Special Feature Taking a Bite out of Litter Earth Day of Action

508 Pacifica Tribune, May 15, 2013 _ Page 1S

TAKING A ‘BITE OUT OF LITTER’ Pacifica volunteers hearts and hands for the Earth

they were learning amazing makes them swifter. While reefs. And then he swam on MYMY EARTH DAYDAY things about sharks. That is humans have five senses, reefs that were devoid of STORY an image I will have with me sharks have seven. The fish and the coral was dead. forever. usual see, smell, taste, feel, Further study revealed that Did you know that some by Lynn Adams hear but they also have elec- the reef sharks had been sharks are warm-blooded, tromagnetic sensors along PHOTO BY DAVID MCGUIRE SPECIAL TO THE PACIFICA TRIBUNE harvested so the next top some are cold-blooded? the sides of their body that fish ate the fi sh that ate the Surfer Spud from the band Drifting Sand delights attendees with Some give birth to live off- can detect the heart beats of algae off of the coral. So their “surfer pop” sounds including their original tune, “Shark, My first Earth Day was Shark” to round out the festival’s entertainment lineup. about 1970. I was around 10 spring, some lay eggs called other animals over 2 miles without these algae eating or 11 when my mother came mermaid purses and cork away and special glands on fish, the algae covered the screws? One shark species their nose that also act as outside and handed us kids coral and it died and with it hatch the eggs in their body hyper acute sensors. a gunny sack with the in- the fish depending on it also and the first born or stron- We learned so many structions to go pick up died. gest eat the remaining nine things. Sharks are the stew- litter on our country road, As amazing as the Shark to 10 before birth? Have ards of the sea, responsible both sides, from our house Assemblies were, they you seen a Cookie Cutter for maintaining the delicate to the high school. I don’t weren’t even the start of Shark? Or a Goblin Shark? balance of the many spe- remember which of my sib- what I call the Earth Day There are more than 500 cies. They are the garbage lings and I got to go do this, “magic.” To me, the entire known species of sharks men, cleaning up the dead but for me it was an adven- month of April is a season and they date back 400 mil- of the sea floor; the apex ture, something different of magic, and I am so happy lion years to an era before predators responsible for every day because I get calls and I liked it. the dinosaur. When the regulating the population The Pacifica Beach Co- from groups and their lead- Skates and Rays, which are census of all of the species ers who want to help. “My alition has been working on also a class of sharks, are by removing the sick, the this year’s Earth Day event team would like to do some- since shortly after Earth thing for Earth Day, where Day 2012. There is a lot of can we make a difference?” planning that goes into or- These words are so awe- ganizing this event and we To me, the entire month of April some and they can be heard talk about it all year long. is a season of magic, and I am every day from people who What was good about ED want to help. 2012, what could be bet- so happy every day because I After the Shark Assem- blies, Earth Day arrived. PHOTO BY LOUIS RICH ter? What animal should we get calls from groups and their Terra Nova High School students took on the hard work of I woke up and knew that honor? Who do we want to removing a shopping cart from San Pedro Creek near the Pedro leaders who want to help. people of all ages were get- perform at the event? “ Point Shopping Center. But this, my personal ting ready to meet up and “Take A Bite Out of Lit- work together; some to ter” story, really begins the pick-up litter, some to re- move weeds and yet oth- Monday before when David included, the species count weak, the slow and the dy- McGuire, shark conversa- increases to over 1,200. ing. Every species is stron- ers to garden somewhere tionalistandexpeditionfilm- Sharks are a fish, not ger because the shark helps in Pacifica. From the north maker, and I as observer, a mammal like a sea lion. them evolve. ” end at Mussel Rock to the held the first Shark Assem- Unlike fish that have a When removed from ar- south end Devils Slide area, bly for one of eight Pacifica skeleton, sharks are made eas of the sea, the balance of including every beach and schools (Chris Pincetich of cartilage, not bone. This fish becomes askew and the bluff, to the top of Hickey conducted assemblies to is the same soft tissue our system fails. For instance, Boulevard back of Valle- four schools outside of Paci- ear and nose are made of. McGuire told us that the mar, Sanchez Library and Sun Valley Shopping Cen- fica). Wow, talk about excit- This makes them lighter reefs with sharks that he PHOTO BY KATHLEEN COURTNEY ing, seeing 200 to 600 kids’ and faster. They can bend saw were beautiful and fi lled ter people would be arriv- Councilmember Mike O’Neill greets the Daisy Girl Scout volunteers faces light up with excite- almost in half and turn on with diversity; hundreds of ing to work in teams or as at the Pacifica Community Center during the VIP tour of the city ment at one time because a dime to chase prey. This fish species thrived on these See EARTH, Page 2 held during the morning’s cleanup efforts.

