Open House Signs Block Sidewalks

Must be though selling houses these days. But not as tough as navigating the sidewalks, say if one was in a wheelchair . . .

Kelller Williams Sign In Way

In Union City the hazardous signs are confiscated:

For the past four weekends, a city employee, working overtime, has patrolled streets in search of violating signs. On the first weekend, courtesy notices, explaining the city’s longstanding sign ordinance, were placed on the signs. Since then, the signs have been confiscated.

At least 50 of them – mostly free-standing signs directing home buyers to an open house – still are sitting in the city’s corporation yard, Public Works Director Mintze Cheng said. No fines have been levied against the violators.

The signs were becoming a safety issue, Cheng said. Clusters of free-standing “open house” signs block sidewalks, while others end up in the street, she said.

But real estate brokers say the policy makes it harder to sell homes.

Oh boo hoo for the real estate shysters.

Lets take out the ghetto sidewalk graffiti signs too. But instead of holding them captive at the city yard, burn them . .

Sidewalk Sign Ugly Signs

Open House Signs Block Sidewalks

Mountain Lion Chomping Down Deer At PG High

People who use the Pacific Grove High School campus have been warned to remain alert for mountain lions after a deer carcass was found Monday on the school track near the bleachers.

Pacific Grove police said today the dead deer showed signs of having been killed by a mountain lion. The carcass was removed from campus to prevent mountain lions from returning to feed off it, police said.

Lion Bleachers

Glad to hear it’s back. Better keep your barking dogs inside at night . .

Mountain Lion Chomping Down Deer At PG High

Aquarium Evacuated After Vandalism Fills Exhibit With Fumes

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has been evacuated after someone apparently released a noxious substance in an exhibit area this afternoon.

Police officials said that at least 30 people said they were suffering from the effects of the spray. One employee was sent to a hospital for treatment. Hundreds of visitors and employees were moved out of the popular Cannery Row attraction in about 10 minutes, according to city officials.

Revenge of the Tuna?

Aquarium Evacuated After Vandalism Fills Exhibit With Fumes

Jack Up Aquarium’s Rent? Maybe . .

Tidepool Cop Lee Willoughby says yes, but to tax them out of business so they can fence off the tidepools.

Willoughby

Hear-Old Opinion Page

In addition to the city’s generosity regarding the original lease agreement, the aquarium had convenient and easy access to the Point Pinos tidepools for more than 15 years to collect invertebrates for its exhibits. These animals were free for the taking. Unfortunately, there was very little management or monitoring by the Department of Fish and Game.


The real scientists differ . .

My file of correspondence and conversation notes with Jim Willoughby’s Tidepool Coalition about our collecting practices goes back more than a decade, and little has changed. Willoughby’s statements often question the aquarium’s motives. The coalition relies on “facts” taken out of context, half-truths and innuendo. And all too often, it’s simply flat-out wrong.

Should the rent be raised? Sure. Rent never stays the same, unless you have a lease . .

Money Calculator

Jack Up Aquarium’s Rent? Maybe . .

Tech Tour Of Pacific Grove

Digital Research House

Hardly anyone in P.G. knows that CPM creator Digital Research was headquartered there, let alone the scene of a famous deal in the making . . that fell through and helped make Microsoft what it is today.

Digital Research Sign

Walking tour of Pacific Grove — where CPM was invented

It’s why I try to interview as many “grey beards” as possible, so we can get these stories down before they disappear forever.

Tech Tour Of Pacific Grove

Dog Lovers Really Are Crazy

Editorial by Joel Stein started off aimed at Michael Vick’s dog fighting charges. But the real message is that a lot of dog owners are incredibly stupid about their pets. PG appears to be more accessible to dogs than it is to people.

In the news in PG lately two dogs disagreed somehow when one sniffed the other’s butt the wrong way. One dog died in the end. What has ensued is way too much human time wasted over what to do next. You have the city manager, chief of police, dog psychology experts, and a host of others making this look like the crime of the century. Get over it. It’s a civil matter.

What I’ve come to realize is that what I really hate is the dog owner. Because you’re the one who honestly believes that your dog loves you, that your dog’s love is particularly meaningful because your dog is special — almost human, really. In fact, you think, he’s an almost-human that happens to be a lot like you. He is a lot like you if you happen to assess colleagues by smelling their butts.

While we shun smokers, we keep inviting dog owners to terrorize us in new places. JetBlue lets you sit with an uncaged “companion dog,” or, as I call it, a “reason to fly Southwest.” Starwood Hotels include a whole page of dog items on their room service menu. Maybe I’m squeamish, but I don’t like to order from kitchens that, alongside my eggs, are chopping up items referred to as kibbles or bits.

Dog Lovers Really Are Crazy

Just In Time For The Triathlon At Pacific Grove: Study finds Human waste On Lovers Point Beach

Lovers Point Sewer Pipe

A study by Stanford University scientists on bacteria, beach sand and surf water found traces of human waste on the beach at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove.

The Stanford study showed contaminated beach sand can be a source for bacteria in coastal waters. It found detectable levels of enterococci bacteria on 91 percent of the beaches and traces of E. coli on 62 percent. They found higher levels of the bacteria at beaches surrounded by developed areas.

At Lovers Point, researchers found that enterococci bacteria could wash from dry sand to the sea at levels high enough to trigger a beach health advisory.

Lovers Point Beach Sand

Stories ran in many news sites, including:
Salinas Clownafornian
Oakland FOX Network TV News

Monterey County has a hot line and Web site to inform people about water quality at eight of its most popular beaches. The number: (800) 347-6363; online: www.co.monterey.ca.us/health/beaches.

Just In Time For The Triathlon At Pacific Grove: Study finds Human waste On Lovers Point Beach