More than 250 tunnel advocates raised their glasses in celebration of a sold-out Wine, Art, and Music Garden Party on Sunday in Montara. The approximately $7,000 raised will help Citizens for the Tunnel expand their community outreach and education efforts throughout San Mateo County as they pursue a tunnel solution at Devil's Slide in favor of the inland bypass propowsed by CalTrans.
The event was organized by Kelly Huber of Moss Beach along with the help of 30 Coastside volunteers. Obester Winery donated all of the wine for the event and was joined by numerous other local food and beverage donors, including Safeway of Half Moon Bay and Linda Mar, California Girls, Coastal Affair, M. Coffee, Moonside Bakery, Creekside Smokehouse, Horizon Foods, Pomonio Creek Produce Co., and Chef Dennis Lemke.
A live art auction was conducted by professional auctioneer Anne Kearney of El Granada. Seventy-five pieces of art were donated by local businesses and artists including Native American Gallery, John Davis Photography, James Feige, Susan Carkeek, Ernest Lombardi, Jean Claude Langer, Harvey Gaylin, Tom Shuman, Periwinkle Gallery, Carol Holsgrove, Bob Carter, Marcus Nebeling, Robert Buelteman, Alysanne McGaffey, Sue McIntire, Jill Forrester, Kelly Huber. Door prize donors included King's Gym, Marcia's Hairworks, Coastside Books, and masseuses Doris Robishaud and Trish McGrath.
Musicians performing in support of the tunnel included Jazzberry Jam, Margie Baker with AKA, and Monica Hart with Mark Nolan. Tickets were donated by graphic artist Clark Natwick and distributed by Coastside Books, Aqua Culture, San Gregorio Store, and Beach Cafe of Pacifica.
Janet Fogarty, Republican opponent of Mary Griffin in the March 1996 election for a seat on the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors and two term mayor of Millbrae, was a guest at the benefit, where she was introduced by Kate Smit of Citizens for the Tunnel. Janet announced, "I'm your third vote (on the Board of Supervisors in favor of a tunnel study." To date Board Supervisors Ruben Barrales and Ted Lempert have voted in favor of a thorough study of a tunnel at Devil's Slide, but were opposed by Supervisors Mike Nevin, Mary Griffin, and Tom Huening. Other guests included Half Moon Bay City Councilmember Deborah Ruddock, Half Moon Bay City Council Candidate Dennis Coleman, Mid-Coast Community Council Chair Jim Marsh, MCCC candidates Paul Perkovic and Rick Lohman, and San Mateo County Harbor Commission President Jim Stilwell.