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Tsunami warnings cancelled for Hawaii, California

Update 4:40 p.m.: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has lifted the warnings for the California and Hawaii regions. The tsunami produced surges that were not as large as feared and officials at the Center were quoted as saying Hawaii "dodged a bullet."

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A massive 8.8 earthquake in Chile has prompted a tsunami warning for the California coastline. In fact the catastrophic temblor has set off warnings for coastal areas in the entire Pacific region.

Numerous high waves and tsunamis have already been reported in the Pacific. Here is a list of potential spots in California that might experience surges which are expected around 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Local authorities are already issuing warnings to boat owners and residents along low-lying coastal area here in Marin including Sausalito and Belvedere.

Hawaii is particularly in danger where waves could reach heights not seen since the 1960s. According to live reports, Hilo could be hardest hit like the destruction they experienced following quakes in Alaska in 1946 and also Chile in 1960.

Follow this live feed and this live feed on the internet for Hawaii warnings.

NOAA color graph of expected Tsunami severity

Graph of expected ETA of Tsunami in Pacific region

Video of the quake as it hit Chile

Trailside Killer linked to another murder

David Joseph Carpenter, the so-called Trailside Killer who was convicted of of murdering seven people in  Marin and Santa Cruz counties in the 1980s has just been linked by DNA to an unsolved San Francisco murder.

The 79-year-old Carpenter, who is currently in San Quentin and awaiting execution, killed 6 females and 1 male all on remote hiking trails, including Mt. Tamalpais, which earned him the "Trailside Killer" moniker.

The San Francisco case involved a 23 year-old SF resident, Mary Bennett, whose body was discovered buried near Lands End in October of 1979. Bennett had been stabbed multiple times in neck, back and chest, and her murder was never solved. Until now.

Crime lab investigators detected DNA from a male on evidence collected from the murder scene. When they ran the DNA, they made a match to Carpenter's DNA which was already on file. Detectives got another recent DNA sample from Carpenter to confirm the match. 

Read more in the SFGate.

Sea lions back in the SF bay

The sea lions that disappeared suddenly from Pier 39, seem to be making a comeback. Sausalito Marine Mammal Center's spokesperson Jim Oswald said they are returning, because they aren't bothered by sharks here. Although there are far fewer than the hundreds and hundreds that littered the docks, the return of even a few dozen, is a welcome sight for tourists. Here's an ABC7 internet report--

Welcome to our National Parks and don't forget to duck

Beginning today, it is legal for someone with a license to carry a concealed and loaded firearm, to bring it into nearly all of the nation's National Parks including Muir Woods, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes National Seashore here in Marin.

A person who has a legal right to carry a firearm was not permitted to do so in a National Park under a federal law enacted in the 80s, but that law was overturned during the Bush administration. Now someone can bring a gun into a National Park in states that allow an individual to carry concealed firearms, and California is one of those states.

There are a few exceptions; no firearms can be brought into visitor centers or rangers offices which are federal buildings which don't allow weapons. And of course it is still illegal to hunt in National Parks. 

Gun rights advocates insist parks will be safer, but many, including park rangers bemoan the new change. Bill Wade of the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees was quoted in the Washington Post--

"Visitors are going to go to national parks with an increased amount of suspicions and weariness and concern," Wade said. "Worse, he said, the new law will erase the park system's reputation as a place of solitude and safety."

Read more in the Washington Post.

2009 Golden Gate Bridge suicide count released

31 people jumped to their death from the Golden Gate Bridge last year, a slight dip from the previous year's 34. Over 1,300 people have committed suicide since the bridge was built in 1937.

Last year, only twenty bodies were recovered by the Coast Guard and given to the Marin Coroner. Several others were recovered in other counties, or never recovered but the jumps were either witnessed or recorded on security cameras.

This information comes from the Marin Coroner's office who also take the opportunity to make the push for a barrier, a longtime controversy-

"Last year 31 people took their lives at the Golden Gate—Completing a decade of tragedy with hundreds of lives lost for want of a proper safety rail or net. This tragedy has now been going on for over 72 years." 

