GIFT GUIDE A SPECIAL SECTION INSIDE THIS WEEK’S PAPER – DECEMBER 9, 2011 Volume 97 No. 49 On the Internet: www.carmelpinecone.com December 9-15, 2011 Y OUR S OURCE F OR L OCAL N EWS, ARTS AND O PINION S INCE 1915 County and city Heavy winds wreak havoc down the coast to collaborate on By CHRIS COUNTS nesses. “I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Martha one-way Scenic Road WINDS GUSTING to 50 MPH blew through Big Sur Karstens, chief of the Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade. “It’s a late last week, killing a condor researcher, sparking four mess down here. The wind was howling like a freight train.” small fires and causing extensive damage to homes and busi- Mike Tyner, 35, was killed Wednesday, Nov. 30, at about By MARY SCHLEY 3 p.m. when high winds caused a branch to fall on him. Tyner, who served as a field super- THE COUNTY’S most notorious hairpin curve is about visor for the Ventana Wildlife Society’s condor to become a lot safer as Monterey County moves ahead with recovery program, was traveling along the plans to make Scenic Road one-way around Carmel Point. Coast Ridge Road near Marble Peak when part The switch, from the city limits to Carmel River State of a large oak tree snapped and landed on his Beach, should help relieve traffic jams, make walking and vehicle. Shortly before he was killed, Tyner bicycling safer, and preserve the bluffs — not to mention was monitoring the progress of a young con- reduce the likelihood somebody will drive off the edge. dor. This week, county planners asked city officials to make Emergency workers in a helicopter tried to their small stretch of road from Santa Lucia to the Frank reach the scene but were forced to turn back Lloyd Wright House one-way, too. At their meeting Tuesday, because of high winds, Karstens reported. A council members agreed that was a good idea and said they forensic investigation later determined Tyner would work with the county to make it happen. died immediately as the result of blunt force See ONE WAY page 24A head injuries. A graduate of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, Tyner was an avid birder and naturalist who joined the VWS in Council waives fees 2002. In addition to his role with the VWS, Tyner worked with the Bureau of Land PHOTO/WALLY BARNICK Management studying rare and endangered for Golden Bough rehab A Ford truck is engulfed in flames Dec. 2 on Highway 1 in Big Sur between Ventana plants in the Algodones Dunes and with the Inn and Nepenthe restaurant. The wind-driven blaze spread to nearby vegetation, but By MARY SCHLEY firefighters quickly put it out. See WINDS page 26A PACIFIC REPERTORY Theatre received a nice little Christmas present Tuesday, when the city council voted to COMPLAINT FILED OVER GOLF CLUBHOUSE WATER USE not make the theater group pay about $14,000 in permit fees for the interior renovation of its Golden Bough Playhouse on Monte Verde Street. I Judge lets late hours continue indefinitely house grill at once.” In his report for the the council Dec. 6, retired building The next day Pasquier visited the grill and again counted official Tim Meroney recommended not waiving the fees, By KELLY NIX and PAUL MILLER more than 100 seats. He didn’t say in the complaint how because most of the work on the theater had to do with its many customers were in the restaurant. interior and improving the audience’s experience, and was A NEARBY resident of the Point Pinos Grill is raising Because of the Monterey Peninsula’s perpetual water not necessarily for the benefit of the community or for the heck over the number of seats in the restaurant at the Pacific shortage, the MPWMD limits the number of seats restaurants preservation of an historic resource. He said none of the work Grove Golf Links, and he took a surreptitious photo of can have. The limits do not include outdoor seating or included sound-proofing or historic preservation. golfers eating in front of a TV Nov. 6 to bolster his complaint. standees. The Point Pinos Grill is allowed to have 77 indoor “The efforts and contributions to the community from the In a complaint filed Dec. 6 with the Monterey Peninsula seats where food is served. PacRep Theatre have been and continue to be valuable,” he Water Management District, Roger Pasquier contends the But more than 77 seats constitutes “intensification of wrote. “The city council, however, must decide whether Point Pinos Grill — which is permitted by the water district use,” according to Sweigert, who has also waged a titanic waiving required permit fees should be borne by the entire to have 77 seats — has had more than 100 seats available for battle against the grill’s temporary extended hours on behalf community