CRA News January 2005

Selected articles from the newsletter of the Carmel Residents Association

From left, CRA members at the annual Holiday Gala were Bill Englander, Jean Southern, Alice Englander, Dorothy Cole, Greg Cole and Larry Southern.

CRA Meeting -- The Monterey Bay Aquarium

Citizen of Year Nominations Sought

The 16th annual Citizen of the Year Celebration will be held in Carpenter Hall on Sunday, Feb. 27, at 3:30 p.m. Delicious hors d'oeuvres will be served. There is no charge for the event.

If you know a worthy recipient for this prestigious award, please write a letter by Feb. 13 to:
   Citizen of the Year Selection Committee
   P.O. Box 13
   Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA 93921

In making your nomination, please consider these guidelines:

1. The candidate has through his or her service enhanced the lives of citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea.

2. The candidate has fostered the ideals of Ordinance 96, which states, in part, that Carmel should remain "primarily, essentially and predominately a residential city ..."

3. The candidate is a resident of Carmel-by-the-Sea or its sphere of influence.

4. Any person or organization may make a nomination. Nominees do not have to be members of the CRA.

5. Please include with your letter all related background material you can find on the nominee, including his or her activities and contributions to Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Previous Citizens of the Year are Jim Wright, Joyce Stevens, Enid Sales, Jack Billwiller, Skip Lloyd, Noel Mapstead, Clayton Anderson, Roy Thomas, Jean White, Bob Kohn, Linda Anderson, John Hicks, Noel Van Bibber, Jim Holliday, Frankie Laney and Nancy and Bill Doolittle and Merv Sutton.

How can we help with the incomprehensible disaster?

In the wake of the worst disaster of our lifetime, we are left with a feeling of helplessness as we see the faces over and over on our television screens of those who have lost to the tsunami more than we can comprehend.

The most positive thing those of us here can do is to make a cash/credit card donation to one of the many reputable relief organizations who will make a difference in the lives of the hundreds of thousands of victims.

Two reliable websites with comprehensive lists and contact information of proven, well-known charities are:

www.interaction.org -- a coalition of relief organizations which subscribe to certain principles of operation; and

usafreedomcorps.gov -- the government web site with a list of organizations accepting donations

If you want further information, www.charitynavigator.org evaluates most charities by a star system.

Finally, if you do not have access to the Internet, consider calling our local American Red Cross office at 624-6921. Donations can be dropped off at the Red Cross office on 8th Ave. at Dolores.

President's Message
Resolutions

by Sherry Shollenbarger

It occurred to me as we drove the three hundred plus miles home from Los Angeles to Carmel on Jan. 2 that I was once again experiencing the elation of returning to the Peninsula. No matter how far away the destination or how exotic, I am always moved by the fact that my husband and I managed to end up here, in Carmel. I must add that it was a very active choice for us and the longer I live here the more I realize that this is indeed a chosen place for most of its residents.

I believe that it is time for each of us to become more aware of the choices that confront us regarding our environment. I am very comfortable and proud to be part of this organization in opposing any city policy that I cannot in good conscience support. Equally, I regard it as my responsibility to support our representatives when I feel that their actions benefit Carmel. Let us consider a new way to resolve issues. At the end of this message I list the phone numbers of our Mayor, City Administrator and the City Council members. If you are concerned about any issue, your first approach should be to call your representatives. Next, please call any board member (phone numbers on the back of newsletter) with whom you feel comfortable speaking and let them know your concerns. These phone calls in support of or in opposition to any of the council's actions are extremely important. Likewise, I assure you that any strongly-supported or opposed action will be addressed by the Carmel Residents Association.

I would also encourage each of us to become as informed as possible about volatile issues. It is important to understand how an issue will impact the community. There have been three recent decisions made by our city council that have the potential to change our village. One I believe is entirely positive, one has the potential to change the commercial district by undoing a city ordinance that has worked well for over twenty years, and one seems to defy common sense. I will address them in order.

1. The TOT initiative will be going before you as a special election in early April. Congratulations to Mike Cunningham for pointing out the pitfalls of a mail-in ballot and kudos to the council for making it a polling place vote. When so many small towns like Carmel are experiencing financial difficulties, we have a unique opportunity, by voting for this initiative, to increase revenue and return badly needed funds to the city (hoteliers included). The editorial in this issue addresses this subject and our organization will be putting together a fact sheet and working locally to ensure that you understand the impact of your vote.

2. The vote to change the city ordinance controlling the sale of watches in clock shops was done at the request of one individual, against the advice (twice) of the Planning Commission and city staff member Brian Roseth. Several community businesses along with many residents and the Carmel Residents Association also registered strong objections.

3. The city needs to revisit its position regarding the significant amount of money raised by the Calendar Girls. Surely some accommodation can be reached which will allow the city to benefit from this money.

I know that city officials and residents alike want to work positively toward common goals. This is where you can make a difference. There are fewer than 50% local homeowners. Now, more than ever, you will determine Carmel's present and future. As we enter 2005, let us resolve to call for actions by our City Council that we feel will keep Carmel a place that we would all choose again.

