CRA News November 2008

Selected articles from the newsletter of the Carmel Residents Association

Sandy Chaix, left, and Nory Veronis enjoyed dinner at Bistro Giovanni after the October Carmel Residents Association meeting.

CRA November General Meeting:
Carmel Public Safety Director George Rawson
Carmel's Emergency Preparedness Plan

The next emergency?
Come hear how Carmel is preparing

According to Public Safety Director George Rawson's update to the City Council in October, Carmel already has many elements of its emergency preparedness plan in place. On Nov. 20 Chief Rawson will update us on actions the city has already taken to prepare for emergencies, projects currently being worked on and plans for future safety enhancements. We think you will be pleased with what he has to say.

Among safety goals already accomplished by the city are preparing plans and training all emergency personnel in compliance with Federal mandates, and educating the public about disaster preparedness through the Fire Department's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes. The seismic retrofit of the Fire Department was completed in 2006 and the Department has acquired a self-contained breather apparatus, up-to-date mobile and portable radios and will soon install a new generator. Evacuation and tsunami inundation maps have also been prepared.

The city's Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which during crises, mobilizes city employees at a command center in the lower level of the Police Department, now includes a position for Red Cross representation since that is the group which coordinates sheltering. Sharon Crino of the Carmel Area Chapter of the Red Cross will be on hand to answer any questions about her organization.

Rawson reported that an update of the city's Emergency Operations Plan is underway. Other steps include setting up an emergency telephone notification system, more radio upgrades and more staff training. The city is considering a new Citizen Volunteer Assistance Program, which some former St. Bernards and others are interested in joining. In addition, the Carmel Foundation is in the process of installing a generator to allow them to serve senior citizens during power outages.

Originally hired as chief of police, George Rawson was named public safety director in July, 2004, after a contractual arrangement with the Carmel Valley Fire Protection District ended. This change gave Rawson responsibility for both the police and fire departments until November, 2005, when Andrew Miller was named fire chief for Carmel with his Pacific Grove Fire Department staff also playing a role in training and mutual aid.

President's Message

Nocturnal Ramblers

by Roberta Miller

Like many of you, when Monte and I moved to Carmel we were captivated by its natural beauty, charm, small town atmosphere and easy, walkable accessibility to everything we needed. The thought of living in a town of one square mile brought a smile to my face and a sense of anticipation of things to come. A huge departure from our Southern California worker-bee lifestyle of 30 years, where a car was needed for essentially everything.

Aah... the simple life. Adjusting to our new lifestyle was easy, but not without unexpected happenings. One early evening, we walked down to see a play at the Golden Bough. At the end of the evening performance, we strolled out the door of the theater into complete, utter darkness. It was stunningly devoid of light. Our eyesight adjusted enough for us to get our bearing and, with the help of the starry sky and a quarter moon, we meandered home. I remarked to Monte that most assuredly I would soon get lost and be written up (not in a flattering way) in the Pine Cone police log. When I told a neighbor about our experience in such contrast to our lit-up city lifestyle, she responded, "Dear, you need a flashlight in Carmel. We have no street lights or yard lights. We like the dark. The better to see the stars, my dear." At that moment, I decided being in the dark was a pleasant idea and carrying a flashlight in my pocket most agreeable. A tradition worth keeping.

Carmelites in the early 1900's originated this tradition. Daisy F. Bostick and Dorothea Castelhun in their book Carmel at Work and Play describe the beginnings of this affinity with the dark. In the evenings, getting around in the dark was difficult – something had to be done. The authors described the solution: "A Carmel lady of social disposition and inventive genius took an old tomato can, punched holes, in the side, and pushed a candle through. Inside the can the wick burned steadily, protected from the wind; outside the can, the candle formed a handle by which to hold the lantern. Gleefully other Carmel nocturnal ramblers seized upon this invention. They called it a 'bug' or 'miner's wick' and found it entirely efficient in guiding them safely" over hill and dale, around trees, beating around the bushes and through narrow path-ways. A tradition worth keeping.

In their book Creating Carmel, Harold and Ann Gilliam described opening night (July 9, 1910) of the outdoor Forest Theater. A foggy night with the audience dressed warmly, carrying blankets, walking up the hill with the help of bonfires on Ocean Avenue lighting the path, and of course their "bugs" in hand. Imagine this night. Theatrical from beginning to end. The glow of the "bugs," the warmth of friends, the scent of the bonfires, the shimmering of the trees, shadows dancing in the wind, the bright full moon and oh those diamonds in the sky.

The November issue of National Geographic has an extensive scientific article, Our Vanishing Night, on the ever-increasing level of light pollution of our sky. We are losing our heritage of starry nights in the big cities (but not in Carmel!).

