Carmel Pine Cone, December 29, 2017 (Main News)
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HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018 VolumeThe 103 No. 52 Carmel On the Internet: www.carmelpinecone.com Pine Cone Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2017 TRUSTED BY LOCALS AND LOVED BY VISITORS SINCE 1915 Big Sur growers Dallas accused of harassing, being abusive feeling left out of n Head of wine group tells of crude city attorney to hire an investigator, and have led others to speak out about Dallas, as well. recreational pot boom comments; others report threats, bullying The mayor, meanwhile, is saying little about Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association executive director By MARY SCHLEY Kim Stemler’s allegations that he has often spoken to her in By CHRIS COUNTS ways that made her uncomfortable when the two have seen A WOMAN’S complaints to the city about unwanted each other at events. A HANDFUL of people who want to start growing and sexual comments by Mayor Steve Dallas have prompted the “He regularly makes sexual comments when I see him at selling marijuana legally in Big Sur told the Monterey these events, consistently crossing the line between profes- County Planning Commission this month they are worried sional and unprofessional conduct,” she said. “This behavior the county’s emerging rules will end up making the area off has occurred since I’ve known him. And although I tell him limits to pot businesses. to, ‘Stop,’ say, ‘That’s enough,’ or roll my eyes and walk Of particular concern to those who testified at the hearing away, he does not.” are setback rules that say any cannabis-related business “may In a statement Thursday, Dallas responded, “I have not be located within 600 feet of a school, park, or drug requested, along with other members of the city council, that recovery facility.” the city attorney launch an immediate investigation through In Big Sur, where illegal pot grows have been common- an independent investigator for the purpose of addressing place for decades, parkland is just about everywhere, which and evaluating Ms. Stemler’s claims.” makes finding a site for such a business a serious challenge. At a hearing Dec. 5 in Salinas, attorney Michael Linder Call to city administrator urged planning commissioners to “not cut Big Sur out of the Stemler became executive director of the MCVGA in new industry” that promises to take off when recreational use 2013 and met Dallas after he was elected to the council the of marijuana becomes legal in California on Jan. 1. following year. Because the winery organization holds events “I’m representing a bunch of farmers in Big Sur who were in town and sponsors others, like the Carmel Film Festival, they are often at the same events. See POT page 10A Steve Dallas Kim Stemler “This is a man I have a professional relationship with,” she told The Pine Cone. Pistachios lead cops to suspects in home break-in But, she alleged, he doesn’t act professionally. At a recep- tion during October’s Carmel Film Festival, for instance, he n Arrest made in three-house woman and told police no one had permission to be there. told her a friend of his was a “fluffer” — the person who Officers Jacob Clifford and Michael Bruno, and Sgt. arouses male porn stars before filming — and also pointed burglary spree on Christmas Day Chris Johnson were dispatched to investigate, and they out a piece of lint on her blouse by eyeing her and saying, noticed all the lights were on inside and could see a woman “You have something on your chest. I would get it off, but I By MARY SCHLEY with a flashlight walking through the home, according to can’t do that,” she said. Powell. As police surrounded it to prevent their suspect from Later that same evening, he asked her how her sex life A WOMAN who was busy loading up a U-Haul with the escaping, Raquel Baybayan, a 26-year-old resident of was, Stemler said. contents of three Carmelo homes she burglarized on Stockton, walked out the back door of the house, where a pair “I would never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever talk with him Christmas was caught after one of the victims saw her on his of Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies who were assisting about that stuff,” she said Wednesday. security camera and called police, according to Carmel with the perimeter ordered her to stop and promptly hand- In late November, she called city administrator Chip Police Cmdr. Luke Powell. cuffed her. A search of the house found no one else inside. Rerig to voice her concerns. “I said, ‘I don’t think you want At around 7 p.m. Dec. 25, the owner of a home on “Baybayan initially tried to convince officers the home your mayor doing this,’” she said. “He was super supportive,” Carmelo near 12th Avenue called police from out of state belonged to her great-great granddad, Bart Salvatore, but and referred her to assistant city administrator Maxine Gullo because he’d been alerted by an interior security camera that someone was in his house. The resident didn’t recognize the See PISTACHIOS page 13A See DALLAS page 12A On the front lines with MoCo firefighters at huge Santa Barbara blaze By MICHAEL TROUTMAN THE DANGER from the Thomas Fire in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties may have passed, with con- tainment at 91 percent and the U.S. Forest Service report- ing Thursday that “no forward progress of the fire is expected.” But the massive blaze devastated 440 square miles, caused the death of a firefighter and consumed at least a thousand homes — making it one of the largest and most destructive fires in California history. And Monterey County firefighters played an integral role in protecting property, saving lives, and bringing the massive blaze under control. A terrifying run One of the most dramatic battles happened Dec. 16, when winds nearly reached a hurricane-force 70 mph along the ridgeline above the seaside town of Montecito. PHOTOS/COURTESY CAL FIRE (LEFT), MICHAEL TROUTMAN, DMT IMAGING (ABOVE) Fire lines were jumped, and a massive firestorm roared Photographer Michael Troutman (left) on Dec. 16 with a ferocious firestorm in down the canyons and right into the edge of town. The Santa Barbara County behind him. (Above) A firefighter works to protect a home inferno made a terrifying run from San Ysidro Canyon in Montecito from a rapidly advancing blaze. through Cold Spring Canyon and Coyote Creek to Gibraltar Road, scorching an astounding 11,189 acres in roughly than 18,000 homes were in danger, but only about a dozen were 12 hours. Thanks to the deployment of hundreds of engines and lost or damaged in the firestorm. thousands of firefighters — including four engines from the “Most of us on this strike team were also on the Tubbs Fire in Monterey County Regional Fire Protection District — along with Santa Rosa, and these are comparable events,” said Monterey the evacuation of approximately 12,000 people, a disaster like the one in Napa this fall was narrowly avoided. At one point, more See FIRE page 14A 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 29, 2017 By Lisa Crawford Watson Shop Our Holiday Sale! Sandy Claws Sandy hooves SHE WANTED a pet — a companion to care for, cuddle with, something to keep her company. But with her San Francisco apartment, hectic work sched- ule, and need for a hypoallergenic animal, a dog just wouldn’t do. After two months’ research, she realized she’d prefer a pig. LiLou, whose name was inspired by the “perfect be- ing” in the movie, “Fifth Element,” was born at a breed- er in Michigan and, at 2 months, was flown out to San Francisco. Turns out pigs do fly. Nearly three years later, LiLou is the first therapy pig certified through the San Francisco SPCA’s animal-as- sisted therapy program. She and her person visit hos- pitals, convalescent homes and schools. LiLou also is part of the Wag Brigade — that curly little tail does wag — which usually brings trained dogs to airport termi- nals to help reduce stress and make passenger travel enjoy savings on sport coats, jackets, more enjoyable. sweaters, shirts, shoes, and more! “It all started with our daily walks around the neigh- borhood,” her person said. “We’d meet people from all over the world, who were so excited to see her. This gave me the idea to get LiLou therapy certified.” Also, pigs are clean and smart, she says, and LiLou stands knee-high to her person, and weighs have the maturity and personality of a toddler. carmel-by-the-sea 831-625-8106 around 80 pounds. By the time she reaches maturity “LiLou can be a little shy, but also sassy,” her person at 5, she’ll weigh in around 100. said. “She’s also sweet, snuggly and, when she doesn’t “There is no such thing as a miniature or teacup like something, pig-headed.” pig,” LiLou’s person said. “So, a lot of pigs get aban- When the pig and her person visit Monterey, they doned when they reach maturity. We want to help head down to the beach, where LiLou loves to roll people make a responsible decision in adopting a pig.” around in the sand. She’ll trot alongside the shore with her person, but she has no desire to bathe. LiLou has an Instagram following of 14,000, and was even was invited to appear on “America’s Got Talent,” to show off her ability to stand on her back hooves and even plink on a toy piano.