Category Archives: Carmel Pine Cone

Thank Apollo, Solar Permit Fee Hike Rejected

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The Pacific Grove City Council Wednesday rejected a bid to increase development permit fees by 15 percent and voted unanimously to cut drastically the fees homeowners pay for going solar. City manager Jim Colangelo recommended tacking on a 15 percent long-range planning fee on all development permits, something the council said needed more public input.

Only a “handful” of P.G. residents each year apply for a solar permits, Colangelo said.

Solar in P.G? That makes about as much sense as drawing heat from the bay or milking raccoons for sustainable protein sources.

Over in Santa Clara, there is a war between two neighbors. Get this, the Earth loving ones with the solar panels are suing to get the next door neighbor to CUT DOWN their redwood trees because they block the panels . .

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7865116

A judge ordered Carolynn Bissett Treanor and her husband Richard Treanor, who live on the 1500 block of Benton Street in Sunnyvale, to trim or move two redwood trees on the north side of their property because they shade Mark Vargas’ solar panel installation, which is over the fence on the 3700 block of Benton Street in Santa Clara.

Thank Apollo, Solar Permit Fee Hike Rejected

Lighthouse Cinema Screens May Brighten Once Again

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Lighthouse Cinema

Negotiations are in the works to reopen the old Lighthouse Cinemas, according to city officials and the property’s owner. “There have been some preliminary discussions with
potential theater operators to reopen the Lighthouse Cinemas,” said Robert Enea, the Danville-based developer who owns the building. If the deal goes through, Enea said the building at 525 Lighthouse Avenue would be remodeled and upgraded with things like new seating and sound systems.

Hopefully some good movies. Don’t need to be first run overproduced shows – good movies. Did someone mention John Wayne???

Lighthouse Cinema Screens May Brighten Once Again

Colangelo Vows To Punish In Case Of Gay Cop’s Lawsiut

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Pacific Grove’s city manager vowed this week to punish any city employee who harassed, intimidated or discriminated against a gay police officer who has filed a claim with the city alleging such mistreatment.

Police Sgt. Darrin Smolinski filed the claim in August saying fellow officers made jokes and ridiculed him because he is gay. Smolinski also says he was repeatedly turned down for promotions and was retaliated against by a former police chief.

“I want to get the facts,” city manager Jim Colangelo said Monday. “I want to know if these allegations are true. If they are true, there will be consequences for the people involved. We don’t tolerate this type of behavior.”

Colangelo Vows To Punish In Case Of Gay Cop’s Lawsiut

Tide Pool Nazis Attack Needed Taxes

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“The city needs to look at another source of revenue,” said Jim Willoughby, who, along with his wife, Lee, has led the anti-tax charge. For the past several weeks, the couple has stood in front of the Pacific Grove post office collecting signatures in opposition of the tax measures.

It that the Willoughby’s old Mercedes parked in the handicapped parking all day? I know they have a right, but gee, they are making it hard for other disabled people to go about their business. But I guess the Willoughbys are nothing but grade A MFFYs.

Tide Pool Nazis Attack Needed Taxes

Gay P.G. Cop Sues City

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A gay Pacific Grove police officer has filed a claim with the city after enduring what he says has been nearly 10 years of “discrimination, harassment and retaliation” by fellow officers, a former police chief and others.

In a lurid six-page claim filed in August, Sgt. Darrin Smolinski, who began working at the department in 1997, alleges he was repeatedly turned down for several promotions, including the positions of detective and commander.

Although he doesn’t identify them by name, Smolinski also accuses his coworkers of harassing him. “Smolinski has been the subject of verbal comments on the size of his genitals,” the claim outlines, “asked about association with the Rainbow Coalition and sexual orientation relative to his male roommate during public meetings on the police department premises.”

Gay P.G. Cop Sues City

P.G. Chamber Of Commerce Loses Bird

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If you feel sorry for Moe, the next time you see him, give him a bird.

No Bird

A bronze bird that graced a memorial bench in Pacific Grove for the past few months is missing.

The bronze blue jay, perched on the end of the Harold Green memorial bench in front of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce, was hacked off at the feet and stolen about three weeks ago. The missing bird is part of a rash of stolen items in the city, which include an entire bench on the corner of Forest and Lighthouse avenues and some speakers from a chamber storage closet. “I just bought another bench,” Ammar said, “And I’m really going to screw it in the ground so nobody can pick it up.”

Some pieces of another bronze sculpture at Lovers Point were also sawed off, said Ammar, who believes the thieves are melting the bronze down for other uses.

P.G. Chamber Of Commerce Loses Bird

More Crazy P.G. Dogs And Their Owners

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Ferdnand Kissing For Votes 20071012

Letters From The Editor:

I have lived in Pacific Grove my whole life and choose to live here for the close-knit community the town prides itself on.

I recently encountered a major wake-up call, a dreadful incident which my neighbors chose to ignore or downplay, that deserves attention. Every citizen within this community needs to understand his or her role as a neighbor.

Recently, my miniature dachshund was attacked by a raccoon at night in my yard. In the process of rescuing my dog, I screamed and yelled like I have never before (and I hope to never experience again). While attempting to scare the raccoon with loud vocals, I yelled as loud as I could, “Help!” amidst my dog’s constant screams. Still panicked, I yelled once more, “Somebody help!” After the adrenaline rush ended, I was appalled that NOBODY had come to my aid

Keep your dogs inside. There are raccoons here. There are mountain lions here. Dogs are territorial, pack roaming creatures by nature, they are not smart enough to know when they are out numbered.

More Crazy P.G. Dogs And Their Owners

No Rent Increase For The Aquarium

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To avoid what could be a lengthy and costly legal battle, the City of Pacific Grove is giving up the effort to get the Monterey Bay Aquarium to pay rent for the city-owned land it occupies.

“We would be fighting for years in court, even if we won, we might not be able to use the money the way we want anyway” said city manager Jim Colangelo.

That ís because Colangelo said the city could be bound by California State Lands Commission restrictions on how revenue can be generated from businesses that sit on
tidelands. The city’s intent was to use the higher rent from the aquarium for various city services, Colangelo said. About 20 percent of the aquarium complex sits in Pacific Grove, while the rest is in Monterey.

No Rent Increase For The Aquarium

Lawyers In Love

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Doing what they do best.

Monterey County Superior Court Judge Robert O’Farrell last week declined to issue a writ of mandate requested by Carl Mounteer to remove measures O, P and Q from the Nov. 6 ballot. But Mounteer, who is also a lawyer, said he will probably file a post-election suit seeking to have the measures invalidated if they pass. “I would pay the tax then sue them for my money back,”

Lawyers In Love