Fatherhood Follies

Orcas Beat Lightning First Time in Two Decades

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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Local Talent Floods Pacifics' National Anthem Auditions

See some of the local singers who will be performing at the games.

Check out some of the local talent that earned spots singing the National Anthem for the Pacifics' summer schedule.   See the full schedule of singers here. Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter

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Nicole Ely

4:46 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Love all the amazing voices! Can't wait to hear you guys at the games!   more ›

Fatherhood Follies

Terra Linda Orcas Beat Novato Riptide in Season's First Meet

The Orcas and Riptide look like they are heading in opposite directions this year.

On Saturday May 5 the Terra Linda Orcas celebrated the first dual meet of the year by visiting the Indian Valley College pool in Ignacio and soundly beating the Novato Riptide in their own waters, 333 - 201.  This was a little payback for Orcas who have finished directly behind the Riptide the past two years in the season ending Marin Swim League County Championship Meet.  The Orcas and Riptide seem to be heading in opposite directions.    The lopsided score should give the surging Orcas plenty of confidence as they host their first home dual meet of 2012 against the Lucas Valley Lightening this Saturday May 12 at the Terra Linda Recreation Center.  Lucas Valley lost their first dual meet against a very strong Strawberry Seals team 301 – …

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Local Rock Musician Lands National Anthem for Pacifics Game

See his audition video.

Glenwood neighbor Jesse Brewster just landed a spot singing the national anthem at San Rafael Pacifics baseball game. The rock guitarist recently auditioned with Local Music Vibe, who was tasked with finding performers for 2012 summer season. See his audition video above. Brewster and his hippie parents settled in Berkeley, Calif. after several moves in his early life, according to KFOG. He began learning guitar in elementary school, drawing inspiration from the Stones, Bob Marley, James Taylor and Willie Nelson. Before becoming a soloist, Brewster toured as a guitarist and backing vocalist. KFOG reports that in 2005, he released benefit record called Confessional for Polycystic Kidney Disease, a condition he and many of his family members…

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Fatherhood Follies

Several Orcas Record All-Star Times

Time trial were held for the Orcas on April 21. See who got the best times.

This past Saturday, the Terra Linda Orcas had their time trials at the Terra Linda Recreation Center.  The time trials mark the first time during the swimming season when swimmers' times are officially measured and will be used to seed them in upcoming dual meets with other swim clubs.  The Orcas will be taking their times to Indian Valley College in two weeks and going up against the Novato Riptide for the first competition of the season.  There were some standout performances.  For instance 10-year-old Johan Albers posted all-star times in all four strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly.  Very few kids start the season as all-stars in any one stroke, much less all of them. Another outstanding Orca who already …

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Neighborhood Group's Attempts to Stall Pacifics' Season Fail

While the 1st District Court of Appeal denied the Albert Park Neighborhood Alliance's petition to delay the season, their appeal of a February court ruling in favor of the team will move forward.

A state appeals court on Wednesday denied a petition by a San Rafael neighborhood group to delay the scheduled June 4 start of the San Rafael Pacifics baseball season at Albert Park. The Albert Park Neighborhood Alliance had appealed Marin County Superior Court Judge Lynn Duryee's ruling in February that the North American League team's season at Albert Park would not have a significant effect on the environment, as the alliance had claimed. The alliance had asked the 1st District Court of Appeal for a stay to block games from starting pending a hearing on the appeal of Duryee's decision. Steven Schoonover, the attorney for the neighborhood alliance, said the appeal of Duryee's ruling will go forward and may be heard by the end of the year…

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Local Music Vibe Seeks Performers to Belt National Anthem at Ball Games

Calling all singers! The San Rafael Pacifics want you!

Local Music Vibe is looking for musical talent to perform the national anthem for the San Rafael Pacifics'  2012 summer season. According to their website, performers will receive complimentary tickets to the game and the appearance will be promoted by Local Music Vibe & the San Rafael Pacifics. Solo a capella vocalists are preferred but small groups with very minimal instrumentation will also be considered. To be considered: Create a quick online video (YouTube/Vimeo) or a SoundCloud track (http://soundcloud.com) or even from your iPhone with you singing or playing the American National Anthem or anything that shows your (vocal) range. It doesn't have to be professional quality - they just need an example of your ability. Submit your …

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Get Ready for Peanuts and Quackerjacks

The San Rafael Pacifics unveiled their team mascot –a 7-foot-tall male duck called Sir Francis the Drake.

The Pacific might be a smaller pond than we originally thought, because a drake just flew in to San Rafael. A 7-foot-tall drake, who dons an Elizabethan collar and wields a sword or a baseball bat, depending on his mood. The mallard was unveiled as minor league baseball team the Pacifics new mascot at Parkside Children’s Center Thursday morning. Sir Francis the Drake is a swashbuckling, male duck based on the 16th Century Elizabethan naval commander, Sir Francis Drake. The mascot was the brainchild of Pacifics Team President and General Manager Mike Shapiro, who was determined to create a mascot that was child-friendly, fun-loving and clever. “Our hope is that Sir Francis becomes synonymous with the Pacifics and with our community,” …

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Pacifics to Host Season Pass Party

Fans will be admitted at no cost, can reserve their seating section for the season, receive a special one-day-only discount, meet players and coaches and win door prizes.

The San Rafael Pacifics are hosting a season pass Launch Party at Albert Park in San Rafael on Sunday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will coincide with the North American League Tryout, directed by Pacifics Manager Mike Marshall. Yuma Panthers’ Manager and three-time National League All-Star, Garry Templeton, and scouts from several major league baseball teams will also be in attendance. Through April 5, the San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks and Toronto Blue Jays have committed scouts to the event. Additionally, at the Season Pass Party, fans can purchase a 2012 Pacifics Season Pass — which will grant them access to all 42 Pacifics’ home games — receive a special one-day-only discount. Those who do purchase their Season …

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Hike of the Week

Bald Hill: Amazing Views and Wildflowers

Hike to the top of Bald Hill from Phoenix Lake. Sweeping views, early wildflowers and maybe some snow! Five and a half miles. Dogs on leash OK.

We always approach a climb up Bald Hill (Mt. Baldy) with a bit of trepidation. The hill is 1,141-feet tall and climbing to its dome-shaped peak from Natalie Coffin Greene Park in Ross is a strenuous endeavor. This time, however, the lure of late winter wildflowers and views of snowcapped peaks around Marin and the Bay Area was irresistible. In fact, the climb up isn't so bad. We walked and jogged it with great anticipation for what was around each corner. The road out of the Phoenix Lake basin is called Worn Springs Fire Road. It is named after George Austin Worn, whose family helped found the town of Ross and whose family estate is now the Marin Art and Garden Center. Worn Springs is only about a half of a mile up the road, and a horse …

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