Numbers for the board members of the Carmel Residents Association are on the back page of every newsletter. Below are the names of your representatives. All have voice mail should you not be able to reach them. The City Hall number where all can be reached is 620-2000.

Mayor Sue McCloud
City Administrator Rich Guillin
Council Member Erik Bethel
Council Member Michael Cunningham
Council Member Paula Hazdovac
Council Member Gerard Rose

CRA PROFILES
by Walter Gourlay

Barbara and Dick Stiles -- teachers, travelers, golfers and more

Barbara and Dick Stiles are a couple whose values happily coincide, and who've devoted themselves to the betterment of our society. You need only to talk with them to know how comfortable they are with each other and with the way they've directed their lives.

Dick grew up in Santa Paula, CA, surrounded by lemon, orange and lime trees. An idyllic existence, one might imagine, but he found it much too limiting an environment. He left the town for San Jose State University, and never went back.

At San Jose he earned a B.A. in Business Administration. Even more important, he took part in a "Pushcart Relay," sponsored by the school's fraternities and sororities, and met his wife, Barbara, who had grown up in Oakland. They were married in Oakland in 1959, after graduation. Barbara was an education major, and taught first grade pupils during the first years of their marriage.

After graduation, Dick was hired by Union Oil Company, based in Sacramento, and worked in retail marketing in the East Bay Area. He was good at his job -- so good that he was promoted six times from 1959-1967, over time entailing moves involving four cities. Needless to say, this was a real hardship for Barbara, who had to get a new teaching job each time.

Then, in 1967, after nine years with the company, came a turning point in their lives. Dick was offered a major promotion. The drawback was that they'd have to relocate once more, this time to Los Angeles. But Dick had no intention of moving to L.A.

Already, his mind had been turning in a different direction. He'd been involved with training sessions at Union Oil, and realized that he enjoyed teaching. Besides, he no longer felt he belonged in the business world. "Corporate values in sales jarred with my own values." He decided to begin a new life and go into teaching as a profession.

Barbara shared his values, backed his decision, and supported him financially and otherwise while he returned to San Jose State to get teaching credentials in Social Science. They moved once again, to San Jose, where Barbara taught sixth grade at the Middle School there.

"I've never regretted going into teaching," Dick says. "The best thing that ever happened to me was that promotion to L.A."

In 1969, after getting his credentials, Dick began to teach government and economics courses to twelfth grade students. "I also taught what I call "high school law." They took two years off to have a daughter, Lisa, who is now living in Livermore. She is with a law firm in Oakland and teaches in a law school. Lisa is also a mother, and has a son, Christopher, now just one year old.

Both Dick and Barbara retired from teaching in 1994, and moved to Carmel. Ten years earlier they had been to our village to celebrate Dick's birthday, and had decided then that this was where they wanted to live after they retired. They bought their house that year, and rented it out until they could move here.

"We both love Carmel for the obvious reasons" Dick says. "You can be outdoors all year and the outdoors is so wonderful. I also enjoy that Carmel really is a community." Barbara adds, "I enjoy the natural environment here."

Both have a strong commitment to activism in defense of their values. They recall proudly their participation in the Vietnam antiwar movement, when they marched in demonstrations with Lisa in a stroller.

They've brought their commitment to Carmel. Both are active in the local Democratic Party. Dick is treasurer of the Peninsula Democratic Club and Barbara is membership chairperson. Barbara is active in the Rancho Canada Women's Golf Club, and Dick is on the Board of the Carmel Residents Association. And both are active members of the ACLU.

They also take time out for their shared hobbies, golf and travel. They've visited all of central Europe, and are especially fond of Turkey and Greece. Their most recent trip was to Costa Rica. And they visit Hawaii almost every year. In past years, they went camping. And closer to home, they often go to musicals in San Jose.

Between trips they enjoy just being in Carmel. "We walk to town and around town, and walking home we get positive vibes just from living here," Dick says. "When we retired we didn't look back. We loved what we had done, and now we're in our next life. We enjoy this."

There are such wonderful people living in Carmel!

Cell Phone Safety
Downloaded from "News Now" on the
Carmel Fire Department website

Cell phones, when used properly and with good intentions, are helpful and valuable tools in today's fast-paced world. However, they do present some health and safety issues that people need to be aware of.

Exposure to radiation has been at the forefront of potential health hazards with regard to cell phone use. Buying a phone with a low SAR rating (the amount of radiation from the phone that is absorbed into the brain during normal use) will minimize the amount of radiation exposure. The national safety standard in the United States requires that cell phones put out no more than 1.6 watts.

Subscribing to a program that provides the best coverage in your area, and using your cell phone only when you have a strong signal, will minimize the amount of radiation exposure. Modern cell phones use adaptive power control technology, which means that the better your phone signal, the less power your phone will use and the less radiation it will emit.

Signals can vary dramatically when indoors, so a good rule of thumb is to use the phone near a window and make sure your head is not between the phone and the window. Also, do not obstruct the phone antenna, as this will cause the phone to use more power, and thus emit more radiation. When using the phone, hold it at its base to minimize obstructing the antenna.

