Cedar Street Times
Recently published articles from the Cedar Street Times.
Pacific Grove’s James Brown new Monterey Fire Div. Chief
On May 17, 2013, James Brown was sworn in as Monterey’s newest Fire Division Chief by Fire Chief Andrew Miller. Division Chief Brown is highly qualified for this position with 25 years of fire service experience and fire service educational background. “His extensive experience and educational qualifications as well as his professionalism, competency and dedication as a fire officer will enhance the Monterey Fire Department team,” said a spokesperson.
Citizens’ Initiative proponents file writ of mandate against City
Costs mounting for strapped Pacific Grove
In an attempt to force the City to either enact the citizens’ initiative of 2013 or to put it on the next ballot, a writ of mandate has been filed in Monterey County Superior Court by Sally Aberg, Frances Grate and Daniel Davis. The are the leading proponents of the citizens’ initiative.
The City’s consulting attorney, Michael G. Colantuono, had indicated that the matter could be submitted for judicial review in plenty of time to do either of the two actions if the decision indicated they were legal. The attorney hired by the citizens’ group, Margaret Thum of Pebble Beach, stated that, under Monterey County Elections Code, the City has no such choice. Read the rest of this story »
Judge rules citizens’ initiative of 2010 and Measure R unconstitutional
The following article was sent as a bulletin to subscribers on May 17, 2013.
A ruling was made Fri., May 17 in Superior Court concerning a 2010 voter initiative. Judge Thomas Wills ruled that the initiative was unconstitutional. In doing so, he also found that Measure R, passed by voters, was unconstitutional.
He did find that the city had met its “meet and confer” obligations in the matter, however. Read the rest of this story »
Report on citizens’ initiative is in: Conclusion is that Pacific Grove should not enact it
By Marge Ann Jameson
On May 2, 2013, the Pacific Grove City Council, presented with a completed and filed citizens’ initiative to declare null and void the 2002 ordinance which set in place a “3%@50” retirement plan for public safety employees, and required to take take action within 30 days, voted to commission a report on the impact of the citizens’ initiative. The report is in, and has few surprises for either side of the question. Read the rest of this story »
MTAL League Championship Meet at Pacific Grove
Santa Catalina is the 2013 League Champion for the girls. For the boys: While Stevenson won the meet by one point over King City, King City is the League Champion as they had a far better regular season won-loss record which factors into the “formula” for determining the League Champion. Complete results here in pdf format. Read the rest of this story »
Central Coast nonprofit for women seeks success in challenge on Huffington Post
Rising International is turning to the community to help it win an important Huffington Post competition by June 6. Out of a group of more than 250 applicants, Rising International is proud to be one of the non-profits selected to compete for cash awards and international attention in the RaiseForWomen Challenge launched by Huffington Post and its partners on April 24. Currently, there are more than 100 organizations in the running from at least 150 cities in more than 35 states.Rising International, headquartered in Santa Cruz, is the only California Central Coast organization participating in the Challenge. Read the rest of this story »
Pacific Grove baseball completes a perfect season
With a 12-0 win over Gonzales that saw three PG pitchers combine for a perfect game, the Pacific Grove Breakers ended regular season league play with a 27-0 record. Almost unheard of in high school baseball, the Breakers’ winning season last year carried over with no ties, let alone losses.
Now the team takes their mascot, a homemade Jobu, on to the playoffs. Photo by Justin Russo.
Murder suspect dead after suicide attempt
Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo announced that on May 9, 2013, at approximately 9:30 a.m., Joshua Kannon Claypole of Big Sur was taken off of life support and pronounced deceased by medical personnel. The Monterey County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation is still actively investigating the apparent suicide at the county jail. Claypole was in custody on a murder charge following the stabbing of a cab driver in Monterey.
Animal Cruelty Suspect Arrested on Warrant
Cat found locked in suspect’s trunk
On April 27, 2013, Monterey Officers initiated an investigation into animal cruelty at 1290 First Street in Monterey. During the course of the investigation over 48 dogs and cats were taken into protective custody and housed at the SPCA. Read the rest of this story »
Pacific Grove Clean-Up Week
Sustainable Pacific Grove presents two speakers Wed., May 8
Margaret Davis, Friends of the Fort Ord Warhorse “Fort Ord National Monument: Celebrating the First Year” Margaret will talk on history, access, and benefits for all.
