Dear Readers,

More than 1,500 tourists were stranded in Big Sur overnight Saturday after a big chunk of Highway 1 collapsed — and the danger isn’t over yet. Chris Counts reports.

The decrepit state of the Carmel police station was on full display during public tours last week. One visitor said, “It’s like letting your house go for 50 years and then waking up to find up it should be red-tagged.” Mary Schley has the details.

A hotel project catty-cornered from the Monterey Bay Aquarium will be considered by the coastal commission next week, and the commission’s powerful staff is recommending approval. Kelly Nix has that one.

If you want to see a total eclipse in Carmel, you’ll have to wait awhile. A dead pine on Casanova Street has been declared a public nuisance. The CFO of a developer specializing in affordable housing projects has been accused of embezzling $40 million — most of it from state taxpayers. Six local gas stations sold last week for $64.4 million. Brandon Swanson has been named assistant city administrator. The city council wants the planning commission to reconsider its refusal to approve a driveway gate for a Scenic Road home. Pacific Grove will again ask voters to OK a five-member city council. A lawsuit over noise from Laguna Seca raceway has been settled. Another lawsuit claims abuse at a Marina daycare center. Reports of the death of a Palo Corona dog park have been exaggerated. An increase in the use of helicopters in Big Sur has some people calling for a ban. Sewer bills for much of the Monterey Peninsula will no longer come in the mail. Our special section, “Women in Business,” introduces you to some local high-achievers you’ll want to get to know. Dennis Taylor reports that Peninsula high schools are packing competitive pools with top-notch swimmers. Jerry Gervase pines for the days when movies came with two features, newsreels, cartoons, no commercials and only a few previews. And my editorial says the myth of Cesar Chavez, whose birthday was Monday, needs correcting.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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