Monthly Archives: August 2016

In Shape Gyms Fined $26,000,000

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Can’t you use a prepaid credit card to open a ‘trial’ membership? Places sound as corrupt as carpet stores and furniture stores.

In Shape

Without acknowledging liability, In Shape agreed to provide $23 million in different forms of restitution to past and current members and pay a $3 million dollar penalty. The health club will also be bound by a 5-year injunction to prevent future unfair practices.

The multi-county investigation began in 2014 in response to complaints that In Shape sold “free” services without fully disclosing membership terms, refused to accept cancellation requests, issued unauthorized billing statements and pursued collections on invalid debts. The alleged violations occurred as the club expanded from 40 to 70 health clubs between 2010 and 2015.

In Shape Gyms Fined $26,000,000

East Bound And A Pole’s Down

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Semi carrying cars to an event made the wrong turn there, 10-4

A big rig car carrier was making the turn at Lighthouse Ave. and Eardley Ave. in Pacific Grove when it struck a power pole. There was no damage to the truck, but there was significant damage to the base of the power pole which was leaning precariously over the street.

East Bound And A Pole’s Down

NIMBYs In Del Monte Park Say It’s For The Trees

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Please think about the trees says the neighborhood that looks down on Pebble Beach workers who would live across the fence from them. As they continue to cover more ground for driveways and mini mansions.

DMP

Arguing that the Pebble Beach Co. should find an alternate site for its Del Monte Forest affordable housing apartment complex project that doesn’t include removal of 725 trees, the Del Monte Neighbors United group will get a chance to make its case before the Board of Supervisors next week.

“Thus, this appeal is not about blocking inclusionary housing,” he wrote. “This is about the removal of 725 mature trees in the Monterey pine forest, which has been fragmented and harmed by years of incremental development, and there are alternative projects that would still provide much-needed inclusionary housing without the commensurate environmental impacts.”

NIMBYs In Del Monte Park Say It’s For The Trees

Car Show For The Small Sized

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tiny jeep

The 2016 Little Car Show featured around 120 “compact” cars that are at least 25 years or older. American vehicles were this year’s theme though entries from all over the world were accepted. The event and some proceeds go back into the community. The organizer says he started the show not long after he read an article several years ago.

“You feel like you can get close to it. You don’t feel like you need to be standing there with your hands behind you, and at a proper distance. You feel like you can get close to the whole thing,” said Pacific Grove Mayor, Bill Kampe.

Car Show For The Small Sized

US Armed Forces To Retreat?

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We lost the battle with the closure of Fort Ord. With less middle class families here the tourism industry is all we have. Sad

“In 1993 and in 2005 both the Navy School and the Defense Language Institute were under consideration for those BRAC Rounds,” said City of Monterey City Manager Mike McCarthy.

Both schools could make the list again, resulting in them being shut down or realigned, something the Central Coast is all too familiar with.

“We saw what happened with the closure of Fort Ord in the early 90’s and the time it’s taken for the region to rebound,” said Pick. “So we don’t want to see any further military installations leave the area.”

To prepare for the worst, Monterey and community leaders are gathering for symposiums to discuss what’s already being done and what can be done to keep military on the peninsula. Building relationships is one key recommendation.

US Armed Forces To Retreat?

Monterey Now Eyeing Aquarium For More Rent

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P.G. not the only town looking under rocks in the tide pools for treasures.

Giant Salmon fish

On Tuesday night, the Monterey City Council voted 3-2 to hire an appraiser to evaluate the land.

Several residents spoke against the appraisal, asking why the city wants to spend $31,000 of the tideland fund, but Monterey City Manager Mike McCarthy says the lease agreement allows the city to perform rent review.

“Our lease with the aquarium for the tidelands requires a review on the rent,” McCarthy said.

One dollar per year is all the State Lands Commission wanted when the aquarium first asked to build on the tidelands in 1981.

Monterey Now Eyeing Aquarium For More Rent

Unsafe Building Up For Sale

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Unsafe in an Earthquake!

Parking Bratty Truck

Has one of these signs posted:

Unsafe PG Buildings

The solid brick building with its sandstone facade is currently home to Sotheby’s International Realty and three additional tenants. But at one time it was also the location of Bank of America until the 1950s when Jay and Gladys Lewis purchased it. A Bank of America branch eventually ended up across the street while Tom Bratty, Bob Bratty’s father, bought the building from the Lewis couple.

Unsafe Building Up For Sale

Fewer Seals Sighted Sunning On Shore

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Tired of being watched so the went to Pismo?

Hungry Alien Sharks

People along the coast in Pacific Grove have been asking where all the seals have gone. According to a new census report, at least a third of the harbor seals along the Monterey Peninsula have disappeared.

Seal experts said it is hard to know how many of the missing seals are actually dead, but studies show that at least 40 disappear from the Monterey Peninsula colony each year.

“Particularly for the harbor seals if you come up to this fence you don’t want to go above the fence line. They take that as a threat and they will immediately vacate the beach. So we want to control that stress level because they’re already dealing with a lot,” said Kim Akeman.

Fewer Seals Sighted Sunning On Shore

Burgers Out, Ventis In

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Moe never supports anything south of Sinex. Good

America’s Last Hometown, which in 1995 adopted a ban on any additional “formula fast food” establishments in the city, is getting a new Starbucks.

The coffee chain store is being “grandfathered in” as it will occupy two-thirds of the property at 100 Country Club Gate where McDonald’s used to preside. It still isn’t clear what business will occupy the remainder of the building there.

Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce President Moe Ammar confirmed the news, acknowledging it was good for Starbucks lovers while noting that Pacific Grove residents tend to be loyal to local coffeehouses rather than corporate coffee chains.

Burgers Out, Ventis In