After hours of presentations and public comments, the Monterey City Council opted to continue a decision on a use permit for an Alzheimer's care facility in New Monterey. The 60-bed facility, located on three parcels on Hawthorne Street and Drake Avenue, was recommended for a use permit by the Planning Commission earlier this year.

But Councilmember Theresa Canepa appealed the commission's decision, mainly due to the precedent-setting nature of a proposed water rights transfer. The project developers, which are buying the Hawthorne and Drake parcel as well as the Greene Mansion on Lighthouse Avenue where Consuelos' Restaurant currently stands, are asking the city to allow the transfer of water rights from the mansion to the care facility. If the transfer is permitted, the Greene mansion could be used as office or retail space, but not as a restaurant.

News Briefs

Screen Saver

In an effort to stop the hemorrhaging of retail sales and undercut potential competition from other proposed multiplex theaters, Monterey's Del Monte Center announced on Tuesday plans to build a new 16-screen theater complex on the east side of the shopping center.

The San Rafael-based Century Theatres chain will operate the new theater complex in a 54,000-square-foot building that will house "stadium-style" seating with digital surround sound and Lucasfilm THX certification.

Del Monte Center General Manager Jeff Miyaoka indicated the new theater complex is going in with the hope of increasing business for existing retail businesses hurt by competition from the big retail stores in Sand City. Miyaoka also indicated the Center was trying to preempt Seaside and Marina's expressed interest in building large multiplex theaters in their cities.

Miyaoka declined to speculate on the impact of the new theater complex on the existing six-screen Galaxy theater, which has been operating since 1991, saying only that their lease will be honored.

The proposed theater complex is scheduled to open in the fall of 2000, pending approval of the Monterey Planning Commission and City Council.

Take Back The Night

Organizers of tonight's "Take Back the Night" event at CSUMB are hoping for a good turnout at their rally, candelight march and lecture, all held to promote the struggle to overcome violence against women. However, some women's activists are concerned that there just isn't enough community interest to support this kind of in-your-face political activity.

Noting that the first Take Back The Night rally was held two decades ago in Boston, Monterey County Rape Crisis Center Executive Director Clare Mounteer says that turnout for last year's event in Monterey County was low. "We diluted it by having it in separate locations throughout the county, and maybe in retrospect that was a mistake," she says.

The Rape Crisis Center decided not to hold its own Take Back the Night this year, and agreed to help out with the CSUMB event. "Rape is a problem," says Mounteer, urging community members to attend tonight's activities, the only Take Back the Night scheduled countywide. "We're in denial. We think it only happens at night, and this is a way to dispel some of those myths." CSUMB grad student Brenda Pobre, who is coordinating tonight's activities, says, "It's more important than ever. We have four colleges in the area now. The potential for rape is so great. College women are more apt to be raped. It's an issue we need to face."

Events begin with a rally at 7pm on the campus main quad (follow signs from the main Fort Ord exit off Highway 1). From the quad, participants will march with candles to the Black Box Cabaret, where renowned feminist author Rianne Eisler >(The Chalice and The Blade) will lecture. Men are urged to attend, Pobre adds; "We want them to become allies." For more information, call 582-4842.

The Monterey Hostel Cometh

After 15 years in the planning, during which time youth hostels operated only seasonally in the Monterey area, the Monterey Hostel Society closed escrow on the Carpenters Union Hall in New Monterey on March 31, marking the beginning of a permanent budget travel site in Monterey County.

The proposed hostel is expected to open in late August, with space for 42-45 beds, according to Melissa Newlin, 1998 president of the hostel society.

The hostel site on Hawthorne Street will be part of the American Youth Hostels' Central California Council, which includes hostels from the south Bay Area to San Luis Obispo to Yosemite. The building has its own parking lot.

While most of the construction work is being planned by professional contractors, the hostel society is looking for volunteers for late May, June and July to help with cleaning and light work. Call Melissa Newlin at 899-3046 for details on the hostel and volunteering.

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