Monthly Archives: April 2011

Mission Inn Employees Better Off Without Union

Posted on by

And the union protests the loss of dues labor policies

Labor unions for hotel workers make no sense. Is there an apprentice program for maids?

“During negotiations, a group of employees decided they didn’t want to be represented by the union and they circulated a petition that was signed by the majority of our employees,” Levenfeld explained.

“Based on the petition, we notified the union that the employees withdrew their recognition of the union. The union wasn’t pleased and made a series of accusations against us that we believe are false.”

Levenfeld said the inn has replaced the union’s health care plan for its employees with one that is fully paid by the employer and replaced the union’s retirement plan with a 401k option.

Mission Inn Employees Better Off Without Union

Where Monarchs Die

Posted on by

Last month, local filmmakers Cristiana DiPietro and husband Matthew Kalamane used P.G. as the setting for their 50-minute short movie “Where Monarchs Die.”

The movie also touches on the disconnect that can occur between young people and those who come to Pacific Grove to live out their golden years. “They have a difficult time trying to find their place in a town where most people go to retire,”

That story repeats itself over and over. “Newlyweds and Nearly Deads” is P.G.

Where Monarchs Die

More Love For Eucalyptus Trees

Posted on by

Non native flora can be good. No need to dance around the name calling them “Blue Gum” or what ever. Always green and fragrant.

It used to be that planting nonnative plants or trees in Pacific Grove — and elsewhere in California — was considered an environmental taboo.

But there’s a new respect in Pacific Grove for eucalyptus, a towering nonnative tree that often gets a bad rap in the state for shedding bark, competing with native plants and not supporting native animal species.

In Pacific Grove, however, the monarch butterflies that overwinter in the city every
year are the eucalyptus’ biggest fan. For the last century or so, the insects have preferred clustering in eucalyptus beginning in the fall until late February, when they leave. The dense, nonnative trees provide wind shelter for the insect.

More Love For Eucalyptus Trees