Year in Review 2015

In some ways, it seems like 2015 was the year everyone on the Coastside looked to the west and waited.

First, we waited for waves that didn’t come in time for the Mavericks surf contest. There was no contest in 2014-15, as new organizers prepared for something grander — something that presumably will involve big waves.

Then there were all those whales. A blob of warm water in the Pacific Ocean seemed to disrupt the regular migration pattern and grays and humpbacks just summered here. They fed off an unusually plentiful supply of fish that came so close to shore whale-watchers could get their fill right on the bluffs.

We gazed out at the ocean, wondering about toxic algae blooms that made the crab unsafe to eat. We looked out for debris floating in from container ships that lost part of their load.

And we watched nervously for El Niño. All year we were told that warm water that comes cyclically to the Pacific Ocean would change weather patterns. We wondered when the rain would come and whether it would make any dent in our years of drought.

We’re still gazing west and waiting as we turn the calendar to 2016.

While we wait, we offer a look back at 2015, a year of important milestones, faulty (and ultimately fixed) bridges and plenty of government intrigue.

— Clay Lambert

a n d p e s c a d e r o p e b b l e

2015YearReviewin

The year we looked to the west

Special Section • Wednesday, December 30, 2015

+ also inside

The famous business timelineBUSINESSES GAIN A YEAR OF SENIORITYEach year in our annual wrap-up, we feature a timeline of businesses that make the Coastside what it is. See who has been around the longest and meet the new folks. Discover which businesses have moved up on the seniority list.

Look for the upstarts (less than 5 years), the Bronze Club (5+ years), the Silver Club (10+ years), the Gold Club (25+ years), the Platinum Club (50+ years) and the venerable Diamond Club for those over a century old.

Congratulations to all on the list, especially those who have graduated to the next level. Local businesses are key to our community. May they continue to thrive in 2016!

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Winner of Favorite Caterer

O� ering Catering Services to the Coast for over 30 years!650.726.2044 (offi ce) • 650.400.2327 (cell) • [email protected]

Winner of Favorite Caterer

SAMPLETHIS!

Thank you to the community for your support and for honoring me as your favorite Caterer for the past four years.

~ Casey Sample

248 Main Street, Suite 200Half Moon Bay, California

Barbara LaVey(650) 483-4449

DRE license # 01361161

Jan Gray(650) 712-2445


Coastside Residents Since 1968

Concierge Level of Professional Service




Jan Gray(650) 712-2445







Jan Gray(650) 712-2445






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©2013 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Offi ce Is Owned by a Subsidiary of NRT LLC.

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In some ways, it seems like 2015 was the year everyone on the Coastside looked to the west and waited.

First, we waited for waves that didn’t come in time for the Mavericks surf contest. There was no contest in 2014-15, as new organizers prepared for something grander — something that presumably will involve big waves.

Then there were all those whales. A blob of warm water in the Pacific Ocean seemed to disrupt the regular migration pattern and grays and humpbacks just summered here. They fed off an unusually plentiful supply of fish that came so close to shore whale-watchers could get their fill right on the bluffs.

We gazed out at the ocean, wondering about toxic algae blooms that made the crab unsafe to eat. We looked out for debris floating in from container ships that lost part of their load.

And we watched nervously for El Niño. All year we were told that warm water that comes cyclically to the Pacific Ocean would change weather patterns. We wondered when the rain would come and whether it would make any dent in our years of drought.

We’re still gazing west and waiting as we turn the calendar to 2016.

While we wait, we offer a look back at 2015, a year of important milestones, faulty (and ultimately fixed) bridges and plenty of government intrigue.

— Clay Lambert2015 brought an exquisite array of sunsets to the Coastside. Photo by Randie Marlow.

2 YEAR IN REVIEW half moon bay review n wednesday, december 30, 2015

Ocean conditions bring marine mammals close

2015 might well be remembered in Half Moon Bay as a whale of a year. That is, it was the year whales were everywhere along the coastline and

tourists and locals alike flocked to the beach to see humpbacks and grays cavort in record numbers.

In fact, the rush to see the marine mammals this fall was such that there were traffic jams on Highway 1.

