Nature Lovers


Experiments are not needed because monarch nectar plant experts like myself, Jan Southworth, David Marriott, John Dayton and others have 40-plus years of testing and observation experience along the California coast (“Nectaring experiment at P.G.’s Monarch Grove Sanctuary creates quite a flap,” Nov. 17-22). And we know that the time window when these plants are needed at the Sanctuary is Sept. 20-Nov. 10 (after Nov. 10 the butterflies display reduced interest in nectaring). 


But none of us are Ph.D.s and the city officials of Pacific Grove listen only to Ph.D.s, specifically Prof. Francis Villablanca and Stuart Weiss, neither of whom have much monarch experience or even formal training in entomology. Villablanca in particular is brand new to monarchs and insects in general, so he’s not familiar with all the monarch research that has been done over the years. And he has little to no formal training in entomology (since he never attended a college that offered extensive coursework in entomology). So he’s making one mistake after another in regards to Pacific Grove’s monarchs all the while never admitting to city officials or reporters that he has no background in either monarchs or entomology. Check out his bio here: www.bio.calpoly.edu/bio/node/56. - Paul Cherubini | via Web


Wow! There is ABSOLUTELY no truth in ANY of this article. Are you sending out the journalism class as reporters? Since when is Villablanca in charge of the sanctuary or experiments? Try getting your facts straight. The real story is why Mr. Pacelli is out in the sanctuary at all. I will admit, what he did last year (in a grassroots effort) was all and good, but what are his qualifications? A vibe? - manshark | via Web


Manshark is right. This article is utter nonsense – you should really check your sources before you publish. Pacelli is an unreliable source at best… the city should have had a better grip on this important resource. From trimming the trees to demolishing the historic Brokaw Hall, they have proved time and time again that they are incapable of running the sanctuary. And allowing either Pacelli or Villablanca free reign is a mistake. Cherubini is correct about Villablanca’s lack of expertise. We need Dr. Weiss, whom the city hired to give us advise. What happened to him? - butterfly_lady | via Web


This newspaper article is strictly a reporter’s DIRTY SPIN which has all of the materials for ANOTHER BON FIRE among people who are working together AMICABLY or meet face to face to settle their differences for the rehab for the Pacific Grove Sanctuary, NEVER TALK TO REPORTERS, it’s their JOB (but they don’t need to get “dirty” or “stretch the actual fact”). The FUTURE of the Sanctuary depends on all of the readers of this article. SHAME on this newspaper for DISSING everyone supporting the REHAB of “The Peoples Park.” DISGUSTING!!! AND not supportive of Pacific Grove and the people’s DREAM! Unfortunately, as the financial donor of the Monterey County Monarch Alert Program for the past 10 years I was not called by anyone to verify the so-called FACTUAL INFORMATION of this CUB REPORTER, and apparently the rest of the newspaper staff permitted the article to be published and distributed to all of their subscribers. - -Helen Johnson | Pacific Grove


Editor’s note: We normally edit for rampant caps, but in this case, we figured what the hell.


Supe Stew


It’s possible I didn’t make it clear that members of the Safe Strawberry Working Group met with all the supervisors more than once, sometimes two at a time, since June this year. (“Opponents of strawberry fumigant methyl iodide push supes for county action,” Nov. 17-22). There have also been phone calls, emails and requested documents provided to them these past six months. All of the supervisors were invited to the large forum in Salinas on Sept. 30, a forum which provided information from four speakers [Bill Monning; Kathy Collins, professor of physical chemistry at UC Berkeley; Dr. Alan Gould, M.D., with Physicians for Social Responsibility; and an organic strawberry farmer of 35 years]. If the supervisors and methyl iodide maker Arysta LifeSciences, pesticide applicator firms and the state Department of Pesticide Regulation or any one else felt the need to present different information that supported the use of methyl iodide, the opportunity has been there all along.


So the timing of this derailment of the presentation by Supervisor Simon Salinas after he agreed to carry this non-binding resolution to the board on Nov. 15 has caused widespread outrage. I think it was inflammatory for the Weekly to quote Dana Perls’ understandable frustration about Mr. Salinas from a non-public source. But the quote attributed to him about not shoving things down people’s throats does seem ludicrous given the widespread support for this moratorium request from major groups and individuals throughout this and other counties, garnered since early 2011 and delivered to the desks of all the supervisors. In addition, each of them was given a packet of additional materials and a DVD of the entire Sept. 30 forum at the BOS meeting on October 11th when Safe Strawberry Group offered public comments. 


It’s methyl iodide that should not be shoved down people’s throats, into our water and air and then into our blood cells’ DNA, causing lifetimes of problems, pain, deformities and early deaths. - Carole January Erickson | Carmel Valley


Editor’s note: The Dana Perls’ letter referred to above was sent from Ms. Perls’ email to a list of people and titled “Dear Methyl Iodide Warriors.” 


Collins, Continued


I do not believe he acted alone (“Steve Collins charged with grand theft,” posted Nov. 15). The Fall Guy. HOPE he dumps on his co-conspirators. This will be good. - Tom Gardiner | via Facebook


Having worked side by side with Steve on the Water Resource Agency as a director, I came to know him well. We had many accomplishments, including the salt water intrusion project. I found Steve to be a man of high moral integrity. I respect him tremendously and feel the citizens in our community owe him a debt of gratitude for his efforts. Steve and his family are in our prayers and we look forward to a positive outcome to these accusations. - Michael Fletcher | via Web


Yes They Are


People are idiots. (“SPCA finds six abandoned puppies in Royal Oaks,” posted Nov. 17.) - Denise Mello | via Facebook