Lorin Letendre, Carmel River Watershed Conservancy “Can Our Carmel River Be Saved?” Lorin will speak on the past, present, and future of the Carmel River and its 35-mile watershed. Work is ongoing to restore its former natural beauty.
Wed, May 8 at 7:00 p.m. at the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History, Central & Forest in Pacific Grove. Free event. For more information, email Denyse@sustainablepg.org or call 831-643-0707
Aggressive deer reported in Pacific Grove
The Pacific Grove Police Department Animal Control Officer has received reports of deer acting aggressively.
Deer are not inherently aggressive animals. However, a doe may become aggressive if she perceives that her young are threatened and act in defense of her fawn, especially if she perceives a dog as a predator.
To reduce the likelihood of an unfavorable encounter with deer, please adhere to these tips: Read the rest of this story »
Pacific Grove Police deem DEA drug take-back a success
Pacific Grove Police Department hosted a collection point for the Drug Enforcement Agency’s sixth National Take Back Initiative.
Eighty-three pounds of prescription medications were collected at the Pacific Grove Police Department and will be disposed of appropriately and safely by the DEA.
The goal of this program is to allow citizens to deliver all of their unused, unwanted, or expired medications to law enforcement officials who can in turn dispose of controlled substances in a safe, secure, and non-hazardous manner. This will potentially save lives and protect the ecosystem.
Pacific Grove Police Department will partner with the DEA in future National Take Back Initiative events and will make the public aware of these opportunities, which occur approximately twice per year. Until the next event, the public is encouraged to contact their local pharmacy to determine the proper and safe way to dispose of their unused pharmaceuticals.
Track results
A MTAL Cluster Meet involving 10 teams was held at Pacific Grove. Key results as follows:
MTAL BOYS
Carmel 75, Stevenson 56
Double event winners were:
Marcus Banks of Stevenson who won the 100 m and 200 m Dashes
Diego Leon of Anzar who won the 1600 m and 3200 m Runs
MTAL GIRLS
Santa Catalina 94, Pacific Grove 41
Santa Catalina 85, Carmel 42
Santa Catalina 107, Stevenson 24
Carmel 100, Stevenson 26
Double event winners were:
Hannah McPherson of Catalina who won the 200 m and 400 m Dashes
Kendra Hoffman of Catalina who won the 100 m and 300 m Hurdles
Onyx Gaston of Catalina who won the 100 m Dash and the Long Jump
Miranda Arnett of Pacific Collegiate who won the High Jump and the Triple Jump
Thank you, Steve Watkins
More info in Pacific Grove’s app
Pacific Grove released their free new mobile application today, which allows users to quickly get information about the community, find businesses, learn about upcoming events and report issues using their Android or iPhone device. Read the rest of this story »
If you hear chain saws on the Rec Trail…
A large Monterey cypress at Shoreline Park “failed” a large portion of the trunk base and limbs into the cove by the Monterey Bay Boatworks. Because the structural integrity of the tree is now severely compromised, the tree must be removed. As of Friday morning, April 12, 2013 the work has begun and should be completed by Monday, April 15. Read the rest of this story »
TOO LATE FOR PRESS
The California Highway Patrol has released the name of one of the parties that died in Sunday night’s collision in Pebble Beach. 65 year old Linda Larone of Pebble Beach was a passenger in the 2005 Ford Freestyle, which was struck head-on by a suspected drunk driver on Sloat Road.
The name of the driver is still being withheld pending notification to next of kin.
The new issue is up at http://www.cedarstreettimes.com/newpdf/cedarstreettimes-04-12-13web.pdf
Pedestrian fatally injured at Pine and 19th in Pacific Grove
On April 10 at approximately 7:43 a.m., a 97-year-old pedestrian was hit by a vehicle as he attempted to cross Pine Ave. at 19th Street. He was found in the roadway semi-conscious with apparent head injuries. He was transported via ambulance to an established landing zone to be airlifted to a regional trauma center but his condition was determined to be too unstable for air transportation and he was sent to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where he succumbed at 9:11 a.m. to his injuries. Read the rest of this story »
Passenger ID’d in crash involving drunk driver from Pacific Grove
Stuart Elder, a 30-year-old Pacific Grove resident, was arrested for drunken driving and vehicular manslaughter Sunday night, April 7 following a crash in Pebble Beach in which two Pebble Beach residents were killed and a passenger with Elder, since identified as Selvia Gattas, 20, of Pebble Beach, was seriously injured. Read the rest of this story »
Lovers Point posted for bacteria again
It may be moot as the presence of nursing harbor seals has necessitated the closure of Lovers Point Beach for human activity. But Monterey County Health Department has once again posted the beach as unsafe due to high bacteria levels found in samples taken from the water. A total of six beaches in Carmel, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, and Monterey were placed under water hazard advisories Tuesday afternoon due to high bacteria levels found in samples taken from the ocean. Read the rest of this story »
Seal pup update Mon., 7:15 PM
“…our little Lovers Point pup and mom came back on their birthing beach about 2 p.m. Monday…They look healthy,” according to Thom Akeman, our Man About Seals.
