Dear Readers,

The Sword of Damocles that's been hanging over this community for the last 20 years in the form of a drastic water cutback order has been lifted a bit, thanks to the beneficence of the same state agency that put the sword there to begin with. Mary Schley reports.

Yet another state agency will be deciding what Carmel's policy about beach fires is supposed to be, now that the council's latest program has been appealed to the coastal commission. Mary Schley has those details, too.

The short-term rentals issue has raised major hackles on both sides, but could a compromise actually be possible? Chris Counts has that story.

Pacific Grove is wading into new territory with its plan to impose an admissions tax on places like the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Google Treks is making it possible to hike the remotest parts of Big Sur without leaving your laptop. Carmel's only shopping center is headed for a major facelift, and one of its commercial centerpieces is set to be rebuilt from the ground up. A local student has taken first place in a county-wide cowboy poetry competition. Rescues and pot busts are making headlines along the south coast. A gallery owner has been charged with vandalizing a city sidewalk. And my editorial points out that this week's announcement about our water supply was not only obviously going to happen, it had to happen.   

As always, I am available to respond to questions, comments or concerns, and to offer advice about how best to read our newspaper on your computer, smartphone or iPad.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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