More rain on the way! Heavy snow in Tahoe and there is snow in Healdsburg! Tomorrow will be very wet and very cold (snow for us?) Prepare accordingly, drive safe!

Last sunset of 2016 in Point Reyes. So grateful to be here for it. Happy New Years everyone! #sunset

Holiday traffic meets holiday traffic.

Here's a picture of accident on Lucas Valley Road by big rock. People say traffic not too bad now, tow truck on way. (Thx FP)

"Super icy on Lucas Valley. Car overturned eastbound below/before Big Rock. Everyone safe. CHP en route. Lane blocked with eastbound traffic piling up."

"The northbound lane of Shoreline Highway in the vicinity of the Bat House (mile marker 21) due to a vehicle rollover" - via KWMR

The shuttle begins on Saturday! "Gray whales and elephant seals will be a main attraction for visitors in the coming weeks along the Point Reyes coastline, while scientists ponder whether humpbacks could appear again in San Francisco Bay in the spring in another "Whale-palooza" event. The Point Reyes National Seashore will begin offering a shuttle to view the whale and elephant seal activity beginning Saturday and running through early April. The bus can be boarded from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ken Patrick Visitor Center at Drakes Beach, running in good weather on weekends and holidays. Children 15 and younger are free, with the cost for adults at $7." FULL STORY: http://www.marinij.com/environ...

Right place, right time. Elephant rock in Point Reyes looking stoic this evening. (Thx SC) #pointreyes #sunset

Happy Holidays from The West Marin Feed!

This car skidded off the road down into the bushes last night on Rt. 1 north of Point Reyes. Everyone was ok, but another reminder that the roads are slippery, drive slow and safe!

"ªRt 1 closed just north of Point Reyes because of car off the road. No estimated time to open."¬ traffic totally stopped.

Anyone missing this elf?

Intense skies out at the great beach in Point Reyes tonight.

Not exactly gushing yet, but we'll call it the offical 'spillover' at the Nicasio Reservoir. It will pick up speed as more water comes out of the hills. (Thx JS)

"Northern elephant seals, their habitat battered by El Niño storms over the past 30 years on the Farallon Islands, may be moving to a more serene home in Marin County, according to new research.Numbers of elephant seals are on the upswing at Point Reyes, with 2016's peak counted at 1,966, up from 1,759 the prior year. The animals first started to reappear in Marin 1981." FULL STORY: http://www.marinij.com/environ...

An uplifting holiday story...

Rolled into town just as someone let a little solstice pyre float down White House Pool. Happy Winter Solstice! Not sure it's a great idea, but pagans will be pagans.

"Traffic control in in effect on Sir Francis Drake Blvd in the vicinity of Perry's Deli due to a two vehicle collision" Via KWMR. Anyone have any details?

From the Point Reyes Light Sheriff's Calls. Hopefully the deer is feeling better by now.

Frosty day at the dock in Inverness in West Marin. #dock #westmarin #frost

Inverness Almanac art opening at Gallery Route One with Isis Hockenos and Madeline Hope today (Sun) from 2:00pm - 5:00pm.

"Thanks to #Lighthouse volunteer John, we just saw our first southbound gray #whale!" - Point Reyes NPS

"As of 5:50 AM, Lucas Valley Rd. at Big Rock has reopened. There are currently no closures in Marin CHP jurisdiction. @MarinSheriff @maringov"

STORM UPDATES: Deputies in West Marin reporting Platform Bridge Rd near Sir Francis Drake Blvd under several feet of water. Highway 1 between Pt Reyes Station to Olema reported as currently "impassible" by sheriff's deputies due to flooding.

STORM UPDATES: Sheriff's deputies working side by side with residents evacuating their homes along Castro St in Forest Knolls/Lagunitas due to flooding. Lucas Valley Road will be closed until tomorrow morning.

"More flooding at Platform Bridge and Sir Francis Drake Blvd." - thx BE

Rt 1. is flooded at the Olema Campground. Sir Francis Drake and Rt.1 through Bear Valley is still open. Sorry about not clarifying that.

