BestOf
MONTEREY 07

•WEB SITE

MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM'S MBayAq.org

Want to see a cock-eyed squid swim, but don’t have the energy to wade into the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s camera-totin’ throng? Left sleepless by lingering questions about slipper snail reproduction, but can’t afford the admission fee? Don’t stress—navigate to MBayAq.org, which features a marine cornucopia of educational materials including an animal and plant guide, conservation info, lesson plans, action links and a really addictive online video library. Don’t forget to check out live webcams on the Aquarium’s aviary, kelp forest, penguin, otter and outer bay exhibitions. Whether you’re 8 or 85, chances are good that you’ll echo the Aquarium’s unofficial mantra: Cooool!

•RADIO STATION

X-103.9 REVOLUTION (KMBY)

Last summer, X-103.9 introduced a new musical mix to its listeners. In addition to the alternative rock that had dominated its playlist for a number of years, the station began to play some West Coast hip-hop and some old-school rap. Now it’s running a 60/40 rock-to-hip-hop ratio. It’s a unique format—there is probably nowhere else on any dial where listeners can catch AFI and Fall Out Boy hanging out with Dre, Snoop and E-40, as well as Nine Inch Nails and Tool. Byron Cooke and Crissy Whalin  (“The B-Team;” M-F, 3-7pm) initiated the new format, which also includes the nightly “831’s Most Wanted,” a program guest-hosted by listeners. Apparently, the new mix is working for the Weekly’s readers.

•RADIO DJ

JOEY MARTINEZ | 105.1 KOCN

The nine-to-five can be grueling—watching seconds tick by one-by-one. But Joey Martinez has got you covered (at least until 2pm), and that’s why he’s become such a favorite on the Peninsula. Putting his signature touch of charm and class into a rock-solid rotation of the best old school hits of the last 30 years, he takes you back to the days when music was about fun. Moving from the hot Motown streets to the flash of New York City disco clubs, Martinez will have you bobbing your head, tapping your feet, and looking forward to the freedom of Friday.

•TV NEWS

KSBW

KSBW delivers news with a local focus, offering nightly live coverage from both crime scenes and council chambers. Dan Green’s casual delivery and Erin Clark’s sincerity combine for a blend of digestible news before dinner. The program rounds out its cast of news celebrities with the comical sports anchor Dennis Lehnen and the likable weatherman Jim Vanderzwaan. Simply put, KSBW is the TV news machine of the Central Coast.

•TV ANCHOR

DAN GREEN | KSBW

Sitting by Dan Green every night during KSBW’s Action News, his co-anchor Erin Clark admits that she has “lived through many, many funny moments.” Green usually delivers the news straight at the top of the hour, but by the end of the show, when the program has human-interest pieces on silly pet tricks or celebrity meltdowns, he is unable to refrain from making humorous observations about the material. Clark reveals that Green’s funniest work is kept inside the newsroom for KSBW staffers who need a good laugh. One often-viewed clip features footage of Green riding a camel at the Salinas Rodeo. Our readers haven’t seen that one, but they love him anyway—this is the sixth year in a row they’ve honored him as the best in the biz.

•PROFESSOR

RICH KEZIRIAN | Monterey Peninsula College

Professor Rich Kezirian’s love of history is plain to see. “The stories that history teaches us are so beautiful,” he says, “even the best novelists couldn’t write them.” He believes that studying the past is the best way to gain an enlightened perspective on the present, and a realistic expectation of what can be expected in the future. Unlike many history teachers, he does not emphasize the memorization and regurgitation of names and dates—his tests have no multiple-choice questions. Instead he encourages a deeper understanding of history’s most important themes, and analysis of what it can tell us about the true nature of humanity.

•ATHLETE, MALE

GABE CHASE | CSUMB Baseball

Gabe Chase is the catalyst for the CSUMB baseball team. On the field, the Portland, Oregon native sets the tone for the offense at leadoff, and on defense, he displays some game-changing glovework in centerfield. His coaches describe him as a quiet presence in the locker room who leads by example—and a prime example of resilience and work ethic. After a disappointing season last year (his first at Fort Ord after two years at Santa Barbara Community College), he’s worked so hard that he now inspires talk of a pending pro career.

