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Monterey County Supervisors voted 3-2 to require all persons to wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status. The ordinance is due to take effect at the end of October.

Rumours you may have heard recently are true.

Fifteen years ago, when I founded Cedar Street Times, I told myself that I would sell it and retire when I got to That Age. I got there.

The paper is now 15 years old and I am 70. It’s time. After struggling through bouts of lymphoma and kidney stones and trying to nurse Neil back to health, I need to sell it. The pandemic did a job on our bottom line as well. If you or anyone you know is interested in purchasing or sharing Pacific Grove’s NEWSpaper, please get a hold of me and let’s talk. We have a deadline of Oct. 31 to sell it, bring on a partner(s), or close the door.

Marge Ann 831-324-4742

The applicants for the Legends of the Autobahn, which was to be located at the Carmel Valley Village Community Park on August 14, have withdrawn their request. The event will not taking place at the previously planned location. The organizer may be looking for alternative sites.

At 10:25 Wednesday morning, Marge Ann Jameson, Editor and Publisher of the Cedar Street Times newspaper, was rushed to the emergency room of Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula with severe abdominal pain. She was examined but no apparent cause of her pain could be found. She was discharged a few hours later after her pain subsided. Marge’s partner Neil, who has been ill for some time, had just had orthopedic spine surgery on Monday.

Marge Ann Jameson, publisher of the Cedar Street Times newspaper, was hospitalized Sunday with tremors, dizziness, and confusion. After a brief stay, she was sent home with medication.

James Armistead
How James Armistead went from slave to spy.

Some time in the 1760’s James Armistead was born on a plantation in Virginia. In 1781 James Armisted became a spy for the French and Americans. He was sent to go into the British camp in Yorktown, Virginia while the Americans and the French were planning to attack Yorktown.

Some low-life scammer is trying to rent 1210 Montecito, a 3-Bedroom house with a 2-car garage in Pacific Grove for $1950. His pitch is smooth. He even uses the last name of the owner as his own. He will try to get you to send the deposit and first month’s rent to him by wire. Don’t fall for it! I spoke to him on the phone and by the voice delay and his accent I suspect he’s actually in Russia.

April 23, 2021; Monterey, Calf. – Monterey Bay Aquarium welcomes individuals with interest in the ocean and conservation to participate in its second virtual job fair on Tuesday, April 27, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Seasonal and limited full-time positions available include guest experience representatives, guest support services (custodial), and security officers. Job descriptions, applications and more information can be found on our website.

The Aquarium’s business partner SSA will also be in attendance, seeking to hire retail associates and office operations associates. Those interested in interviewing with SSA will also need to apply for the position at SSA’s website. 

Event details follow:

Monterey Bay Aquarium Virtual Job Fair

• Date: April 27, 2021
• Time: 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT
• How to participate:
  • Apply for an open position listed at the Aquarium’s website or SSA’s website.
  • Sign up for the virtual job fair and book a 10-minute Zoom interview time.
    • Monterey Bay Aquarium interview sign up link
    • SSA interview sign up link
  • Registered participants will receive a Zoom link two days before the event via email.
  • A functioning computer or mobile device camera is recommended for the interview.

Monterey Bay Aquarium reopens to the public on May 15, 2021. The Aquarium seeks to fill 40 open positions, and SSA looks to fill 10 open positions through the virtual job fair. Learn more about the fair and current opportunities by visiting MontereyBayAquarium.org/Jobs.

Pfizer CEO claims a booster shot may be needed 12 months after the second vaccination and perhaps every year thereafter. Moderna also announced they are readying a boosters to better combat new variants. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is now on hold while rare blood clots which occurred in six patients (out of almost seven million) after receiving the J&J vaccine are investigate. Meanwhile Covid infection rates nationwide are climbing again and three Covid variants of concern have been identified.

PG Museum Announces Reopening Plans

In preparation for reopening with guidance from State, City, and public health authorities, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History announced today limited operating days and hours, a new ticketing reservation policy, and health and safety measures so everyone can safely enjoy visiting their favorite local Museum.

In 1959, my homeland of Tibet was invaded and forcibly taken over by Communist China.

  Khenpo Karten Rinpoche & Dalai Lama

Fortunately, His Holiness the Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet, and over 100,000 Tibetans subsequently followed him into exile to India.  Around 1965, a Cultural Revolution was set into motion inside Tibet and continued over the next 10 years; during this period, monasteries were desecrated and destroyed. With the sole intention of transforming the land of Tibet into a Chinese territory, the Communist regime implemented all possible strategies, physical and psychological, soft and harsh, with the ultimate aim of completely destroying the environment of Tibet and eradicating Tibetan culture.  

