Friday, May 18, 2012
The West Coast is the place to watch the moon partially block the sun on Sunday late afternoon, forming a thick black ring around it. So we're looking for good places to watch it. Where will you go to see it?
A major astronomical event is coming this weekend, and Marin is prime real estate for checking it out. Fog permitting, astronomical neophytes and curious minds will have an opportunity to view an annular eclipse of the sun late Sunday afternoon, the first since 1994. The moon will paritally block the sun on Sunday at around 5:10 p.m. with the maximum eclipse at 6:32 p.m., according to astronomer Jonathan Braidman at Oakland's Chabot Space and Science Center. Since the moon is not quite large enough to completely block out the sun it leaves a ring, which according to Braidman, "doesn't happen very often." In fact, the next total solar eclipse will be in 2023 and the next annular eclipse will happen again in 2030 and then again in 2048, …
In the wake of Gov. Jerry Brown's May revise of the state budget crisis, the state senator blames much of the problem on the previous administration.
Sen. Mark Leno, San Rafael's representative in the state Senate, said unavoidable budget cuts — prompted by the Schwarzenegger administration's leftover deficit — will have to be handled with sensitivity to prevent further harm to the economy and local budgets. Leno, D-San Francisco and chaird of the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, released his remarks Monday after hearing of Gov. Jerry Brown's revised budget proposal – one that estimated the state's structural deficit at $16 billion rather than the $9 billion mentioned a few months earlier. On Monday, Brown proposed more than $8 billion in cuts on a wide array of state services plus a 5 percent pay cut for state workers, which would save $402 million in the coming fiscal year, …
On May 12, the Terra Linda Orcas beat the Lucas Valley Lightening for the first time in approximately 20 years.
On Saturday, May 12 at the Terra Linda Recreation Center the Terra Linda Orcas beat the Lucas Valley Lightening for the first time in approximately 20 years, 289 - 268. It has been so long that nobody really knows for sure when the last time the Orcas beat the Lightning, but it’s a safe bet that none of the current swimmers were even alive the last time it happened. Hillary Clinton was likely getting acclimated to her role as first lady and infamous intern Monica Lewinsky was a mere glimmer in her husband’s eye. The victory over the Lightning means that for the first two weeks of the season the Orcas have beaten teams that finished directly ahead of them at the 2011 Championship meet. The Lightning took fourth in 2011, and the Novato …
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Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Marin Energy Authority has signed a 20-year agreement with the San Rafael Airport for 972 kilowatts of rooftop solar power.
The Marin Energy Authority has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with the San Rafael Airport for 972 kilowatts of rooftop solar power, the largest solar project in Marin County. “We believe in renewable energy and in the importance of renewable practices in every aspect of our lives and businesses,” said Bob Herbst of the San Rafael Airport. “This solar project will be a needed example and the first step to promoting and providing locally generated and consumed renewable energy." The power is purchased for Marin Clean Energy customers through MEA’s feed-in tariff program, which is designed to provide local residents and property owners who build small‐scale renewable generation systems, like solar or wind, with an opportunity to …
Check out what's happening in San Rafael this weekend.
McNears Beach Block Party Marin County Parks wants to celebrate this Friday. Summer is just around the corner, school is nearly out, the busy season has started and they're turning 40. So, join them for the 1st annual McNears Beach block party. There will be food, music, a sand castle contest, swimming and plenty of fun for the whole family. This is a great chance to meet the rangers and your Marin County neighbors. For more information, contact Dan Sauter at dsauter@marincounty.org. Entrance fee is waived. Swimming fee is $5 per person. Festivities start at 4p.m. 680 Trail Grand Opening The grand opening of the 680 Trail will take place on Saturday at 9:30a.m. Join volunteers and county officials for a brief morning ceremony, including …
A 33-year-old San Rafael man was booked in Marin County jail on charges of battery.
San Rafael police arrested a suspect accused of breaking the nose of another man during a fight, according to police spokeswoman Margo Rohrbacher. San Rafael resident Robert Keith Bonge, 33, was booked in Marin County jail on Wednesday on charges of battery and violation of probation. His bail is set at $50,000. At approximately 6p.m. on May 15, Bonge and a 29-year-old male were fighting near the 400 block of Merrydale Road on the railroad tracks. During the argument, Bonge allegedly struck the victim in the face, breaking his nose. The victim suffered lacerations to the face and had to be treated. The report did not say if either of the men were intoxicated, Rohrbacher said. The victim reported the incident to the police and officers …
Vote in our poll.
The Marin Civil Grand Jury released a report earlier this week that was supportive of San Rafael's two red-light cameras. The report stated that intersection accidents decreased by 12 percent the first year the cameras were installed, and that they are worth the cost. San Rafael is the only city in Marin that has opted to use red-light cameras, according to the report. Novato evaluated the possibility of having red-light cameras in 2010, but found that the volumn of possible citations would not be enough to pay for the program. The city's contract with Redlfex allows for 10 cameras at the maximum and will be renewed every five years. Mayor Gary Phillips told the Marin Independent Journal that the Council could be discussing expanding the …
Tell us what's on your mind.
There's plenty in the news to rant about this week. Whether it's the San Rafael Airport's soccer complex that will be coming before the Planning Commission shortly, the grand jury's findings on red-light cameras or SmartMeters, we want to hear your opinions! Go ahead and get the conversation started right here in the comments below. Sure, we’d like the topics to be locally-focused, but go ahead and jump in with any thought you have that you believe will start up a good, civil online community discussion. Last week we had a great discussion about the need for more vegan and vegetarian dining options in our city. Please keep it clean and refrain from personal attacks and/or name-calling. Address the issue without attacking the person and we’…
In their latest report, the Marin Grand Jury said that the red-light cameras reduce intersection accidents and are worth the price.
Do you think San Rafael should have more red-light cameras? A new report from the Marin Civil Grand Jury finds that San Rafael's red-light cameras reduce intersection accidents and are worth cost. Released on Monday, the report titled "Red Light Cameras: Big Money, Big Brother or Big Safety?" stated that the rate of intersection accidents in San Rafael decreased by 12 percent in the first year of their operation, and that the cameras work best when “used in conjunction with creative city planning, constant reviews or traffic flow and continued use of other innovative traffic distribution options.” {Find the Grand Jury report on the right.} The report also states that opponents’ claims that the red-light cameras violate their rights to …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Marin Releaf will be planting 15 trees in San Rafael this year, according to the Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods.
The Federation of San Rafael Neighborhoods awards a local nonprofit $1,500 to plant 15 trees this year, according to Federation Vice Chair Tymber Cavasian. Since the city’s budget strings tightened in 2008, Marin Releaf and a local tree advisory committee has advised staff on existing and future street trees. Each year, the organization has to find funding for plantings since they do not receive money from San Rafael. “Trees are necessary to urban life for fresh air and clean water aspects,” Cavasian said in a statement. “Have you noticed the black soot on the trunks of trees along major road ways? Imagine that in our lungs!” Marin ReLeaf, headed by San Rafael resident Sandra sellinger, has planted over 15,000 in Marin County since they …
Melissa Bradley
9:48 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
Better, hope you don't offend any 49er fans with that. But better than the Monica comment. Thanks. more ›