Coastal Real Estate and Lifestyles

Thanks to my colleague Jan Gray for sending this email to all of us at our Coldwell Banker offices yesterday -

“There was a house fire last night on 6th Street - everything is gone.  There is an urgent need for some clothes and shoes.  Her size is small; shoe size 7 or 7-1/2.  Husband is about a 34 x 32 (est) and we don’t know his shoe size yet.  They will also need some bedding and towels, and anything else you can donate that you think will get them through this.”

The family is staying in temporary housing right now.  Please drop off towels, bedding, and call about clothes sizes to 1415 Main Street, Montara, or 248 Main Street, Half Moon Bay between the hours of 8:30 and 5 Mon-Fri.

Thank you.

…the annual Night of Lights in downtown Half Moon Bay.  If you’re looking for a special gift, you’ll find a great selection of treasures at the many shops that will be OPEN UNTIL 9 P.M. and shopping in downtown Half Moon Bay is FUN; but you don’t have to spend anything to enjoy the parade, decorations, carolers and treats that await.  So make it a date or a family outing.

Most importantly, this is one of several annual events that really brings the community together to celebrate each other and our local businesses.

The brochures that highlight the events are in many of the downtown shops, but here’s a quick run down:

KELLY & MAIN (Mac Dutra Park)

6 p.m. - Tree Lighting of the 10 ft tree donated by a local farm

7:30 - Half Moon Bay Sit Down Marching Band

8:30 - Blame it on the Dog Band

MAIN STREET

City Hall Parking Lot - Children’s Area & Food Court

Cunha Grocery - karaoke

HMB Electric parking lot - roasted chestnuts

7 p.m. - Parade beginning at IDES Parking Lot and ends at Mill & Church

7 p.m. - The Dalton Blues Band at Pasta Moon Lounge

7:30 - Santa Claus and Snowflakes on Coastside.net’s Front Porch

7:30 - Greg Frisbee Variety Show

7:30 - Harpist and Vocalist at Plum Tree Court

LA PIAZZA

6 p.m. Scottish Fiddlers

7:45 - Solimeno Belly Dancers

8:00 - Coastside Corale

9:00 - Solimeno Belly Dancers

Welcome this new shop… Moonglow at 545 Main (650-726-6066)…sister store to The Posh Moon at 519 Main.

If you want to be able to walk to downtown events like this, check out these neighborhoods - Spanish Town, Alsace Lorraine, Arleta Park, Highland Park, or Pilarcitos Park.

Whether you enjoy Half Moon Bay’s Pumpkin Festival or make a point of staying away for the town’s annual showcase event, here are a few vendors we visited that you can enjoy without ever stepping foot onto high-energy Main Street during 2 full days of music, food, shopping, haunted house, and basically PUMPKIN everything.

Via Ripatti - www.viaripatti.com - I buy a shirt for my husband here every year.  The artist, Steve Ripatti draws a new design every year and I always look forward to his inspirations.  The clothing is wrinkle resistant, doesn’t fade, and is very comfortable.  The husband and wife team also create beautiful wraps and other pieces for women.

Ladybug Design - www.lady-bug-design.com - nothing to do with ladybugs…this is custom made jewelry from wood.  It’s light-weight, original, and stunning.  This is a regular stop for my daughter and me.  She had many pieces that are not on the website.

Goldenspirits  Candle Works - a new vendor this year from Paradise, CA - I was impressed.  It takes a lot for me to get impressed with candles, consequently I usually don’t buy them.  I bought 4 in various scents and designs.  The early favorite, she predicted, is Citrus Cranberry.  1.530.872.2082

Nzalamba Artworks - www.nzalamba-artworks.com - The website doesn’t do justice to his work.  Paul shared the stories behind the prints he showed us - “Not to Worry”, “At Play”, “Love”, and “The Drums”, which the website does not give you.  When you buy a print, you will receive the story, he told us.

