A Series of Burglaries This Summer Has Plagued Residents of Nicasio and Lucas Valley Road   Lieutenant Doug Pittman tells about the recent spike in burglaries and meeting with residents, and Nicasio resident Paula Karsh describes the community's response and measures homeowners have taken to protect themselves. George Clyde reports.

A New State Park Facility at Marconi Cove  The proposal by State Parks to develop a boat launch and small camping and picnic facilities on Tomales Bay at Marconi Cove, which KWMR reported last Friday, moved forward Thursday as the Coastal Commission approved the Caltrans highway project that is the source of  $266K in mitigation funds.  Amy Trainer of EAC supported the project, provided that environmental and public access issues are addressed, and upland neighbor Tony Magee expressed his support through a representative. George Clyde reports.

KWMR and the West Marin Disaster Council Have New Emergency Capabilities  At a ceremony at the Point Reyes Station Firehouse yesterday, Richard Dillman, KWMR's Transmitter Wrangler, accepted a donation of the communications van from Greenpeace.  Dillman, Disaster Council Coordinator Libby Colman and KWMR Board Chair David Bunnett comment on the van's ability to keep the station on the air and to provide emergency communications during disasters, as George Clyde reports.  (The van will be at the Marconi Boat Launch in Marshall from 11 AM to 3 PM Saturday for the Marshall Disaster Preparedness Fair.)

MALT Easements Now Require Continued Agricultural Activities  Robert Berner, Executive Director of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT), says that prohibiting non-agricultural development on MALTed properties is not enough. Starting with the Thornton Ranch in August and going forward, MALT will require ranches with new agricultural conservation easements actively to engage in agricultural production under plans approved by MALT.  George Clyde reports.

Crowds Throng to Drakes Beach Sunday for the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest  At least 2,000 people, including about 60 contestants who built elaborate sand sculptures, were at Drakes Beach for the 30^th anniversary of the event.  Dewey Livingston of Inverness tells KWMR about his rendition of Black Mountain in the first year of the contest, and Park ranger Loretta Farley describes Sunday's activities and Bing Gong's  political offering.  George Clyde and Matt Gallagher report.

State Parks is Planning a New Boat Launch, Camping Sites and Picnic Facilities at Marconi Cove, Budget Woes Notwithstanding  With $266K of mitigation funds from Caltrans and nearly $1 million from California Boating and Waterways, Callifornia State Parks is planning to develop a new park area near Marshall by 2015, as Staff Park and Recreation Specialist Roy McNamee tells George Clyde.  The funds are premised on Coastal Commission approval Thursday of a Caltrans project to bolster Highway One. More information here.

Back to School in West Marin  Wednesday was the first day of school for the Shoreline Unified School District. At Tomales High School, for many it was a first look at the significant new construction and remodeling of the school. Matt Gallagher speaks with Principal and District Superintendent Stephan Rosenthal, and gets reactions from students, staff, and faculty members Bill Costanzo, Robert Harr and Jim LeFever.