Fire Reserves Questioned…Supervisor candidate Ed Mitchell alleged Nov. 10 that the county Board of Supervisors hasn’t enforced fire protection laws in the Pesante-Berta Canyon area of Prunedale. He has complained to the state Attorney General’s Office and the Office of the State Fire Marshall. [ZS]

Water Wait… A judge granted the local water district's request to stop the state water board from enforcing the Oct. 20 cease-and-desist order that limits the Peninsula’s water supply. Cal Am, which has also challenged the order, upped the stakes Nov. 5 by asking the state Public Utilities Commission to impose a moratorium on new water connections in the meantime. [KA]

Clemency for Apples…On Nov. 5 the Pacific Grove Unified School District board unanimously agreed to leave four apple tree saplings parents planted (without prior approval) at Robert H. Down Elementary. "Our motto is 'appily ever after,'" says Down Principal Linda Williams. [KA]

Cross to Bear…On Nov. 17, the City Council will weigh offers from religious right heavyweights for pro bono defense against lawsuits that will likely arise from its decision to restore the Del Monte Beach cross, while the ACLU’s Maggie Crosby will give the council an earful on church-state issues. [RU]

Play Nice…The quest for a new water supply got a poke in the “kumbaya” direction when a judge assigned a mediator to help stakeholders (including Cal Am, the Marina Coast Water District and the county Water Resources Agency) reach a Coastal Water Project settlement. The first meeting is Nov. 19. [KA]

Big Sur Gone Wild…On Nov. 6 Rep. Sam Farr introduced a bill for Big Sur wilderness protections. HR 4040 would expand the Ventana Wilderness, create a special Big Sur park fund, designate parts of five local rivers as wild and scenic, and designate a botanical area honoring Jeff Norman. [KA]

Flanders Fallout…The overwhelming vote for selling Flanders Mansion notwithstanding, a judge could still save the historic home. Preservationists face off against the city in court on Dec. 17. Even if they lose, a sale could be as far as a year off because of procedural hurdles the city must clear. [RU]