ROAD CLOSURE UPDATES: Rt. 1 in Tomales is closed. Lucas Valley Road is closed due to powerlines down. Rt. 1 at Olema is also closed due to flooding and the Green Barn in Point Reyes is also flooding. Facebook stinks for rapid updates because they don't show updates by time they were posted. For up-to-date info, you can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/westmarinf... or at our web site at http://thewestmarinfeed.com

Via KWMR: "Lucas Valley Road is currently closed due to a tree down and power lines - 1/2 mile west of Big Rock. This is a longer term closure, please take another route. 3:11pm 12/15/2016"

"NORTH BAY: Hwy 1 at Tomales Rd.....The road is flooded (3 feet of water) and at least one vehicle is reportedly stuck on the roadway." - Reports are that hwy 1 is closed at Tomales, plan accordingly. Do not drive through standing water!

"West Marin and Inverness Schools are calling an emergency minimum day. Inverness gets out at 12:15 and West Marin at 12:30. If your kids don't take the bus, you need to pick them up." Thx LM

Power outages be trees down as rain moves into West Main. An other reports?

The National Weather Service has issued an urban and small stream flood advisory for poor drainage areas in Marin County. This advisory is in effect until 6:00 AM PST Thursday

Heavy rain will develop tonight and continue Thursday. Overflowing poor drainage areas will result in minor flooding in the advisory
area. This advisory will be extended through Thursday morning. If conditions worsen it may need to be upgraded to an urban and small stream flood warning.

Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. (Thx RD)

Anyone feel it? "4.7 mag earthquake - 8km WNW of The Geysers, California @ 08:12 on 12/14/16"

Major rain coming this week. The Nicasio Reservoir getting very close to spillover time. Any guesses when it goes over? If someone gets a picture, please pass along.

Get ready for another wild week. Perhaps historically wild. "More widespread rain later this week. Tuesday through Thursday looks very wet. Possible hydro issues."

Maybe this was the source of the large explosions everyone has been hearing? Doesn't explain the bomb squad being out here though...

"Traffic control is in effect on Lucas Valley Road east of Big Rock due to a multi-vehicle collision with a vehicle over the embankment" - via KWMR

News from the Point Reyes Light: Blue Waters Kayaking shutting down Marshall operation and Moonrise Kingdom compound in Inverness approved with some tweaks.

Trevor Trainia in the Moonrise story, ""I think there's no small amount of irony that we are the out-of-towners," he said. "We see the not-so-subtle digs at the wealthy people from out of town coming to Inverness. There is no small amount of irony that we are the ones trying to preserve what independent experts have told us are architecturally significant, as well as locally beloved, structures, and the so-called Inverness Association are the people advocating for the destruction of these valuable buildings. How this dynamic occurred is puzzling to me."

LINKS:
http://www.ptreyeslight.com/ar...

http://www.ptreyeslight.com/ar...

"Magnitude 6.8 #earthquake strikes off the coast of California, the USGS reports. 115 miles west of Eureka. Tsunami NOT expected."

Going to be a wild week of weather. Its forecasted to get down to 29 degrees tonight. Bundle up! And be prepared for hazardous driving conditions the next couple of days. (thx MM)
DETAILS: http://forecast.weather.gov/Ma...

Via Jared Huffman, "I just received the sad news that Gary Giacomini, former Marin County Supervisor and longtime community leader, died last night. This is the passing of a legend. Gary had such a profound impact on our environment and quality of life in Marin County and beyond. He was one of the most colorful, strategic and irrepressible characters I've ever met -- right out of the Phil Burton political mold. You had to get to know him to understand that beneath a sometimes gruff or even brash exterior was a man with an enormous heart that guided his public service and community work throughout his remarkable career. I'm honored to have known and worked with Gary, and to count him as a friend." (thx EW) (2007 picture of GM from MarinIJ)

Anyone just feel or hear a big explosion?

Lots of holiday events happening this weekend. Scroll down below to see them all. Support our local shops and artisans!

Friday
- The Annual Path of Lights tree lighting ceremony starts at 6:30pm in downtown Point Reyes
- Reception for Carlos Porrata and Daniel Dietrich's amazing nature photos at Tobys from 5pm to 7pm
- MMMM! Mothers, Maidens and Melodies Market music and handmade goods made by at Ink.Paper.Plate starting at 6:30pm
- The 46th annual Dance Palace Holiday Crafts fair starts from 4pm to 9pm

Saturday
- Community Land Trust or West Marin has its gingerbread contest and silent auction at Little Yellow House in Point Reyes from 10am to 2pm
- The 46th annual Dance Palace Holiday Crafts fair continues 10am to 5pm
- A Standing Rock benefit art sale and auction at the Bolinas Gallery from 1pm to 5pm
- La Liberta CD release party at Yoga Toes at 7pm

Sunday
- The 46th annual Dance Palace Holiday Crafts fair continues 10am to 5pm
- A Standing Rock benefit art sale and auction at the Bolinas Gallery from 1pm to 5pm
- Open house and community party at The Gables at the Inverness Library and Jack Mason Museum celebrating 30 years. From 1pm to 4pm
- Santa Claus arrives by water sleigh at Nick's Cove at 3pm

Whew.

