P.G. Explores Funding Options

Pacific Grove is trying to avoid declaring a financial emergency.

Council members are scheduled to meet Wednesday night to decide weather or not to call for an election to try to solve the problem.

There are eight solutions on the table for council members to choose from, including raising the parcel tax, the tot tax, admissions taxes and hiking the business licensing fee.

Readers of www.pacificgrove.com/forums have a few ideas
Casino
Holmans Casino

Transform one of the low enrollment schools to a prison
Robert Down Prison

Grow & sell Monarch Medicinal Marijuana at the Butterfly Trees
Butterfly Weed

John Denver Memorial RV Park
John Denver Rv Park

Six Flags Over Asilomar
Asilomar Gardens

P.G. Explores Funding Options

Fire Department Merger Being Considered

PGfd 6414

Three cities on the Monterey Peninsula are one step closer to a merger that could save them a collective $1.3 million a year.

The cities of Pacific Grove, Carmel and Monterey are all considering consolidating their fire departments into one.

The cities combined currently spend more than $3.5 million each year on firefighting. But if the three departments merged, the cost for fire protection would drop to around $2.2 million total, the company reviewing the plan said.

About time. Just put more resource at the worker level and eliminate some administration.

Fire Department Merger Being Considered

Fire Starts In Pebble Beach – 20 Years After The Big One

A fire broke out at about 6 p.m. Sunday at the Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach. According to authorities, nearly an acre of vegetation burned near the 12th and 13th holes.

The sirens wailed, helicopters and airplanes flew low, something was happening. 20 years ago millions were lost in a poorly fought blaze in Pebble Beach, this one did not repeat it.

See the neat Slide Show and interviews about the 1987 fire on The Hear-old’s Web Site

Fire Starts In Pebble Beach – 20 Years After The Big One

Big Screen Coming To Cannery Row

A “tourist hot spot” gahhh. Can’t wait.

Bella Cinema announced Tuesday that they will re-develop a historic cannery building into a 290-seat IMAX 3D theater totaling 16,000 square feet, KSBW Action News reported.

Developers said they are hoping to turn the area into a tourist hot spot.

Lighthosue Ave Traffic

Cannery Row May Remain Closed For 2007

It may be a lot longer before a person can drive down parts of Cannery Row in Monterey again.

A stretch of the famous street is closed because of the new hotel construction.

The road was supposed to reopen in two more months so merchants wouldn’t miss out on summer tourism, but now that may not happen.

Makes it sound like the whole gargantuan tourist mall is shut off from habitation.

The street is blocked to car traffic from Prescott to David Avenue. Well, if the summer gas prices don’t keep them out of town altogether I don’t think this half block where nothing stood before will make much difference.

Cannery Row Detour

What’s happening beyond the barricades.
Clement Ocean Edge

What it will someday be:
Clement Ocean Edge Construction

What’s at the end where people come from miles around to visit? The Fish Prison!
Kalisas 2

Kalisa’s is closed. Still can visit the Wing Chong Building for gifts & such:
Wing Chong

But over on the other side, these businesses may be hurting, saying that they are cut off from the throngs of aquarium visitors. Frankly, I would not miss them. I mean some real tacky stuff could stand to be erased and replaced by butcher paper covered windows for all I care. There’s little worthy experience aside from the fish prison, except maybe an exhibit of some famous authors’ characters:
Famous Author

Ready for the ticky tacky? Here you go.

Cannibalistic Squids
Capt Calamaris

Sharks with leis
Festive Shark

Pet Puns
Dog Bowl

Disaster preparation. I see an opportunity to open a Cannery Row Treasure Outlet selling stuff from the out of business places – “After The Tourists Fled”
After The Quake

If the earthquake reference was not enough to remind you that we are close to San Francisco, there’s the famous chocolate boutique:
Ghirardelli Choc

Let’s stoop to the lowest common denominator, Anna Nicole Smith and Homer Simpson in one joke:
Homer

Really. You come all that way just to see some fish. You surely must have to buy:

Paintings
Kinkade

Socks
Sock Shop

Wine or Candles
Cannery Row Shops

The little crab with the stupid name says “Eat More Pizza (not me!!)
Louie Linguini

Don’t have anything to claim that would draw the crowds? Call your bar a “Family Restaurant”.
Slys Family Restaurant Claim

Sly McFly is the most historic restaurant on cannery row?
Slys Historic Restaurant Claim

Historic? Pft. In the 70s the building was a import shop, ala Pier One. It was built as a bar with a motoring theme. Destroyed by a fire that took out the whole building, rebuilt in the replica of the cannery building it now thinks it is historic? Real history lies back at Kalisas or Neil DeVaughns. O’Kane’s “Spaghetti Warehouse” was real fun. But up the street is where the REAL history is – the Sardine Factory.

Hate to put down the workers and owners, but the ‘Row really has turned into a garish plastic tourist trap. If you are a visitor that wants to experience it here’s what the webmaster family does for visitors. Go to Compagnos Deli up on Prescott and Taylor Streets. Buy one of those great sandwiches for every two people. Get some drink and side orders. Take that down to the stage and access area at the bottom of Prescott. There is often live music in the plaza. Beach access is available – you can either watch the performance and eat or go down to the beach. You’ll be glad to see a bit of history and not overpay for “most historic” meals.

Fish Hopper

Cannery Row May Remain Closed For 2007

The Parking Meters May Multiply

The idea is controversial in a town that prides itself on being “America’s Last Hometown.”

Those opposed to adding parking meters downtown, at Lovers Point and along parts of Central Avenue said it will take away from the city’s charm. “I don’t want it in the downtown area. It would lose all its ambiance,” store owner Dee Moore said.Others said they worry shoppers won’t want to pay for parking in front of downtown shops.

 

Parking Meters Sensor Loop

The so called ambiance was lost long ago, chopped up, sold, painted over and resold. It was replaced by by phony charm that requires sandwich board signs to direct you to the merchandise you just cannot live without. Bah! Anything worth spending money on should stand on it’s own.

For one, the meters may increase the the number of spaces available as cheap merchants quit parking their cars all day long in prime spacesVictorian Corner Ho
Though I think we would need 3000 meters to make $6,000,000. There’s reportedly 100 meters by the ATC that bring in $1,800 per year per meter.

The Parking Meters May Multiply

Susan Goldbeck Was Never Serious About That $1000 Offer

Susan Goldbeck is quoted in the Carmel Pine Cone as saying she would pay $1,000 to any Pacific Grove resident who could prove she ever raised her voice or had been rude during a City Council meeting.

“It was a joke. The idea people would call in and ask for a reward is ridiculous. Soon I will be a private citizen, let my people go,” Goldbeck said.

That is so stupid, first to say it and second to deny that it was a promise. So glad to have her gone.
Goldbeck 1 grand
Goldbeck Was Not Really Serious About That $1000

Mountain Lion Seen At Golf Course

Mountain Lion If Attacked

The cat was spotted twice on Friday and police shut down part of the course while officers searched the area.

“We were on the 12th hole and a Fish and Game officer with a high-powered rifle told us we had to vacate the course immediately, there was a mountain lion sighting,” golfer George Roe said.

The same cat was spotted on the course again on Saturday.

The animal is believed to be the same one first spotted in the Pacific Grove area about a year ago. It apparently has found an abundant food source in the deer in the area that are more used to people than predators.

Golfers. Yum, taste like chicken . .

Mountain Lion Seen At Golf Course