PHOTO BY SUZANNE WHEELER Pacifica Preschool classmates and the Pacifica Mothers Club teamed up to “take a bite out of litter” at Fairmont Park.

PHOTO BY NOEL SANTILLAN Good Shepherd students removed overgrown mustard on the hills and switchbacks above Rockaway Beach and then proudly showed JANE NORTHROP - STAFF PHOTO off their new reusable tote bags that they’ll use instead of single use Lynn Adams bags now with the plastic bag ban in effect in the city of Pacifica. Page 2S _ May 15, 2013, Pacifica Tribune 508

PHOTO BY PAULINE TANINI This year’s theme, “Take a Bite Out of Litter” honored the shark, one of the ocean’s most misunderstood sea creatures and inspired Vallemar students to illustrate their Earth Day banner with the myths and the facts about sharks at Family Day.

called/ we snapped a couple pho- The Community Center tos and as a group took the EARTH was our next stop and here Shark Pledge. More magic? we found dozens of young Yes, pure magic. Continued from Page 1 daisy, girl and cub scouts While we didn’t get to families or coming alone working together. The skate see this team in action, and joining in to help the park was spotless. Thou- we learned that up on the earth. Isn’t this a beautiful sands of wrappers, cups, Rockaway switchbacks, a thing? Isn’t this special? It straws and lids had been team of 40 high school stu- is the “magic of Earth Day” collected. The parking lot dents from Good Shepherd and I can never wait to hear was clean and wonderfully church pulled out two truck the stories of the day. devoid of trash. The kids all loads full of wild mustard. I started out with the Pe- had smiles and exuded such That is a lot of weeds my dro Point Headlands team. pride. Yep, more magic. friends and they went at it Thirty adults showed up at From here we couldn’t with such gusto that every- the Pedro Point Firehouse resist driving up and over thing was cleaned up and early. By 8:45 they were Roberts Road. The Dig It gone before we got there. eagerly ready to go. With Landscaping team led by Funny thing about weeding, special permission to go Dave Martinez was already if you really didn’t know onto the old Devil’s Slide done cleaning the overlook about it beforehand you Highway, these volunteers and roadway. They had wouldn’t even miss them. jumped out of the cars and scoured up and down the You actually might not even dug right into the French hillside and were taking know they worked so hard Broom Hill while others at- in the view from the top here because it looks so tacked Pampas Grass near together as a group. They natural when the weeds are the roadway with chains were pretty happy and gone. and trucks. The threat of when we met them they After Rockaway we PHOTO BY KRIS SCRIBNER poison oak didn’t deter any- shared their finds with us. headed back to the Festival San Mateo County Supervisor Don Horsley and Lynn Adams present “Shark Girl” Katie Scribner one. Two hours later and Their biggest joy was that site where all of the booths with a PBC Star of the Sea Award for her enthusiasm and passion in protecting sharks. one hike out to Devil’s Slide, they found less debris than and stage were set up. It this team returned knowing any other cleanup and they felt like a reunion with so they had made a difference. were done early. many friends and families, By 10 a.m. I met up with Finally we headed over and community groups a group of special guests at to Rockaway. between gathering. The excitement Linda Mar State Beach. We Lovey’s Tea Shoppe and and stories and joy radi- Thanks to Lynn Adams and the Pacifica Beach Coalition we were able to had a planned tour to see Mildred Owen’s garden we ated throughout the crowd. engage and involve more than five thousand Pacifica youth in issues and several groups in action. found Boy Scout Troop 29 Little kids, big kids, petting solutions facing our environment, from plastic pollution to threatened First stop, Linda Mar State and a team from the Cham- zoo, face painting, Matt sharks. The enthusiasm