Field Maneuvers


To Maria Catalan, thank you for sharing a little about your farming techniques – I would like to learn more (“A farm worker turned farm owner urges a phase-out of all fumigants,” May 31-June 6). I am a third-generation strawberry farmer, as well as president of the California Strawberry Commission, and I would enjoy a tour of your farm to learn more about your farming practices. The commission is always looking for new techniques to make available to all strawberry farmers in the state. I look forward to learning a little more about your efforts. - Mark Murai | via Web


Chowderheads


I was at the Clam Chowder and Calamari Festival at Custom House Plaza (“Squid Fry,” May 31-June 6). My husband and I both tried the calamari and clam chowder. Unfortunately several hours later I got a mild case of food poisoning from the calamari as I ate most of it. The clam chowder was awful as it was flavorless. - Irene Jones | via Web


Squid, I understand that you did not like the calamari at last week’s festival at the Custom House Plaza in Monterey, but why focus on the negative – why not say something about all of the wonderful music that took place over the three-day weekend. Free music, big crowds and a lot of people having fun in the sun. Local charities made money too. - Steve Vagnini | via Web


Rhetoric Lesson


As a woman voter I resent Dave Potter’s comment about Carmelita Garcia’s campaign supporters as “she’s certainly got a couple of douchebags working for her” (“Squid Fry,” April 19-26).


I was even more outraged when reading the transcripts from the KSBW Virtual Townhall held on May 15, 2012. One of the questions posed to Ms. Garcia was if Mr. Potter had apologized to her for his comments. Ms. Garcia responded saying that, “No, Supervisor Potter has not spoken to me nor apologized to me for his comment,” and that “Supervisor Potter’s comment was inappropriate and unprofessional.” What was Mr. Potter’s explanation? None. He conveniently didn’t bother to type a response to the question, even though he had the ability to do so in the open forum.


Does Mr. Potter really believe he can engage in this antiquated, locker-room-bully behavior and get away with it? Or does he simply think we women aren’t smart enough to notice?


Ms. Garcia deserves an apology. I wholeheartedly agree with what his campaign opponent has stated: that it is time to bring honesty, dignity, integrity, and above all, respectability back to Monterey County’s 5th District. - Judith Nunes | Salinas 


Into the Wild


I support the Keep Fort Ord Wild project. I have been a Monterey County resident all my life (32 years), growing up in Monterey and now living in Marina. I have used the Fort Ord roads and trails most weekends and sometimes during the week for years to go on walks and mountain bike. Now that I’m a new mom I walk there almost every weekend with my family. I also meet once a week during the week with other moms from Parents Place to walk on the closed part of Gigling Road. We were approached by the Keep Fort Ord Wild people and asked to show our support for the project. I do support the project, since the area that is planned for development is exactly where I walk. I like the fact that there are both single track mountain bike trails as well as dirt roads and paved roads, since I utilize all of them depending on what activity I am doing. Before kids and for a few years I actively used the single track mountain bike trails. While pregnant I walked up over the hill from the parking lot every day on the partial dirt/paved road, and I continue to walk this now with my stroller on weekends. I also walk on the paved Gigling Road once a week with the other new moms (since not all moms have a stroller capable of going on dirt and trails). Please Keep Fort Ord Wild. - Amanda Isaac | via Web


Merger Mania


The city government of Pacific Grove has decided to eliminate the position of chief of police and have the chief of police of Seaside assume both positions, thus hoping to save $100,000 dollars to be spent on who knows what. This is one of the most stupid and senseless ideas to emanate from City Hall.


Evidently they have forgotten or totally ignored that public safety is of paramount importance in any community and this ridiculous proposal will make us the only municipality without a police chief, as even Del Rey Oaks and Sand City have chiefs of police. Eliminating our chief of police would force his retirement and I would prefer to see our chief retire on his own terms – if he so desired – and not for the reason of saving $100,000.


Our chief of police, Darius Engels, and his crew of dedicated men and women police officers have protected us from the criminal elements and are to be commended for that, among other things given by them to our community.


Chief Engels has devoted his entire life to being a police officer and a public safety official. There are city employees who are overpaid for what they do and I suggest they be thinned out or given pay cuts as our police department is the most important of all. A savings of more than the figure quoted above can be effected.


I urged our fellow citizens of Pacific Grove to voice their objection to this inane idea. - Andrew Wilson | Pacific Grove


(Editor’s note: Darius Engels announced in May that he will retire on July 31 after six years on the job, citing a potential merger with the Seaside Police Department and thus no need for two chiefs as a reason. While P.G. is considering its options, no decision on a merger has been made. )


Truly Local 


We live in an area known for its rich bounty of agriculture and seafood, yet when you walk through the aisles of any of the major supermarkets (and even many of the mom and pop shops) you have to use a magnifying glass to find any local products. 


It annoys me that not only is it practically impossible to find local produce in the major supermarkets, but it’s getting difficult to even find produce from within California or the United States in general. Most produce at my closest market is from Mexico or Chile. The garlic is from China despite being a short drive from Gilroy, the Garlic capital of the world. 


Next time you’re in the produce section of your market take note of where your produce is coming from and let your grocer know you want to see more local produce. Or better yet, get your produce from the local Farmers Markets. - Sue Braum | Seaside