What a beautiful day to finish this issue and get it off to you all! There’s a lot of great stuff in it, too.
Wonderful pictures by Bob Pacelli, and Gary Baley, an inspiring story by Jill Kleiss, and all the usual suspects including the winners of the Black History Month essay contest. A new contest will be forthcoming with the Middle School. Look for it, especially if you have a Middle-Schooler.
Meanwhile, flip your sunglasses up and go to
https://cedarstreettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/03-05-21-with-Joy.pdf

SPCA Advises Removing Bird Feeders, Bird Baths Through April

The Central Coast, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington are experiencing a salmonellosis outbreak in migrating Pine Siskins This bacterial pathogen is lethal for these small birds. Bird feeders are the primary source of transmission for the disease. Sadly, many Pine Siskins exposed to the bacteria at bird feeders have succumbed to salmonellosis this winter here on the Central Coast.

Most of the affected birds are Pine Siskins, small, heavily streaked, yellow-accented finches, but Lesser Goldfinch and other finch species can fall victim to salmonellosis as well. While more rare, this disease can also transmit to outdoor cats.

The bacteria are spread through droppings, especially where bird seed piles up beneath feeders or in-tray feeders where the birds can simply stand among the seeds.

Community members can help stop the spread of salmonellosis by discontinuing backyard bird feeding and remove backyard bird baths through April, to encourage these birds to disperse and forage naturally. Pine Siskins migrate and will move on from our area in March and April.

Infected individuals will appear lethargic, puffed or fluffed-up, with eyes partially closed. Their eyes may also appear swollen, red, or irritated. If you see a sick bird or any injured or orphaned wild animal, please contact the SPCA Wildlife Center for help.

The SPCA Wildlife Center is available for emergency wildlife rescues 24 hours a day. To support our work, please visit www.SPCAmc.org/donate. To report injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife in Monterey County, please call 831-264-5427. 

The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. We operate under permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Your support is extremely important to us, as we do not receive funding from any federal, state or local government agency.  Each year, The SPCA Wildlife Center admits over 2,000 animals for treatment and care.

SPCA Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. The SPCA is not a chapter of any other agency and does not have a parent organization.  They shelter homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock, and provide humane education and countless other services to the community. They are the local agency you call to investigate animal cruelty, rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and aid domestic animals in distress.

In recognition of Black History Month, Cedar Street Times’ Black History Essay Contest challenged Pacific Grove High School students to write about some lesser-known figures in Black history.

The essays from these young journalists are both educational and fascinating. Look for their photos in next week’s issue at cedarstreettimes.com this Friday 3-5-2021.

Sophomore Chloe Coe’s First-Prize essay, “An Investment in the Human Soul”, was about Mary Jane McLeod, daughter of a former slave whose family after emancipation had to work the very plantation where they’d been enslaved until they saved enough money to leave. Then she endured a failed marriage; but went on to start a literary and industrial school for Black girls, started a clinic which grew into a hospital, founded or co-founded organizations for Black women and a Black college fund. She said “Believe in yourself, learn, and never stop wanting to build a better world.”

Freshman Maryam Baryal’s Second-Prize essay “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” is a tragic story about a Black woman who died from cancer, but who in a real sense lives on today, in that her cells taken for a biopsy were found to be immortal—the holy grail of cancer research—a human cell line that can reproduce forever. It is no exaggeration to say that her life has saved millions of lives worldwide, although she never knew of her contribution to medical science.

Sophomore William Coen’s Third-Prize essay, “Marshall ‘Major’ Taylor”, is set in the 1890s. It tells the story about the only Black man to become a world cycling champion in a sport dominated by White men—and prejudice. He retired at 32 years old and lived in poverty for most of his life. However, he is remembered by his quote: “Life is too short for a man to hold bitterness in his heart.”

Although we had only three prizes, some other essays were worthy of honorable mention, and we will publish them in a future issue of Cedar Street Times. We also regret that a few essays did not meet our deadline for submission due to the online system of the high school being unable to email us directly. This was an unexpected problem we will warn against the next time we conduct an essay contest.

We thank all students who participated in the contest. I certainly learned something new about Black history and I hope you all did as well. We’d love to get your feedback on the contest, so please email us or write a letter to the editor at editor@cedarstreettimes.com.

Gary Baley

February is Black History Month; accordingly, Cedar Street Times is hosting a Black History Essay Contest for Pacific Grove High School students. The theme suggested is write about some lesser-known person in Black history and tell about their life and their impact on U.S. History.

Three local businesses generously sponsored prize money for the contest.

$100 1st Prize by Wilson’s Plumbing & Heating, 307 Grand Ave, PG 375-4591

$50 2nd Prize by Pacific Grove Hardware, 229 Forest Ave, PG 646-9144

$25 3rd Prize by Cypress Cleaners, 230 Grand Ave, PG 375-3111

Please support these businesses and mention the Black History Essay Contest when you do.

The Strange case of Noah and Tricia Boewer – did they get a fair trial?