•ATHLETE, FEMALE

LAUREN SCHUTZLER

Lauren Schutzler comes from good sports genes. The senior softball standout at Notre Dame High, who’s headed to the University of Arizona next year to play centerfield, is the younger sister of Lindsay Schutzler, an all-American at the University of Tennessee, and the daughter of Lyndon Schutzler, the athletic director at MPC. Despite the fact that Lauren suffered a shoulder injury while playing basketball for Notre Dame, she’s expected to recover in time to lead the Spirits in their run for a 10th CCS championship on the softball diamond.

•BEST USE OF TAX DOLLARS

WINDOW ON THE BAY, MONTEREY

It’s never too late to unpave paradise and take down a parking lot. The city of Monterey is making up for the sins of its fathers by acquiring property along the waterfront, restoring it to a more natural beauty, and opening it for public access. Though this vision has been part of the Master Plan since 1939, the results are only recently apparent. And the work continues on projects that are both costly and revenue-sacrificing but that respect the human experience and quality of life. Window on the Bay, the crème de la crème waterfront project, extends from Wharf #2 to Sloat Avenue. This should count as one of the great legacies of Monterey. But it hasn’t all been cake. Citizens get some of the credit, having fought against proposed coastal development that runs contrary to this vision.

•POLITICIAN

US REP. SAM FARR

Once again, Weekly readers give kudos to our man in Washington. Sam’s been busy this year—introducing legislation to help the spinach industry ensure food safety and aid producers still reeling from last year’s E. coli outbreak; fighting for healthy oceans; working to create a Veterans cemetery at Fort Ord; and pushing a bill that would create a civilian response corps to boost reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Yet he still finds time to host town hall meetings around the district, and speak at Peace Corps dinners and Marine Sanctuary receptions. Farr was one of the brave few in Congress who voted against the Iraq War. Four years later, his other Democratic colleagues (except Joe Lieberman) have finally followed suit.

"Sex is the most important thing. Politics is next on the list."

•BEST PLACE TO ARGUE POLITICS 

RED'S DONUTS | 433 Alvarado St., Monterey • 372-9761 | 1646 Fremont Blvd., Seaside • 394-3444

Evelyn Rosales, manager of the Red’s Donuts on Alvarado Street, often joins in on the boisterous political discussions that erupt between her flocks of regulars in the sunflower yellow eatery. Fueled by donuts and coffee, the crew takes on important issues like current gas prices and the most recent gaffes of President Bush. But Rosales admits that politics is not the first thing to be discussed in the old-school donut shop. “Sex is the most important thing,” she says. “Politics is next on the list.”

•POWER BROKER

LEON PANETTA

Wikipedia defines a power broker as “a person who can influence people to vote towards a particular client (i.e. elected official or referendum) in exchange for political or financial benefits.” The >>Weekly’s readers here redefine the meaning of that word. Since coming home from Washington, DC, Monterey’s favorite son has used his substantial influence to forge a new politics for the future. He and his wife, Sylvia, host a world-class lecture series that fosters discussion among powerful leaders from both parties. More importantly, Leon has devoted himself to inspiring the young people who study at the Institute. This year, Leon served on the Iraq Study Group, which has helped turn the tide of public opinion against a failed war policy. Panetta doesn’t seem to care much that he gets little political or financial benefits for his work. That’s real power.

•DO-GOODER

DINA RUIZ-EASTWOOD

As Monterery County’s star celebrity couple, Dina and Clint get asked to do a lot, and to give a lot, and they do. Between them, they serve a dozen non-profits. Dina says she cut back a bit this year to spend more time with the two kids at home—still, she’s PTA president at Carmel River School, and sits on the boards of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the ACTION Council of Monterey County (which fights local poverty) as well as the Freedom Fields Foundation (which works to eliminate landmines in Cambodia). In her spare time she MC’s a bunch of charity events. You should’ve seen the list before she cut back.

•LOCAL EVENT

AT&T NATIONAL PRO-AM

Longtime Pro-Am stalwart Ray Romano has a joke he likes to tell around tourney time. “The AT&T happens once a year, it is wonderful, and there’s usually some walrus-type noises nearby. For me, it’s just like sex.” While everybody loves you, Raymond, everyone around here knows better. This orgy of golf artistry, star-hawking and community benefit is better than sex. Each year, for every spellbinding iron by three-time champ Phil Mickelson, every spontaneous goof by joker Danny Ganz, there are 100 volunteers working to help the Pro-Am’s parent, the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, channel about $6 million to local charities.

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