The American Legion is a veterans service organization, and this post of the legion supports Pacifica and the surrounding communities. In addition to promoting patriotism, the post provides youth programs and support programs to veterans and current service members. To become a member of the post, one must be on active duty or have served honorably during one of the war eras.
When Rissho Kosei Kai Buddhist Church opened its doors in September of 1979, it represented one of the first footholds for institutionalized Buddhism in what was then 20-year-old Pacifica. The church, housed in a building once occupied by St. Andrew United Presbyterian Church, is but one branch of Tokyo-based Rissho Kosei-kai Buddhism, which has locations around the world. Kazuhiko Nagamoto, the minister at the Pacifica sanctuary, said that the organization focuses on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra, one of numerous Buddhist texts. The Rissho Kosei-kai website rk-world.org says the Lotus Sutra is a "teaching of human respect, both the study and practice of a spiritual path that develops human potential, and a way of living that seeks peace for all people."
Although the church's congregation of about 150 Pacificans and residents of surrounding areas is not heavily involved in the community through ministry or evangelicalism, Nagamoto says the church does participate in Pacifica's annual Fogfest and hosts a rummage sale every August. He said that his church primarily works to change the community through changing the individual, a strategy he believes sets Buddhism apart from religions such as Christianity.
Pacifica State Beach is the most popular among visitors to the city thanks to its location on Highway 1 and its easily accessible stretch of sand untouched by the surf. This park is great for picnics, relaxing and more rarely, due to fog and overcast, sunbathing. The beach is also popular with beginner and intermediate surfers. The Log Shop, which rents and sells surfboards and gear, is located nearly on the beach at its southern limit, as are several restaurants and cafes. Bikers can cruise the paved trail adjacent to the highway and take in Pacifica State Beach's panoramic views on their way to Devil's Slide to the South or Pacifica's more northern districts. Dogs are allowed on leashes, and outdoor showers allow both man and beast to keep sand and salt out of the car. There's also a Taco Bell located literally on the beach with a 'wet' walk-up window.
Pacifica Community Television is a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation that provides an outlet, both on Channel 26 and pct26.com, for residents and community leaders in Pacifica to share their news and work with the larger community.
In the '60s, before cable television became the standard, PCT, then a closed-circuit program of a local high school, began out of a need caused by the fact that many over-the-air channels would not reach Pacifica due to the surrounding hills and fog. By the '70, the station began broadcasting a signal and in 1972 won an Emmy for its broadcasts.
Today, PCT offers a variety of 21st-century TV and film-related opportunities to the community, including workshops on graphics, lighting, camera operation, audio editing and directing. And, of course, Channel 26 showcases programs ranging from nationally-encompassing Democracy Now to city council meetings. A complete program schedule and list of events and workshops can be found on PCT's website.
Church of the Good Shepherd has stood at its current location on Oceana Boulevard since June, 1953. Since then its congregation has grown to more than 750 families.
The church offers a variety of services besides mass, including grief counseling, retreats and information sessions on global crises. Clubs for Catholic men and women meet at the Church of the Good Shepherd's St. Rita's Hall, as do the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts. The church hosts a crab feed every January.
Pacifica Sharp Park Library features a large collection of newly released books and classics ranging across fiction and most subject areas. Free access to the Internet and research databases, along with resources for job seekers, augment that collection.
The library also has clubs and activities for all ages, including a book club for those in their 20s and 30s, story time for babies and young children, and college preparation information sessions for graduating high school students.
Pacifica Sharp Park Library is just a block away from the Pacific Ocean and Pacifica Pier, making it an ideal place to catch up on news, pick up a new best seller or just relax with an ocean view.
Pacifica Community Center is a community programming venue located in Pacifica. The center is used for a variety of community events, both public and private. Public programming includes dance and fitness classes held in the facility's dance studio, art classes, community performances and general recreation. The facility is available for rental for wedding receptions, corporate events, parties and fundraisers. The center includes an industrial kitchen. A $50 deposit is required in order to complete a booking.
The Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church is tucked away in Pacifica's Linda Mar neighborhood. Part of a group of Lutheran churches that form the Peninsula Evangelical Lutheran Church in American Cooperative Group, Holy Cross participates in regional events and activities that would otherwise be beyond the scope of its modest congregation.
