Janet’s love of the California Coastside goes back a long way. She first discovered Año Nuevo State Park in 1987 when she moved to Half Moon Bay. She often brought out of town friends and guests to visit this jewel of the coast and investigated becoming a docent in 1999 – the timing just wasn’t right. In 2004, Janet took advantage of a work sabbatical and became a park docent. She passionately shares her love of the park with visitors from all over the world. She shared one tour that stands out among the many. Janet was taking a group of Japanese tourists that spoke no English out to see the seals. She recalls working with their interpreter and the need for delivery of succinct information, while sharing her passion for the remarkable elephant seals with the group. Janet continues her work as a docent at the park concentrating on the Equal Access tours. She is proud to be able to share the magic of the elephant seals with groups of visitors that are not able to make the long trek on foot to see them.
In 2012, she was interested in learning more about how CSPA (known as San Mateo Coast Natural History Association at that time) obtained funding so she joined the board. In 2012, Janet also became a docent at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park. Throughout the last decade, she has been integral in her efforts on the CSPA Board and for her advocacy for the restoration of Pigeon Point Lighthouse. In December 2000, a piece of the cast iron band that gave the tower its structural integrity fell to the ground. The lighthouse tower was closed to the public in 2001. The current restoration of the tower would not be possible without the collaboration of CSPA and other entities like Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks Foundation, including contributions from individual donors. Janet shared that she is most proud of the collaboration work, and this energizes her continued involvement within CSPA.
The current lighthouse restoration project has taken years to come together. CSPA and partners were integral in renovating the Bunker and the Fog Signal Building to encourage forward movement before full funding was secured. Around 2019, California Department of Parks and Recreation allocated $9 million toward the project and after 2021, additional funding came by way of Governor Gavin Newsom’s statewide parks maintenance initiative, thus allowing the restoration to begin. Janet’s contributions to CSPA activities are invaluable. Her knowledge and commitment are integral as we move toward opening the lighthouse tower to the public, and ensuring funds raised from those tours directly support the ongoing maintenance of this historic treasure.
We could not be more proud of Janet’s contributions and accomplishments and of her Superior Achievement Award from CA State Parks for her outstanding role as an ambassador of both Ano Nuevo State Park and Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park.
Janet said while she is pleased to be recognized for her efforts as both a docent and a CSPA board member, she acknowledges she isn’t the only person who warrants recognition. She thanks those she worked or volunteered with over the years who nudged or persuaded her in the right direction.
Article written by Ellen Moore, Coastside State Parks Association Board Vice President