Whales commonly migrate from Baja north to Alaskan waters and it’s not uncommon to spot one from the shore. Usually, however, dedicated whale-watchers have to take

boat tours to see them and there is never a guarantee. This year all you needed was to cast a naked eye to the west and you were bound to see whales breaching, breathing through their blowholes. No one could ever remember a show quite like this along the California coast.

There was a relatively complex web of events that led to unusual numbers of whales along the shore. First, there was unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean. In fact, the temperature of waters just offshore was as much as 10 degrees warmer, reaching into the low 60s. Those changing water conditions brought feeder fish like anchovy and krill closer to shore, and the whales were sure to follow.

As fall pressed on to winter, the whales continued on their way. Sightings were less numerous by November.

A WHALE OF A YEAR If you were around to ring in the New Year at the

turn of the 19th century, there would have been only one bar on the Coastside where you could do so: Duarte's Tavern in Pescadero. Of course, if it was particularly eventful you could have told the local paper. As far as we know, those were the only two businesses around then that are still on the Coastside today, although a handful are close. Take a look and see how our local businesses rank in terms of seniority, and congratulations to those that have moved up in the standings.Here they are from oldest to youngest. We salute them all!

Still going strong

THE BUSINESS TIMELINE

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The pods of whales that traveled close to the beach provided a spectacular show during October.

The Half Moon Bay Review714 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay650-726-4424

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Cunhas Country Store448 Main Street, Half Moon Bay650-726-4071

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Half Moon Bay Feed & Fuel331 Main St., Half Moon Bay650-726-4814

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Farmers Insurance www.farmersagant.com/jangelini726-4818 | 435 Johnson St., Half Moon Bay

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Andreotti Family Farm 329 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay, 650-726-9461Open year-round, Friday-Sunday

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140 Beach Way, Moss Beach728-5595 | www.mossbeachdistillery.com

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Arcangeli Grocery Co Stage Road, Pescadero879-0147 | www.normsmarket.com

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half moon bay review n wednesday, december 30, 2015 YEAR IN REVIEW 3

It would be an understatement to say the San Mateo County Harbor District had an eventful 2015

It began with great hope, as newly elected board members Nicole David and Tom Mattusch took their seats with a promise

to be more transparent and end a good-old-boy culture that many complained had permeated district culture through the years. But they took office in the midst of a governmental service review and the Local Agency Formation Commission ultimately recommended an end to the district.

That recommendation fell on deaf ears and the board promised to run a more efficient operation going forward.

Commissioner Sabrina Brennan was installed

as president early in 2015, but the gavel was stripped away after an interim general manager claimed she was abusive to staff. Later in the year, David resigned her position, citing health problems. In November, the Commission appointed Menlo Park resident Virginia Chang Kiraly to fill the open seat.

And drama over governance was only the half of it. The district hired a new permanent general manager and moved into El Granada offices. It approved a five-year contract with a new Mavericks surf contest organization. It weathered harassment claims and a lawsuit over a commercial fishing wench at Johnson Pier.

And it thanked a persistent critic. In August, Interim General Manager Glen Lazof wrote a letter thanking local resident John Ullom for banging the drum over nearly $35,000 the district had paid a contractor for IT products and services that were never delivered.

“Writing a letter like that is not something you do with a lot of pride, but that fact was he was right,” Lazof said. “He helped us.”

A YEAR OF HARBOR DISTRICT MAYHEM

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Half Moon Bay Inn 401 Main Street, Half Moon Bay726-1177 | www.halfmoonbayinn.com

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12320 San Mateo Rd. (Hwy. 92) HMBwww.lemosfarm.com | 726-2342

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445 South B St., San Mateo931-8110 | www.talbotstoyland.com

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Curley & Reds215 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay726-4949 | www.curleyreds.com

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Corey, Luzaich, de Ghetaldi, Nastari & Riddle LLP 650-726-7578 | www.CoreyLaw.com625 Miramontes St., Suite 106, Half Moon Bay

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Weller O’Brien Insurance 720 Kelly Street, Half Moon Bay726-6328 | wellerobrien.com

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Bob McCahon and Mollie Whippwww.mccahon-whipp.com726-5544 | 712-2413

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Bob McCahon

BRE#00890589

Mollie Whipp

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Bob’s Car Wash 240 Main Street, Half Moon Bay 726-6647

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Buzz Myers

Alborzi Orthodontics 705 Purissima, Half Moon Bay726-6321 | www.GotToSmile.com

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HMB LIBRARY PLANS CONTINUE

TO DIVIDEPublic libraries are generally right up

there with mothers and apple pie among things that generate wide support. But

plans to construct a new, larger San Mateo County library branch on the footprint of the current Half Moon Bay Library have been controversial.