Husband and wife Noah and Tricia Boewer, who are White, were found not guilty of hate crimes against Dirrick Williams, who is Black; but they were found guilty of lesser charges stemming from an altercation outside the Monterey Lanes Bowling Alley July 6, 2018. All three were Seaside residents at the time.

Hurling racial slurs at someone then attacking them is an exemplar hate crime. However, if racial slurs are uttered during a fight that began for some reason other than hatred, it’s not a hate crime.

Dirrick claimed the former, but the Boewers claimed the latter occurred.

https://cedarstreettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1-21-press.pdf

Pacific Grove, beyond FOREST HILL SHOPPING and below Holman Hwy. 
Data reported by Bruce & Judy Cowan, residents. 

Week Ending Wednesday,  January 27, 2021

Inches, as of 8 AM, 1/27/21:                      2.3″            

Total since  July 1, 2020:                     4.89″  

Rain total one  year ago to date:               11.4″
  _______________________________________________

Previous Year Total–July 2019 through June 2020:       22″

State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts

SACRAMENTO – Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released the most recent statistics on COVID-19. CDPH ended the Regional Stay at Home Order, lifting the order for all regions statewide, including the three regions that had still been under the order – San Joaquin Valley, Bay Area and Southern California.Four-week ICU capacity projections for these three regions are above 15%, the threshold that allows regions to exit the order. The Sacramento Region exited the order on January 12 and the Northern California region never entered the order.

This action allows all counties statewide to return to the rules and framework of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy and color-coded tiers that indicate which activities and businesses are open based on local case rates and test positivity. The majority of the state’s counties are in the strictest, or purple tier. CDPH provides tier updates each Tuesday. As always, individual counties may choose to impose stricter rules.

State Dept. of Health says Monterey County must remain under the stay-at-home order. Pecentae ratio of available beds to population still not good.

Pacific Grove, beyond FOREST HILL SHOPPING and below Holman Hwy. 
Data reported by Bruce & Judy Cowan, residents. 

Week Ending Tueday,  December 22, 2020
Inches, as of 8 AM, 12/22/20:                     0.4″

Total since July 1, 2020:                      1.18″  
Rain total one  year ago to date:               8.2″
  _______________________________________________

Previous Year Total–July 2019 through June 2020:       22″

https://cedarstreettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/12-25-20-Web.pdf

Actions taken by the City Council at its continued meeting on December 16, 2020 include:

• Commander Rory Lakind with certificates of appreciation in conjunction with his retirement.

• Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula for their work.

• The minutes of the December 2   and 9   City Council Regular and Special Meetings.

• The City Manager to Execute Agreements with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Related to the Measure L, the New 0.50% Local Transactions and Use Tax.

• A Resolution Authorizing Examination of Transactions (Sales) and Use Tax Records and authorized the City Manager to Execute an Amendment to the Agreement with HdL Companies to Provide Measure L Audit, Recovery, and Reporting Services.

• Second reading and adopted an ordinance to add Chapter 2.60 to the Pacific Grove Municipal Code relating to electronic and paperless filing of Fair Political Practices Commission Campaign Disclosure Statements.

• The Core Revenue Report for November 2020.

• Minutes from the Association of Monterey Bay Governments October 14, 2020 meeting.

• A status update on the “Referendum Against Ordinance No. 20-022 Amending the Municipal Code Chapter 11.100, “Cannabis” to Authorize Cannabis Sales pursuant to a Cannabis Retail License.

• Update on the status of Special Events scheduled for January and February 2021.

• Revised Council Policy: Council Guidelines 000-9.

• A letter to be sent to Governor Newsom and Secretary Ghaly of the California Health and Human Services Agency to support the County of Monterey’s request for prioritization of COVID-19 vaccinations for essential farm workers.

• Report of emergency directives/modifications, ratified the Planning Commission meeting time to resume to 6:00PM effective January 2020, extended the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) to March 31, 2021, directed the City Manager to draft and present to Council a proposed small business loan program to reimburse local businesses for Covid-19 related and/or Shelter in Place Order compliance expenses, and discussed circumstances needing emergency response.

and held first reading of a draft ordinance to amend the Fiscal Year 20/21 Operating and Capital Improvement Budget and directed publication of an ordinance summary approved by the City Attorney.

• A resolution to Repeal and Replace Resolution 20-027 to Implement Measure L (voter-approved tax increase), held first reading of an Ordinance to amend the Pacific Grove Municipal Code Chapter 6.07 to implement the voter-approved 0.5% the City Transaction and Use Tax increase, and authorized publication of a summary of the measure as approved by the City Attorney.

and held first reading of an ordinance to amend the Pacific Grove Municipal Code to Rescind the Cannabis Retain License Process Approved by Ordinance No. 20-022, directed that publication of the ordinance be satisfied by publication of a summary approved by the City Attorney, and directed staff to develop a plan for cannabis community outreach and return to the City Council with a strategy.   

