Category Archives: Monterey Herald

Aramark Gets Asilomar Deal

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Wonder if they can kick out the 483 union?

Aramark Parks & Destinations will officially take over operation of Asilomar Conference Grounds on Sept. 14, said an executive of the company it is replacing.

General Manager Patrick Sheridan of Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, which has operated Asilomar for the past 10 years, said DNC had unsuccessfully challenged the award. Aramark was the only other bidder on the contract, said Roy Stearns of State Parks.

DNC has about 240 employees working at Asilomar, Sheridan said, and Aramark has committed to retaining as many of them as possible. Operations through this summer will be “business as usual,” he said, as DNC and Aramark negotiate the transition.

Aramark Gets Asilomar Deal

Stamm Is Out

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Stamm Takes Stand

Stamm, 47, exchanged brief hugs with well-wishers outside the courtroom, but kept his emotions in check, saying he was unsure how to feel.

“I have a lot of work to do. There’s a lot of damage control to be done, a lot of pieces of the puzzle that need to be put back together,” said the former owner of an indoor batting facility in Monterey and a miniature golf course in Pacific Grove. “I’m hoping to wake up tomorrow like Dorothy, and open my door and discover that life is all colorful again, and the black and gray will be gone.”

Interesting metaphor. (Ask Yahoo!)

Why is Judy Garland such a popular gay icon?

The gay and lesbian magazine The Advocate calls Judy Garland “an Elvis for homosexuals.” In more closeted times, gays used the term “friend of Dorothy” to refer to themselves in mixed company, in homage to Garland’s role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Today, Garland isn’t as well known among the younger gay generation, but she still holds a special place in the hearts of many.

Stamm Is Out

New Budget Approved

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Doesn’t look good. Costs are going up while revenue drops. A telethon perhaps?

Jim Becklenberg, the city’s management and budget director, warned again that with revenues falling $1.3 million below this year’s estimates, and with the recession expected to continue through next year, the city might have to look at more cutbacks in staff and services.

Becklenberg has recommended the city try raising revenues in the next fiscal year by increasing golf fees and levying a transient occupancy tax on short-term vacation rentals of private residences.

He proposed raising fees for recreation programs, library services and planning fees, increasing parking enforcement, and modifying the municipal golf clubhouse’s use permit to allow dinner service.

New Budget Approved

Carmel Bank Robber Gets Lost In P.G., GPS No Help At All

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There’s another twisted headline in there somewhere – Use A GPS Go To Jail? Gimmee Gimmee Gimmee A Garmin (and all your cash)?

Cervantes, clean-cut and dressed in a blue buttoned-down shirt, black slacks and black dress shoes, was arrested on Highway 1 near the north end of Marina, but not until 12:45 p.m. — more than an hour after he left the bank. A straight shot from the bank to the point where he was arrested would take about 15 minutes, but Cervantes went on a detour through Pacific Grove and Monterey.

According to talk on the police radio scanner, Cervantes drove north on Highway 1 from the bank, then took Holman Highway to Pacific Grove. He made his way to the coast before heading back to Holman Highway and eventually back to northbound Highway 1.

The probable explanation for Cervantes’ extended route, said sheriff’s spokesman Mike Richards, is that “he got lost.”

The robber was on Sunset / Ocean View for quite awhile. Thought he was going to toss the tracker in the ocean. But crooks never are very smart.

Carmel Bank Robber Gets Lost In P.G., GPS No Help At All

Pollaci Sent To Jail

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Pollacci In Chains

A Pacific Grove man accused of raping a woman in his father’s liquor store remained jailed Monday after a judge increased his bail for violating the terms of his release.

Judge Russell Scott elevated Thomas Pollacci’s bail from $300,000 to $400,000 after the GPS company hired by his defense lawyer to monitor him reported that Pollacci lingered 29 minutes too long in his church parking lot after Mass early Friday.

Prosecutor Cristina Johnson reported the violation to Scott and defense attorney Andy Liu before noon Friday. Scott ordered Pollacci to appear that afternoon and, despite protests that he had left the church on time, remanded him into custody in the courtroom pending a hearing Monday.

He’s back out on a larger bail amount and now free to prowl.

Pollaci Sent To Jail

Free Speech At Risk In The Peoples Republic Of P.G.

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Silence the infidels that’s the way, become the the imperial commander Dan Cort wants to be..
Welcome Comrade

In April, the City Council tabled a vote on a change in policy that would . . . require those who wanted to address the council to fill out speaker cards. Mayor Dan Cort said the council is seeking to streamline its meeting discussions.

Free Speech At Risk In The Peoples Republic Of P.G.

Bike Race Results – Mayor Still Hates Cars

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The Butterfly Criterium returned to Pacific Grove after a 30-year absence. It featured 11 separate races of about 45 minutes.

Hundreds of spectators turned out to watch 250 cyclists compete for a purse of $4,000 cash and a $6,000 worth of prizes.

Pacific Grove Mayor Dan Cort said he understands that shutting down main streets to automobile traffic makes some business owners uncomfortable. But he said he doesn’t think catering only to car-reliant shoppers will contribute to the future vibrancy of the city.

Mayor Cort and his socialist sustainable agenda still wants us all to get rid of our cars. And live in yurts.

Pictures taken at about 1 O’clock. There was hardly any people except participants and vendors. Must have been 1 city worker per 20 people on the street. I call this a bust. Bring back the car shows.

Vibrant? No signs of vibrancy here. The start finish line.
Quiet At The Bike Races 1

Vibrant empty sidewalks
Quiet At The Bike Races 2

A Monarch Caterpillar could safely cross the street.
Quiet At The Bike Races 3

Bike Race Results – Mayor Still Hates Cars

It’s A Bicycle Race – Leave Your Kids And Dogs At Home

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So says the barricades.

Racers will compete for a purse totaling $4,000 during nine separate hour-long races, starting at 7:30 a.m. Riders will race on a circular 0.7-mile course starting on Lighthouse Avenue, rounding the corner down Congress Avenue to Central Avenue and up Fountain Avenue back to Lighthouse.

The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling and sponsored by the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce and AT&T, in cooperation with the city of Pacific Grove.

Cycle Race Dog Rules

Really, is this an advisement or advertisement? These barricades have been scattered all over downtown since Friday, and closing the street on a Sunday is hardly impacting. You could hold this event without closing the streets.

It’s A Bicycle Race – Leave Your Kids And Dogs At Home

Cops Catch New Monterey Robbers

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Victims beaten & robbed late night on David Ave.

Booked into Monterey County Jail on robbery, attempted robbery and assault charges were Gregory Holland, 18, Seaside, Kaylem McDonough, 19, Seaside, and Michael Ordonez, 19, Marina. They were held on $80,000 bail apiece.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested and lodged in county Juvenile Hall.

Cops Catch New Monterey Robbers