In 2008, the Bridge District voted to move ahead with a proposal to erect a net barrier but further studies and funding efforts are needed before it becomes a reality.

The storm on the ground, and up above

For North Bay residents, it could have been worse.

There were downed trees, some flooding and a lot of wind but not a lot of widespread damage.

Rainfall totals in the last 24 hours ranged from over an inch in Corte Madera to over two inches in Novato. Add that to the Monday and Tuesday's totals, and you've got a lot of rain. All this water has everyone wondering if we don't need to worry about the drought anymore. El Nino isn't all bad.

Series of wet, windy weather systems headed our way

The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement warning Bay Areans that they are in for a whopper of week.

It all begins on Saturday with 'light showers' but then it gets worse on Sunday and into Monday where up to 3 inches are expected.

We get a short break Monday night but then it starts all over again on Tuesday where we'll get an additional 2-4 inches.

And then the whopper on Wednesday. According to the advisory--

"A very powerful jet stream is forecast to be over California by the middle of the week, while a deep surface low is positioned off the Washington coast. This has the potential to produce very strong winds and high wind warnings may be needed. By the end of the week ahead...total rainfall could 10-15 inches at the higher elevations and the potential for up to 20 inches in the wettest locations."

You can help

The photos of the devastation in Haiti which began as a trickle on Twitter, are now pouring in over cable and broadcast and they are truly horrifying; everywhere--smashed buildings and bloodied people.

The 7.0 quake has basically leveled a nation, and likely killed tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of its citizens. We may not know for days--even weeks--how many have perished because of the mountain of rubble. Poverty-stricken Haiti was a challenging place to live in the 'best' of times. In a disaster like this, it's unimaginable.

In Marin, members of the Haitian community are desperately trying to reach loved ones in the stricken homeland without much luck as this KTVU internet video report shows.

The outpouring of images, tweets and information have unleashed an outpouring of help, aid and relief. Everyone from the government to corporations to celebrities are donating resources and money. And so can you.

Here's a comprehensive list of organizations that are actively involved in the Haitian relief effort. You can also text "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10. 100% of that passes to the Red Cross.

Oh, and Pat Robertson-- you can go to hell.

(photos courtesy of NECN.com and TIME.com)

Surf's UP!

Update!! Despite the huge waves, officials will NOT hold the Maverick's surf contest on Wednesday. Boo!

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Big wave surfers are probably already waxing their boards.

Twenty-foot high waves are expected to arrive late on Tuesday evening on the Northern California coastline. According to the National Weather Service, the sizable surf will produce huge waves from Marin (including Rodeo Beach pictured above) to the Peninsula, with waves lasting 18 seconds in duration. They will also produce strong rip currents.

This has been a banner winter season for big waves on the West Coast-- earlier in December, Hawaii got some monsters.

This week's swell is expected to last until Thursday evening.

Quake,rattle and roll

A major 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck just off the Northern California coast around at 4:27 p.m. on Saturday. The temblor was situated 26 miles west of Eureka in the Pacific and reports of feeling it as far south as Santa Cruz and far north as Oregon.

The National Weather Services' West Coast Tsunami Warning Center said there there was NO risk of a tsunami. There have also been several minor aftershocks reported.

As of this writing, reports are trickling in mostly about power outages, water breaks, gas leaks and property damage. So far, no reports of fatalities but minor to moderate injuries have been reported by KTVU.

Things have been rattling in California for the last few days when two jolts hit the Milpitas area. Both of those quakes were under 5.0 and did not produce any damage or injuries.

Twitter has been lit up with tons of tweets about the quake and the first twitpics are starting to come in.

Where have all the sea lions gone? (video report)

For nearly 20 years and as recently as a few weeks ago, hundreds of sea lions called San Francisco's Pier 39, home. Suddenly, except for a handful, they have disappeared. Experts at The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito are looking into it-

No Yule log on Christmas

Bay Area residents will have to make merry minus the fire on Christmas. The Bay Area Quality Management District has just issued a Spare the Air/No Burn for Friday, December 25 (except for homes that rely on fire for heat). We have the Spare the Air widget on our website, so if you aren't sure about burning bans, just check our main page, left hand column.

