Half Moon Bay Memories & El Granada Observer

[Image: If you are wondering who the hand on Jack's left shoulder belongs to: it's Janice's hand, Jack's girlfriend.]

The last time I saw Jack King

was at the hardware store in El Granada, when Tom Andersen owned it. That day, more than a decade ago, was very windy and cold. It was winter. We were doing some remodeling on our house, and the blustery winds had snuffed out the flame in the old heater located beneath the house, way back in a dark and scary crawl space.

[Yes, yes, I could have called PG&E but I didn't think of it.]

On that very cold, winter day I bumped into Jack King at the El Granada hardware store. Jack was a local character. I knew him as an unusual fellow who could spout classical poetry on demand–all the while flashing his generous smile. The way he wore his tousled brown curly hair, combined with the scholarly pair of glasses, helped to give him an intellectual look–and he was smart—

His talented girlfriend, Janice, designed and made original clothing. Jack and Janice lived in different places on the Coastside, near Cowboy’s Surf Shop and near the top of the El Granada Highlands.

Remembering that our heater was down, and that I did not know how to light a flame safely, and that I was afraid to make my way through the shadows in the crawl space…..I asked Jack if he would help us.

Not a moment of hesitation, and, fifteen minutes later, dear Jack wouldn’t take a little gift of thanks from us, as we had much to be grateful for once the rooms were warming up.

That was the last time I saw Jack King. I heard he moved to San Francisco, somewhere near San Francisco General Hospital. Burt and I hope that life is treating him well. We will always remember Jack King by the act of kindness he performed for us on that gloomy day long ago.

—————

Dear June,

I lived with Jack King at 2040 Laguna st. in San Francisco back in the day. Could you tell me if Jack is still around.  If so and you see him give him my Email address and to contact me.

Dear friends & family,
Today is my daughter Marika’s birthday & I thought you would enjoy the little e-card that I sent to her this morning. We concluded the beautiful day (above) this last Saturday by kayaking and rollicking and having fun at Mavericks, playing some wild three-way frisbee with Michael Murphy until well after a glorious sunset on the low tide beach out front.

I remember so clearly on the morning of October 28, 1974, a few hours after Marika was born, seeing the headline in the San Francisco paper: STATE GETS FIRST BIG STORM. Well, I guess it is true that Marika has been a “big storm” in my life–one that has brought me so much adventure & happiness, and for Marika, I am forever grateful.

Warmly,
Michael Powers

[In the image below, Mr. Eugene Pardini's uncle farms the land, decades ago, near El Granada and the traffic light at Highway 1 and Capistrano Road.]

Today I watched a youtube featuring an interview with well known, successful investor Jim Rogers. In an interview with the Bloomberg channel,  Rogers was asked what he was investing in, in these shaky times, and why.

I was surprised to hear him answer: “Agriculture.”

As to the “why” of his unexpected investment choice, Rogers pointed out that most of the farmers working today are old–and there’s no one to replace them. Nobody’s going to farm school. Farm equipment, like tractors, have aged along with what could be America’s last generation of farmers.

Farming has been left behind: so, who will grow our food?

The present dismal economic picture will surely discourage new hammer & nail work for the indefinite future. There’s an irony here. The Coastside earth that has historically produced artichokes, Italian beans, and brussels sprouts, has been, overtime replaced by new homes. Could that change?. Who knows? Farming on the Coastside could turn into the biggest industry we have!

The Borsini-Burr Gallery (1.877.712.2111/ or, for the website, please click here ) has invited master painter, sculptor & llithographer Michael Parkes to Montara-by-the-Sea the weekend of November 7, 8, 9.

Three days he’s going to be on the Coastside, visiting the historic artist’s colony.

A one-man show, says gallery owner Dianne Borsini-Burr. You’ll see his old work, his new work, and learn things you didn’t know before.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will feature a different creative event, all WITH the master painter Michael Parkes, AND, chances are, you can talk with him, one-to-one. A weekend of fine art; a good time to invite friends and family to the Coastside.

Burt says, “Ask him about the economy.” but Burt asks everybody that. I say:: “Ask him about the future of art in our culture.” Business and art seem like two universes, don’t they?

I own several wonderful, mood-changing, sometimes mind-stretching pieces of Mr. Parkes’ work. I admire his attention to detail like the balloon-sleeved, striped shirt one character wears, the magical themes, the details within details. Maybe he needs to guard his imagination in a creative vault!