• The City Manager to apply a 30% discount to the Water Entitlement Price Shown on the Master Fee Schedule through December 31, 2021.

• The appointment of two City Council-designees to serve on the Cannabis Retail License Selection Committee until March 3, 2021.   

Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) will operate limited schedules for the upcoming holidays. 

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, MST will operate a Saturday schedule. Only the following lines will be in service: JAZZ A, JAZZ B, 1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29, 41, 42, 44, 45, 49, 61, 84, 91, 92, 94, 95, and MST On Call Marina. 

No other bus lines will be in service.

On Christmas Day and New Year’s Day the following lines will operate a holiday schedule:    

• JAZZ A Monterey–Sand City via Hilby (Service between Monterey Transit Plaza and Sand City Station only. No service to MPC or Monterey Bay Aquarium.)
• JAZZ B Monterey–Sand City via Broadway (Service between Monterey Transit Plaza and Sand City Station only. No service to Monterey Bay Aquarium.) 
• Line 1 Monterey (Service from Lighthouse & Fountain to Monterey Transit Plaza only. No service to Asilomar.)
• Line 2 Pacific Grove via Forest Hill (Service from Monterey Transit Plaza to Lighthouse & Fountain only.)
• Line 20 Salinas – Monterey via Marina
• Line 23 Salinas – King City
• Line 24 Monterey – Carmel Valley Grapevine Express via Carmel (Service between Monterey Transit Plaza and Carmel Rancho only.)
• Line 41 Northridge – Salinas via East Alisal
• Line 49 Salinas – Santa Rita via Northridge

All other lines will not be in service on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Regular MST bus service will resume Saturday, December 26th, and Saturday, January 2nd, respectively.

Customer service windows at the Salinas Transit Center and Bus Stop Shop in Monterey will be closed December 24, 25, 31, and January 1 for holiday observances. MST administrative offices in Monterey, as well as the Customer Service window at the Marina Transit Exchange will be closed December 24 through January 1, and will reopen on Monday, January 4. Customers are encouraged to purchase passes prior to the holidays or at participating GoPass outlets to avoid times when MST offices will be closed.  

For more information, visit www.mst.org or call Monterey-Salinas Transit toll free at 1-888-MST-BUS1. For RealTime bus arrival information, text “Next” and your 4-digit bus stop ID (ex. “Next 9103”) to 25370, call 1-888-MST-BUS1 with your 4-digit bus stop ID, download the free Transit app, or use Google Maps. For the latest information on any transit service delays that may occur over the holidays, customers can follow MST on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MST_BUS.

What is Open in Pacific Grove?

The following sectors will have additional modifications in addition to 100% masking and physical distancing:

• Outdoor recreational facilities: Allow outdoor operation only for the purpose of facilitating physically distanced personal health and wellness through outdoor exercise, without any food, drink or alcohol sales. The Pacific Grove portion of the Coastal Recreation Trail, Monarch Sanctuary and all Pacific Grove Beaches are currently open, as is Pacific Grove Golf Links. The Point Pinos Lighthouse grounds are closed. 
• Retailers: Our retailers are open for shopping indoors at 20% capacity, and 35% of capacity for standalone grocery stores, with entrance metering and no eating or drinking in the stores. For a list of retailers offering online shopping with curbside pick up or delivery, go to https://www.pacificgrove.org/onlineshoppingmall
• Hotels and lodging: Allow for COVID-19 mitigation and containment measures, treatment measures, provide accommodation for essential workers, or providing housing solutions, including measures to protect homeless populations. Lodging for non-essential leisure travel is not permitted under the State’s order at this time.
• Restaurants: Our restaurants are open! Allowing only for take out or delivery. Outdoor dining is currently not permitted. For a directory, go to https://www.pacificgrove.org.
• Offices: Many offices and such professional service providers in Pacific Grove are closed for in-person visitation if they are not part of critical infrastructure sectors. Allow remote only except for critical infrastructure sectors where remote working is not possible. 
• Places of worship and political expression: Allow outdoor activities only.

What is Closed in Pacific Grove?

The following business services are closed for the duration:

• Hair salons and barbershops
• Personal care services
• Museums, zoos, and aquariums
• Movie theaters (except drive-in)
• Wineries, bars, breweries, and distilleries
• Family entertainment centers
• Cardrooms and satellite wagering
• Limited services
• Live audience sports

Source: Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce

https://cedarstreettimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/12-11-20-1.pdf

Noah and Tricia Boewer were found guilty of charges stemming from the attack on and injury to Dirrick Williams, Pacific Grove native and former columnist for Cedar Street Times. They were not found guilty of the hate crime enhancement filed later.

Sentencing will occur next week. Full story in this week’s issue of Cedar Stree Times.