Celebrations around the world live

Time Magazine/Julia Zorthian, 11:54 AM ET (3 hours earlier here, 8:54 AM PT), "Around the World. So you can celebrate the end of 2016 over and over."

First Happy New Year!

Welcome 2017 New Year's fireworks

"New Year’s Eve celebrations are in full swing as midnight hits across time zones of the world, so why not celebrate the end of 2016 over and over again? 
Check into this live stream to see fireworks shows and other events taking place in major cities as they happen. You can watch a midnight concert in Hanoi, Vietnam, at noon EST, Greece’s fireworks and music at the Acropolis at 5 p.m. EST, and more.

A list of approximate starting times for each celebration is below (though the lineup is subject to change). You can put the live stream on as you get ready for your evening—or even in the background at your New Year’s Eve party—and see how different cities celebrate 2017 in their own ways.
Here’s when 2017 will hit select cities: • Hong Kong at 11:00 a.m. EST • Hanoi, Vietnam at 12:00 p.m. EST • Mumbai, India at 1:30 p.m. EST • Karachi, Pakistan at 2 p.m. EST • Dubai, United Arab Emirates at 3 p.m. EST • Moscow, Russia at 4 p.m. EST  • Athens, Greece at 5 p.m. EST • Berlin, Germany at 6 p.m. EST  • London, U.K. at 7 p.m. EST • Rio, Brazil at 9 p.m. EST  • New York. U.S at midnight EST • Mexico City, Mexico at 1 a.m. EST."  Read more.

Related.  CNN photographs and videos, "Ringing in the new year around the world." Sydney harbor from SydNYE; Asian (North Korea) audience face page also a face page to this article.  More, photograph slide show CNN, 12/31/16.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Palmetto Avenue apartment building moves forward, finally

Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop Staff Writer, 12/23/16.  "Controversial project approved by City Council."

Neighborhood of repeated appeals.

Response to Coastal Commission appeal
against the project: build it bigger!

"City Council upheld a planning commission decision to approve a four-unit apartment building on a part of Palmetto Avenue that is opposite the Fish and Bowl. Victor Carmichael and other members of a group called the Committee to Save the Fish and Bowl appealed the planning commission decision, but City Council denied their appeal in a 4-1 vote, with Mayor Sue Digre casting the negative vote.

This was the second version of the project at 4009 Palmetto Ave.; the planning commissioners liked the first one better, with its four detached studio apartments with living roofs, but Carmichael and the group appealed the first design to the California Coastal Commission.  The Coastal Commission staff worked out a different version of the apartment units. The new project is a larger building of 3,169 square feet with four units on the top two floors with an attached ground floor garage. The new design reduces the area on which anything will be built. It provides a 50 foot buffer to an Arroyo willow tree in the public right of way, a priority of Coastal Commission staff. One of the developers, Mile O’Connell, said the redesign will have different sized units, some good for families."  Read article.

Reference, City Council meeting, 12/12/16, Item 8, see Fix Pacifica article/City Council Agenda, 12/12/16.  Related, City of Pacifica, "Active Planning Applications List."  Related articles. Pacifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, Staff Writer, 10/27/16, "Commission okays apartments... ", and Pactifica Tribune/Jane Northrop, Staff Writer, 9/16/16, "Palmetto Avenue project gives Planning Commissioners concerns."  Note photographs of 4000 Palmetto by Christine Van from Better Homes/JF Finnegan Realtors. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Final EIR approved by SF Planning and Parks/Recreation, Sharp Park Golf Course

Pacifica Tribune/Paul Slavin/Special/12/23/16. "Sharp Park Golf Course lives another day."

What's not to love?

SPGC where golfers and frogs thrive.

"The historic Sharp Park Golf Course easily survived another challenge last week in San Francisco City Hall when a joint meeting of the San Francisco Planning Commission and the Recreation and Park Commissions voted overwhelmingly to approve the Final Environmental Impact Report for a long-range management plan for “natural areas” in the city’s public parks, including maintenance and habitat enhancements at Sharp Park. ...

