Community Corner
Volunteers Honored for Graffiti Removal Along Pilarcitos Creek
City's 1,000 sq. ft of graffiti targeted during effort spearheaded by local church.
Over 40 volunteers who removed graffiti concentrated along the walking/biking trail by Pilarcitos Creek were honored by Mayor Naomi Patridge and the Half Moon Bay City Council this week with a special city proclamation thanking the group for their service.
Spearheaded by Michael Perkins at the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints in Half Moon Bay, the project was completed in partnership with the city and local company Sunrise Painting. According to Perkins, excessive graffiti covered 1,000 sq. feet along the trail.
As the city didn't have the funds to pay for a removal project, Perkins and the church decided to gather their congregation and volunteers from the greater community to pitch in and remove it themselves.
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Perkins' friend and city councilmember Rick Kowalczyk connected him with Half Moon Bay Public Works Director Larry Carnahan, who arranged for the city to donate paint and supplies. Owner of Sunrise Painting in Half Moon Bay, Robert Dragony, also donated supplies. Others that played key roles in the project were Tim Fellars, Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, and Public Works employee Rob Eastman.
In one day, Perkins said, the volunteers used over 25 gallons of recycled paint to cover the 1,000 sq. foot area.
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"The city made it easy for us and we thank them for their lack of bureaucracy," Perkins said at this week's city council meeting, where youth volunteers were given a certificate of recognition. Perkins also thanked Carnahan for his role in the project.
"On one level it’s really terrific community service, but on another level it illustrates the best of public-private cooperation," Kowalcyzk said, who participated in the day of service with his family.
Click on the photo gallery to view "before" and "after" photos.
Youth volunteers honored:
Josh Boggs
Aaron Coberly
Andy Heinzman
Josh Heinzman
Micaela Kowalczyk
Courtney Lewis
Brittany Lewis
Patrick Ollerton
Madison Perkins
Thomas Perkins
Tucker Perkins
Tanner Weir
Brit Whitchurch
Bracen Young
Rebecca Zheng
