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Date: Wednesday, January 12, 2022 District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEEKDAY ONE-HOUR DELAYS AT SITE OF SLIDE ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR RAGGED POINT TO END/ONE WAY REVERSING TRAFFIC CONTROL BEGINS TOMORROW SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Continued efforts to remove slide material from above the roadway on Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County has progressed to the point that the one-hour delays for travelers which began last week will be suspended. Beginning Thursday, Jan.13, travelers will encounter one-way reversing traffic control in the immediate vicinity of the Polar Star slide, one mile south of Ragged Pont at Post Mile 71.8 weekdays from 7 am to 5 pm with delays not expected to exceed 15 minutes. This schedule is anticipated to be in effect until the end of next week. Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area. Please drive safely in this area due to the presence of highway workers. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
January 11, 2022
Media Contact: Andrew Madsen
(805) 895-0841
andrew.madsen
www.facebook.com/lpnf
Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres begins implementing prescribed fire activities

SOLVANG, Calif.— Los Padres National Forest officials today announced plans to begin implementing their annual prescribed burning operations. When favorable weather conditions are present, specific project locations and dates will be shared on the Forest’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The objectives of the projects are to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to people and communities, create conditions which offer a safer and more effective wildfire response, foster more resilient ecosystems, and minimize the effects of large wildfires on the landscape.

When implementing these projects, fire managers follow a burn plan that outlines the “prescription” or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation and relative humidity that need to be present before the project begins. When the criteria are met, crews will implement, monitor, and patrol each burn project to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined by managers. The prescribed fire program will continue through the winter and spring months as permitted by weather and other environmental factors.

Prescribed fires including both understory and pile burning are intended to reduce the amount of vegetation, such as needles, small plants, brush, and small trees which can carry fire from the forest floor into the treetops. Studies and experience have shown that prescribed fires stimulate the growth of grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide food for deer, mountain quail and other wildlife.

The ignition of all prescribed burns is dependent on the availability of personnel, equipment, and conducive weather conditions. Prescribed burn planning and execution are closely coordinated with the National Weather Service and Air Quality Management Districts to manage smoke production and minimize impacts as much as possible.

When these burns occur, information signs will be posted along adjacent roadways to alert the public to the burn projects and visible smoke in the area.

For questions on the Los Padres National Forest prescribed fire program, please contact Kyle Kinports at (805) 961-5710. For additional information, please visit the Forest website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.

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Stan Russell
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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Date: Monday, January 10, 2022 District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 IN NORTHERN SLO COUNTY SUBJECT TO WEEKDAY ONE-HOUR DELAYS AT SITE OF STILL ACTIVE SLIDE THIS WEEK SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Continued efforts to remove slide material from above the roadway on Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County will result in one-hour delays for travelers weekdays during daytime hours from Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14 with traffic control in the immediate vicinity of the Polar Star slide, one mile south of Ragged Pont at Post Mile 71.8. Travelers will be subject to traffic control with up to one-hour delays from 7 am to 5 pm. The highway will be fully open on weekdays, without traffic control, from 5 pm to 7 am. On weekends, Highway 1 will be fully open, without traffic control, from Friday at 5 pm until Monday at 7 am. Crews with specialized equipment will remove remaining slide material from above the roadway. These weekday, one-hour traffic delays, are necessary for crews and equipment to dedicate the maximum amount of daylight hours to these efforts in advance of future weather events. Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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Date: Monday, January 3, 2022 at 3:15 PM District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 IN NORTHERN SLO COUNTY SUBJECT TO WEEKDAY ONE-HOUR DELAYS AT SITE OF STILL ACTIVE SLIDE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Continued efforts to remove slide material from above the roadway on Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County will result in one-hour delays for travelers on weekdays during daytime hours. Beginning Tuesday Dec. 4, traffic control in the immediate vicinity of the Polar Star slide, one mile south of Ragged Pont at Post Mile 71.8, will hold to the following schedule. Monday thru Friday, Highway 1 will be subject to traffic control with one-hour delays from 7 am to 5 pm. The highway will be fully open on weekdays, without traffic control, from 5 pm to 7 am. On weekends, Highway 1 will be fully open, without traffic control, from Friday at 5 pm until Monday at 7 am. This schedule is anticipated to be in effect for at least the next two weeks. Crews with specialized equipment will be on site to remove remaining slide material from above the roadway. These weekday, one-hour traffic delays, are necessary for crews and equipment to dedicate the maximum amount of daylight hours to these efforts in advance of future weather events. Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation
For Immediate Release:
December 30, 2021

Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation awards its 2021 Beneficiary Grants

The Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation Board of Directors are proud to announce the grants designated for the 2021 beneficiaries totaling a record breaking $150,000.00 :

Big Sur Fiddle Camp – Weston Call Scholarship Fund: $5,000
Big Sur Fire: $45, 000
Big Sur Forest School: $6,000
Big Sur Grange: $3,000
Big Sur Health Center: $45,000
Big Sur Softball: $2,000
Captain Cooper School: $6,000
Esselen Tribe of Monterey County- Big Sur Land Maintenance & Cultural Events: $5,000
MidCoast Fire Brigade: $10,000
Pacific Valley School: $6,000
Scholarship for Big Sur Youth (Applications being accepted): $5,000
The Henry Miller Memorial Library: $10,000
Ventana Wildlife Society: $2,000

The Big Sur Food & Wine Festival and The Big Sur Fashion Show are the fundraising projectsof the Big Sur Food & Wine Foundation, an all volunteer-run 501(c)3 non-profit charitable trust, solely focused on supporting the children and families of Big Sur through grants to non-profits in the areas of Health, Education, Safety and the Arts.