....  A few anti-golf environmental groups, including the San Francisco Chapter of the Sierra Club, Audubon Society, and Wild Equity Institute, demanded that the Commissions “sever” Sharp Park from the Natural Areas Plan, and a new environmental review process be started for habitat improvements at the golf course. This demand was denied, with Rec and Park Commission President Mark Buell explaining that modifications to the course were not “golf development,” as the enviros claimed, but necessary habitat improvements for the endangered species.

Since 2012, these same anti-golf groups have on several occasions challenged the Recreation and Park Department’s Sharp Park wetlands plans. All these challenges have been rejected by either the US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission, or the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The groups’ lawsuits have been dismissed by the US District Court for Northern District of California, Ninth US Court of Appeals, and San Francisco and San Mateo County Superior Courts. ... "  Read more.

Related,  SF Recreation and Parks Dept. Sharp Park Golf Course. Related, supporting organization. San Francisco Public Golf Alliance, again and again, hurray for them!     Note Sharp Park Golf Course photographs. Golf cards from Pacifica Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center, "Pier & Sharp Park Golf Course." Trees image to Golf Advisor.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Kimco just keeps sticking it to Pacifica mom & pops

The last doughnut is soon to pass over the counter at Donut Time in Pacifica.

Like the 11 million doughnuts that have gone before it at the modest hangout at Linda Mar shopping center, it will be delicious. And it will disappear into the dust of the ages, dust more or less the consistency of powdered sugar on a cake doughnut.

Donut Time has lost its lease. There will be no more chocolate sprinkles on top, no more custard in the middle. There will be no more bags full of doughnut holes. A marketable hole is an existential paradox anyplace but a doughnut store.

“I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid,” said Ali Vidali, 20, of Pacifica. “I like this place. It’s family owned. It’s mom and pop.”

The mom of the operation would be veteran doughnut purveyor Yok-moui Sinn, who works 12-hour days and whose family has owned the store for about eight years, ever since buying out the previous owner. She sells about 900 doughnuts a day.

Read more -
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Clock-to-run-out-on-lease-at-Pacifica-s-Donut-10816094.php

Posted by Steve Sinai

Enjoy the Holidays, City newsletter

Ah, find a Holiday to celebrate
or consider just making one up.

City of Pacifica/Connect with Pacifica/City Manager's Office, week of 12/19/16.

"Connect With Pacifica will take a holiday break next week, and will be back in the New Year.

We wish everyone Happy Holidays!  (Lorie Tinfow, City Manager) 
....  Save The Date

• Dec. 23 & Dec. 26 - City Offices are closed for the Holidays.
•  Dec. 26 - Regular City Council Meeting is Cancelled. The next regularly scheduled City Council Meeting will be on Monday, January 9, 2017.
• Dec. 30 - Application deadline for Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission - See the Recruitment Notice for more information. Application available here.
• Jan. 2 - City Offices are closed. Happy New Year!
• Jan. 4 - City Hall Listens Survey on Pacifica Libraries closes - Share your thoughts with us!  Click here to take the survey.
•  Upcoming City Meetings – For information about upcoming City meetings, visit the City of Pacifica website at www.cityofpacifica.org and check the Calendar for City Council Meetings and Other City Meetings at the bottom of the page."

 Reference.  Connect With Pacifica newsweek issues.     Note graphic from Diagnostic Eye Center, 12/2014.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Hanukkah and Christmas begin on the same day this year

NJ Advanced Media/Amy Kuperinsky, 12/11/16. "Why are Hanukkah and Christmas Eve on the same day in 2016?" 

First day of Hanukkah, December 25th this year.

Season of hope...

"A relatively minor Jewish holiday amplified by the largeness of Christmas in America, Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabee brothers' rebel army over Greek King Antiochus IV during the 2nd century B.C. and the "miracle" that is said to have occurred when a small quantity of oil lasted for eight days in the rededicated Second Temple. Hence the fixation on foods -- potato pancakes, doughnuts -- fried in oil.