Photography by Pame - pixelpame.com - She had some great photos of Pillar Point Harbor and other local scenes, not showcased on the website.

http://www.miramarevents.com/pumpkinfest/

My friend, a local Half Moon Bay Coastside resident, sent this invitation to me yesterday…so I’m passing it on to you with her permission…

“Friends, As many of you know, I’ve been volunteering for a wonderful organization, One HEART.  Their mission is simple - to save the lives of woman and children, one birth at a time.  Ten years ago, when One HEART began working in Tibet, it was estimated that 1 in 33 women died in childbirth and 1 in 10 children died within the first month.  In 2008, for the first time ever, there were no maternal deaths and newborn mortality decreased from 10 to 3% in One HEART’s target areas.  This is an astounding achievement.
 
The Tibet Autonomous Region has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in China.  The geography is difficult, transportation is sparse, poverty is prevalent and the health care system is weak.  In addition there are deeply held cultural beliefs surrounding pregnancy and childbirth that often result in women delivering alone, in the barn or outside, without sterile equipment.
 
Because of their success, One HEART has been asked to expand into 3 more countries.  So, here’s why I’m writing… My good friend Dee Harley is hosting an afternoon with One HEART at Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero.  It’s a lovely setting, wine will flow freely, great food will be served and a tour of the farm will be given.  Arlene Samen, One HEART’s founder, will be there to share her stories, dreams and visions.  The goal of the afternoon is to raise awareness and donations for the cause.  Don’t let the donation part scare you, for as little as $55.00 you can save a life by gifting a sterile birth kit.  This is a wonderful opportunity to help save this indigenous culture, one life at a time.
 
Below is the invitation.  Space is limited so if you can come, please RSVP.  And feel free to pass this along to friends if you think they would be interested. I hope you will join me.”

The number to call for a reservation is 801-596-3317.

You are invited to meet some interesting, fun, and knowledgeable local experts this weekend.  While you’re at it, you may end up saving some time and money as a result of stopping by.  Look for this ad in the Half Moon Bay Review Wed. 3/18 (tomorrow).

Coastside-Living Green Fair downloadable flyer for printing.

Please call your Coldwell Banker Realtor or our Half Moon Bay office at 650-726-1100.  Thanks to colleague, Kathy Rain, for coordinating this timely and fun local event, including the above flyer.  Thanks also to the local businesses who are presenters for donating their time and energy for our community.  Here’s links to the presenters:

Solar Universe Network

Harrell Remodeling

Solabrite

The Sustainable Center of SSF

Emerson Environmental

The Goddess of Garbage

CAL Pacific Hydronics

Green Intention Design

Sunrise Painting

Caccia Plumbing - Tankless Hotwater heaters

Half Moon Bay welcomes Lance Armstrong’s 2009 AMGEN Tour of California, riding through the Coastside tomorrow, Monday, Feb 16, 2009.  It could be fun to cheer them on if your schedule allows.

A San Mateo County Info alert was sent out to give us the heads up to plan drive times accordingly.  The riders will be coming through the Coastside on a Monday morning after the normal peak commute of around 7:00-7:45 a.m., for Coastsiders driving to school or commuting south on Hwy 1 to Hwy 92 East into the greater Peninsula or Silicon Valley.  Also, the Tour website provides a schedule of estimated times for the various stages of the ride.  Our area is in Stage 2 of the tour.

Below are estimated times of when the riders will be in the specific Coastside areas:

• 9:11 - 9:23 Hwy 1 southbound, Pacifica City limits
• 9:32 Montara/Moss Beach
• 9:39 - 9:59 El Granada
• 9:44 Half Moon Bay, Mirada Rd
• 9:54 Half Moon Bay, Miramontes Point
• 10:06 East on Tunitas Creek Rd

More detail:  Tour of California Stage 2 schedule for Monday, Feb 16, 2009

For local day-to-day interest:  Half Moon Bay coastside offers great trails for biking and a terrific bike shop, The Bike Works.  Here’s what people say on Yelp.