since it is the community that demands the fees customers on at least two recent occasions. to offset city services.” Pasquier, in a declaration attached to the complaint filed See COMPLAINT page 27A by attorney David Sweigert, said that on Thanksgiving, he See FEES page 21A “observed more than 100 people being served in the club- Defense lawyer files claim Search continues for dog thrown from moving car over alcohol ‘disability’ By KELLY NIX By KELLY NIX Spokeswoman Beth Brookhouser said SPCA for Monterey County humane officers and volunteers A MONTEREY COUNTY deputy public defender has SPCA HUMANE officers and volunteers are continu- searched for Frosty Wednesday afternoon and evening, but filed a claim with the county after being suspended from his ing the search for Frosty the dog, the pooch that someone came up empty. There were plans to continue the search job in July because of a DUI arrest. reported being thrown from a car in Monterey this week. Thursday. In a claim filed Nov. 22, deputy public defender John On Monday, a man reported he saw a dog tossed from a “Frosty is still loose,” she said. Klopfenstein wants money damages and his job back. He white Buick four-door near the Lighthouse Avenue tunnel The dog — a white poodle/terrier mix — was identified claims the county illegally suspended him from the job with in Monterey. The witness briefly caught the dog with a as Frosty after the man who saw the incident said it was pay instead of offering to help him with his alcoholism — towel before it escaped. wearing a Santa Cruz SPCA collar. When he called the defined as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities agency to report what happened, officials Act. contacted the Marina family which had On July 2, Klopfenstein, 58, “suffered a relapse of his dis- been fostering Frosty. They said he escaped ability during non-working, off-duty hours,” and was arrest- Monday. “The foster family confirmed that ed on suspicion of drunken driving in Monterey. Though he Frosty is indeed missing, so it’s likely the told his supervisor, county public defender, Jim Egar, about same dog,” said Brookhouser. the incident, no immediate action against him was taken. But on July 28, after Klopfenstein wrapped up a trial in Jumped or thrown? which he was defending an accused triple murderer, he was According to Mandi Hart with the Santa placed on paid administrative leave. Cruz SPCA, it’s not known for sure whether “That was a surprise” to Klopfenstein, his attorney, Michelle Welsh, told The Pine Cone about the suspension. See THROWN page 21A See CLAIM page 23A Have the complete Carmel Pine Cone delivered every Thursday evening to your iPad, laptop, PC or phone. Free subscriptions available at www.carmelpinecone.com 2A The Carmel Pine Cone December 9, 2011 Leonbergers, were bred for companionship in the 1830s to resemble the lion in the town crest of Leonberg, Germany. A Sandy Claws cross between a female Newfoundland and a male Saint Bernard, with the eventual addition of a Pyrenean mountain dog, the result is a large, robust animal, easily socialized, sen- By Lisa Crawford Watson sitive, composed and cautious. Despite their genteel nature, their large, muscular frame led Leonbergers into military service to pull ammunition wagons Lion pride during the early 1900s. Reportedly, just five Leonbergers sur- vived World War I. Their numbers grew again until World War THE SUN was warm and the air was soft, inspiring people 0II, when records indicate all but eight were lost. to take to the patios and curbside cafés of Carmel. Tucked In 1985, the Leonberger Club of America was established to under tables and in chairs lay the little charmers of the canine “preserve the health and temperament of the breed,” said their community, the Westies, Jack Russells and other terriers, in person, whose sweatshirt logo indicated her membership. town for brunch. Despite the Leonbergers’ commanding presence, only their Slowly and silently, in ambled a pair of enormous dogs, leo- size is fierce. Artemisia is a certified therapy dog, and Kafka is nine with their great paws, soft coats and tufts of fur framing a champion. She is outgoing; he is shy. Natural peacemakers, their faces. Heads turned and whispers arose as the two ele- both are loving, calm, kind and really, really big. gant canines, Kafka and Artemisia, looked at their audience Waterdogs with the webbed feet of a Newfoundland, with earnest eyes. Leonbergers love the water. On this warm, Sunday morning, a Legend has it these majestic animals, known as curious crowd asked questions and took pictures, while the pair sat patiently, waiting for their turn to take to Gifts that are the beach and swim unique and along the shore.