Dear Readers,

Since 2007, Concours Week has brought three major events to Carmel, but with the P.G. Auto Rally dropping out due to fee increases, only two remain, and this week the city council decided two is actually all the city can handle. Mary Schley reports.

Beach fires may have been a tradition in Carmel since the year zero, but that tradition is all set for a major change, with the planning commission giving its final approval to a plan for 26 fire rings. Mary has that one, too.

This week, the desal slant well was run for five days straight, Cal Am said, and while the initial salinity of the water it produced wasn't as high as it needs to be, it definitely moved in the right direction. Kelly Nix has the details.

Your tax dollars at work: After investing large sums and enduring plenty of controversy to have a mural on its exterior walls and high-intensity lights in its parking lot, NOAA decided it actually doesn't need a building near the beach in Pacific Grove at all. Kelly reports that one, too.

John Steinbeck's descendants have demolished part of a house where he wrote some of his most important works, angering local preservationists. The paid parking program on Ocean Avenue is being tweaked, including more free parking for residents. Native Americans protested at the Mission on Easter against the idea of Junipero Serra being made a saint. We have a special section featuring some of the Carmel area's most fascinating seniors. And my editorial says tax day should be a national day of thanks to the people who pay the taxes.

Thank you for your interest in our newspaper. As always, I am available to respond to your questions, comments or concerns, and to offer advice about how best to read The Pine Cone on your computer, smartphone or iPad.

Please don't forget that you can now access the complete 1915-1919 editions of The Pine Cone on our archive page.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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