For his beloved daughter’s wedding invitation, the artist drew a plump lotus flower with a very long stem. A couple of feet long, that stem was. When used as a fancy card to be mailed, the work of art was folded to fit. Who doesn’t love receiving original art in an envelope?

The titles of his older paintings (”The Swan King,” “Girl on the flying trapeze”) may give you a hint of Michael Parkes’  vigorous artistic spirit and humor.

One last thing: Let me remind you about the history of Montara-by-the-Sea. In the early 1900s, Montara was home to the historic “Artist’s Colony” founded by San Francisco book publisher Harr Wagner. Poets, painters and musicians–and even a graphologist, better known as a handwriting expert, once lived and worked in the rustic cottages that dotted the rural landscape dominated by magnificent Montara Mountain.

I’m happy to report that the tradition of artists living in Montara-by-the-Sea remains. And I wouldn’t be surprised if master painter Michael Parkes decides to settle down right here.

That’s what the shrieking voices say on tv.

If anybody owed you money–or if you have a financial claim (trust fund, lottery or sweepstakes winner) wouldn’t you want it NOW?

Rather than later.

Even if it amounts to a discount, my opinion is to TAKE IT NOW.

But then again, I’m a “girl,” with a short-time preference.

Need an image of your favorite Coastside beach or lighthouse (Pigeon Point or Montara Fog Signal?) I love Michael’s pre-golf ball shot of Pillar Point.

The Wongs enjoy meeting the customers and they are so very helpful and respectful….Visit them at Spring Mountain Gallery in town, 225 S. Cabrillo Hwy #128c, or click here

The image below is of Half Moon Bay in black and white, near Mill and Main, with the historic concrete bridge in the distance.  But no hitching posts in sight–

You asked me about working in the Farm Advisor’s office.

After I graduated from high school and briefly attended UC and then Heald’s Business College, I received a call from a former HMB High School Business teacher, Mrs. Marie Colwell, asking me if I cared to take a job in HMB.  Because of family circumstances, one was my father had recently died in a truck accident, I accepted the job in the fall of 1949.  The organization was a Federal agricultural agency, called Triple A, and was housed on Kelly Ave., across from the alley way, behind Cunha’s store. We was on the ground floor with the Farm Advisors office, Patricia Dutra was their office employee and Mr. MacNamara was the Advisor. Up stairs was the living quarters of the Rathborne family.

Eventually, the Farm Advisors staff, which by then included R. H. Sciaroni as the 2nd Farm Advisor, moved to Main Street in the building formerly the office of Dr. Borley, next to the Odd Fellows Hall; our staff, now called Production and Marketing Assoc., moved to a  new, block bldg, on Main Street, near the HMB Bakery. Our Agricultural staff joined in with another organization, Soil Conservation Service.

After about five years, I left PMA and worked in Redwood City for the County of San Mateo, and then was asked by Pat Dutra if I wanted to work in her office; so I joined the staff as a part time employee, it was much better than having to commute to Redwood City, especially as I was now married.  As Mr. MacNamara had passed away, another gentlemen joined the staff at the Farm Advisors, Bryan Sandlin and later Robert Ward.

The Farm Advisors spent a lot of time out in the field, visiting farmers and flower growers, even those on the Peninsula, as at that time there were various flower nurseries in Redwood City and Palo Alto,  When they were in the office, along with phone calls, there were office visitors to see the Advisors. Also, often there were staff people from the UC Extension Office in Berkeley.  These fellows either visited the advisors or went out in the field with them, to assist in problems the farmers were having with plant diseases, etc.

The office staff, Pat and I, were also busy with calls, either setting up appointments and/or answering generic questions from the callers.  There were lots of pamphlets, available from the UC Extension Service, they were the ones employing the Farm Advisors, the office staff was under the County of San Mateo. Many of the calls were regarding the pamphlets, as they included home advice, regarding: canning, gardening, freezing food, etc.  Pat was responsible for more duties than I.  Pat had taken a short hand course and was often busy taking dictation from the three advisors. As I worked only about three days a week, I was mostly on the phone, running the mimeograph machine or duplex machine, typing letters and dealing with the public. There were many flyers sent out to the public or farmers, and it entailed sending out hundreds of these flyers to our mailing lists.

We also had office duties related to the 4-H organization as they were under the Extension Service. Robert Ward worked with the various groups in the County.

I worked approximately two years in the office, and left to have my first child in 1956.  Pat Dutra and Hank Sciaroni worked until their retirement and Bryan Scandlin and Robert Ward both passed away while they were employed in the office.