And if you just can't live without your yule log, MoreMarin suggests trying this instead.

Lights back up on top of Angel Island

That which is dark, will soon be light.

Last year's fire on Angel Island burned a lot of brush and hillside, and it also destroyed lighting equipment used annually for the last 50 years to illuminate the top of the Island during the holidays.

This year, thanks to a generous donation by PGE, the "Angel Lights" will shine again.

The brand new lights are LED and solar-powered and will be switched on Thursday evening in a ceremony at the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in conjunction with it's "Angel Lights" Benefit. The benefit is a way to raise money for the beleaguered state park which has been battered in recent years by oil spills, fire and budget cuts. (Photo of night shot is courtesy of Angel Island Association)

GG Bridge District looking for ways to make money

Beginning today, the Golden Gate Bridge District will start accepting proposals for expanded concession-type businesses at the Bridge. Specifically, they are seeking firms who can provide  "interactive, educational visitor programs for the Bridge."

It's part of an effort to help stem a projected five-year $132 million shortfall. 

According to to the District-

"The development of a program for an enhanced visitor experience at the Bridge is envisioned to: (1) Provide high quality education materials via development and operation of a visitor center and (2) Provide safe and secure physical access to the Bridge for purposes of education as well as general experience in touring previously non-public areas of the Bridge."

The District promises to have the Request for Statements of Qualifications posted on their website by close of business today. Interested firms will need to have their proposal submitted by January 22, 2010, to be considered. The Board hopes to review the proposals sometime in February 2010. 

The District does not yet have a time-line for installation and opening of the interactive center.

Freebies - Holiday stuff, movies, art and giveaways

With Thanksgiving here, and Christmas just around the corner, who doesn't appreciate a few freebies?

We've got several sample giveaways, some holiday cheer, a very special art exhibit and a free movie screening of a classic that you won't want to miss.

Check it out!

Rowers complete 6 months and 6,000+ miles for a record (photos, video!)

Two British rowers who set out from Japan on May 8, 2009 to be the first to row more than 6,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean, have just rowed under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the record books.

They were greeted by a flotilla of boats, helicopters and well-wishers as they rowed under the bridge shortly before 8:30 a.m. Friday morning.

The two rowers, Mick Dawson and Chris Martin, battled 60 foot waves, electrical and mechanical problems and nearly capsized at least once on the epic 6,000+ mile long journey they called Golden Gate Endeavour. The two rowed in shifts; two hours on and two hours off, 24 hours a day in a specially designed rowboat they named Bojangles.

There is a reunion with family and friends planned at San Francisco's Golden Gate Yacht Club where presumably someone will provide a hot, home-cooked meal--their first in six months.

(First photo is courtesy of John McCrea, the last four photos are courtesy of Duane Franks and we've added a KGO video too)  

        

CoCoCo supes approve Indian gaming casino near Richmond-San Rafael Bridge

Plans to build a $1.5 billion mega-casino along the Richmond waterfront have just taken another step forward.

Contra Costa County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to move ahead with the Guidville Band of Pomo Indians Point Molate casino plan, paving the way for a gambling resort complex that--in addition to a 124,000 square foot gambling hall--would include two hotels, several restaurants, shopping, entertainment and business facilities and over 300 units of housing.

If you swim in the Bay, you may want to read this...

Great white sharks which frequent the waters in Northern California between the months of August and December, have actually been tracked swimming inside the San Francisco Bay!

A study released on Tuesday from Stanford University, indicated that during 2007 and 2008, researchers recorded five separate instances of great whites touring the Bay.

The study took a comprehensive look at great white shark life habits, and found it is indeed a loner species. They never socialize with other sharks and maintain a precise schedule for migration patterns between Hawaii and California.

Because they feed on sea lions and seals, it's probably a good idea to avoid those creatures if you happen to be taking a fall-time Bay swim.

Wildcare rescuing, treating oiled birds from bunker spill

Oiled birds are beginning to show up on East Bay beaches, and Marin's Wildcare has been designated as the primary stabilization facility for treatment of the affected birds.  

