Carmel Pine Cone, September 12, 2008 (Main News)
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BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID CARMEL, CA Permit No. 149 Volume 94 No. 37 On the Internet: www.carmelpinecone.com September 12-18, 2008 Y OUR S OURCE F OR L OCAL N EWS, ARTS AND O PINION S INCE 1915 COUNCIL REJECTS MAYOR’S TREE APPEAL D.A.: Driver who killed By MARY BROWNFIELD young dad had five DUIs CARMEL MAYOR Sue McCloud lost an appeal to the city council Tuesday night ■ Woman faces murder charges that would have forced her neighbor, Susan Page, to keep a black Acacia tree growing By MARY BROWNFIELD next to her home. McCloud had hoped the council would vote in her favor and overturn THE WOMAN suspected of running down a unanimous forest and beach commission 35-year-old Pacific Grove resident Joel Woods as decision allowing Page to cut down the large he picked up his son from P.G. Middle School tree and replace it with another species. around lunchtime last Tuesday pleaded not guilty McCloud believes the decades-old tree is this week to charges of murder and gross vehic- healthy and wants it to continue screening the ular manslaughter. two houses from each other, while Page After reviewing evidence, interviewing wit- believes it’s dangerous and a liability, and nesses and conferring with the Monterey County wants it removed. District Attorney’s Office, police re-arrested 51- In a March 20 analysis, Page’s arborist, year-old Deborah King at her Monterey home Frank Ono, concluded that although the 30- Tuesday evening, according to PGPD Cmdr. inch-diameter Acacia “is considered in mod- John Nyunt. She was jailed on $1 million bail. erate health with no significant signs of King was reportedly under the influence of insects or diseases,” it is in “low vigor” and prescription drugs when she swerved her BMW PHOTO/COURTESY ADRIANNA WOODS SUV into Woods as he was entering his parked poor structural condition due to past pruning Joel Woods, pictured with his wife, truck. She was arrested for felony DUI and later practices that left its branches weak. He said PHOTO/MARY BROWNFIELD Adrianna, was the “dad of dads,” it should be cut down and replaced. released on bail, but Nyunt had predicted police according to friends and family City forester Mike Branson agreed, and The mayor wanted her neighbor to keep this would seek more severe charges after Woods, who praised his dedication to his suggested planting a fruitless olive tree, black Acacia, but the city council disagreed. who was flown by helicopter to a trauma center kids. This week, the woman who which would grow quickly and offer good for treatment of major injuries, died that night. allegedly hit him with her car while screening without requiring as much heavy council discussed her appeal, which Branson intoxicated was charged with mur- pruning and topping. In April, the forest and recommended denying. See DAD page 18A der. beach commission voted 4-0 to follow his rec- “Continued heavy pruning to limit growth ommendations and approve Page’s tree- and weight of the tree canopy can limit the removal application. stress on the limbs, but the risk of significant But McCloud filed an appeal, arguing the limb failure always remains, due to past prun- Kenney’s fate to be in jury’s hands tree is fairly healthy and poses no immediate ing practices,” he said. threat, and saying the commission did not Black Acacias typically live 50 or 60 ■ Prosecutor: Defendant’s Deliberations in the case will begin consider pruning as a cheaper, less time-con- years, and this tree was two stories tall in Friday, Monterey County Superior Court suming, viable alternative. 1977, according to McCloud. testimony ‘ridiculous’ Judge Steven Sillman announced as clos- At the Sept. 9 council meeting, the mayor ing arguments neared an end. stepped down and left the room while the See TREE page 11A By CASEY MILLER Detailing the case for three hours Thursday, Brannon painted Kenney as a JOHN KENNEY’S claim that he shot man “obsessed” over a confrontation with his neighbors in self-defense was “com- Elizabeth Grimes two years before, and Trump eyes Pasadera for possible acquisition pletely false,” assistant district attorney said he committed the murders out of a Berkeley Brannon told jurors during clos- desire for revenge rather than fear for his PINE CONE STAFF REPORT another course in California Sept. 10, he said. ing arguments Thursday at the Salinas safety. “He owns a lot of great golf properties courthouse. And, while Kenney’s attorneys have MEGA-DEVELOPER and reality TV star around the world and is obviously interested in But Kenney’s defense attorney dis- tried to show him as lonely and timid — Donald Trump has been touring California golf buying more,” said one local real estate expert, agreed, asking jurors to believe his client an intellectual rather than a