Dear Readers,

Longtime city employee and decorated veteran John Hanson -- who was abruptly fired by former city administrator Jason Stilwell in August -- got his job back this week, thanks to a settlement agreement OK'd by the city council Tuesday. He'll be back at work Monday. Mary Schley reports.

The kiosks are in and paid parking on Ocean Avenue commences Sunday -- just in time for the Christmas shopping season. The idea, city officials say, is to make it easier, if a bit more expensive, to find a parking space near your favorite store. Mary has that story, too.

The Marina water agency is so determined to stop the Monterey Peninsula from drilling a desal test well in that city it has even filed a lawsuit to overturn the coastal commission's approval of the well. Kelly Nix has that one.

Work begins this week on the roundabout officials say will smooth traffic flow at the Highway 68-17 Mile Drive-Highway 1 interchange. The duo arrested for breaking into numerous homes in and around Carmel remains in jail because they can't make bail. Two of the city's most prominent activists have pulled up stakes and moved to snowy Boise, Idaho. A local man's simple solution for making pets who need homes more attractive to their potential families is changing the way animal shelters operate across the country. We have a colorful special section with a complete calendar of local holiday events and lots of suggestions for ways to spend some of your shopping dollars locally. And my editorials recommend a little patience before making up your mind about the city's new paid parking program, and call for complete disclosure of the reasons John Hanson was fired in the first place.

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

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