Sollecito Sequel…The chief is out, the interim chief is out, and the retired chief is in at Seaside Police Department. Former chief Steve Cercone ended his tenure Jan. 1, interim Stephen Willis got his walking papers Jan. 4, and on Jan. 8, city officials confirmed Cercone’s predecessor, retired chief Tony Sollecito, will return as interim chief Jan. 19. Read more online. [KA]

Ord Gas…Construction started Jan. 11 on what will be the first civilian gas station on the former Fort Ord military base. Former Seaside councilman Darryl Choates has been trying for years to fuel up the Shell station, which will be located next to Ord Market. The pumps are expected to open in April. [ZS]

Dam Deal…After flip-flopping like a steelhead out of water, California American Water’s San Clemente Dam removal plan is on again. On Jan. 11, state and federal officials committed to work with Cal Am on the $84 million project, putting it in roughly the same place it was two years ago: at the beginning of a long and expensive planning pipeline. [KA]

Esalen Icon Passes…George Leonard, a human potential pioneer who helped inspire the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, died Jan. 6 at the age of 86 in his Mill Valley home. Leonard was the author of bestselling books including Education and Ecstasy and The Transformation and co-founder of the Esalen Center for Theory & Research. [ZS]

Hands Off Our Cash…A statewide coalition, Californians to Protect Local Taxpayers and Vital Services, has launched an initiative to bar California legislators from borrowing from cities, counties and transit agencies to balance the state budget. [RU]

Off the Charts…Seaside's Chartwell School has bagged UC Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment 2009 Livable Building Award. Judges noted the K-8 campus’ ultra-eco design, which made it the state’s first LEED platinum school, and goal of net-zero electricity consumption. [KA]

Death on P.G. Beach…The body of Eileen Knox, 48, was found on the shoreline off Ocean View Avenue Jan. 6. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Pacific Grove Police Department at 648-3143. [KA]

Don’t Ask, Don’t Watch…The gay marriage revolution will not be televised—or posted on YouTube. Just hours before the Jan. 11 start of a federal trial considering the legality of California's voter-approved ban on gay marriage, the Supreme Court issued an order barring the trial's broadcast, at least for now. [KA]