As currently envisioned, the library would cost about $23 million to be split between city and county taxpayers. It would be 25,000 square feet and include a digital classroom, maker space, community rooms and, of course, room for books and other publications.

In a split vote, the council voted in February to authorize the issuance of $8 million in lease revenue bonds to finance the city’s portion of the total. The funding mechanism is a relatively

popular way for state and local government to finance projects that might not win approval of voters, which is necessary for general obligation bonds. Not so fast, say a coalition of local citizens who say the library is too big and the funding too murky. The Tax Protection Act will be before voters next year and if it passes it would require a supermajority of council members before the city could obligate itself via lease revenue bonds. It remains to be seen whether that will have any impact on plans for the library.

Meanwhile, there is progress toward a new building. The city hired Berkeley-based Noll and Tam Architects, which has experience designing public buildings, to come up with a design Coastsiders want.

Tom Mattusch Nicole David Sabrina Brennan Virginia Chang Kiraly

John Ullom


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YearinReview2015Celebrating 41 Sweet Years!

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Mazzetti’s Bakery 101 Manor Drive, Pacifi ca | 650-355-1007www.mazzettisbakery.com

Ara Croce 213 San Mateo Rd, Suite 100, Half Moon Bay650-712-1299 | 650-888-4636 (direct)[email protected] | www.aracroce.com

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Rice Trucking-Soil Farm 2119 S. Highway 1, HMB726-4354

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Coastside Carpet &Oriental Rug Cleaners 145 Main St. (behind Ocean Shore)Half Moon Bay | 726-6676

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Rose & Nate SerdyAlain Pinel Realtors | 650-440-9510www.theserdyteam.com

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Sheppard Family Dentistry 890 Main Street, Suite A, Half Moon Bay

650.726.3355 | shepparddentists.com

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Coastal Arts League 300 Main Street, Half Moon Bay650-726-6335 | www.CoastalArtsLeague.com

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years25+ George Salet Plumbing, Inc.

650-560-5630www.PlumbingPro.com

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Spring Mountain Gallery790 Main St., Half Moon Bay

726-3025 | SpringMountainGallery.com

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If it sometimes seems Half Moon Bay City Council and staff can please no one, consider the praise following reconstruction of the pedestrian bridge over Pilarcitos Creek. The city spent six figures replacing a poorly maintained bridge on the Coastal Trail that it didn’t even own and

opened it in November to nearly unanimous praise.The span buckled in 2014 when a California State Parks employee drove a tractor over it. It was

badly rusted by then and when it crumbled it initially looked like the project would have to get in a long line of state priorities.

But it was an important walkway for locals and tourists alike who have long sought a permanent path stretching from Half Moon Bay north to at least Pillar Point Harbor. So the city stepped in, pledging hundreds of thousands of dollars toward a $1.8 million repair of state-owned infrastructure.

In July, plans for a prefabricated replacement that would last 50 years were put on hold. The city issued a press release saying that ongoing federal reviews of the environmental impact of a replacement bridge would delay construction at least into 2016. Those concerns were short-lived, however; days later the city announced that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had fast-tracked its review and the final barrier to construction was passed.

In September contractors broke ground on the project and in November the city hosted an event to mark the reopening. It was a moment to savor in City Hall, where Half Moon Bay employees cajoled state and federal agencies to work (relatively) quickly to replace a local asset. It should also serve as a wake-up call. The bridge just to the north, over Frenchmans Creek, is dilapidated and will suffer a similar fate unless agencies act to preserve it.

PILARCITOS BRIDGE BUILDS

CONSENSUS

After more than a yearlong closure, the new Coastal Trail bridge was cheered by residents and visitors.


