Dear Readers,

The thing this community fears most — imposition of the state's big water cutback order without a new supply to replace it — could be averted if state officials are willing to let the deadline slip a bit. But are they? Kelly Nix reports on an effort by local mayors to determine the answer to that question.

PG&E will resume work on the city's gas mains next week, amid obvious concerns about the possibility of another explosion. But the utility says enhanced safety measures are in place.

Environmental review of a plan to build a flood barrier around the Carmel River Lagoon is under way. Chris Counts has that one.

He also reports on a new layer added to the local permit process: That Native Americans be consulted about possible impacts to "cultural resources" before any building project can get the green light.

The public apparently liked what it saw in early plans for the renovation of the Forest Theater. Chelsie Hill was awarded $12.5 million in a lawsuit claiming Toyota was responsible for her injuries in a 2010 drunk driver collision. An Oscar-winning actress left her sizable estate to the local SPCA. Paul Brocchini's real estate report shows that Carmel was the big star in the Monterey Peninsula during the third quarter of the year, with sharply rising activity and prices. And my editorial takes a look at what the Chelsie Hill verdict says about the purpose of civil courts in California, and the nation.

To get this week's complete Pine Cone, please click here. If you have an informed opinion about one of our stories and would like to submit a letter to the editor, please click here. And please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments or concerns.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

To return to the download page for the October 24, 2014, edition, please click here.