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State Fair 2007

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San Mateo County at the State Fair 2007 San Mateo County’s 2007 State Fair exhibit – San Mateo County: The Green Leader – is an entirely homegrown effort.   Equally important, the exhibit illustrates how a diverse array of individuals can collaborate to develop a shared vision and then act on that vision.   The team wanted to accomplish two goals: spotlight the County’s leading efforts to reduce energy consumption and highlight a local landmark. As one of the tallest and most striking lighthouses in the United States, the light station at Pigeon Point has served as a beacon for those in need and symbol of our heritage for well over a century. The team chose to build a replica from scratch and, with exposure at the State Fair, raise awareness of local efforts to restore the Pigeon Point Lighthouse to its former glory.   The team could think of no better way to showcase “green” building than by creating a model home filled with salvaged, sustainable and recycled materials.   Even the home’s design arose from localefforts to spread energy awareness. The home is modeled after a “green” dollhouse built for a San Mateo County project to demonstrate how environmental features can be incorporated into real homes. The project has won awards from the federal government and Governor’s Office.   Part of the home is built from materials salvaged from the County’s former juvenile hall, which is currently being carefully deconstructed. A cabinet from a team member’s garage now graces the home’s kitchen. The sink was purchased at nominal cost from a local company that recovers items that would otherwise go to landfills. Even an aging fence no longer needed in a team member’s backyard has been incorporated into the layout.   Every effort has been made to use local products throughout the exhibit.   The flowers and other plants are grown at local nurseries. A family-owned lumber company, which practices sustainable forestry stewardship on San Mateo County lands, donated materials.   Local photographers, both amateur and professional, loaned or donated striking pictures.   The whimsical butterflies hanging throughout the exhibit were created by children at a daycare center on the grounds of the County’s government complex. The children’s butterflies are their impressions of a rare butterfly, the Bay checkerspot, that the County is working hard to save from extinction. These children are fast becoming our next generation of environmental stewards.       Our award-winning “San Mateo County: As Fresh as it Gets” campaign encourages chefs, restaurants, hotels and local companies to buy fresh local products to serve to their guests and employees. The cookbook is just one of the collaborative projects begun by the San Mateo County Convention & Visitors Bureau and San Mateo County Farm Bureau in cooperation with the County Harbor District, local health professionals and county government. The San Mateo County State Fair team is proud to exhibit to all of California what makes our piece of the Golden State unique.   Slideshow presentation: Previous                                             Next   A special thank you for those who participated: Alicia Peche, Proprieter Eco Design Resources, San Carlos (San Mateo County) Anne LeClair, President and CEO San Mateo County Convention and Visitors Bureau Bob Adler, Photographer Assistant Controller, San Mateo County Controller's Office Danielle Lee, Recycleworks San Mateo County Public Works Darryl Sorrels, Utility Worker for Construction Services San Mateo County Public Works, Construction Services Dianne Anderson, Recycleworks/Green Building San Mateo County Public Works Frank Balthis, Photographer Specializing in Pigeon Point Lighthouse and San Mateo County landmarks Gary Williams, Painter San Mateo County Public Works, Construction Services Jack Olsen, Executive Administrator San Mateo County Farm Bureau Jack Yaco, Photographer Assessment Appeals Clerk, San Mateo County Manager's Office Janet Webb, Chief Forester Big Creek Lumber Jeff Kosmala, Construction Supervisor San Mateo County Public Works, Construction Services Joanne Ward, Management Analyst San Mateo County, County Manager’s Office Juda Tolmasoff, Legislative Aide Supervisor Jerry Hill San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Jerry Hill Julia Bott, Executive Director San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation Kerri Martinez, Director Bright Horizons/Marin Day Schools Lillian Clark, Recycleworks program manager San Mateo County Public Works Marshall Wilson, Public Communications Manager San Mateo County, County Manager's Office Michael Dunbar, Electrician San Mateo County Public Works, Construction Services Mina Lim, Graphic Design San Mateo County, County Manager’s Office Mitch Postel, Executive Director San Mateo County Historical Association Nicole Ratner, Director of Marketing Solar City, Foster City (San Mateo County) Paul Keel, Supervisor Ranger California State Parks/San MateoCounty Coast Paul Porter, Carpenter San Mateo County Public Works, Construction Services Pete Smith, Photographer Hazardous Materials Specialist, San Mateo County Environmental Health Rose Blackburn, Ranger California State Parks/San Mateo County Coast Ross Leonard, Electrician San Mateo County Public Works, Construction Services Sandy Sanders, Graphics San Mateo County Planning and Building Scott Buschman Photographer Sven Eberlein Smith & Fong Company, San Francisco (just moved from San Mateo County) Tiare Peña, Planning Technician San Mateo County Planning and Building