeting and/or our next Pacifica Beach Coalition (PBC) meeting on February 9 from 6 to 8 p.m., Pacifica Library, Hilton Way and Palmetto, Sharp Park. We need your help with logistics, media outreach, celebration, data entry, and more. Bring your talents and have fun with an awesome bunch of people.
 
L Y N N . A D A M S
Pacifica Beach Coalition, President
650.355.1668 Office
415.309.5856 Cell
Surf Movie - Chasing the Swell - February 25
Earth Day - April 21
Monthly cleanups at three beaches: pacificabeachcoalition.org

Squeaky Clean: Pacificans Picked It Up on Coastal Cleanup Day

What is a fuel filter separator (see above)? It was picked up at Sharp Park Beach on California Coastal Cleanup Day, September 17. Apparently, it separates fuel from air and is used for tools—definitely the most unusual item we've found in my 10 years. Also on September 17, IBL students teamed up with parents and volunteers from the neighborhood to clean up every street in West Sharp Park, from Paloma to Clarendon, and from Beach Boulevard to Francisco. Afterward, the mood was HAPPY because they had something to cheer about (see below).

LYNN ADAMS, PRESIDENT, PACIFICA BEACH COALITION

Pacifica, California Cleaned Up for Rand McNally's "Most Beautiful," but Sandpoint, Idaho Really Cleaned Up

The Rand McNally Road Crew came to Pacifica on July 11 and 12 to compare us with five other communities for Most Beautiful Town. We did not win first place, but we were a runner-up. Please join us in our ongoing efforts to protect our natural resources here in Beautiful Pacifica.
Pacifica Beach Coalition
650.355.1668 Office
415.309.5856 Cell
http://www.pacificabeachcoalition.com/

CLICK FOR USA TODAY STORY: PACIFICA WINS RUNNER-UP

Sacbee / PR Newswire

Published Thursday, Jul. 21, 2011 SKOKIE, Ill., July 21, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Rand McNally, in collaboration with its exclusive media sponsor USA TODAY, crowned the first five winning towns the Best of the Road® in its inaugural search at the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Annual Convention in New Orleans. The winning towns will be highlighted on www.bestoftheroad.com and in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas, as well as on USA TODAY's Travel site.

Narrowed down from more than 600 submissions, 30 top towns in five categories --- Most Beautiful, Most Patriotic, Friendliest, Most Fun, and Best for Food --- were selected for review during the inaugural Best of the Road Rally. Equipped with brand-new Saab vehicles and Rand McNally RVND navigation devices, five teams of amateur travelers completed a three-week cross-country road trip, for a combined 25,000 miles traveled, personally visiting the six top towns in their assigned category.

To showcase their journey and share town experiences, the teams posted photos, videos and blog posts on ontheroad.bestoftheroad.com, Facebook and Twitter. During a presentation of their "traveler's journals" on July 14 in Los Angeles, each team consulted with the judges panel to determine which town would be crowned the winner in their category. The winners are:

MOST BEAUTIFUL: Sandpoint, ID – reviewed by The McNavigators, who said the unofficial motto is "enjoy the great outdoors, connect with friends and keep life simple."

MOST PATRIOTIC: Rapid City, SD – reviewed by Captain and Clark, who described the town as "a place where people from across the world and country can learn about America's past, become inspired by its present, and find hope in its future."

FRIENDLIEST:  Walla Walla, WA – reviewed by Gone with the Wynns, who described it as "a town so nice they named it twice; a culturally diverse small town with happy faces everywhere you go."

MOST FUN: Glenwood Springs, CO – reviewed by TraveleingJules and TravelingJoan, who dubbed the town "a mountain of fun and an adventure capital, with endless ways to get your adrenaline pumping."

BEST FOR FOOD:  Lafayette, LA – reviewed by The Fun Finders who learned the true taste of Cajun food to be "flavorful, not hot or spicy" and that after a meal, the best dessert is "Cajun dancing."

"Each of the top 30 towns truly provided an unforgettable experience during the Best of the Road Rally and it was hard to narrow it down to just one winner in each category," said Dave Muscatel, CEO of Rand McNally. "We're grateful to the residents of the finalist towns and their fans for showing tremendous enthusiasm and support in our inaugural search."  

The winning towns were presented by Rand McNally and USA TODAY to an audience of attendees at the convention's "Industry Spotlight" seminar. Destination Marketing Association International served as a promotional sponsor for the inaugural Best of the Road Rally, along with Saab Cars North America, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Fleetwood RV and Shell.

The winning team from the Best of the Road Rally, Gone With the Wynns, was announced on Friday, July 15 during a finale ceremony at The Americana at Brand in Los Angeles. At the ceremony, the duo was awarded the title as well as a $10,000 check and a 2011 Saab 9-4X.

For more information on Best of the Road contest, visit www.bestoftheroad.com and http://travel.usatoday.com.

About the Best of the Road® – Rand McNally has earned the reputation as a trusted source in maps, directions and travel content with its best-selling Road Atlas and annual Best of the Road online guide.  Its celebration of the Great American Road Trip has given way to an online guide of the Best of the Road and features top attractions in more than 20 categories --- from the Best Beach to the Best BBQ.   This year, Rand McNally is revving up, in collaboration with USA TODAY, for an all-new the Best of the Road search with content created by travelers online and published in the 2013 Rand McNally Road Atlas. For more information about the Best of the Road, visit www.bestoftheroad.com.

Earth Day Success: Pacifica Cleans Up

Kudos to Pacifica Beach Coalition and all Pacificans who came out to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up the town, including beaches, parks, trails, and streets. Erik Piro (above) removed an old tire from Linda Mar state beach. There is still plenty of trash to pick up, especially on the beaches (plastic straws, cans, bottles, cigarette butts, etc.), so please join ongoing efforts to preserve our natural resources:

CLICK HERE TO JOIN PACIFICA BEACH COALITION