....  This year, as in all years, the first night of Hanukkah falls on the 25th of the month of Kislev, which in 2016 corresponds to Dec. 24, or Christmas Eve, but in years past could mean anywhere from November to late December. In 2013, the first day of Hanukkah fell on Thanksgiving, giving us the whimsical portmanteau "Thanksgivukkah," and holiday-appropriate endorsements of deep-fried turkey and dreidel games during the Macy's parade.

Of course, we already have an unofficial name for the Christmas-Hanukkah mashup celebrated by interfaith families -- "Chrismukkah," popularized by TV series "The O.C." in 2003 and embraced by companies that gamely mix holiday symbols on greeting cards. Rutgers alumnus Ron Gompertz, who identified with the concept because of his family's own rituals, wrote "Chrismukkah: Everything you Need to Know to Celebrate the Hybrid Holiday," in 2006."  Read more.

Reference, date. Time and date.com, "Chanukah/Hanukkah (first day) in the United States." Celebrate Hanukkah. Jewish communities in the United States celebrate the first day of Hanukkah on the 25th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar. The Hanukkah period lasts for eight days and is celebrated from the 25th day of Kislev to the second day of Tevet. The first night of Hanukkah (or Chanukah) starts with special blessings at sunset the day before the 25th of Kislev. Many Jewish people light the menorah, also known as the hanukiah (or chanukkiyah), which is a type of candelabrum. Related, article. USA Today Network/AZ Central (The Arizona Republic), Maria Polletta, 12/15/16,"Why Hanukkah isn't the 'Jewish Christmas' and other facts about the holiday."

Note photograph, graphic. Child lighting the Menorah frrom Hope from Hanukkah/Kristin Schmidt blog. Raindeer from Etsy/Ashford Press, "Hanukkah Christmas reindeer card, hybrid holiday, season's greetings, animal stationary, Winter Solstice, Canadiana, Hanukkah reindeer."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

It's official, Winter began today December 21, 2016

The Old Farmer's lmanac. "First day of Winter 2016: The Winter Solstice."

Winter Solstice, 12/21/16

"In 2016, the winter solstice date is December 21. This is the astronomical start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Enjoy our solstice facts, folklore, and more!

Winter Solstice Dates. "Winter solstice is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight during the whole year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it always occurs around December 21 or 22. (In the Southern Hemisphere, it is around June 20 or 21.)  In 2016, the winter solstice begins at: .... Wednesday, December 21, 2016 at 2:44 am PST.  

What is the Winter Solstice? The word solstice comes from the Latin words for “sun” and “to stand still.” In the Northern Hemisphere, as summer advances to winter, the points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets advance southward each day; the high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day. 

At the winter solstice, the Sun’s path has reached its southernmost position. The next day, the path will advance northward. However, a few days before and after the winter solstice, the change is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still. The Sun is directly overhead at “high-noon” on Winter Solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn."  Read more.

Note photograph facepage image to Seasonal Yoga/Winter Solstice.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Electoral College is a "loser", it really did elect Donald Trump

Donald J. Trump Verified account ‏@realDonaldTrump

"The electoral college is a disaster for a democracy." (Donald Trump)

• Retweets 142,414
• Likes 101,063
• 

      

Twitter  8:45 PM - 6 Nov 2012.  Opportunity to read all 142,414 retweets for those who do not already have a life.  As for Donald Trump, USA President, yikes!

--------------------
Related news article today.  USA Today/Heidi M. Przybyla, 12/19/16, 3:10 pm, "Tump wins Electoral College vote as insurgency fizzles."  "WASHINGTON — Donald Trump will — officially — become president next month. Trump surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed from 538 electors casting their ballots, in a day of normally ceremonial voting that drew attention amid intense social media pressure and protests in state capitols."

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Reminder Planning Commission meeting, tonight Monday December 19, 2016

Item 2. Build it now?

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local television or live feed Pacificcoast.TV, (formerly pct26.com).  If you miss civic meetings, view on PCT 26 You Tube!  The planning commission meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following.  Planning Commission updates, archives are available on the City website/Planning Commission.                

Fix Pacifica article Planning Commission Meeting 12/19/16     Planning Commission Agenda, 12/19/16, pdf pages 72.