Links:

Photo from this blog post by Dave Mitchell:
http://www.sparselysageandtime...

Photo exhibit:
https://www.facebook.com/event...

Ink.Paper.Plate event:
https://www.facebook.com/event...

La LIbertad:
https://www.facebook.com/event...

For those interested in voicing your opinions about the 'Moonrise Kingdom' project that is being built at the top of Vision Road by San Franciscans Trevor and Alexis Traina, the public hearing is Thursday, Dec 1 at 9:00am at the Civic Center in San Rafael.

"The applicant is requesting approval to restore and retain three existing residential structures, demolish two residential structures, and construct a new single-family residence on the 6.04 acre property. The proposed single-family residence would consist of a 25 foot tall, two-story structure comprised of 3,993 square feet of floor area and 4,481 square feet of building area. When combined with the existing structures on the property (to be retained), the total proposed floor area is 7,619 square-feet, for a floor area ratio of 3% and a total building area of 8,544 square-feet. "

Public hearing notice here:
http://www.marincounty.org/dep...

Background on why people are concerned here:
http://www.ptreyeslight.com/ar...

From the New Yorker this week. "Frédéric Lefebvre had been convinced all along that Trump could win. He spends two weeks of most months in Paris and two weeks travelling among his constituency, in an area that is forty times the size of France. "A year ago, I was in San Francisco for the weekend," he said. "I went to Point Reyes to see the whales and then to eat oysters at Marshall, and I met many, many Americans during this moment of pleasure. I remember I met a young woman"”she was thirty-five years old, had two daughters, and was working all day doing valet parking at a restaurant. It was just after Trump said some horrible things about women, and she told me, "˜I will vote for Trump, because I want to change this system.' " FULL STORY: http://www.newyorker.com/magaz...

Go to this show! "One time West Marin resident, singer songwriter Jesse DeNatale, will give a Post-Thanksgiving Benefit Concert with his band at Toby's Feed Barn in downtown Point Reyes Station Sunday Nov. 27th at 4pm. The proceeds will benefit the Tomales Bay Youth Center. Along with the show, there will be a raffle with tickets to some of the Bay." https://www.eventbrite.com/e/j...

Solid rainbow action over Tomales Bay just now. Anyone else see that one? That one had a pot of gold for sure.

The Haggards are playing a 'Black Friday' show at The Western tonight at 8:00. If you don't know what any of that means, just go, you will enjoy. https://www.facebook.com/event...

Didn't realize Black Friday extended to Point Reyes. It's madness here. Shelter in place!

Happy Thanksgiving from TWMF! #westmarin #thanksgiving #grateful

"Heads up - Point Reyes gas station pumps are down." - thx LN

Apparently a reporter from Mother Jones was talking about this on KWMR this morning? First I had heard of any of this, anyone else know about these incidents?

Dumping rain in Inverness right now.

After a good rain, the waterfalls in West Marin kicked into gear. #waterfalls (thx XW)

Plenty of rain and wind in Inverness in West Marin. How's everyone else holding up?

"IN THE SLEEPY Marin County town of Inverness, on a remote wooded ridge that overlooks the wide blue sweep of the Tomales Bay, sits a modest, low-slung redwood cabin that the late multidisciplinary artist-craftsman J.B. Blunk built entirely by hand."

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11...

"An eight-mile section of Fairfax-Bolinas Road will reopen on Friday, November 18, after undergoing extensive repairs and safety improvements by Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW). The stretch of road between Ridgecrest Bouelvard and the Meadow Club in Fairfax, a key artery for many West Marin residents, has been closed since March 2016 because of heavy mudslide damage." (thx DJ)

http://www.marincounty.org/mai...

Standing Rock rally happening in downtown Point Reyes this afternoon. #noDAPL

Horrible traffic on Lucas Valley Road today due to construction. Plan accordingly. Anyone know what the construction schedule is?