Holy Cross hosts Sunday School for its congregation members, as well as an occasional Ladies Afternoon Tea, an annual Harvest Festival, a Mardis Gras celebration, musical performances from various artists and bands, a Thanksgiving feast for the community and a St. Patrick's Day celebration.
A quiet green space tucked away in Pacifica's Fairmont District, Edgemar Park contains something for everyone, whether it's shade from massive trees towering around and inside the park in which to read, picnic tables and a grill for get-togethers with friends and family or a playground for children. The park is open later than most in Pacifica --11pm-- and dogs are allowed but must be leashed.
New Life Christian Fellowship (NLCF) was founded in 2007 when Grace Bible Fellowship and Vista Del Mar Baptist Church were joined under Pastor Jonathan Markham. A typical service at NLCF consists of singing, a Bible message from the pastor and praying, as well as a lesson for children in the congregation. Midway through the service, children are invited to leave for NewLifeKidz!, a scripture-based program designed for pre-adolescents and young teens. Childcare is also available for younger children during services.
There are diverse worship opportunities at New Life, including men's and women's study sessions, adult small group Bible study and a young adults group. Local and international evangelism projects, including missions, are part of New Life's overall vision.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as the Mormon Church, grew rapidly in the 20th Century and continues that trend thanks to an intent focus on missionary programs. It is now an international organization.
Mormon values favor the nuclear family structure and a sense of community within the church, but some of its beliefs have brought the church into the international spotlight, most recently when it sponsored opposition to making same-sex marriages legal in the state of California.
Although the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints shares the same Christ-centric doctrine and reliance on the Bible as a holy book with other Christian denominations, it also incorporates other texts, supposedly prophetic, which were written by Joseph Smith, Jr. in the 19th Century. And, much like the Catholic Church believes the Pope is a conduit by which God's will may be known, Mormons believe the president of their church is a prophet through which the will of Christ may be known.
Pacifica's branch of the Mormon Church might be hard to spot as one is driving up Sharp Park Road. The entrance to its parking lot is located just before Milagra Ridge's entrance going east.
The San Francisco West Stake Family History Center, a branch of a national organization that collects historical materials so individuals may identify who their ancestors are, is also housed at this location.
Pacifica School Volunteers, a nonprofit organization, trains and places volunteers from the community in Pacifica's public schools. Most volunteers work with individual students who need help in math, reading and other academic subjects. There are several other ways for community members to donate their time, however, including drama, art, music and physical education training and lessons, or simply reading aloud to children. There's also an annual Kinder-Camp every summer during which adult and high-school age volunteers help prepare kids for kindergarten.
Before entering schools, volunteers will be trained by Pacifica School Volunteers in workshops that teach them the skills and teaching methods for the subject of their choice, like K-8th grade math, for instance. Space is limited at these workshops, however, so interested community members should call and reserve a spot ahead of time.
Pacifica Pier is a historical fishing pier that extends one-quarter mile into the ocean from the City of Pacifica. The L-shaped pier is used for fishing and as a scenic public walkway for residents to enjoy. The pier was opened in 1973, and its official name is The Rev. Herschel Harkins Memorial Pacifica Pier.
Fairmont West Park is dominated by a soccer field and an asphalt basketball court, marking it as an area primarily designed for sports. However, the Fairmont West Child Care Center and preschool, which provides full-day childcare and preschool, makes it home there. A lack of tree cover in Fairmont West make this one of the sunniest parks in the city. Dogs are allowed on leashes.
The Pacifica Tribune, published every Wednesday, features local content ranging from hard news to event coverage. The newspaper is owned by the Denver-based MediaNews Group, the second-largest media company in the U.S. MediaNews purchased the paper just before the millennium; before that, it was locally owned.
The Pacifica Tribune's history dates back further than its name. It originated as the Coastside Tribune in the early 20th century, and was based in Sharp Park, one of the cities that combined to form Pacifica.
The Boys and Girls Club is an inspirational alternative for many Bay Area students. The Pacifica branch offers many services that promote self-esteem and character-building, team-building exercises and sports, and recreation with kids from other cultures and areas of the city. Kids ages six through 18 are given opportunities for leadership, are treated fairly, with empathy and understanding and without judgement of past behavior. All budgets are accommodated with the sliding scale fees. Check the website for schedule and event updates.