All That Suze Sees Fit to Print Squid has watched with interest a recent squabble between Pacific Grove Mayor Sandy Koffman and Beacon editor and publisher Susan Goldbeck. The fracas involves some comments made at a recent retirement party for former P.G. City Manager Mike Huse. Goldbeck, who was not invited to the party, says some hefty Beacon-bashing took place during the shindig, or so she has heard, and she doesn''t like it one bit. Goldbeck took Koffman & Co. to task in her column "Between the Pines."

"Sniping at the local press in front of a captive crowd at a City event...was, as one attendee reported, not only small but in bad taste," Goldbeck wrote. The mayor responded with a letter to the editor saying that if a few jokes were made at the expense of the Beacon within the context of roasting Huse, whose name appeared frequently on the pages of the Beacon, what''s it to ya? But below Koffman''s letter, Goldbeck couldn''t help tagging on an editor''s note to reassert her own take on the situation.

Forgive me, Susan, but I''m siding with Mayor Perfect Hair on this one. Squid salutes with all 10 tentacles your vigilant watch-dogging of Pacific Grove politics. But I find it difficult to believe that as a publisher you haven''t grown a thicker skin by now. You practice your right to criticize your government with force and vigor. And it''s a two-way street. People have the right to criticize your publication, too. Take it from me--\I''ve been sliced, diced, fried and sauteed over the years. We can''t make everyone happy. If we did, I''d be worried.

Panty Checks R Us

For this week''s sporty festivities, Pebble Beach Company has beefed up its staff, hiring 1,300 temporary cooks, dishwashers, housekeepers and banquet servers to keep the throngs of wealthy U.S. Open spectators feeling happy and well cared for. It could be mayhem, trying to keep that many employees organized, efficient and professional-looking, but fortunately the company''s Temporary Employee Orientation manual leaves nothing to chance. And I mean nothing.

Squid''s favorite items in the manual, which found its way into my tentacles last week, are "No more than 2 rings or bracelets per hand" and "Daily showers and use of deodorant are expected." But neither of them can compare with this gem: "Appropriate undergarments must also be worn."

There''s an explanation, says manager Lisa Bird. "You would be amazed at what these ladies come to work in," she says, explaining that white shirts are part of the uniform. "Some of them wear bras with floral prints--\beautiful, but you can see them right through the shirts--\or they don''t wear a bra at all."

The personal nature of the temporary employee manual hasn''t kept any of the 1,300 positions from being filled, however. Bird notes that employees, especially cooks, have come from as far away as South Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas to work the Open. And, she says, plenty of local professionals like teachers (surprise, surprise) who are off for the summer (and need the money, surprise, surprise) are working the event. "Lots of people who are golf enthusiasts but didn''t get tickets are rolling up their sleeves and working at the U.S. Open," Bird chirps.

Sounds great. Keep in mind that many of these jobs pay $8.15 an hour--\not even enough for a single person to live on in Central California. Keep in mind also that these lucky golf enthusiasts get to tack an extra unpaid hour onto their shifts for transportation to and from Fort Ord.

If that''s the life of a golf enthusiast, imagine the rigors of being a hard-core fan.

Get Squid enthused: squid@coastweekly.com.