On Friday the Panamanian bunker vessel Dubai Star, spilled fuel oil into the bay as the fuel was being transferred into the boat.  There is no word on the amount spilled, but the oil sheen was described as being "at least three miles long on Friday evening-- and spreading" according to the SF Chronicle.

Could bridge be reopened by the weekend, Friday even?

Update on 10/30 @ 10am-- Per Caltrans, the Bay Bridge will NOT be open in time for the Friday evening commute.

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Update @ 9:00 p.m.-- Caltrans say they may be able to re-open on Friday. We are keeping our fingers crossed.

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Update @ 5:45p.m.- Caltrans news conference announced that although they hope to have repairs finished by Friday, they do not have a time line for reopening the Bay Bridge. The repairs will be inspected by the Federal Highway Administration as well.

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We're hearing that there may be a possibility that the Bay Bridge could reopen by the Friday morning commute. CBS5 is reporting that possibility, but is also reporting that CalTrans had hoped to finish repairs today.

One can only hope it will be soon. 

Meanwhile, Marin drivers have had to endure traffic like this mess Thursday, in the early afternoon on 101 NB in Mill Valley.

Swine flu vaccines in Marin-- MIA

Update @ 9:00p.m.-- The Marin County Dept of Public Health reportedly just received 4,000 doses of vaccine for flu shots on Thursday according to the Marin IJ.  That's still well short of the amount of doses requested, and needed.

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"As of today, no H1N1 flu shots have been delivered to, or distributed in, Marin County."

If you called the swine flu hotline at the Marin County Dept. of Public Health on Thursday, that's what you'd have heard.  The recorded message goes on to say that "we anticipate initial delivery at the end of October or early November" but no specific dates are given. It's the same story in other parts of the Bay Area as well.

With the exception of a small distribution of nasal mist vaccine and some pediatric shots, the swine flu vaccine seems to be missing in action, except if you happen to live in San Francisco. 

Then you might be in luck.

Prolonged traffic mess expected in Marin

Delays, delays, delays.

The unexpected Bay Bridge closure brought the expected traffic jam calamity to Marin on Wednesday, and anyone who drives on 101, should gear up for more of the same. 

Caltrans is hopeful the problem can be fixed by tomorrow, but they still won't give any time frame for re-opening.

Golden Gate Bridge officials have made arrangements to open all lanes by 4 a.m. with four of those lanes going south bound into the city.  And the same going out of the city in the evening rush. They've also added an extra high speed ferry at Larkspur. 

We suggest trying out Steven Halpern's newest CD, Drive Time RX, which promises to quell the inner road rage warrior as you battle traffic.

Otherwise you might wind up like KRON4's Gabe Slate--

The Bay Area road to Kona, the Ironman World Championship

Splash and Dash with Dorette Sommer-Franks

Over the last several days I've taken a look at race stats and compared results for the numerous Bay Area triathletes who raced the Ironman World Championship in Kona a couple of weekends ago.

Oy vey, the list is long.

So long that I am unable to list each and every racer. Nevertheless, the numbers amaze me; not only does the Bay Area boast impressive quantities of people participating in the sport, we have a high number of triathletes who are good enough to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. 

It's only the most prestigious and demanding course there is for a triathlon. 

Read about how the Marin and Bay Area triathletes fared in this years race by going to MoreSweat.

If it's raining, it must be Monday...

It was kind of deja vu today what with the unexpected rain 'deluge' that flooded Muni, the freeways and other spots.

It was only last Monday where we got the tail end of tropical typhoon Melor which swamped the Bay Area with wet, windy weather and dropped a ton of rain here in Marin.

If you think we're on course for the wettest October, you'd be wrong.  According to the SFGate, we're not even close.

Bridge toll hikes being considered

Drivers who make the trek from San Rafael to Richmond, or vice-versa may have to fork over another buck.

The Bay Area Toll Authority is meeting Tuesday to consider raising tolls--not only on the R-San Rafael Bridge--but also on several other Bay Area bridges. Those include the Bay Bridge, the San Mateo Bridge, the Dumbarton, the Antioch, the Carquinez and the Benecia-Martinez. The Golden Gate falls under a different agency is not included.