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Parsons Financial Advisors & Parsons Accounting & Tax Services 721 Purissima St, Suite C, Half Moon Bay650-726-0640 | www.parsonsadvisors.com

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Securities offered through Foothill Securities, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services including fee-based asset management accounts are offered through Foothill Securities Inc. All other financial planning services are offered through Parsons

Financial Advisors. Parsons Financial Advisors and Foothill Securities are not affiliated companies.

Harmonies Salon 245 Main St., Half Moon Bay726-2129 | harmoniessalon.com

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Hillsdale Transmission707 Claremont Street, San Mateo650-347-3707www.hillsdaletransmission.com

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Cameron’s Restaurant,Pub & Inn 1410 S. Cabrillo Hwy., Half Moon Bay726-5705

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LISTEN TO THE TIME MACHINE

WEEKLY RADIO SHOW HOSTED BY CAMERON PALMER

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Real Estate Funding 700 Mill Street, Half Moon Bay726-2179 | refsi.com

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Cheryl FullerMassage TherapyCypress Inn on Miramar Beach | 650-208-0244650-726-2249 | www.cherylfullerlmt.com

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to the sound of the sea

Half Moon Bay Auto Repair149 Main St., Half Moon Bay726-0711www.HalfMoonBayAutoRepairAndBody.com

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Tokenz 524 Main Street, Half Moon Bay712-8457

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Phil’s Tires 422 Purissima St., Half Moon Bay726-5153 | www.philstirepros.com

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MAC DUTRA PLAZA GETS A FACELIFT

City spends $400,000 at Mac Dutra

For years, many local residents complained that the park in the center of Half Moon Bay wasn’t really a park,

or at least not a welcoming place. Mac Dutra Park was derided as dirty, closed off, and even unsafe.

That all changed in 2015 when the city, with the help of the Half Moon Bay Beautification Committee, completed a $400,000 facelift of a largely cement plot directly across from City Hall. City leaders gathered in the newly rechristened Mac Dutra Plaza in September to celebrate the changes.

Those changes included a raised stage that quickly became home to a regular

Concerts in the Park series, a water feature and nearly a dozen table-and-chairs sets. One hidden treasure is a time capsule that was buried near the park’s northeast edge. The plan is to open it in 2059.

Not everyone was thrilled with the changes, however. Some complained that the city was effectively bulldozing its quaint past or spending too much on the rehabilitation. And artists who contributed to the tile installation in the old park were particularly unhappy to see their work — a public art project — demolished.

Love it or hate it, the plaza is a refreshed area in the center of town. It was put to particularly effective use during December’s Night of Lights. The city’s holiday tree was erected in the plaza and it was where the event’s emcee set up shop for the night.

City leaders celebrate the remodeling of the Mac Dutra Plaza after extensive construction.


The Coastside provides plenty of subject matter for Review photographers' lenses to be focused on. We present some of our 2015 favorites.

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1. Workers clear Brussels sprouts from Half Moon Bay fields. Cat Cutillo 2. A dolphin plays in the waves near Tunitas Creek Beach. Sonia Myers 3. Young animals at Branscomb Farm. Dean Coppola 4. Aiden Brilliant-Hack, 3, is all smiles while throwing hay at Elkus Ranch. Dean Coppola 5. Danny Turgeon, 18 from Half Moon Bay, poses at the Cunha soccer fields. Dean Coppola 6. Martha, left, and Bruce Jenkins at home in Montara. Dean Coppola 7. Serena Ahl-gren socializes with Blue the horse at Shamrock Ranch. Cat Cutillo 8. From left, swimmer Corey Fix, mechanic Mike Cook, and pilots Beau Belanger and Jesse Keyser at U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Fran-cisco. Dean Coppola 9. A kite surfer makes his way along Roosevelt Beach. Dean Coppola 10. Winnie Hu, left, and Mona Yu, taking pho-tos in a field of flowers. Dean Coppola 11. Orion Roar member Alex Griffiths of Pacifica performs during the Pumpkin Festival. Cat Cutil-lo 12. Bill Esteves points out family members in one of his black-and-white framed photos. Dean Coppola 13. Arya Yilmaz of Half Moon Bay enjoys the show machine. Cat Cutillo 14. Mavericks surf contest opening ceremony. Cat Cutillo 15. Members of the Lions Club base-ball team practice at Smith Field. Dean Coppola 16. Standard Poo-dles Shadae, left, and Bosch walk up the trail after a great evening at Esplanade Beach in Pacifica. Cat Cutillo 17. Humpback whale near Surfer's Beach. Cat Cutillo 18. Annie Basker of Half Moon Bay at the Pumpkin Festival. Cat Cutillo 19. Motocross stunts at the Dream Machines event. Bill Murray 20. Kenneth Martinez of San Francisco checks out his plane at the RC Club airfield.