Thom, along with Kim Worrell and other Bay Net volunteers are pressuring City Hall to get some barriaces up at Berwick Park and 5th St., eliminating one reason the seals might have gone to Lovers Point — too dang many people! The tourists and locals, they say, are very cooperative but the seals are skittish.
Or was it the wind-driven waves prompted them to go to the bigger, more protected beach?
New precedent? Seal pup born on Lovers Point Beach in Pacific Grove
A harbor seal pup was born on the main beach at Lovers Point over the weekend of April 6-7, 2013. Docents from Bay Net believe this is the first confirmed birth there. Bay Net docent for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Kim Worrell, spotted the mom and baby on the beach about 7 a.m. on Sunday morning and called in other docents to help.
“We saw remnants of the afterbirth in the sand when we arrived by 7:30 a.m., so confirmed the birth was on that beach,” said Thom Akeman, a Bay Net volunteer who reports he was onsite at 7:30 a.m. following Worrell’s report. Later in the day, a couple (among 300 members of the public with whom Akeman spoke) reported they had seen the birth at 11:15 p.m. the night before and had returned to see how the pair of seals were doing.
Public input sought on water rights issue
The State Water Resources Control Board is accepting public comment on the draft report requested by the California Public Utilities Commission on water right issues connected with Cal Am’s proposed water supply project. At issue is Cal Am’s proposal to suck water from one of two aquifers using slant wells extending offshore into the Monterey Bay. Read the rest of this story »
City’s new mobile app is out!
Download it on iTunes or the App Store and on Google Play for Android. Search for Pacific Grove, Ca. Lots of great features. Our favorite? “Report an issue.” We’re reading Gavin Newsom’s “Citizenville” and this slots right in there with vision for the future!
Save Mart to pay haz mat fine
Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo announced yesterday, April 3, 2013 that his office, together with 34 other California District Attorney Offices, has reached a settlement in a civil law enforcement action against Save Mart Supermarkets in an action filed in San Joaquin County Superior Court for violations of hazardous waste control laws. Read the rest of this story »
Phone scam warning from Pacific Grove Police Department
The Pacific Grove Police department and other local law enforcement agencies have received reports of an attempted phone scam following a similar pattern. Males and/or females with an East Indian (or similar) accident have called the potential victims Read the rest of this story »
Cal-Am issues RFQ for desal builder
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California American Water issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) today, the first step in selecting the design-build (DB) contractor for the desalination infrastructure component of its Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project which it expects the California Public Utilities Commission to approve later this month. Read the rest of this story » |
Free lecture on pediatric rheumatology April 6
Does your child, or the child of someone you know suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis? According to Alexandra Fallon of the Arthritis Foundation, “There are no pediatric rheumatologists in our area. Read the rest of this story »
Fatal crash on Hwy 1 blocks traffic
KSBW TV reports that one person died in a crash on Highway 1 in Monterey on Fri., March 29.
A car swerved into a tree near Highway 1′s Munras Avenue off-ramp on the southbound side at 11:35 a.m. The collision caused traffic to gridlock for miles, backing up from Monterey to Seaside. California Highway Patrol officers kept one lane of Hwy. 1 closed until 2:30 p.m.
The name of the driver has not been released.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Pacific Grove Police will be actively ticketing drivers who text and drivers holding cell phones
As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, Pacific Grove Police Department will actively ticket those texting or operating hand-held cell phones on April 3, 2013. Drivers who break the law and place themselves and others in danger will be cited with no warnings. Read the rest of this story »