Toll increase proposals include options for raising tolls on individual cars and trucks, and even one suggests charging $3 for car pools!

Reasons for the increases? To pay for seismic retrofits on the Dumbarton and Antioch, to recoup money lost from a decline in drivers and for increased operating costs.

A final decision isn't expected until after the holidays. 

(Photo of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is courtesy Wikipedia)

Storm stats and a photo slide show

The first significant storm of the season did not disappoint dumping over six inches of rain in Kentfield, cutting power to 3,200 people in the North Bay, and causing a big-rig accident that nearly closed down a bridge.

But so far,there are no reports of the major flooding that plagued some Marin communities a couple of years ago. 

Still, it was wet and wild for most of the county and it's still not quite over.

Some of the stats so far--

Wind gusts recorded at Pt Reyes Lighthouse of 63 mph, 52 mph in Woodacre, 53 mph on Mt. Tam and 55 mph on Inverness Ridge.

Rain totals so far; over 3 inches in Mill Valley area,  3.5 inches for Novato, over 4 inches in Pt Reyes, and a whopping 6.2 inches in Kentfield.

Creek levels rose, then fell, then rose again.  The Corte Madera Creek started the day at about 7 feet and rose to well over 11 feet during the height of the downpour. Monitors for both creeks in Fairfax and San Anselmo showed rises of at least two feet each.

The wind caused the Golden Gate Bridge to be closed to pedestrians, and the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge was a mess after a big-rig overturned around 3 p.m. closing down two east-bound lanes.  

PGE reports thousands without power including 3,200 customers in the North Bay.

Finally, there are the images that stats can't quite communicate -- NBCBayArea.com has a great slide show here.

(Radar shot courtesy of NOAA)

Follow the storm

Winter seems to have arrived.

If you're inside--and chances are you won't go out unless you have to--you can monitor the goings-ons without having to leave your computer.  We've got a list of charts, maps and graphs so you can monitor the creek levels, wind and rain totals.  

See, everyone can be a weather geek!

• Here's a satellite map of the entire weather system.  
• To watch storm track radars, check SF Bay here and long-range California here.
• Monitor creek levels for San Anselmo, Fairfax and Corte Madera creek here.
• The County, which doesn't monitor all the creeks, has a handy graph with the ones they do monitor here.
• Rainfall summaries of the places the County monitors can be found here.
• Here are maps of County of Marin flood stage levels here, wind velocity here, and rain totals here.

Jackson's death sure to inspire zombies to world record

The 3rd Annual Thrill the World event may be way bigger than the previous two years.

The annual homage to Michael Jackson's Thriller video--arguably the most famous music video ever--should be really big this year because...well, because Jackson died this year. 

You know how sentimental people can be.

Six Bay Area locales, including Sausalito, will host the dancers--read anyone--who wishes to show up in their best zombie attire, dance, and be counted in the simultaneous world-wide record attempt.

Huffman scores one for the consumers

Got solar panels on your home, or a wind turbine somewhere on your property?

Now you'll get reimbursed for the excess energy you create thanks to a bill just signed into law, courtesy of Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael).

When it shakes, "drop, cover and hold"

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta quake which clobbered the Bay Area on October 17, 1989 shortly after 5 p.m. in the evening.

Although not considered the "Big One", the devastating quake which registered 6.9 and killed over 60 people, shook for a full fifteen seconds.  And those in the know like to remind us that the Bay Area stands a very good chance of having another one equally as bad, or likely worse.

In the category of "let's remember and prepare", comes The Great California Shake Out.

Batten down the hatches

Or in the case of us landlubbers, close the windows!

Forecasters are predicting a large, wet and wild storm just around the corner.  It's supposed to arrive sometime Monday afternoon, storm all day Tuesday and partly into Wednesday.  It's the remnants of a typhoon, Melor, that battered Japan a few days ago.

Rainfall in the North Bay is expected to be heavy--between 2 and 4 inches!

