Dear Readers,

The city council decided that not only do the parklets set up for outdoor dining during the pandemic have to go, they must be removed on a pretty tight deadline. Mary Schley reports.

With the virus apparently on its way to the history books, face masks rules were fluctuating this week, with the CDC saying they could practically be eliminated for people who are fully vaccinated, but a county official saying they might have to be tightened. Kelly Nix has that one.

A Pacific Grove police officer fired for criticizing Black Lives Matter says he’s going to fight to get his job back. Kelly Nix has that one, too.

According to a 1979 state parks policy, visitors to Point Lobos are supposed to be limited to 450 a day, and the former head of the Point Lobos Foundation says it’s about time the limit was enforced. Paid parking should be instituted not only at the beach parking lot, but throughout downtown Carmel, the council decided. A proposal for a doggie daycare center on Mission Street went over like a lead balloon when the planning commission considered it. A former city employee who was in charge of payroll pled guilty to stealing health insurance benefits. A lawsuit has been filed to get restaurants and retail stores to redeem gift cards for cash when there’s less than $10 left on them. After almost 20 years in the making, a housing plan at Rancho Cañada is finally getting close to the finish line. Opposition is growing to a major proposed increase in local sewer rates. The city will be reimbursing employees who took pay cuts during the coronavirus crisis. The Carmel Foundation says it hopes to reopen soon. A former resident of Pebble Beach will be competing in a nationwide beauty pageant. Dennis Taylor profiles a high school pitcher whose elbow surgery gave him perspective on baseball and life. If you want to keep up with all the latest gossip about the “in crowd” of 1938, don’t miss Neal Hotelling’s history column. In Great Lives, Elaine Hesser profiles two of the Peninsula’s most important businesspeople and philanthropists. We have a special section featuring local lawyers and their unusual specialties. And my editorial says the statistics show that Gov. Newsom’s decision to reopen California next month is the right one.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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