Category Archives: Monterey Herald

Survey Says There’s Nothing In P.G.For Tourists To Do

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(Obvious)

A perception that “there is nothing more to see or do” limits repeat tourism to Monterey County, said a survey of 9,000 people compiled for the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Those surveyed cited a lack of activities, more than the weak economy, for limiting their visits. The survey was compiled by Ohio-based IMPACTS Research.

More than 40 percent of those who visited the county hadn’t returned within two years, the survey found.

The survey found the aquarium is by far the biggest draw for tourists, and that people generally don’t differentiate one city or community from another, except for Carmel, Pebble Beach and Big Sur.

Took an Ohio research firm to figure out that people don’t visit for everyday life, they visit for events like Laguna Seca or the Crosby. Shopping for ‘art’ or dining on $22 plates of noodles is not an attraction.

Survey Says There’s Nothing In P.G.For Tourists To Do

Holman Building Not For Sale . . .Yet

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Holmans Hooters

A rumor was going around town that the building and adjacent property were for sale, based on a multiple listing that remained on the books after Agha, frustrated with what he felt was foot-dragging by the city over his proposed downtown hotel project, put it up for sale a year ago.

Agha acquired the property at auction in 1995 with an eye toward razing the building and constructing a high-end hotel and conference center on the site at 542 Lighthouse Ave.

He’ll likely sell it if he gets the permits. Hope he loses.

Holman Building Not For Sale . . .Yet

Missing P.G. Man Found Dead In Pebble Beach

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The remains of John Hauswirth, an 82-year-old Pacific Grove man who went missing in March, were found Friday in Pebble Beach by four Stevenson School students walking through the woods.

Hauswirth, who suffered from dementia, disappeared March 11. His wife told police he wandered away while the two were doing yard work on a rental property on Euclid Street in Monterey, about six miles from where the remains were found.

Missing P.G. Man Found Dead In Pebble Beach

Monarch Population Falls Faster Than Tree Branches

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Butterfly Tree Stump

Volunteers count the monarchs each year at nine sites in the county. The Monarch Program, a research organization based in San Diego that collects the data, says that the numbers were down significantly compared with those recorded last year.

At one site in Big Sur, there was a third fewer butterflies. In Pacific Grove, there were 96 percent fewer butterflies seen this year than in 2008, according to the organization.

Two factors are responsible for sagging numbers of butterflies, Leong said. Fewer are coming to the region, and the local environment is becoming less hospitable to their needs.

Quit attracting tourists and go back to attracting nature. It can fix itself.

Monarch Population Falls Faster Than Tree Branches

Tree Rules Falling?

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Wtf Tree

the council heard a progress report on the city’s Beautification and Natural Resources Commission’s work toward modifying its tree ordinance.

Bennett said the proposed changes were reasonable, but “taken as a whole, they weaken the ordinance in favor of private property rights.”

Property owners, she said, have a responsibility to help the city preserve its urban forest.

Tree Rules Falling?

Giving It Up For Tourists – Legalizing Short Stays In Residential Areas

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What’s a better neighbor – Canterbury Woods owned houses or houses rented out in party packs?

The program would levy transient occupancy taxes on residential rentals such as those imposed on hotels and other lodging establishments in Pacific Grove.

City Manager Tom Frutchey said, “Regulating and taxing vacation rentals should prove to be a win-win opportunity for owners of vacant properties and the city as we strive to protect neighborhoods, develop our local economy and fund basic services.”

Giving It Up For Tourists – Legalizing Short Stays In Residential Areas

P.G. Will Get More Money From Developers

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About time the users of the high paid city workers pay the price. Of course, developers like Nadir Agha are against anything that deprives them of an extra nickel.

On Wednesday, the City Council adopted recommendations made by city planning staff to require that the city recover 50 percent of costs for all architectural review permits, design changes and administrative approvals effective March 1, rising to 75 percent on Jan. 1, 2011.

The city currently recovers about 35 percent of the cost of processing the applications, said chief city planner Lynn Burgess.

P.G. Will Get More Money From Developers

Bayview School In Danger Of Closing

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That’s the last school in New Monterey. They should be able to enroll children from P.G.

Bay View School

But there is another reason why administrators seem to prefer the closure of Bay View: With a capacity of 350 students, the school is not receiving enough income from the state — which allots a certain amount of money for each student — to pay for itself. With an estimated $21billion deficit on the horizon for California, administrators are almost certain more budget cuts are on the way.

Last year, administrators at MPUSD determined that, for an elementary school to break even financially, it had to house 360 students — it would spend $1.6million and receive $1.6million from the state. Schools whose enrollment falls below that number — like Bay View — are practically “deficit spending.”

Bayview School In Danger Of Closing

Deborah King Declared Fit For Trial

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In prison or a mental facility, King will never be free to operate a car again. That’s good.

Deborah King In Court

KSBW Photo

Prosecutor Steve Somers confirmed Tuesday that Deborah King is being returned to Monterey County to face prosecution for allegedly running down 35-year-old Joel Woods as he was picking up his son outside Pacific Grove Middle School on Sept. 2, 2008.

King, who has five drunken-driving convictions in Kern County, is charged with murder and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Somers alleges that she was under the influence of prescription drugs when the accident occurred.

Deborah King Declared Fit For Trial