Dear Readers,

The omicron surge has apparently arrived in California and Monterey County, with case rates increasing sharply over the last few days. But hospitalizations have remained low, fortunately. Kelly Nix reports.

Two of Patrice Pastor’s portfolio of projects are under way, including construction of a new home on Scenic and the renovation of the Colonial Terrace Inn. Mary Schley has that story.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta says he not only doesn’t support the major changes in his district’s boundary, he’s not sure why they were needed. Kelly Nix has that story, too.

A major rockslide just on the other side of the county line has Highway 1 closed to Cambria. The Monterey Fire Department, which already runs Carmel’s fire department, will also take over its ambulance service. The Marina police chief says she’ll run for county sheriff. An elderly woman’s death from Covid was the fault of the nursing home where she lived, a new lawsuit says. New plans have been exhibited for the major redevelopment of an aging inn on Carpenter Street. Twenty-five thousand county residents will be moved to new supervisorial districts. The pier at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove needs major repairs. Next week’s Carmel city council meeting will include a hearing over new recording studios proposed for an historic building. Never mind the legions of NFL fans around the country, it’s the Monterey Peninsula friends of legendary coach and broadcaster John Madden who will really miss him. A professor at the Naval Postgraduate School won $100,000 on Jeopardy. Dennis Taylor says there’s a lot of enthusiasm as Stevenson’s soccer teams returns to the pitch after a two-year hiatus. Neal Hotelling recalls the days when Mission Ranch had hobby horses and pinball machines. In our Healthy Lifestyles special section, we give you important tips on getting ready for surgery, explain the latest innovations in anesthesia, and ask an expert how to stay fit and flexible as we age. And my editorial explains why neither droughts nor periods of heavy rain mean the same thing here as they do everywhere else.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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