After the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire, Butano State Park in Pescadero closed for nine months after its utilities system and nearly 80% of its trails burned. It reopened in spring 2021 while crews continued to fix up the park.
Years later, nearly all trails are accessible to the public, including the popular Little Butano Creek Trail, which reopened this fall. Crews had to work by hand for about a year to rebuild bridges, culverts, drainage walls and other types of infrastructure.
Big Basin Redwoods State Park is undergoing a similar trail rebuild and more changes are in the works. The blaze burned down every historic building in the old growth, which served as the epicenter for visitors. State Parks plans on building a new visitor center at the Saddle Mountain entrance to the park and establishing a shuttle system to bring visitors in.
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Video and photo by Magali Gauthier
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The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office added two new full-time furry employees to the force this summer: therapy dogs Maverick and Teddy. They join Ben and Deputy Danielle Martinez, the first pup and handler in the department's Therapy K-9 program.
The county sheriff’s office, like law enforcement agencies around the Bay Area, is finding therapy dog units to be a useful new tool to support their workforce, comfort crime victims and engage with the community.
Ben and Martinez have dropped in on at least 150 local events and school visits in Redwood City and elsewhere in the county, according to the sheriff's office. Beyond community work, Ben also helps put victims at ease during difficult conversations with law enforcement.
"He has done so much great work in the short time that we've had him," said Sheriff Christina Corpus. "He touches people's hearts."
The department purchased Ben and the two new dogs from therapy dog breeder Cali Pals in Hollister for $5,000 each.
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Video and photos by Magali Gauthier
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In early September, Recology tested out a new hydrogen-fueled refuse truck in Redwood Shores, other parts of San Mateo County and San Francisco. The truck does not produce harmful tailpipe emissions.
The pilot is part of Recology's effort to transition its fleet to zero-emission trucks by 2042 to comply with California's Advanced Clean Fleets law. But no purchases have been made yet. Recology’s CEO, Sal Coniglio said the high price of the hydrogen truck, between $700,000 to $1 million, will make the cost of doing business very expensive.
Another obstacle in the widespread use of hydrogen trucks in North America is the lack of infrastructure to support their fueling.
As of 2023, there are 59 open retail hydrogen stations in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Fifty more stations are planned or under construction. Most hydrogen stations are in California, with one in Hawaii and five planned for the northeastern states.
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Story by Simmerdeep Kaur
Video and photos by Magali Gauthier
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Although not a "total loss," an affordable housing development that caught on fire on June 3 has been described by local leaders as a "setback" and "devastating." The blaze on the 2700 block of Middlefield Road broke out around 10:15 a.m. There was no "hot work" (cutting, welding, soldering or brazing) being performed when the fire broke out. The project was funded through a partnership between Mercy Housing California, San Mateo County, the state and private investors. Despite the loss, Mercy Housing said it remains "fully committed" to completing the development. Read the full story — link in bio.
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Story by Eleanor Raab
Cover photo by Arden Margulis
Videos courtesy Sable Ray
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The San Francisco Bay Area just recorded the biggest jumps for a median-priced home in the state, with Santa Clara and San Mateo counties each reaching the $2-million mark. https://bit.ly/3Xe83Ob
The unusually dark, stormy and wet weather did not stand in the way of Woodside's 102nd annual May Day celebration on May 4.
Cheerful community members came out to watch the procession of local organizations, educators and officials. The Mounted Patrol of San Mateo County led the parade, followed by members of the Woodside-area Horse Owners Association (WHOA!) and Woodside Vaulters; grand marshals Kathi and Scott Dancer; deputy marshals Ellen Bertine and Kathy Jones; and Woodside Mayor Jenn Wall. Undeterred by the downpour, the Woodside High School and Los Trancos Woods Community marching bands also participated in the event without missing a beat.
During the maypole dance, usually performed under the hot sun at the Woodside Elementary School amphitheater, third graders skipped around under the fluorescent lights of the campus gym.
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Video and photos by Magali Gauthier
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Hundreds of community members attended Atherton's Earth Day Festival on April 21 at Holbrook-Palmer Park.
The event featured a clothing swap, face painting, a robot vs. sheep mowing competition, a pop-up bug museum, leaf blower bowling and an art exhibit.
Visitors also got to meet with local organizations working in the field of climate solutions and mitigation.
Looking for Earth Day events this weekend? Here are some to check out on the Peninsula:
- Tree planting on Spur Trail in Millbrae, April 27, 9 a.m.-noon
- Tour of the Shoreway Environmental in San Carlos, April 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Earth Day Every Day Faire in Foster City, April 27, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
- Trash to Art competition, Foster City, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
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Video by Magali Gauthier
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