Public hearings
1.     Consideration of coastal development permits to demolish two (2) separate lot and separately owned single-story, 910 sq. ft. each, family residences:
1 a)  528 Esplanade Drive.
1 b)  532 Esplanade Drive.

2.     Request to extend construction permits for a nine (9) condominium project, 1567 Beach Blvd. Recommend deny, (6th extension, see Agenda pdf computer page 35).
-------------------
Note photograph of 1567 Beach Blvd from Zillow.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Electoral College elects President Trump Monday, December 19, 2016

Or in the season of miracles, enough electors could have enough courage to vote no thanks.

CNN/Politics/Gregory Krieg, Marshall Cohen and Robert Yoon, visualizations by Joyce Tseng, 12/16/16. "What happens in the extremely unlikely scenario the Electoral College goes rogue?"

What does it matter, I won by a landslide.

And further, you are all losers.

"Donald Trump is busy building his Cabinet and planning his agenda, but he isn't really, officially going to be President quite yet. One of the peculiarities of American democracy is that it's a group of 538 "electors" -- members of the Electoral College -- in this nation of 318 million who actually pick the president.

They'll do it, meeting in their respective states, on December 19th. The outcome is a foregone conclusion, but there is room, however small, for a surprise: an uprising, as called for by some Democrats and even some Republicans, of "faithless electors." None of the electors are constitutionally bound to follow the will of the people they represent, and so in this bizarre election (and post-election) season, an arcane system that was established at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 could -- and this is very unlikely, but could legally -- go rogue and potentially deny Trump the presidency."  Read article.

Related, the tweet wars of President Elect Trump. NPR/Politics/Jim Zarroli,12/15/16,"Trump lashes out at 'Vanity Fair,' one day after it lambastes his restaurant." "One day after Vanity Fair printed a highly critical piece about one of his restaurants, President-elect Donald Trump escalated his feud with the magazine's editor, calling him a 'no talent.' 'Has anyone looked at the really poor numbers of @VanityFair Magazine,' Trump said in an early-morning Tweet. 'Way down, big trouble, dead! Graydon Carter, no talent, will be out!' The tweet illustrates Trump's ability to use his very visible platform as president-elect to lash back at critics of his businesses and underscores the conflicts of interest he will face in office. 
 ....  Tina Nguyen (Vanity Fair politics and media writer) lambasted the restaurant for its tacky decor and indifferent menu. Among the foods served, she wrote, was a short-rib burger 'molded into a sad little meat thing, sitting in the center of a massive, rapidly staling brioche bun, hiding its shame under a slice of melted orange cheese. It came with overcooked woody batons called 'fries'—how can someone mess up fries?—and ketchup masquerading as Heinz. If the cheeseburger is a quintessential part of America's identity, Trump's pledge to 'make America great again' suddenly appeared not very promising.'"
.... More recently, the magazine and its editors have regularly lambasted the president-elect. 'Only in America could a man whose staff reportedly took away his Twitter account because he couldn't control himself be given the nuclear codes,' Graydon Carter (Vanity Fair Editor) wrote after the election."

Note photographs. Trump tweeting from Politicus USA/Jason Easley, 8/20/16, "Things Are So Bad For Republicans..." Trump what does it matter by Getty from The Telegraph News/Josie Ensor, Beirut and Ben Farmer, Defense Correspondent, 11/16/16,"Downing Street warned to prepare for Donald Trump reversal on Syria and military support for the UK." 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Bluff erosion, Esplanade Avenue, City newsletter

City of Pacifica/Lorie Tinfow, City Manager and Executive Staff, 12/16/16, "Connect with Pacifica", week of 12/12/16.  Featured: Continuing bluff erosion, Esplanade Avenue, the sink hole, City Council reorganization, and much more City news.

310 Esplanade Avenue, going soon.

320 Esplanade Avenue,
gone, week of 3/12/16

Esplanade Avenue apartment
neighborhood, week of 1/26/16.