Acclaimed Marin-based blues show in SF for one night only

Calling it the place where "Marley, Hendrix, Dylan, Elvis and Muddy meet," Jimmy Dillon and his band of merry music-makers will feature a special one-night-only performance of his highly acclaimed blues musical production, Ascension of the Blues. 

The performance is scheduled for Friday, October 9 at SF's inimitable Bimbo's 365 Club and will benefit Bay Area music programs for children.

The totally original musical journey Ascension, details blues' 200-year American history, from the roots on African slave ships to the Mississippi Delta to jazzy New Orleans to funky Detroit Motown.

Read more in MoreCulture.

North bay bakery featured in Michael Moore documentary

It's usually not a great thing to be featured in an Michael Moore movie (think General Motors in Roger and Me or the pharmaceutical companies in Sicko).

Well one company, Alvarado Street Bakery in Petaluma, is thrilled to be featured in Moore's latest effort, Capitalism: A Love Story, which opens today.

The documentary peers into the depths of the economic disaster and points the finger at corporate culture and greed as the culprit for the crisis.

According to this Press Democrat article, Moore and his filmmakers believe the bakery is a great example of a successful business that manages not to trample its employees or anyone else, while making a profit. 

The bakery is a co-op, that produces organic breads, bagels and rolls.

Spring camping reservations on hold for Marin state parks

Anyone who plans on camping this spring in a California State Park, is in for a surprise.

No reservations are being taken for camping in March and April with the exception of 23 sites in California according to an announcement on the parks website.

And Marin campers are totally out of luck.

Not one of the state parks in Marin that allow camping--Mt. Tam, Samuel P Taylor, China Camp and Angel Island--are listed among the 23. Most of the available sites appear to be located in Southern California.

Even though the state parks will not close as feared, they are operating under severe budget constraints. The park service website says they will let everyone know if the situation changes.

State park closure hearing prompts calls for action

The proposed closure of as many as 100 state parks in California, has residents angry, park agencies scrambling and some people proposing ideas and strategies for keeping them open.

Assemblymember Jared Huffman, whose 6th District includes Marin and parts of Sonoma, held a public hearing at Cavallo Point on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the impending closures.

Two state parks in North Bay reportedly will close

The Press Democrat is reporting that the highly popular, 5,500-acre Annadel State Park near Santa Rosa (pictured at left) and Petaluma Adobe (shown below) will be shuttered as part of the budget cuts.

The paper quoted a source in the Capitol as confirming the closure even though the official word has yet to come from Sacramento.

MoreMarin contacted the state parks department for reaction and Information Officer Sheryl Watson had this to say in response to the Press Democrat report.

"It could change.  We don't have a final list," she said, adding "There is only a draft list at this point." 

The final list--which may include up to 100 parks in California--was to be released around Labor Day but parks officials are finding the closure decision more complex than originally thought. 

There are seven California state parks in Marin County. They are- Mt. Tamalpais, Angel Island, Samuel P. Taylor, China Camp, Olompali, Marconi Conference Center and Tomales Bay.

KTVU also has an internet report on the reported closure here.

Save the Bay releases "Top Ten Bay Trash Hot Spots"

Marin residents have something to celebrate.

The bay area environmental group, Save the Bay, just released it's list of "Top Ten Trash Hot Spots" in the Bay Area, and Marin County is nowhere on that list.

Another week to wait for the state park closure list

Bay area nature lovers will have to wait another week at the earliest, to find out if their favorite state park is on the chopping block. 

The state promised to release the dreaded list sometime around Labor Day, but that day has come and gone and now the word is, it will occur next week.  A decision on which parks to close will depend on a number of factors including how much it costs to operate the park and how much revenue is generated. 

On the potential list for closure are seven parks in Marin; Mt. Tam (pictured above), Angel Island, Tomales Bay, China Camp, Olompali, Samuel P. Taylor and Marconi Conference Center.

Governor Schwarzenegger faced a huge backlash to his May announcement that the state intended to close down parks in order to help close the massive budget gap.  The federal parks department stepped into the act and said they might takeover formerly federal parks such as Angel Island in order to prevent the state from closing them down. 