of the clean up teams, the educational activities Beach with Jim and Ana, ber of Commerce remov- Jaffe and the Distractions, and the schools’ symbolic shark posters displayed at the Earth Day site captains here since ing the weeds from the lot. Celia Mulherios, Drift- celebration inspire us to work harder protecting the planet we love. 1997, and Barbara Redfi eld Three truckloads of weeds ing Sand, Sardine Family “ Pacifica is a community that cares about the earth and the ocean and and Leslie Guevarra, who to be exact. Scout James Circus, Mitch Reid, Mike organized the record-set- Burman showed us how to Vasey, PBC Earth Heroes, sets the standard for the rest of us. Thank you. ting 193 volunteers who use the weed wrench while Don Horsley, Kevin Mul- checked in here to clean up dad and others continued lin, City Council Members, the entire neach and park- pulling weeds. cake, food, drinks, sun, fun. ing areas from San Pedro Around the corner Best of all was the joy —David McGuire Creek to Rockaway bluff. near the parking area to of knowing that through- Not a cigarette butt or small the Quarry, site captains out town, from north to ” plastic bit could be found Sandy, Janet, and Larry south, east to west, we all when they all finished/ told us about the cleanup took time from our day to Earth Day to me is about protecting the planet we live on and keeping On to the Linda Mar crew at Rockaway Beach. celebrate Earth Day with it clean. It’s also about saving different types of wildlife by picking up Park and Ride where a new More than 60 people in- action because this is what trash and cigarette butts. It also shows all the people who care about team, the Pacifica Tribune cluding Cub Scout Pack 9, we do in Pacifica. We take staff and friends, worked. Good Shepherd Knights of care of the earth together their planet. It can also be about the community coming together as What at first looked like a Columbus, and six different and this year we learned one to clean up. Earth Day is abuot protecting mother earth. pretty clean spot turned Phi Theta Beta chapters about the shark, last year “ out to have thousands of from as far away as Nevada about the turtle, and every cigarette butts and over teamed up to clean both year we learn just a little 200 pounds of trash and re- beaches, the rocks, parking more about what we can —Katie Scribner aka “Shark Girl,” moved weeds. One person lots and every street in the do to help mother Earth ev- 12-year old IBL sixth grader even trimmed the weeds in Rockaway area. Even Niah, ery day! Magic? Yes, pure the parking islands. Yep, Janet’s guide dog seemed Earth Day magic. Thank ” magic! That is what this is content and happy. Here you Pacifica.

PHOTO BY DAVID MCGUIRE Lynn Adams, president, acknowledges the volunteers of the Pacifica Beach Coalition who worked tirelessly and with dedication to coordinate a successful Earth Day of Action 2013 in Pacifica. From left to right, Deirdre Finnegan, Julie Brownell Walters, Claudia Reinhart, Ethan Sechler, Helen Nicely, Paula Teixiera, Ana Garcia, jim Fithian and Beth Monticue. The day concluded with PBC PHOTO BY KATHLEEN COURTNEY volunteer and festival coordinator Ian Butler leading the crowd in singing “Happy (B)Earthday” Assemblymember Kevin Mullin addresses the festival crowd estimated at more than 1,000 to Mother Earth. attendees during the day. Seaview Tire & Brake Center Tires • Wheel Alignment • Brakes • Balance & More Compassionate Care Program | Patient Resource Center Healthcare Consultation | Harm Reduction Workshops Community Bike Rental w/EMJ Bike Shop Michelin • Uniroyal • Dunlop • Cooper 2021 Palmetto Ave BF Goodrich Paci!ca, Ca 94044 Phone: 650.735.5031 66 West Manor Drive • Pacifica Email: [email protected] (650) 355-6889 Website: www.thecannabiswellnesscenter.com Oceana Market Pacifica’s Community Market organic products • gourmet & imported specialty items • fine wines fresh produce & meats • deli • cafe oceana toys & gifts home of good + healthy natural foods ATM