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Photos

Photos bring home spirit of the coast

Through the years, the Review has been blessed with wonderful photography. In 2015, the newspaper welcomed photographer Cat Cutillo to the family and she brought a fresh eye to things that Coastsiders may have seen hundreds of times but somehow missed as well. Cutillo shared the year’s moments with Dean Coppola and together they brought home the beauty of the San Mateo County coast.

Both of them would be quick to say that the best photographs start with an amazing subject and there are few places more attractive to the lens than the Coastside. Majestic redwoods, towering waves, fields of springtime flowers all provide the backdrop for some incredible shots.

The best photographers see more than all that. And Cutillo and Coppola also captured the humanity of the coast. Some of their best shots weren’t of impressive scenery but rather of the everyday people who populated the place.

This is also a good place to tip our hat to many talented and thoughtful individuals too numerous to mention by name who have contributed photography to the newspaper’s mission this year. Thank you.

— Clay Lambert

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Bay World Travel 225 S. Cabrillo Hwy. S, Half Moon Bay726-7345 | bayworldtravel.com CST#2034794-10

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Premier Termite Inc. and Floors to Go 116 N. Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay726-7756 | [email protected]

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Sterling Court 850 N. El Camino Real, San Mateo(650) 344-8200 | www.sterlingcourt.com

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Termite Inspection -ConstructionDryrot Repairs | Fumigation Serviceswww.coastsidetermite.com | 726-6757

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Peter & SteveIacopi

Classic Reflections Salon 650.726.3019736 Main Street, Half Moon Bay

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Boys & Girls Club of the CoastsideP.O. Box 545, Half Moon Bay650-712-9710 | www.bgccoastside.org

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“Building the Dream”

Klaws, Paws & Hooves 728-8070 | klawspawsandhooves.comMaking tails wag from Montara to Half Moon Bay

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Voted in the top three 2015 Favorites

Paulo’s Auto Care 129 Main Street, Half Moon Bay726-5969

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San Carlos Elms707 Elm Street, San Carlos www.sancarloselms.com650-595-1500

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TOXIC ALGAE CLOSES CRAB

FISHERYHealth concerns devastate local fishermen

2015 was the year the holidays came and went without Dungeness crab. And Coastside foodies and fishermen alike

wept.The crab fishery is one of the most lucrative

in West Coast waters. Each year, many Californians count on having the local delicacy on their Thanksgiving tables. There is often wrangling over prices between fishermen and wholesalers, but nothing like this.

“This” is persistent findings of domoic acid

in the flesh and viscera of crab caught from California north to Washington. The acid is the result of toxic algae blooms across the Pacific Ocean. The acid is a neurotoxin that can cause serious illness in anyone who ingests it. In fact, sea lions that have hunted local waters and taken in the acid have become disoriented and apparently suffered permanent brain damage, according to recent reports.

The state banned sales of locally caught crab in November and that ban remains in place at this writing. The lack of local crab leaves fans blue, and fishermen devastated. Legislators have called on the governor to declare a state of emergency so that federal funds can be made available for fishermen who depend upon the clawed catch.

Hundreds of crab pots lie dormant in the Pillar Point Harbor parking lot waiting for a crab season that has yet to open.