Finding a few new interesting folks on Twitter this morning, I came across “DariusDunlap”.  He writes a blog about tech, music, politics, etc., which looked interesting, so I started following him.  He tweeted that New Leaf Market will be donating 5% of all sales today to Square Peg Foundation, a program to enhance life skills by working with horses.  This caught my attention because my daughter started riding and living in a world with horses at age 5 and I believe it changed the way she viewed the world.  We still have a horse that needs a new home.  She’s now in college.  Check out this local program, or you could stop by New Leaf on this crisp winter day for some of their delicious warm soup…or stock up on junk healthy snacks for Superbowl Sunday.

Rich, at local vacation home Harbor Vista includes me on his mailing list.  I got this notice this morning…then sent a note to see if I could make this available to my readers as well, so here’s the offer:

We’ve got an open week coming up at our house, from Jan 23 (update:  just booked this afternoon) Jan 25 to 30th.  I wanted to offer it to our mailing list first, at 50% off, or $200/night for Mon-Thurs and $250/night for Fri-Sun, with a 3 night minimum.  Lodging tax or pet fees are not included.

In case you need a reminder of our home’s amenities, our website is http://www.harborvista.us/. 

We recently converted the downstairs to a 4th bedroom, and pictures are available on our site.

I’m also offering February nights at 15% off.

If you’re interested, you can reach me at the number or email address below.

Regards,

Rich Gaushell

(650) 284-4098

owners@harborvistahmb.com”

Check the Coastside page for more fun things to do in the area.

…of an “under 5 year” Realtor - Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008

Exercise - my trainer/wellness coach may read this! 

Make lunch for high schooler (I know, I know - I don’t do it every day)

Check email and prep for day

Sadly, had to cancel a 9 a.m. webinar regarding Inbound marketing due to last minute changes in schedule.

Call a client to check in and discuss transaction

Meet Montara friend to discuss/collaborate.  On the way took a picture of PG&E trimming trees to protect their lines on a Montara country road in preparation for winter storms.

Drive to Diamond Heights, San Francisco

Preview said SF property for a San Diego buyer (by preview, I mean take notes, take pictures, pick up disclosure package as requested)  Loved this custom shoe closet!

Head over to San Ramon for a Round Table I was invited to by one of my mortgage contacts at Mason-McDuffie. Three Realtors were invited to share what’s current in our markets and discuss how to share accurate and timely information to our clients. (more on that later)

Stop at a nearby coffee shop for a decaf mocha and cash for the Bay Bridge

Return to the office to scan and send the 100-200 page disclosure package to San Diego client with notes

Download photos taken and upload to Picassa to privately share with him

Call other clients to catch up and update regarding strategy for listing their home in Spring 2009

Go home to eat and give Monte (our dog) some attention. (I’m not going to tell you what I ate.)

Send two emails to same client that I spoke with in the morning with follow up information

Create a post to my blogsite.  Review notes from today’s meeting for another post to come.  (I got about 5 ideas for blog posts to share with you, and will probably get to 2 of them.  But if we see each other, I have the info in my head.)

Check in with my son (was at practice when I got home)

Start to read Half Moon Bay Review

Didn’t get very far before falling asleep

Thanks, Julie, for sending this reminder to me.  Her husband Rob and his sister Jane will host the first screening in San Mateo County of the award winning documentary about tick-born Lyme disease tomorrow evening.  Coastsiders are surrounded by numerous hiking trails and open space; now we have an opportunity to get some first hand information on this topic.

Robert Buelteman, an award winning photographer and long time Montara resident, has been battling Lyme disease for over a year now.  He shares a little of his story in this SF Chronicle story last May.

Local film showings like this and others are sponsored by Half Moon Bay’s Reba Vanderpool at The Visionary Edge.  Per The Visionary Edge’s full press release, this film has already won awards, including the FREDDIE Award, Infectious Diseases Category, International Health & Medical Media Awards (to be awarded November 14, 2008.

The Half Moon Bay Review wrote a full article about the event in this week’s paper, 11.5.08, in the Community Section under Arts & Entertainment.

Saturday, November 8th, doors open at 7:00, start at 7:30pm, Ted Adcock Community Center, 535 Kelly Avenue, Half Moon Bay. Advance tickets $10, door $15.  No one turned away for lack of funds! Call 650-560-0200 or email reba@deepspirit.com for tickets.