It Wasn’t Easy Being An Italian on the Coastside During WWII

In an earlier post, Ernie Alves (“Our Cows are Outstanding in Their Field”) hinted at the devastating effect of WWII on Coastsiders–especially Germans and Italians without citizenship papers–who were prohibited after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor from living or working on the west side of Main Street, the Highway 1 of that era. What …

John Vonderlin: Lake Pilarcitos, Part III

Story by John Vonderlin Email John: [email protected] Hi June, This article from the May 22nd, 1867 issue of “The Daily Alta,” is quite interesting. It gives many details you won’t find in the official website of “San Francisco’s Early Water Sources.” You especially won’t find the description of people being able to visit and enjoy this hidden gem …

Maria Demarest: The Birds II at El Granada Beach

Image by photographer Maria Demarest, who, while visiting Half Moon Bay last week, caught this spectacular scene at El Granada beach. One of the birds looks a little large. Is that Maria flying with the birds? Some things never change, thank goodness. 10/19/2008: I’ve been thinking about Maria’s photo. Wouldn’t it make fantastic wallpaper?

Coastside World War II: “Perhaps the most disruptive part of the early months of the war

was the removal of many Italians from the coast, along with all persons of Japanese ancestry. “Beginning in February of 1942, all Italian aliens living inland from Highway 1 south of Laguna Creek were required to move inland from the highway, and since many of the Italian families living on the North Coast had elderly …