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JANE NORTHROP - STAFF PHOTO PBC Site Captain Jim Fithian received a Certificate of Recognition PHOTO BY DAVE RAUENBUEHLER from the California State Assembly issued by State Senator Jerry Children enjoying face painting on Earth Day. Sardine Family Circus Hill for his long term dedication and contribution to protecting Pacifica’s environment.

We’ve been doing campus clean ups twice a month and it has truly been making a difference as each time we clean we are finding less and less trash. I think students are starting to make the connection between their “ trash and what we find during the clean ups. — Cole Westbrook (led 30 students) at Ingrid B. Lacy”Middle School We saw at least two whales spouting just past the surfers, and many kids who shared their shark assembly experiences with us joined us indicating they were ‘already Earth Heroes, so we don’t need another button — we got one at school!’ Many families came as groups to celebrate Earth Day, PHOTO BY LYNN ADAMS and all seemed happy that the bag ban was in place. More than 5,000 students attended school assemblies, including Ortega School, pictures, in the week “ before Saturday’s Earth Day of Action to learn more about the importance of sharks and turtles in the ocean ecosystem led by Shark Expert David McGuire from Sea Stewards and Chris Pincetich from Turtle — Jim Fifthian at Linda Mar State Beach Island Restoration Network. Many students stated they wanted to grow up to be marine biologists. ” In memory of Cedric Collett, one amazing Earth Hero