About 100 parks in California are on the potential list for closure and you can find a list of the Bay Area ones which number around 50 at this link at the bottom of the story. 

Marin coroner releases new study on Golden Gate Bridge suicides

A just released study from the Marin County coroner's office on Golden Gate bridge suicides, shows that that the vast majority of them are witnessed by passersby.

According to the study, coroner Ken Holmes said 70 percent of all suicides are witnessed by "tourists, commuters, adults, children and people working on the bridge."

The report also determined that 90 percent of those who committed suicide, were from Northern California with the vast majority from surrounding bay counties.

The (Bay) Bridge to nowhere is now going somewhere

Update--The Bridge is open.  That's what happens when you work through the night.  Thank you Caltrans!

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Caltrans will keep the bridge shut down for one more day while the work to repair a large crack which they found during an inspection on Saturday.

However, as of this writing, Golden Gate Ferry will add just one additional ferry from Larkspur and no extra bus servce.  

We're betting there may be major problems on the Golden Gate Bridge as workers return to work from their holiday weekend and summer vacations.

Here's a live 24 hour feed of work being performed to repair the crack, and here's a neat time lapse showing workers replacing the large bypass section, which was the original reason for closing the bridge in the first place-

Marin bracing for highway from hell

Get ready, get set, abandon ship!

If the news reports and warnings are correct, anyone traveling through Marin County on 101 from Thursday, September 3 at 8 p.m. through Tuesday, September 8 until 5 a.m., will encounter massive traffic delays.

That's because the Bay Bridge will be closed to traffic, so that Caltrans crews can remove a 300-foot chunk of the bridge roadway--which weighs 3,300 tons--and replace it with a heavier piece (check out animation below).  It's all part of the Bay Bridge construction project. 

Because taking the Golden Gate Bridge is the shortest route alternative for many East Bay drivers going into SF, expect them to flood into Marin, even though it's a holiday weekend.

Drivers do have some options. Everyone should check the traffic maps on 511 often, consider taking the Golden Gate Ferry which will expand service, or maybe just stay off the roads and wait the whole thing out. 

Here's an animation of what Caltrans expects to do this coming weekend-

 

Some Marin residents wary of Richmond casino plans

Even though the proposal to build a mega-casino complex is in the town of Richmond, some Marin residents think its a very bad idea.  A recent editorial in the Marin IJ makes no bones about it.

The $1.5 billion Point Molate casino development would include a 124,000 square foot gambling facility, a 300,000 foot shopping center, over 1,000 hotel rooms, restaurants and upper end housing on an 85-acre site. 

The location--a former turn-of-the-century winery and then a naval fuel depot--is just north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the shoreline of the San Pablo Bay near the Chevron refinery.  

The proposal to build, comes from the Guidville Band of Pomo Indians who are joined by an East Bay millionaire, and former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, of all people. 

Some Cafe Gratitude employees aren't chanting "I Am Happy"

The restaurant chain famous for naming menu items after emotional aphorisms such as "I Am Charismatic" (carrot juice), "I Am Generous" (guacamole, salsa & chips) or "I Am Magnificent" (chocolate mousse) may be in for some karmic indigestion.

A recent story in the East Bay Express about a former employee at Cafe Gratitude, details a cult-like environment where workers are strongly encouraged--and often required--to take self-help, personal transformation seminars from an organization called Landmark Forum.

Click here to read more of this troubling story in MoreEats.

Marin Sheriff's department responds to criticism of deputies who witnessed the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge shootings

Two Marin County Sheriff deputies, who just happened to be driving up to the Richmond toll plaza and who witnessed the shootings of two people there, are being criticized for not doing enough.   According to the Contra Costa Times--

"In the days following the homicides, law enforcement circles in the East Bay were buzzing with questions about whether the Marin detectives reacted appropriately, according to the Contra Costa Times. The most vehement questioned why Marin detectives did not directly intervene when lives were at stake."

