FLETCHER GAVE US PEAK EXPERIENCE

Thank you for your great coverage of the Monterey Music Summit. [“Mass of Sound,” Oct. 18-24]. The interviews with Michael Franti, Cake and The Root’s ?uestlove were deep and insightful.

The Summit’s promoter, Joe Fletcher, and his team put together one of the best festivals in this area since Monterey Pop. Fletcher is a new breed of music promoter, a mix of Bill Graham’s and Chet Helms’ best qualities. His line-up of “conscious” artists provided a fun and inspirational experience.

I also got a chance to hear some great bands that I had never heard before such as ALO, Honeycut, Crash Hot, the Yard Dogs Road Show, Brandi Carlile and Monterey’s own Rushad Eggleston and the Butt Wizzards.

The wandering minstrels, stilt walkers, roller derby girls, Burning Man interactive art, progressive organizations and the food and mech vendors were an added bonus to this incredible weekend. – Daryl Wise | Watsonville

SWEET POETIC POISON

Wednesday night, Oct. 24. the plane is finally gone. The poison easily blew past the shaky insulation in my Pacific Grove cottage. My skin is burning. There is a dirty, metallic stink that has settled intotaste I can’t brush away. Impotent rage joins the carcinogens on my tongue. I can still hear the plane in the distance, spraying people. – Marilyn Cole | Pacific Grove

DO THE RIGHT THING

Despite having a powerful aversion toadditional taxation of any kind, I feel that supporting the three Pacific Grove tax measures on Nov. 6 is the right decision.

The budget problems have been building for many years and many City Councils. These problems will not go away by themselves, and it is time to take action. Except for a very few people with political axes in apparently constant need of sharpening, none of us want to lose more city staff and services.

The present Pacific Grove mayor and city council, working with Jim Colangelo, have offered a solution – threemodest taxes designed to spread the “pain” evenly, with a sunset clause which will end these taxes in six years.

For their efforts in accepting the responsibility of office,these folks haveseen withering attacks, oftencoming fromthe same individuals and groups who helped create this budget mess but who have offered no meaningful alternative proposal.

I am grateful for the courageofour mayor, council and city manager tolead our city through this difficult time, and I would ask PG residents to support all 3 tax measures. The taxes are modest, fair, and they will end in six years. – David Spradling | Pacific Grove

PROBE ME, PLEASE

I missed the invite to respond to “probing questions” because my cell phone was in the cell phone hospital. I would like to explain my purpose in seeking a trustee seat on the Pacific Grove Unified School District.

I worked as an administrative assistant to the superintendent of the Gilroy Unified School District for nine years.I was elected to four terms as a board member in the Calaveras Unified School District (16 years), so I offer 25 years of training and knowledgein representingthe school community. My only agenda is kids.I believe in being accountable to the staff, parents and taxpayers of PGUSD and promise to work for even better communication between all of us.

I understand the complex system of California school financing. I’m a proponent of increased discretionary spending at the local level. I believe we can better budget and spend education dollars here than at the state level.

This district is implementing the $42 million bond passed in 2006. Plans for renovation, repair and improved facilities are exciting and will greatly enhance the learning environment. A citizen’s oversight committee will assure all steps will be handled with care.

Your new superintendent and current board have established an impressive vision for the future. The goals and objectives will guide staff along the way. Test scores are very good, a real measure of quality staff, parent involvement and student achievement. There is so much still ahead. I would be pleased to be part of the continued success of PGUSD. I promise to always listen and respond to you. I will be an active voice on your behalf, because we all want the best for our children. – Gerri Conway | Pacific Grove