"Lucas Valley Road is blocked in
both directions due to a vehicle fire near Big Rock" - via KMWR

There are two events happening tonight for people who want to connect about their concerns about the election. One at the White Barn at the Giacommini Wetlands at 5:15pm (please arrive early and quietly) and one at 6:00pm at Chicken Ranch Beach.

Here is the breakdown of the County of Marin voting results. They don't include what the Props were, they just have the numbers. In the race most people were probably watching locally, Rodoni won for supervisor.

http://www.marincounty.org/dep...

A picture of the fire on Via De La Vista in Inverness today courtesy of the Point Reyes Light (via KWMR). Thanks to our local firefighting crews for responding so quickly and getting this under control.

"Emergency units are responding to a structure fire on Via De La Vista in Inverness" - via KWMR

Can't believe this is actually happening. Go vote!

More information about the recent explosions and bomb squad sightings from Richard James. "I led a Sierra Club litter pickup group last weekend and the group found two of these on south beach. The proper thing to do I am told is to not touch them (phosphorus is very unstable when it has dried, will burn when it contacts air), put a warning line around them if possible and contact county dispatch asap at 415-499-7233. They will call NPS LE who will then call the travis air force base EOD bomb squad. The folks then come down and blow the items up in place."

Apparently a bunch of them have washed up, so be careful if you find one and report them! And the waves will continue to be huge this week, so be safe at the beaches!

Here is the data sheet:
http://www.hfipyrotechnics.com...

Marin County Sheriffs's Notice -Gas Station Skimmer Warning

On November 3rd, a skimmer device was found at a gas station in unincorporated Mill Valley. A gas station attendant found the device and it is thought to have been placed there some time during the night. This is the only such report the Sheriff's Office has received but we want to take the opportunity to inform our residents what a skimmer device is and how to protect their personal information.

Some of these devices are not visible unless the gas pump key pad is opened and some utilize Bluetooth technology and is used by criminals to steal credit card information. The thieves never have to come into physical contact with your card; they merely have to be close enough to capture the data from the skimmer remotely.

While not all skimmers operate this way, all are simply devices added to the pump and connected to the card reader to steal credit and debit card info and defraud the consumer. The Marin County Sheriff's Office offers the following advice to help you avoid becoming a victim of these thieves:

"¢ First look at the overall condition of the gas pump. Is there anything attached to it that appears out of place? Is there more than one card reader? Any visible wires on the outside of the machine? Is there tape holding objects on the pump?
"¢ If possible, avoid gas pumps that are out of view of the store employee. These pumps could be more easily compromised with a skimmer since employees will not be able to see activity around the pump. Use the pumps that are within view of the employee these will probably have a reduced risk of being compromised.
"¢ Check to see if the pump has a seal placed on the access door. If this seal is broken or gone, move on to another pump if possible. It could mean that the pump has been compromised. If the seal is missing or broken notify the employee immediately.
"¢ If you notice anything attached to the outside of the pump that appears out of place or brand new in appearance compared to the pump itself, it could be a skimmer or camera to video your PIN. Externally placed skimmers will allow the transaction when placed over the pump card reader, but will also steal your information at the same time.
"¢ Some skimmers are blue-tooth capable so the crook will not even have to come and get it! Others that are externally attached may have to be retrieved by the crook at some point in time.
"¢ If you see people hanging around gas pumps after business hours or pretending to be maintenance workers, inform the employees or call the police.
"¢ Finally, check your credit card or gas card statements regularly for any irregularities or unusual charges.

Shared with Marin County Sheriff's Office in Crime & Safety

Sergeant Nina Snyder from Marin County Sheriff's Office ·
Photo from Sergeant Nina Snyder

Benefit of daylight savings today. Incredible sunrise. #sunrise #westmarin

Did anyone see or here a huge explosion on Limantour Beach around 6:30pm last night? A surfer out at Drakes Beach saw the explosion and then a huge column of smoke rise up. Very strange. Maybe more flares?

"The Land I Love", watercolors, photographs and ceramics by local artists Barbara Whitt, Michael Whitt and Whitman Shenk. The opening reception is Saturday (tomorrow), Nov 4 from 2pm to 4pm at the gallery in Tobys in Point Reyes. This is a great show, highly recommend checking it out.

Some crazy running race on Point Reyes/Petaluma road right now. Runners and support vans everywhere. Drive safe and slow, it's a little hectic.