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All Animal Mobile Veterinary Clinic Half Moon Bay | 726-3445allanimalmobile.com

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512 Dolores Avenue, Half Moon Bay 726-5022 | [email protected]

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248 Main St., Suite 200 Half Moon Bay650-823-9248 | [email protected]

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Hastings HouseHastingsHouseWeddings.com650-726-2513

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Alifano Technologies Inc.225 Main Street, Half Moon Bay650-560-0000 | www.alifano.com

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The UPS Store 80 N. Cabrillo Hwy., Suite Q, Half Moon Bay 726-3091 | [email protected]

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Café Capistrano 650-726-7699 523 Church St, Half Moon Bay

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� e Posh Moon 519 Main St., Half Moon Bay650-726-3821

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Class Act Grooming990 Cabrillo Hwy N., Half Moon Bay

726-7092 | www.classactgrooming.com

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Hedge firm promises to continue services

One of the area’s most anxiously awaited verdicts concerned its largest health-care facility, Seton Medical Center Coastside. The fate of the Moss Beach skilled nursing home and emergency clinic hung in the balance for most of 2015 only to be resolved in December.

In the waning days of the year, Daughters of Charity Health System completed its transaction with BlueMountain Capital Management LLC, turning over control of the Coastside medical center to the New York-based hedge fund.

The announcement came nearly two years after Daughters of Charity indicated it would sell its six California hospitals. And that raised concerns among patients, employees and Coastsiders over the fate of the Moss Beach facility.

The deal was not easy. BlueMountain had to agree to a series of mandates from the California attorney general’s office. Chief among them: that the hospitals remain open and offering current services for at least a decade. Those conditions scuttled a previous deal that also drew opposition from employee unions.

Daughters of Charity Health System will now be known as Verity Health System. Verity will serve as a nonreligious not-for-profit governed by a new, independent board of directors. BlueMountain’s Integrity Healthcare will run the hospitals. The Seton hospitals will retain their current names.

BlueMountain has committed to infusing the system with up to $260 million in capital and keeping virtually all of the 7,000 jobs spread between the six facilities. That was one of the attorney general’s conditions. After three years of the 15-year agreement, BlueMountain has the option to purchase the entire system.

LOCAL SCHOOLS MAKE CHANGES

AT TOPNew principal, superintendent take over

It was a year of transition for Cabrillo Unified Schools.

In May, the superintendent and the principal of Half Moon Bay High School both announced they were leaving the area. Parents and teachers worried aloud about their departure and that of notable teachers and classified personnel. There was a charged meeting in the high school library at which parents expressed concern about the turnover and the direction of the district generally.

Those concerns eased considerably over the summer when the district hired longtime school administrator and Coastsider Jane Yuster as superintendent and then welcomed back an old friend, John Nazar, as principal of the district’s only high school.

The key personnel changes were largely done by the time school started in the fall, but it remained a busy time at the school.

Administrators continued working to add a new track component to the athletic fields. Some complained that the school district improperly avoided environmental reviews in the original plan and that it wasn’t compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. So administrators withdrew the plan and started again. They now expect to begin in the next year.

Administrators also pledged to tackle another thorny problem: A very early start to the school day. About 15 percent of the student body begins school at 6:40 a.m. most days. Principal John Nazar empowered a group to work on a solution.

SETON MEDICAL SURVIVES TO

SERVE IN 2016

Jane Yuster John Nazar


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Toque Blanche 604 Main Street, Half Moon Bay 726-2898 | www.MyToque.com

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BRONZE CLUB

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Open Every Day 10am-6pm & Sunday 10am-5pm604 Main Street • Half Moon Bay • 726-2898

PLAYWITHYOUR FOOD

www.mytoque.com

United American Bank 40 N. Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay650.712.5000

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Teresa Adam, Vice President40 N. Cabrillo Hwy, Half Moon Bay650.712.5000

Community Banking for Half Moon BayWith more than 40 years of experience,Teresa Adam knows the needs of Half Moon Bay clients because she’s helped them achieve their goals for much of her career. A leader in our community, Teresa is active in many charitable and civic organizations. Call Teresa today for banking solutions to help achieve your goals.

