NO SPRAY

"Pacifica and select areas of Bay Area counties will be subjected to intense aerial spraying for the Light Brown Apple Moth beginning August 1. Aerial spraying over Monterey and Santa Cruz counties last fall stoked fierce opposition among residents worried that the chemicals could cause health problems. The state Department of Food and Agriculture, which oversees the spraying, received hundreds of reports from people who said they felt sick after the spraying. The U.S. Department of Agriculture obtained an emergency exemption from registration from the EPA last year that allows the agency to use the pesticide in aerial sprays over California cities. Despite what some pro-spraying bloggers have stated, "Checkmate" is an agricultural pesticide. The warning label states "Hazard to Humans and Domestic Animals. Harmful if absorbed through the skin. Causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Harmful if inhaled. Avoid breathing vapor or spray mist." The warning label also notes it as an "Environmental Hazard - Do not apply to water or areas where surface water is present." Although the active ingredient is a synthetic pheromone designed to disrupt the moth's reproduction, the inert ingredients

within the spray formulation, which has not yet been finalized or disclosed, is a significant cause for concern. And it is not isolated one-time spraying! Aerial apple moth spraying will be conducted from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., six days in a row every month for nine months each year, for the next 2.5 years, a period roughly equal to two apple moth life cycles. Informative citizen action group website: lbamspray.com. It is a great source for official state documents and information related to the spraying project. Also read the informative article by San Francisco Chronicle environment writer Jane Kay on sfgate.com Feb. 20, which provides a thorough summary of the issues and notes that Carole Migden, state legislator from San Francisco, will introduce a moratorium on aerial spraying until officials can show that any pesticide sprayed by air is both effective and safe." (Patrick Langsjoen). See related story on Page 2A and full text of letter above.

RAVE ON

They may be smart and sassy, but ravens are not friendly to small songbirds that we love to feed in our backyard, so please don't feed the ravens, just the sparrows and finches and towhees.

PARK VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Planting, weeding, mulching, beach cleanup, and trail maintenance. Register online at parksconservancy.org. For information, call 415-561-3077 or email volunteer@parksconservancy.org

DRACONIAN BUDGET CUTS

"No doubt you've been reading about the draconian budget cuts that Governor Schwarzenegger wants to make to the state budget. What you may not know is how personal those cuts will become right here in the Pacifica School District (PSD). If the cuts go through, the PSD would have to cut about $1.1 million from its budget for the next year. This is on top of the $1.3 million they have already cut over the past six years. In addition, because of long-standing unfairness in school funding, the PSD already has one of the lowest funding levels in San Mateo County. What can we do? First, we can write our elected state representatives and ask them not to suspend Proposition 98, which sets out required levels of school funding. This would be the second time in five years that the will of the people on this subject has been ignored. You can do this online by going to their Web sites and emailing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, State Senator Leland Yee, and Assembly Member Gene Mullin. Also, the school board will consider whether to put a parcel tax on the ballot again in June. We know that Pacifica voted the tax down last May, but the PSD is facing a very desperate financial situation despite its excellent financial management. It has cut, it has economized, it has kept a rainy-day fund, and none of it is enough. Even if enacted this time, the parcel tax will not cover the governor's proposed cuts, but at least it would drastically reduce the damage. Let's hope that generous Pacificans will be willing to help the city's children. There is a meeting on Wednesday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the district office, 375 Reina del Mar, to discuss this. Please come and let the school board know where you stand." (Matt Levie)

THE GREAT LITIGATOR

"Looks like the Great Litigator' Keith Fromm is throwing in the towel on the Fish and Bowl' property. He had filed something like two dozen lawsuits against the City of Pacifica and came out batting 0-for-24, also losing his Coastal Commission permit in the process (for illegally bulldozing Fish & Bowl). Just think, for a mere $8.9 million, you too can own this unbuildable piece of paradise. (See Coldwell Bankers local real estate listing.)" (monkframe)

EGG-THROWING MORONS

I wonder if the morons in the little white car who throw eggs at pedestrians in Linda Mar ever stop to think that they might hurt someone or that one of their victims might identify them or even be armed and willing to retaliate? Just a thought: If you know these knuckleheads, tell them that throwing objects from a moving car and striking someone is called assault and battery, and can lead to serious consequences.

FEED YOUR HEAD

"Good news: Mary Florey's grandson Aaron Schlieve says he's going to continue operating the bookstore. I was elated when he told me, but I was also a bit surprised. It's been a real struggle to get customers to walk through Florey's door in this Age of Amazon.com, et al. But he has and will continue to persevere. I hope that people will understand that this increasingly rare independent bookstore needs our support if it is to stay open. Think about Florey's next time you want to buy a book. If it's not on the shelf, Aaron is more than happy to order it, and he's speeded up the process so that you can usually get your hands on it within three or four days. Please support this enterprise. Feed your brain at Florey's Bookstore on Palmetto, right across the street from the public library." (Renee Batti)

SITESEER

Wildlife of Golden Gate Park, March 13: randallmuseum.org

Morphing Web sites: waybackmachine.org

Pacifica archive on June Morrall's blog: halfmoonbaymemories.com

SWAMI SEZ

"The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the least amount of hissing." (Jean-Baptiste Colbert, 1672)

MAYBURRITOVILLE

Email your stories & photos: mayburrito@goofbuster.com

My columns online: PacificaTribune.com, WanderingAndWondering.com

Get your smoking hot news: PacificaRiptide.com