We have many environmental challenges in this 21st century, but the vision of Carmel's founding fathers, steeped in traditional values, has served us well. Nature's aesthetics and community aesthetics long ago became integrated and harmonious. It took a lot of hard-working, visionary people to develop our ordinances that continue to protect our unique qualities and respect for the natural environment. Because of this, we find ourselves already ahead of the curve and beginning to meet the challenges of our limited natural resources. We are going green, giving up our waste and pollution mind set, developing ecosystem services and "saving the universe."

Our ordinances already have us on a track to conserve energy. In the residential district exterior incandescent lights are limited to 25 watts, halogen 20 watts. Light reflection into streets is discouraged. Landscape and accent lighting is discouraged on trees, walls and fences. Lighting is permitted on walkways and entrances.

Similar ordinances apply to the commercial buildings. Light fixtures cannot be directed toward the public right-of-way. Exterior lighting is limited to eight-candlefoot power. Exterior lighting must be turned off when the business is closed each evening. Interior lighting is limited to 30-candlefoot power.

Tradition! Tradition! We like the dark. Let's work together to keep it that way.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not."
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

by Tom Parks

Good as gold . . . or a 1924 one-cent stamp

A couple of weeks ago we paid a visit to what at first appeared to be a modern version of "The Old Curiosity Shop," on Mission and Eighth. We were there to talk with Megan Terry, owner, with her husband, Bill Cox, of Carmel Stamp and Coin. The charm of the place is in its clutter, lovely clutter at that-stacks of catalogues, mounted collections of thousands of stamps, counters filled with old, and no doubt, rare coins. And Noodle, described as "a mostly yellow Lab," one would think, there to add a bit of atmosphere and a keen eye on the rare coins. Bill Cox was on duty as a thirty-year Carmel village fireman, but Megan was up for some early morning questions for CRA News.

You and your husband have been in business for several years. What brought you to the stamp and coin business?

The original shop was on Ocean and Dolores, and was called Stallings Stamp and Coin. My mother and father were married in Carmel and were familiar with the village. We lived in Bakersfield but visited often. My father was an avid stamp collector and couldn't pass Stallings without a visit to the shop. When temperatures passed the 112 degree mark, it was decided to make the move to Carmel. Stallings knew that my father was interested in his shop and one day in 1961 he called my father and said, "Come and get it." And "come and get it we did" – we've been in this business ever since.

What's your take on Carmel-by-the-Sea today?

We've traveled all over the world. And can't wait to return to this lovely village.

Is the Carmel Resident's Association all that you hoped it would be when you joined?

We've been members for about three years. We're very pleased to have a voice in the community. The purpose of CRA and the causes they promote are close to my thinking and to my heart.

Do you shop in the village? Are there, in your opinion, enough amenities here for locals? If not, what would you like to see in the way of services and shops for its citizens?

I make every effort to shop in Carmel. I'll even pay a bit more for some things – I happily support local business whenever I can. I would, of course, like to see more "service" oriented businesses – shoe repair, a bookstore, a "fix-it" shop.

Do you belong to the Chamber of Commerce?

Yes, I want a voice. I want to express my opinions. I want the village to flourish.

In your opinion, is local government – the elected and appointed officials-effective, affirmative, and sensitive to the residents of Carmel?

I believe we've lost a sense of community with the loss of service-oriented businesses. I'm not placing blame on any office or any agency.

The economy is in big trouble worldwide. How's business?

We're service oriented. It's difficult to tell at this time. What we do know is that it's nearly impossible to buy gold right now. We have a waiting list. That says quite a bit, I would think.

Let's say I have some gold coins in my safety deposit box. Is this a good time to sell?

Step right up.

Spotlight on Members

Skydiving? For the young? Not necessarily!

Erl Lagerholm recently spent his birthday sky-diving. We are impressed! Saying "I knew it was crazy, but it was my birthday and you only have one first time to do it," Erl went off to Marina to sign up. He first decided to go for the 15,000 foot jump but then decided, "What the heck," and went up to 18,000 feet. Jumping in tandem with an expert, Erl plunged downward at 100 mph to 13,000 before his parachute opened. "Not scary at all," he said, "It was beautiful!"

Photos from sky to sea – check out this website!

Retired marine biologist and fine-art photographer Art Haseltine has a spectacular new website covering both his black and white underwater photography and his unique kite aerial photos.

According to the website, Art's photographic style is influenced both by his training as a diving biologist and by the fine-art, photographic legacy of California's Monterey Peninsula. Although his early work was with medium-format cameras and black and white film, Art now uses digital techniques. His subject matter (fish, invertebrate and marine mammal portraits) is from the eye of a marine biologist, but his final product is from the imagination of an artist.

Check out Art's work at: www.fotosea.com

Buy Local! Save gas!

With the economic downturn, we should do our best to take care of our own. Every time you need something, please ask yourself first if you can find it in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Let's shop local!

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