BEEFING UP PATROL… The California Highway Patrol and Monterey County Sheriff’s Office are joining forces with the Salinas Police Department to blitz city streets with cops. Salinas police unveiled “Operation Impact” on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The law enforcement agencies hope to silence gang crossfire by conducting extra traffic stops, serving warrants and rounding up probation violators. Salinas’ brass requested patrol help last month after the city’s homicide count grew to 20. [ZS]

TAKING IT TO CORT… Eight candidates are vying for three seats on the Pacific Grove City Council, as we reported last week. No one officially filed to challenge P.G. Mayor Dan Cort for another term, but early this month P.G. resident Ted Hollister threw in his hat as a write-in mayoral candidate on the November ballot. Hollister says his primary issues include revitalizing city services, ramping up public safety and increasing morale at City Hall. [KA]

LIBRARY RESURGENCE… Nearly three years after the fate of the Salinas Public Library was in the hands of voters, the libraries’ three branches will open seven days a week. On Sunday, Oct. 19, the library will celebrate the enhanced schedule– and its centennial– with story times and guest author Lewis Buzbee. The new schedule is possible because Measure V, a half-cent sales tax increase, passed in 2005 to keep the libraries from closing. Previously, Salinas’ libraries were closed Sundays and Mondays. Visit www.salinas.lib.ca.us for new schedule. [ZS]

SEASIDE FENCING MATCH… Last year we reported on a bidding snafu for a security fence project at the federal Defense Manpower Data Center on Gigling Road. At the time, the Seaside City Council rejected all the project bids, saying there had been a glitch in the request for proposals. One of the bidders, Golden Bay Fence Plus Iron Works Inc., alleged that the city was shunning the legal requirement to give preference to minority-owned businesses; city officials said the requirement didn’t apply. On Oct. 16 the City Council will consider a staff recommendation to award the contract to FenceCorp, Inc. [KA]

SUSTAINABLE SUSHI… Sustain ocean habitats by eating out this week. The Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch consumer guide to ocean-friendly sushi debuts Oct. 22, encouraging sushi lovers to join the coast-to-coast awareness celebration. 648-4888. [JL]