The Pacifi ca Beach Co- He knew everything about time there was a huge tree and saw Cedric pulling alition & Pedro Point Head- California and the environ- trunk across the Arroyo weeds and invasive ivy from lands honor a fallen hero be- ment and the ocean. He was trail that Cedric knew about the top of the bank/riparian cause on Saturday April 27, such a wealth of knowledge ahead of time. While others area at Calera Creek. They Pacifica lost a dear friend, and a friendly spirit always worried it would be really chatted for a while, and he community member, envi- willing to share his wisdom hard to clear, Cedric said it pointed out a screech owl ronmentalist, fi refi ghter, with those around him. I was no problem to bring his that had taken up residence father and husband. Ce- was also lucky enough to chainsaw and cleared it in in a palm tree close to his dric Collett passed away have a friendship with Ced- a matter of minutes. When home. He was so willing while diving for abalone in ric outside of the PBC. Ce- not tackling a big job he was to share the knowledge he Sonoma County. Cedric’s dric introduced me and my more of an observer and a had she fondly recalls their death came as a shock to dad to bay swimming at the thinker, not a big talker , but conversation moving from everyone who knew and Dolphin Club in SF at the when he talked it was some- one subject to the next ef- loved him. Those who didn’t Aquatic Park. More often thing important or insight- fortlessly. She said that it know him personally have my dad and Cedric would ful. He always had a smile or is not often that you encoun- certainly been touched by swim, or hike or just have even an unforgettable devi- ter someone as genuine and him in ways they will never lunch. Cedric showed us ous smirk. comfortable as him and felt know. Those of us who did the Dip Sea Trail in Marin, At one beach habitat like she knew him all her know him personally will which was his backyard and restoration event Cedric life. forever remember the ways cross country course grow- showed up in work clothes, After the initial shock in which he touched their ing up. One time he took me including boots that had of Cedric’s passing begins lives and our community. and my dad to hike a “Dou- seen better days. One of to settle in, I have begun to As a member of the Paci- ble Dip Sea” — out and back the site captains teased him feel comforted by memories fica Beach Coalition and Pe- — it took us five hours. He about it, saying “Cedric – it’s of his hearty deep laugh, his dro Point Headlands, Cedric showed us the secret spring time! Your boots have done sheepish smile, his spar- was dedicated to the preser- and the best view to sit and their duty. Time for new kling one-of-a-kind eyes vation of our coastal habitat eat our lunch on the hike. ones!” He just smiled that and his ever present spirit through his innumerable We were so blessed to have sheepish smile and said, in Pacifica. Cedric made daily actions in Pacifica. shared these experiences “Well, maybe one of these a signifi cant mark on our Cedric was a fixture at my with Cedric. days. They still get the job Mother Earth through his monthly beach cleanups Other members whose done.” That was so Cedric, dedication to our commu- at Sharp Park at 9 a.m. He lives he’s touched tell such he was all about the action. nity and environment and came sometimes with a bag wonderful stories about At last year’s Coastal Clean- his spirit will live on forever already filled from his walk Cedric. They say that his up in September, he showed in Pacifica. The world lost a from Mori Point and always trademark was to do the up with a giant bag bursting precious soul last week, but with a smile on his face and heavy lifting and tough jobs with garbage, having walked I am gladdened knowing a story to share about things that no one else wanted along a creek bed on his way that he passed doing some- that he found or areas for to do. On the Headlands to Rockaway. He was always thing he loved so close to the concern. Cedric was full of he would often go for the very pleased with his haul. earth and surrounded by all so many great ideas about weeds in the thick of poison Another friend remem- the beauty that he brought ways in which we could oak or the biggest ones that bers the time she was walk- to us in life and in death help keep Pacifi ca beautiful. no one else could get. One ing back to a friend’s house — Deirdre Finnegan

We collected 1,000 pounds of trash, like discarded wooden pallets, a car seat, small furniture, windshield wiper blades, sewer line galvanized 4-inch pipe, a box of old used books, and a small BBQ. “ —Jesse Corona, Pacifica Manor Hardware with Cub Scout Pack 256 at Manor District”

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PHOTO BY KATHLEEN COURTNEY PHOTO BY DEIRDRE FINNEGAN More than 45 local community and environmental groups, including the Pacifica Resource Center PBC volunteers, including Julie Lancelle, assisted with the unloading and hauling of green waste (pictured) and the American Cetacean Society, exhibited and greeted attendees during the Earth from work efforts conducted by the Vallemar Conservancy at Calera Creek into the dumpster Day of Action festival. provided by Recology of the Coast, coordinated by PBC Vice President Deirdre Finnegan.

We planted seven vegetable beds with lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, radicchio, leeks, cherry tomatoes, an African Blue Basil plant, and a potato barrel. “—Chris Vance at Sanchez Library Garden

We led lots of Girl Scouts” who were really into participating, and they loved the (Star of the Sea) certificate!