.... "On Thursday, Dec. 15, the City held a press conference to announce planned actions to demolish a vacated apartment building at 310 Esplanade Ave.  This is the building that last January was deemed uninhabitable and “yellow-tagged” by our Building Official.  Since then we have been monitoring the bluff condition and with the recent rain and storms, the deterioration has increased at an alarming rate.  The property is under private ownership but the owner has declared bankruptcy and has no funding to respond.  Because it’s such a serious public safety concern, the City is stepping in to take the building down but will seek reimbursement from the owner.  For more information, please see the press release issued as well." 

On a related note, you likely heard news stories about the “sink hole” at Oceanaire Apartments (located just north of 310 Esplanade Ave.) this week.  Fortunately, that property owner is acting responsibly to repair the damage sustained and stabilize the bluff edge.  In that case, the City has played no role.  The owner posted the sign closing beach access and roped off the area.  Since the damage is to the bluff edge, the permitting authority is the California Coastal Commission.  Our jurisdiction covers only activity on the bluff top.

We are hopeful that this winter won’t be as challenging for our City as last year’s but rest assured that your City staff and City Council are taking all steps possible to protect the City and respond appropriately."  (Lorie Tinfow, City Manager).   Read more and sign-up for emailed "Connect with Pacifica."

Note photographs: 310 Esplanade Avenue by Chris Dant from Adequate Bird. The cliff apartment neighborhood from Daily Mail, UK/Snejana Farberov, 1/27/16,"Residents evacuated from seaside homes teetering on the brink as California cliffs crumble into the ocean amid violent El Nino storms." 320 Esplanade Avenue teardown by John Green/Bay Area News, from Monterey Herald News/Associated Press, 3/12/16, "Cliffside teardown: Pacifica apartment building demolition begins.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

Planning Commission meeting, Monday, December 19, 2016

Attend in person, 2212 Beach Boulevard, 2nd floor.  Or, view on local television or live feed Pacificcoast.TV, (formerly pct26.com).  If you miss civic meetings, view on PCT 26 You Tube!  The planning commission meeting begins at 7 p.m., or shortly there following.  Planning Commission updates, archives are available on the City website/Planning Commission. 

Planning Commission Agenda, 12/19/16, pdf pages 72.

Open Session, 7:00 p.m

532 Esplanade Avenue

528 Esplanade Avenue

Administrative (page 1):  Order of the Agenda; Approval of the Minutes 12/5/16.  Liaison to next City Council meeting, none. Communications: Public oral. Study Session, none.  Consent Items, none.  Closed Session, none. Presentation, none. 

Public hearings

1.     Consideration of Coastal Development Permits to demolish structures:
1 a)  CDP-378-16, demolish 528 Esplanade Drive, a 1-story, 910 sq. ft. single family residence (APN 009-161-010), CEQA class 1, categorical exemption, section 15301, filed by the City of Pacifica. Recommend approve as conditioned. 
1 b)  CDP-377-16, demolish 532 Esplanade Drive, a 1-story, 910 sq. ft. single family residence (APN 009-161-020), CEQA class 1, categorical exemption, section 15301, filed by Tom and Melissa Wilson. Recommend approve as conditioned. 

2.     PSD-757-06, UP-965-06, SUB-211-06. Extend permits for construction of nine (9) condominiums, 1567 Beach Blvd (APN 016-011-190).  "Background...This is the sixth extension request for this project. The applicant is requesting the permit to allow additional time to complete the building permit approval process." (See Agenda pdf computer page 35).  Recommend deny permit extension request. 

Consideration items, none.  Communications: Commission, Staff. Adjourn.

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Reference.  Acronyms.  APN, Assessor's parcel number. CDP, Coastal Development permit. PE, Parking Exception. PSD, Site Development permit. PV, Variance. S, Sign permit. SP, Specific Plan. SUB Subdivision. TA, text amendment. UP, Use permit.  Zoning. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).   CA CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Categorical Exemptions.  Freestanding single-family residences set-back and parking, R1, Reference.com. S, City of Pacifica Sign ordinance.

Note photographs. 528 Esplanade Avenue from Zillow; 532 Esplanade Avenue, facepage Google image to realtor.com.

Posted by Kathy Meeh