TOTAL RECALL… Voters in Hartnell College Trustee Area 5 have until March 3 to choose between Celia Perez Martinez, Pacific Grove’s public works superintendent, and Ray Montemayor, a city of Salinas maintenance worker. Hartnell trustees originally appointed Perez Martinez to the seat vacated by Kari Valdes, but residents rallied for a recall election – not a surprise for politically heated Hartnell. Also in the special election, San Ardo voters will decide whether to recall school board members Irma and Gabriel Guerrero, who parents say are out of touch with the Latino community. Deana Macias and Kenda Kelley are vying to replace the siblings. In the last race, Chualar school organizers want to replace school board member Rocio Gonzalez-Hunt with agricultural worker Ofelia Flores. [ZS]

TAKE-OUT THE FOAM… Lt. Gov. John Garamendi stumped in Monterey Feb. 9 for a statewide ban on take-out Styrofoam and gave kudos to Carmel, Pacific Grove and Monterey for their bans on polystyrene foam plastic food containers. Garamendi’s visit, which doubled as a photo op for his run for governor in 2010, came just days after Monterey approved a Styrofoam ban. Marina Mayor Bruce Delgado says Monterey’s move should pave the way for his city to pass a similar ban. Marina city staff had backed away from pursing a Styrofoam ban due to the threat of a lawsuit. Delgado says the city should follow its neighbors’ example – though at the snail’s pace of recent City Council meetings, Delgado may have to call a special session. [ZS]

SPINMASTER SHUTS… Anda-Burghardt Advertising is closing shop, according to company President Jeff Burghardt. The Monterey-based firm’s many high-profile clients include Pebble Beach Resorts, Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and Quail Lodge. Since 2006, Carmel-by-the-Sea has also tapped the branding maestro to polish its tourist appeal through the annual Carmel dog calendar and the city’s commercial website. [KA]

BALD AND BRAVE… On Feb. 6, montereycountyweekly.com reported the rescue of Bald Eagle 5M, a 16-year-old female bird that had been transferred from Alaska to Big Sur in 1993 as part of Ventana Wildlife Society’s bald eagle reintroduction program. The eagle, recovering from a wing injury, has since moved from a San Luis Obispo care center to the SPCA for Monterey County. [KA]