PHOTO BY NOEL SANTILLAN Good Shepherd students removed overgrown mustard on the hills and switchbacks above Rockaway Beach and then proudly showed off their new reusable tote bags that they’ll use —August Murphy at the Community Center instead of single use bags now with the plastic bag ban in effect in the city of Pacifica. “ ” Earth Businesses take a bite out of litter The special thing about committing their offi ce to cleaned up business area Earth Day is how our en- electronic billing and re- and hosted a food booth at tire community partici- ceiving. the Festival to raise money pates. Families, community •Bookkeeping Plus - for American Cancer Soci- groups, churches, schools, joined Earth Day for the ety - Papa Cares - Relay for and businesses all fi nd a way first time and arranged for Life team. to support the event and the removal of a huge wood- •Recology of the Coast participate together! I’m pile and collected several - conducted school edu- not sure of any other com- hundred pounds of trash cational events, compost munity with this amount of with Seaview Tire. giveaway, and supplied participation benefiting the •Digit Landscaping - dumpsters (since 2005) and environment. cleaned Roberts Road and resource recovery stations The Pacifi ca Beach Coali- has since 2007 or before . at the Festival. tion would like to thank our •Mazzetti’s Bakery - do- •Safeway - hosted the business sponsors, all of the nated cake for all volun- Manor Business District businesses who took action teers and signed on to host cleanup, brought over 50 for Earth Day, and those monthly cleanups for the volunteers from the local PHOTO BY KATHLEEN COURTNEY businesses who supported East Manor business area. district, Earth Day Sponsor, City Councilmember Karen Ervin assists clean up and restoration efforts at Rockaway Beach us in the ED Ad in the Tri- with Boy Scout Troop 29 member James Burman and Allen Conlon during a stop on the VIP bune the week of Earth Day tour visiting and thanking volunteers around the city for their efforts. and in this week’s special feature! It is an honor to partner with each and ev- Clean business headquarters ery one of you to bring this don’t just happen, they are A lot less garbage was collected at the Earth Day Waste Collection site Earth Day of Action event made, and they are a joy to than in years past. We had a great group of volunteers who were not to our community. It is a pleasure to witness the re- visit and shop in. afraid to get dirty and did lots of hard work but also had a lot of fun. duction of litter, growth of Thanks to Team Dump Site. You guys rocked it this year. gardens, and improvement “ of habitat in Pacifi ca and “ only a united effort on the —Deirdre Finnegan at the “The Dump Site” parts of business and com- •Ocean Yoga - led a team and hosted Festival booth munity can make this hap- (and has every year) who sharing their environmen- pen! cleaned up Oceana Blvd tal successes” . Business participation is •Oceana Market - help- •Seaview Tire - joined ” so very important because ing patrons transition to Bookkeeping Plus and made it is the primary source of tote bags. their back parking lot spot- litter. All debris originates •Pacifica Chamber of less! from one store or another Commerce - Joined Boy •Starbucks - Brought a somewhere in the supply Scout Troop 29 in removing large team of volunteers to chain. Clean business head- the weeds in the Rockaway Linda Mar State Beach and quarters don’t just happen, Area. provided coffee station at they are made, and they are •Pacifica Tribune ad- the Festival . a joy to visit and shop in. opted and cleaned the Linda Other - Certainly there Here are some of the no- Mar Park & Ride - their fi rst are many other businesses table business actions and hands-on action. who supported Earth Day successes: •Pacific Manor Hard- and took action. Some we •24 Hour Fitness - an- ware returned this year and may not have even known other first timer - coordi- teamed up with Cub Scout about. Our sincerest apolo- nated a cleanup around Pack 256 to remove over gies for any omissions in their business neighbor- 1,000 pounds from their ad- this summary. PHOTO BY MICHAEL AYALA hood joining lot that had been a — Lynn Adams and the More than a ton of non-native ice plant was removed from Linda Mar beach by volunteers •Blyele Elevator - went dumping ground. Pacifica Beach Coalition from Accretive Solutions led by PBC member Michael Ayala. paperless on Earth Day •Papa Murphy’s - members

PHOTO BY JULIE BROWNELL WALTERS PHOTO BY DAVE RAUENBUEHLER Tim Swillinger from the San Mateo County Water Pollution During the festival, Shark Expert David McGuire of Sea Stewards Festival attendees of all ages enjoyed the petting zoo Prevention Program teaches attendees about water pollution spoke to the crowd on the continued need to protect the (including a potbelly pig) hosted by Friendly Pony Parties and by demonstrating the watershed model on display at the endangered shark species, our environment and the ocean. Barnyard Pals. festival.