The La Honda Voice

The Face of Local Music - Jamfest 2013

by craig eddy

 

How about a day in a beautiful park under the Redwoods, next to a creek, with lots of local musicians jamming? Yep folks, it is once again time for the annual Cuesta La Honda Jamfest. On October 12th starting at around 1pm at Playbowl the woods will be filled with the sounds of local musical talent not playing for money, fame or even free beer but, playing for the fun of it. Many gigging musicians don't get to play with many other players simply because they're busy gigging with their bands. Jamfest puts together musical collaborations that might not happen otherwise. Pack up all your end of summer fun things (Frisbee, volleyball etc.) and come on down to Playbowl for the day. Why hassle with driving when a great time can be had for free right here? It never ceases to amaze me the depth of local musical talent here in our little mountain community. Thanks to the Cuesta Board we have a great annual event that can showcase all that talent. From Stones to Bob Marley, Hank Williams to Charlie Parker you never know what you might hear. If you have a history of gigging around the area feel free to bring your instruments and join in the fun. There will be time for some of the local solo performers too. This is a bring your own everything event but bringing stuff to share is fine too. Hope to see lot's of you there!

Food Pantry Update

Fr. Onubogu and Shella Bordi ready with the holy water

The St. Vincent de Paul food pantry has been distributing food to the La Honda community from a building at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church every Sunday since November 2012. Recent improvements in the building have been a community effort with help from local people, whether they are church members or not. The coordinator of these improvements has been La Honda resident and church member Shella Bordi. With the new flooring and trim and other improvements, the building is looking bright and inviting.

The food that is distributed is provided by Second Harvest --the area food bank-- and the St. Vincent de Paul Society from Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church in Half Moon Bay. Every week the Half Moon Bay SVdP members put together the bags of food which are picked up by a La Honda volunteer and delivered to our local pantry.

Sunday September 15 the community of Our Lady of Refuge Catholic church celebrated the blessing of the renovated building. Half Moon Bay SVdP members were invited to join in and to see where their food bags were given out. Father Charles Onubogu officiated after the regular Sunday Mass. Following the blessing, parishioners celebrated with a potluck that was also in commemoration of the 59th year of Our Lady of Refuge being located on Sears Ranch Road.

L to R: altar server Ryan Staal, Tom Clarkin (SVdP Half Moon Bay), Fr. Onubogu, Shella Bordi, Deacon John McGhee, Catherine Staal

People picking up food may have noticed some different faces behind the tables. These were SVdP members from Half Moon Bay who were giving the La Honda volunteers a chance to join the potluck. Also in attendance was Society of St. Vincent de Paul of San Mateo County Executive Director Lorraine Moriarty, who was helpful in getting the La Honda Food Pantry up and running.

Pantry hours are every Sunday, noon to 2 PM. If you require assistance from SVdP at other times, please call the San Mateo phone number 650-343-4403 and they will assist you.

A potluck picnic being enjoyed by people from Our Lady of the Pillar in Half Moon Bay and Our Lady of Refuge in La Honda

Chip Seal!

Several local roads are getting face lifts this month. The roads include Portola State Park Road, upper Alpine Road (above Portola State Park Road), and a section of Page Mill Road that is in San Mateo County in the Skyline area, as well as Stage Road and Pomponio Creek Road on the coast. These roads are being chip sealed in preparation for winter. Chip sealing is the application of aggregate (gravel) over "Rejuvenating Polymer Modified Asphaltic Emulsion" (road oil).

Chip sealing is quicker and less expensive than other forms of sealing or repaving. The chip sealed area can be driven on almost immediately. But it leaves a rougher (and noisier) surface until the road is swept and the gravel is seated in. Cyclists need to be extra cautious on the new surface and automobiles should be driven more slowly because of the danger of flying gravel. Remember, until the roads are re-striped there will be no center line.

Local residents had plenty of warning including signs on the roads warning of the upcoming project with its possible delays, bilingual hang tags on rural residents' mailboxes, and postcards mailed to property owners alerting them to the project and asking them to warn tenants.

So watch for work in progress and once the chip sealing is completed drive with extra caution.

September 2013 Edition of the La Honda Voice

...and here it is:

Download TheLaHondaVoiceSep2013