Half Moon Bay Review

Politicians representing the Coastside had a lot to say about yesterday's violence at the U.S. Capitol. Here is a collection of their official statements. https://www.hmbreview.com//article_3c09c30e-5105-11eb-8c1c

What a year... https://www.hmbreview.com//article_a929a1ee-4ae7-11eb-bb5a

Authorities are warning about extreme fire danger overnight. San Mateo is not among five counties PG&E says may experience preemptive shut offs.

HMB's Bryce Jensen is a pediatric ICU nurse and among the first on the Coastside to receive the first dose of Pfizer vaccine. He tells us about his work and his decision to get the shot. https://www.hmbreview.com//article_f3cb7c06-4491-11eb-a0f9

Thanks to Eric W. Nelson for a photo of Caltrans crews on Thursday extending the barrier along the cliff south of Devil's Slide tunnels. Several cars have gone over the cliff in recent years.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest in Tuesday's fire in Princeton.

There is an important Half Moon Bay City Council meeting tonight. The hot topic is a discussion of the county's plan to purchase a coastal hotel to use as transitional housing for the homeless. Our coverage includes an FAQ on the project. Click the "take part in meetings" link at the left of the story for links to City Council and Board of Supervisors meetings on the topic.

Seth Scott sent us this photo of the grass fire on Pillar Point on Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters and the Harbor Patrol were on it in a matter of minutes and it seemed to be out within 30 minutes. Curiously, witnesses reported a peace sign on the hill before the fire. We have no reason to believe the peace sign and the fire are related in this instance, but several years ago an artist created a peace sign in nearly the same spot using pampas grass. That grass was subsequently intentionally set on fire.

San Mateo County is now focused on only one of two Coastside hotels for Project Homekey. https://www.hmbreview.com//article_26be5722-335e-11eb-8304

Beginning at midnight, San Mateo County moves into the "orange" tier of COVID-19 restrictions. Things are easing for bars, houses of worship and more. Here is our story on the change and the city's testing program. https://www.hmbreview.com//article_9f275ebe-188a-11eb-a4df

It's time to prepare for PG&E planned power shutoffs that could come as early as tomorrow. Very high winds expected. Thousands on the Coastside likely to be affected.

Be advised: A tractor-trailer caught fire at about 11:15 a.m. this morning while traveling eastbound on Highway 92 at the lower lakes. The fire is out and it appears the driver escaped unharmed, but the road is closed in both directions as of 12:10 p.m. There is no immediate estimate of an opening.

Looking for a place to vote or to drop off your ballot? The San Mateo County Elections Office has opened a mobile voting center at the Half Moon Bay Airport. It's open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Oct. 19.

Coastsiders are coping as best they can with PG&E's planned power shutoff. There have been a few people at the resource center at the Half Moon Bay Library. We're expecting an update from the company in a couple hours.

Because we know you can't get enough big pumpkins, we hope you'll take a look at all of photographer Adam Pardee's work from Monday's weigh-off.

The Half Moon Bay World Championship Weigh-Off went off without a hitch on Monday, complete with music, cheers and an impromptu parade down Main Street. Here's our story and some photographs. And there is more to come, including a full page of color photos in the print edition and a special audio presentation.

You can't keep a good weigh-off down. The weighing is underway at Long Branch Ranch this morning. (It's not open to spectators due to COVID-19 restrictions. We'll be posting photos as the day progresses, though.)

We have a big announcement in the middle of National Newspaper Week. https://www.hmbreview.com//article_6efd2a54-097e-11eb-992e

There is a new opportunity for coronavirus testing on the coast.