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Sam’s Chowder House 4210 N. Cabrillo Hwy., Half Moon Bay712-0245 | www.samschowderhouse.com

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Audrey Perry Kitchen & Bath Design650-728-8015 | [email protected]

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Mercado Mi Familia 182 San Mateo Road, Half Moon Bay (650) 726-4848 | www.mercadomifamilia.com

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Gallery & Gift Shop521 Main Street, Half Moon Bay440-4527 | ellenjoseph.com

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Fog Town Toys 726-4556 | fogtowntoys.com330 Main St., Suite 104, Half Moon Bay

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Ilana Strubel MA, DVM, CVSMT, CCRT1040 Palmetto Ave., Paci� ca415-967-3861 | www.awelladjusted pet.com

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A Well Adjusted Pet

Oddyssea617 Main Street, Half Moon Bay 650.440.4555 | [email protected]

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FATAL SHOOTING RATTLES

HALF MOON BAY

HUMAN POWER TAKES FLIGHT

Suspects alleged to have gang affiliations

Authorities say a 21-year-old father and husband was gunned down by over-the-hill gang members in August, spurring concerns about the safety of Half Moon Bay streets and gang violence on the coast.

Felix Garduno-Vega was lured out of a house party on Oak Avenue, according to the district attorney. Once outside, he became involved in a verbal altercation that ended when Abraham Ramirez Arroyo fired two shots from a .380-caliber handgun, killing Garduno-Vega. Another man, Armando Carranza, has also been arrested in the crime. Both are awaiting trial.

Initially, the crime was termed “gang-related.” Officials now say that both of the suspects are gang members, but they do not say the same of the victim. Friends and family say he was a loving father and bristle at the gang connotations.

Afterward, many people mourning Garduno-Vega began wearing black T-shirts with his likeness. The shirts themselves became controversial in October, when San Mateo County Sheriffs deputies targeted a group of Latinos in part because one member of the group was wearing the shirt. Sheriff’s officials say the shirts are indicative of gang behavior; those who wear them disagree.

Airport hosts extraordinary event

One of the Review’s most-read stories of 2015 concerned a Peninsula man and his obsession.

Alec Proudfoot’s project is dubbed Dead Simple Human-Powered Airplane. It’s been years in the making and on a Saturday in December he and 300 volunteers who designed and built the aircraft over 12,000 hours saw it take to the air at Half Moon Bay Airport.

Volunteers from around the Bay Area gathered at the airport as early as 4 a.m. on Dec. 5. They had arranged for the runways to be closed from 6 to 8 a.m. so that they could see the fruition of their dream.

The aircraft is essentially a superlight recumbent bicycle with wings. The crew brought it to the coast in a specially designed trailer but had to put together the pieces when they got here. They came to the Coastside airport because the runway was long enough and, with so little traffic on an early weekend morning, it could be closed for a private endeavor.

Proudfoot and his volunteers hoped for a windless morning and they got lucky. The result was a triumphant flight of 765 feet. By design, Proudfoot, who was in the pilot’s seat, kept the aircraft only feet from the ground. Now that he knows it can go airborne, the sky’s the limit.

“It was really great,” Proudfoot said. “As a first flight, that was sort of amazing.”

NEWER BUSINESSES


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to all the small businesses

on the Coastside

Congratulations to all the local businesses that make the Coastside what it is. Start-

ing a business is difficult. Staying in business through all the ups and downs is a monumen-tal task. Hats off to all the businesses who man-age to thrive and grow year after year after year.

As a small business ourselves, we know how hard it can be. We also know that next to our unique envirnoment, it is the small businesses

that make our area so special. May all the busi-nesses represented here eventually make thier

way to the Platinum Club and beyond. To a wonderful new year!

Special recognition to the following businesses that graduated into a new category including Colors of the Coast, United American Bank, Sam's Chowderhouse, Toque Blanche, Ster-

ling Court which became a Gold Club mem-ber, and Weller O'Brien insurance that

became an esteemed member of the Platinum Club with 50 years in business!