Now, the Marin County Sheriff's department has responded in a written press release--

"Sheriff Doyle commended his detectives and their actions. Sheriff Doyle expressed outrage at critics who were not present at the scene, and yet are second-guessing the actions of the deputies who were at the scene."

It goes on to say this about the 'rift' between the Richmond Police and the Sheriff's department--

"The controversy in this case has been driven by the media, not by either the Sheriff’s Office or the Richmond Police Department."

Here's the press release from the Marin County Sheriff's Office.  (photo is courtesy of SF Chronicle)

State parks fees go up, but budget boom will come down

The day of reckoning could be here very soon.

Californians will find out very soon which of the 100 state parks on a potential closure list, will get the ax due to budget woes.  And parking and camping fee increases--which go into effect today--won't be enough to make up the millions in cuts they'll face for the next two years.

Ever since Governor Schwazzenegger introduced the park closure idea, the highly unpopular proposal has faced stiff opposition from the public and park employees.  The National Park Service even got into the act when they threatened to take back several parks that were once under federal jurisdiction, including Mt. Tamalpais State Park (at bottom) and Angel Island (at top).

The SFGate published a list of parks that face closure in the Bay Area and there are seven in Marin County.

BART strike sure to affect Marin commuters too

Just because Marin commuters don't have BART, doesn't mean they aren't going to miss it when its gone.

The anticipated strike at on Sunday by BART's 900 union workers, will throw the Bay Area's mass transit system--and commute--into chaos.  And that means a lot of East Bay riders will likely travel over the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and through Marin on 101, over the Golden Gate and into the City in order to avoid what is sure to be a colossal backup on the Bay Bridge.  And that is sure to cause a mess on 101 like the one pictured above.

According to this MarinIJ article, Mary Currie, spokesperson for the Golden Gate Transit District advised Marin commuters to carpool and telecommute if possible.  In fact, that's the advice many commuters are hearing.  Here's a list of resources for Bay Area commuters everywhere.

Richmond-San Rafael bridge shooter arrested; worked for San Rafael company

Nathaniel Burris, the man suspected of shooting a killing his toll-taker girlfriend, and another person at the Richmond-San Rafael bridge, was arrested early this morning in Placer County.

46-year-old Burris (pictured at left), worked for Western Eagle--a San Rafael based airport shuttle service.  He had only worked there since June.

Deborah Ross, 51, was shot at her toll booth by Burris just after he allegedly shot 58-year-old Ersie Charles Everett who was sitting in his vehicle in a nearby parking lot.  Police are still not clear about Ross and Everett's relationship.  According to the SFGate, Everett worked for the Golden Gate Transit as a bus driver.

Police did not recover the weapon. 

One wonders why it took law enforcement nine hours to find and arrest this guy, especially when he was driving on major highways in a well-described vehicle.   ABC7 has this internet report--

Alcatraz anniversary brings prisoners, guards together on The Rock

This weekend was the 75th anniversary of the opening of Alcatraz Prison in 1934.  It closed in 1961.  Former guards, families who lived on the island--and yes, prisoners--gathered to reminisce as told in this KRON4 internet report-      

Marin and SF home values continue to slide according to Zillow

We're not sure how much you can trust Zillow.com but according to the SFGate, Zillow just released a study showing  homes in the pricier Bay Area regions which resisted initial drops in value--specifically Marin and San Francisco--are now joining the greater plunge.

Still, homes in those two regions enjoy higher over-all valuation--in the mid-$600,000s--versus the rest of the Bay Area which hovered in the mid-$400,000s. 

Here's a look at the Zillow figures that show month-to-month, quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year changes.

Marine Mammal Center rescues porpoise, but it dies soon afterward

Update@3:45 p.m. -- Sad news to report.  According to CBS5, the porpoise has died.

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Update@2:20 p.m.-- Word is Marine Mammal Center has rescued the porpoise and are taking it to their facility in Sausalito for treatment and evaluation.   Chalk up another good deed by the folks at TMMC.

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Word from the Marine Mammal Center is that they're attempting to rescue a wayward porpoise who got stuck swimming up a creek in the South Bay.  Here's some raw video from ABC7 of the porpoise--