It is always a good idea to not use your cell phone for extremely long conversations, as this increases exposure to radiation. Waiting to have access to a regular telephone, or obtaining a hands-free kit will help create a safer environment.

There are places where it is best to turn off your cell phone, not just out of courtesy, but also for safety's sake. Although it is rarely done, the first place to do this is behind the wheel of the vehicle you are driving. Drivers using their cell phones, even hands-free sets, are distracted to begin with, slower to react and thus more likely to be involved in an accident.

It is a proven fact that using a cell phone in a hospital can interfere with the proper functioning of medical equipment, especially lifesaving machines such as mechanical ventilators. Please turn off your cell phone before entering a hospital, or better yet, do not bring it in with you.

There have been about 70 documented incidents of a cell phone being the cause of fires in gasoline stations, due to static electrical sparks. With the high volatility of gas fumes it is a wonder that more fires have not occurred because of this. Though not highly likely at this point, these incidents are possible, with tragic and catastrophic consequences attached. It is becoming a common practice for service stations to ask that customers turn off their cell phones while on the station property.

Briefly on another subject, and as a friendly reminder, you may recycle your Christmas tree by taking it to the dumpster located in the lower parking area of the Forest Theater at Mountain View and Santa Rita.

If you have any questions regarding fire or life and health-safety concerns, please call the Carmel Fire Department at 620-2030. You may also log on to carmelfiredepartment.com.

DID YOU KNOW?

... that under the city's agreement with Waste Management, trash, recycling and yard-waste containers do not need to be moved near or to the street for collection. In order to eliminate the clutter of so many containers placed on city streets and rights-of-way, residents are asked to store containers in an area screened from the street. On collection day, workers will empty and return containers to their original location. For those who do not want collectors entering their property, containers may be stored somewhere in property's front yard area but screened from public view.

And, don't forget that plastics, glass, cardboard and paper products no longer need to be separated for recycling. The more you recycle, the less garbage you create, which can result in a lower quarterly bill.

Four times a year, at no extra charge, you may leave up to seven bags or seven 32-gallon cans in addition to your regular garbage. Cleanup weeks for Carmel are: Jan. 10-14, April 4-8, July 11-15, and Oct. 10-14. .

New preservation alliance to hold its first event

Attention preservationists and anyone interested in preserving the priceless historic treasures of our region! You won't want to miss the Alliance of Monterey Area Preservationists' Winter Forum that will be held on Friday, Jan. 21, at the Monterey Institute of International Studies Irvine Auditorium at 499 Pierce Street in Monterey. Featured speakers will be Milford Wayne Donaldson, head of the California Office of Historic Preservation, and Susan Brandt-Hawley, one of California's foremost environmental law attorneys.

The evening will begin with a wine and appetizer reception at 6 p.m. followed by the program from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $20 per person. To reserve a space, call 375-4982.

Holiday lights to remain on Ocean Ave.

According to the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, unless there are objections, the city will not remove the holiday lights which were strung before Christmas on the Ocean Avenue median by the Carmel Chamber of Commerce, Carmel Residents Association and other groups. The subject of leaving the lights up permanently came up at a meeting of mainly business-community members brainstorming on making the city more attractive for visitors. After the meeting, participants checked the items that were most important to them and 14 people indicated that leaving the lights up was their priority. The other top priorities were non-amplified music, a farmers market and a film festival.

If you want to express an opinion on the lights, call City Hall at 620-2000 and speak to or leave a voice mail for Mayor Sue McCloud or City Administrator Rich Guillen.

Green Ribbon of Excellence Awards

The Carmel Chamber of Commerce in December named the Sunset Cultural Center the Business of the Year. The following were also honored as the best businesses in their categories:

Accommodations: La Playa Hotel

Art Galleries: Carmel Art Association

Dining: Bahama Billy's Restaurant

Media & Marketing: Carmel Pine Cone

Personal Services: Beleza Skin Care

Retail: Homescapes, Carmel

Real Estate: The Mitchell Group

Service to Residents: Carmel Foundation

Service to Visitors: Monterey Bay Aquarium.

The Carmel Art Association, Carmel Pine Cone and the Mitchell group are repeat winners from last year.

Nancy Holden of Bay Publishing Company was named Volunteer of the Year.

Easy shuttle service to AT&T Pro-Am

The Carmel Chamber of Commerce, along with the Carmel Innkeepers Association, will once again run shuttle buses from downtown Carmel to the AT&T Pro-Am Tournament. Four buses will operate from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Feb. 10 to 13. Passes are $5 per person per day if purchased in advance from the Chamber, San Carlos between 5th and 6th, or on the Chamber website at www.carmelcalifornia.org. After Feb. 9, tickets are $7 per day. During the tournament, tickets can be purchased at the bus stop in front of Carmel Plaza.

Remember that your City Council is on T.V.

City Council meetings are taped and re-broadcast
Sundays, 8 a.m. - 12 noon on
KMST Channel 26