Half Moon Bay Review

527 Main St., Half Moon Bay650-240-6550luzlunaimports.com

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Jersey Joe’s Coastside

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40 Stone Pine Road, Half Moon Bay(650)726-4043 | jerseyjoescoastside.com

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R E A D E R S

THANK YOU FOR YOUR 3 YEARS OF SUPPORT

Spice Me Thai Cuisine500 Purissima St. #C Half Moon Bay, CA 94019 650-560-0074 | 650-560-0076

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THE PRESS 107 Seville Ave., El Granada726-9775

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coffee bakery grilled cheese house

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MOJO Yoga 270 Capistrano Rd. #8, Half Moon Bay650-866-9231 | www.mojoyoga.com

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Located in the Shoppes at Harbor Village

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BITTERSWEET DAYS AT

THE REVIEWFor those of us at the Half Moon Bay Review, 2015 has been a bittersweet year

The newspaper earned honorable mention in the nationwide Newspaper of the Year contest administered by

the Local Media Association and welcomed outstanding new staffers, including reporter Carina Woudenberg, photographer Cat Cutillo and production assistant Bill Hill.

But it is also the year it said goodbye to Stacy Trevenon, who retired from the newspaper after 28 years of writing mostly community and arts-related stories. And everyone at the newspaper missed longtime sports reporter

Mark Foyer.Foyer fell ill with Guillain-Barre Syndrome,

which is a rare illness that affects the nervous system. He has been in hospitals and other care facilities since April. Foyer continues to improve, very slowly.

We look forward to his return and we know we’ll see Stacy around the coast.

— Clay Lambert

Stacy Trevenon Mark Foyer

ONLINE AND ON YOUR MIND

The Half Moon Bay Review updates hmbreview.com constantly, adding dozens of stories over the course of each week. Staff shares that work across social media – for free – in hopes of providing useful, entertaining and enlightening information to all Coastsiders.Here’s a list of the most-read Review stories online in 2015.

“One dead in Saturday shooting.” The short breaking news story of the tragic shooting of Felix Garduno-Vega rocked Coastsiders unaccustomed to such violence on Half Moon Bay streets.

“Aviation enthusiasts pedal human power.” This one chronicled the triumph of one man’s obsession with flight and a special lift-off at the Half Moon Bay Airport.

“Calimari craze hits local harbor.” This 2014 story was obviously shared again and again this year. It dealt with an unusual squid catch in local waters.

“Pumpkin Fest incident spurs profiling debate.” The story brought allegations of racial profiling against San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies who kept an eye on certain people, in part, based upon what they were wearing.

“Family still mending after nightmare crash.” This is another 2014 story, dealing with a car that ran up onto the sidewalk at Mac Dutra Park, injuring a visiting family.

“Cattlemen express concern over mountain lions.” There were quite a few mountain lion sightings on the coast this year.

“Man takes plea deal for stalking HMB couple.” In 2014, a San Francisco man faced a year in jail on stalking charges involving Coastsiders.

“South Coast schools revamp website.” The story of a new online presence for the La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District.

“7 line up for City Council race.” Coastside politics is always a big topic of discussion.

“The music will go on, for now.” This story outlined plans for the Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society after the death of owner Pete Douglas.


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Come Home to Sterling Court

Visit us and see for yourself!Please call to arrange a tour and complimentary lunch.

650.344.8200Sterling Court, The Community for Seniors

850 El Camino Real, San Mateo • sterlingcourt.com

A welcoming ambience. World class cuisine. Engaging activities. Elegant apartments.

Friendly, attentive staff. A community full of good neighbors and friends.

Full kitchens with granite counters, cherry wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances

World class cuisine with friendly attentive staff

Elegant refurbished apartments

Library

Art Room

Fitness Center

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Kevin O’Brien, Heidi Frank, Claudia Lopez & Adam Underwood

Because a handshakestill means more.

When it comes to insurance you need more than just the lowest price. You deserve Premier Service. And that’s what you’ll get from Weller/O’Brien and Allied Insurance. We take time to get to know you and your insurance needs, and Allied offers you:

720 Kelly AvenueHalf Moon Bay 726-6328

License # 0C17330

• Money-saving discounts• 24-hour policy service• Fast, fair claim service• Flexible payment options• Cutting edge technology

Drop in

or call

today!www.wellerobrien.com • [email protected]

Main

John

ston

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Kelly

MiramontesWellerO’Brien

Weller/O’Brien Insurance Services

Year in Review 2015

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