murderer — courses looking for new acquisitions — includ- who did not want to be identified. was afraid of his neighbors because of a Brannon painted an entirely different pic- ing a visit to Pasadera Country Club with an Pasadera is located on Highway 68 between history of abusive behavior against him, ture of the defendant’s character. Relying entourage of advisers last weekend. Monterey and Salinas. A source familiar with and that Kenney was justified in shooting heavily on Elizabeth Grimes’ recorded “We are always looking for opportunities to Trump’s Pasadera discussion denied rumors he them after they attacked him during a Jan. 911 call, in which the entire fatal alterca- increase our portfolio, and there are a lot of is also interested in Monterra, an upscale hous- 29, 2007, confrontation over a boulder. tion in a shared driveway can be heard, good deals out there now,” said Larry Glick, a ing development across Highway 68 from Prosecutors want Kenney convicted of Brannon portrayed Kenney as a calculat- vice president in the Trump organization. Monterey Airport. For one thing, Monterra has two counts of first degree murder. ing individual determined to strike only Glick confirmed that the Pasadera visit took no golf course, the source pointed out. Defense attorneys, while hoping for an when he had an advantage. place, but said no deal has been made for any Trump has been a familiar face at the AT&T acquittal, believe Kenney should, at most, purchase of the resort. Trump closed escrow on Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. be convicted of manslaughter. See KENNEY page 9A Valley’s ‘downtown’ gets restoration permit By CHRIS COUNTS SLOWLY BUT surely, an historic building that once served as Carmel Valley’s “downtown” is coming back to life. The Monterey County Planning Commission voted unani- mously this week to approve the restoration of Rosie’s Cracker Barrel. “It’s been part of the fabric of Carmel Valley life for many decades,” explained Janet Sergesen, Rosie’s general manager. “This renovation will give people a place for making new memo- ries.” According to Sergesen, a group called Carmel Valley Rosie’s Cracker Barrel has been a landmark since it was converted to a gen- Hospitality purchased Rosie’s in 2004 and made plans to restore eral store in the mid-1930s (above). It suffered extensive damage three years its two buildings, which had fallen into disrepair. But those plans ago when a car plowed through its front window (left). This week a permit was approved to renovate and restore it. See ROSIE’S page 11A Get your complete Carmel Pine Cone every Thursday evening in convenient pdf format via email. Free subscriptions available at www.carmelpinecone.com. 2A The Carmel Pine Cone September 12, 2008 LIKE MOST Sunset Center welcomes two new board members PEOPLE ■ Three seats remain vacant director Peter Lesnik’s leadership, Price introduced board IS GE members Joan DeMers and Bob Oppenheim to those in H A By MARY BROWNFIELD attendance. In August, he officially announced their election by the board of directors. HE BELONGS A BANKER-TURNED-REALTOR and a retired enter- After a quarter-century in personal banking, DeMers tainment-industry attorney recently joined the board of direc- became a realtor eight years ago, working in Sotheby’s tors of Sunset Cultural Center, Inc., the nonprofit that runs Carmel office. She is a member and director of Carmel IN A HOME… the theater for the City of Carmel. Their presence helps flesh Rotary, belongs to chambers of commerce in Carmel, Pacific out a board left thin after three directors did not seek reap- Grove and the Monterey Peninsula, serves on the Monterey HIS OWN! pointment when their three-year terms ended last October County Association of Realtors’ local government relations and board chairman Perry Walker resigned last August. committee and helps at the Monterey Museum of Art. And, even with the new appointments, three of the board’s “Joan is very acquainted with the community and brings For 30 years it’s been his home. But now, he could end up in a nine positions remain open. some nice enthusiasm to the board,” Price said. “And she has nursing institution, simply because he could use a little help with “Our annual meeting is in October, and we will take former banking experience, which is always helpful.” life’s daily chores. Who do you turn to when you’re all alone? action then,” said board chairman Jim Price. “We have a list Oppenheim lives in Del Mesa Carmel in semiretirement Who can you rely on to maintain your independence? of excellent prospects.” after working almost half a century as an attorney for clients During the June community meeting that also served as a VICTORIAN HOME CARE kickoff party for the 2008/2009 season under new executive See SUNSET page 24A Quite Simply…The Best R 655-1935 Monterey • 754-2402 Salinas Did you know..