5 pm: The young man with the kite has gone away. The mommy with a one-year old in her arms and the papa with a three-year old tugging at his jeans have struggled up the slope to the car . The old lady with the little dog has gone. Two guys are sharing the last beer as they fold up the wedding reception table. And the ocean is mopping up all the footsteps on the beach. Time to wake up from the warm sand and head back to Angwin.

The new governing Board of the Howell Mountain Mutual Water Company is hacking away at a mountain of financial problems.

Here's the good news:

1. The new Board has renegotiated the loan from the State of California on a plan which will reduce the payments by $42, 000 a year. And still at the low, low interest rate of 3. 37%. A real coup!

2. The users have agreed to a rate increase which also help reduce the deficit. Users who are not yet on Option B can sign up for this option in December. Under Option B, a user agrees to pay the average of its past three years bills for the next 12 months, and they will receive as a bonus $1, 000 worth of free water.

3. The Board eliminated the post of full-time office manager, with full medical benefits, and replaced it with a part-time office manager who is doing a great job. Capable and courteous.

4. The company has received a $70, 000 grant from Napa County for repairs. This is the first allocation from the Countywide flood control program. Finally.

5. The company has received a $17, 500 grant from the State to plan its capital improvement program.