WHO’S THAT GUY…Moe Ammar is nothing if not a man about America’s last hometown. The stylish executive director of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce is often spotted dressed to the nines in a double-breasted suit, glad handing with the captains of industry around the Peninsula. Yup, he certainly knows how to work a room, not to mention a wardrobe. In fact, Squid spotted Mr. Ammar squeezed into an elegant tuxedo at Butterfly Town’s annual Taste of PG at Pebble Beach. But late last month, Squid spotted Mr. Ammar in the kind of garb normally adorning small-time hoodlums and petty thieves. There he was on the side of Highway 68 at 8:05am utilizing a long-stemmed picker-upper, bagging trash on the side of the road, wearing the latest in reflective stripping. In Squid’s rearview, Squid spied the “adopt a highway” sign that lists the PG Chamber as the proud parent of that stretch of the asphalt. A hearty ink-drenched three cheers for a man who takes his adoptive duties so seriously.

TOTAL RECALL III…First Gov. Gray Davis got the boot. Then there were rumors about recalling Supervisor Lou Calcagno—which never came to fruition. And now, the latest victim of local recall mania is…the Salinas High School Board. Yup, some angry parents say they want to recall the board in response to the potential ouster of Salinas High Principal Joseph Pawlick, who in December irked the school’s non-teaching staff by requiring a doctor’s note for even one day of sick leave (he later rescinded this). Previously, Pawlick also found himself on the hot seat for controversial dress code policies—T-shirts that read “Tomorrow I will dress for success” to cover belly-baring tops, and a ban on thong underwear—as well as a sports team trip to Fresno that ended with two team members doing the nasty back in a hotel room. Roger Anton, the new superintendent of the Salinas Union High School District, notified Pawlick that he may be moved to another job at the end of the year. Some SHS parents are peeved, and say they’ve already filed a notice of intention to circulate recall petitions of the board members. Looks to Squid like a showdown at the next school board meeting. Or at least a Schwarzenegger movie.

NEWSPRINT FOR SALE…Squid’s Disclaimer: Any resemblance to any obit policy at a real newspaper (like The Herald) is purely coincidental. Here’s a joke Squid heard via e-mail recently. A woman goes to the local newspaper office to see that the obituary for her recently deceased husband is published. The obit editor informs her that there is a charge of 50 cents per word. She pauses, reflects, and then she says, well then, let it read, “Fred Brown died.” Amused at the woman’s thrift, the editor tells her that there is a seven-word minimum for all obituaries. She thinks it over and in a few seconds says, “In that case, let it read, ‘Fred Brown died: golf clubs for sale.’”

ROCK THE VOTE…In the race for county Supes, Squid endorsed Dave Potter and Jane Parker. Potter won, and Parker faces a runoff. Parker take note: Squid’s still waiting for that cushy campaign manager job.