For any questions or more information about Big Sur Food & Wine Festival or the Big Sur Fashion Show, please contact Elsa Rivera at elsa@bigsurfoodandwine.org 831-596-8105

Our giving history to beneficiaries can be found at Beneficiaries — Big Sur Food & Wine (bigsurfoodandwine.org)

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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Date: Sunday, December 31, 2021 at 2:30 PM District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 REOPENS TODAY AT 5 PM IN NORTHERN SLO COUNTY SUBJECT TO 24-HOUR TRAFFIC CONTROL AT SITE OF STILL ACTIVE SLIDE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County, which has been closed due to a slide since Sunday Dec. 26, will be reopened at 5 pm today subject to 24-hour traffic control. The reopening of Highway 1 under 24-hour traffic control has been made possible by progress on the dislodging of a mass of undermined rock and debris from above the roadway. Caltrans maintenance staff and contracted crews performed rock scaling – rappelling down the hillside – to dislodge debris and rock. These efforts were followed by blasting of the rock mass. A series of rock scaling and blasting efforts resulted in removal of major portions of the undermined rock mass. Engineers are still evaluating water percolating from areas around the reduced rock mass and the slide area will be under continuous monitoring by crews with equipment on site to remove any debris from this still active slide. Crews will continue to work at this slide in the coming weeks. Travelers will encounter 24-hour, one-way reversing traffic control in the vicinity of the slide which is located about two miles south of Ragged Point at a location known as Polar Star at Post Mile 71.8. Travelers can expect delays that will be controlled by site conditions and slide activity. Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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CALTRANS Date: Sunday, December 28, 2021 at 4:50 PM District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 REMAINS CLOSED IN NORTHERN SLO COUNTY DUE TO ACTIVE SLIDE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Highway 1 remains closed due to rockfall and debris in the roadway in northern San Luis Obispo County from just south of Ragged Point to the Elephant Seal Vista Point. There is no estimated time for reopening. Maintenance teams and contractors continue to assess how to safely remove an undermined rock mass on the hill high above the roadway. The slide itself is located about two miles south of Ragged Point at a location known as Polar Star at Post Mile 71.8. On Monday Dec. 27, Caltrans entered into a $1.25 million emergency contract with Souza Construction of San Luis Obispo to clear the slide, remove the unsupported rock above the roadway, and perform other related repairs. The slide has remained active and crews will not have a definitive decision on a course of action until after rains expected in the coming days have subsided. Crews will continue to monitor and assess the situation during daylight hours and updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Travelers from the Monterey/Carmel area should be advised that Highway 1 remains open from the north, through Big Sur proper, all the way down to Ragged Point. Travelers from the south are advised that Highway 1 remains open through Cambria and San Simeon. Barricades, cones as well as message and directional signs are in place at both ends of the closure to alert motorists traveling in the area. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5 Photo of slide on Highway 1 at Polar Star in SLO County

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

CALTRANS

Date: Sunday, December 27, 2021 at 9:00 AM District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 CLOSED IN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FOLLOWING ROCKSLIDES SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Rockfall and debris in the roadway associated with an ongoing rain event has resulted in the closure of Highway 1 from the Elephant Seal Parking Lot north of San Simeon to south of Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County. The slide is located two miles south of Ragged Point at a location known as Polar Star. There is currently no estimated time for reopening as maintenance/engineer teams are assessing the closure area this morning and will continue to work during daylight hours when it’s safe for crews to do so prior to any change of the closure parameters. Decisions on modifying the closure parameters will be determined by these field assessments. The cleanup effort could be impacted by additional rainfall in the area. Barricades, cones as well as message and directional signs are in place at both ends of the closure to alert motorists traveling in the area. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5 Photo of slide on Highway 1 at Polar Star in SLO County

Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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Date: Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 4:00 PM District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 CLOSED IN MONTEREY/SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES FOLLOWING ROCKSLIDES MONTEREY AND SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Rockfall and debris in the roadway associated with an ongoing rain event has resulted in the closure of Highway 1 this afternoon on the Big Sur Coast from north of Gorda in Monterey County to south of Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County. There is currently no estimated time for reopening as maintenance/engineer teams assess the closure area during daylight hours. Assessments of the closure area of Highway 1 will continue to take place during daylight hours and when it’s safe for crews to do so prior to any change of the closure parameters. Decisions on modifying closure parameters will be determined by these field assessments. Barricades, cones as well as message and directionsl signs will be in place at both ends of the closure to alert motorists traveling in the area. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5 Photo by Gary Felsman

Stan Russell
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 87
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2100
http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org
http://www.thebigsurblog.com
http://www.twitter.com/BigSurCC
https://www.facebook.com/BigSurInformation

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Date: Sunday, December 26, 2021 at 11:00 am District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties Contact: Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers Phone:(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HIGHWAY 1 ON THE BIG SUR COAST NOW OPEN FOLLOWING ROCKSLIDE ACTIVITY MONTEREY/SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES – Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast between Ragged Point in San Luis Obispo County and near Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn in Monterey County (44.6 miles) has re-opened as of 11 am following rockslides in multiple locations which has been removed by Caltrans maintenance crews. Travelers should drive carefully during the winter driving season and be aware of Caltrans, tow trucks and emergency responders on the highway. For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5