Vandals scramble after egging an off-duty CHP officer By MARY BROWNFIELD Having just purchased a dozen fresh eggs from Save Mart, of his eye, he saw a gray pickup come by,” Rana said. “And the 16-year-old boys were driving up San Carlos Street the next thing he knew, he saw eggs on his car and felt them TWO TEENAGERS chose their victim poorly during a around 3:15 p.m. Oct. 27 when they decided to toss three of on his shoulder.” bit of drive-by vandalism Saturday. the eggs out the window at a bystander, according to Carmel The victim was an off-duty California Highway Patrol Police Cpl. Steve Rana. “He was just getting into his car when, out of the corner See VANDALS page 31A BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID CARMEL, CA Permit No. 149 Volume 93 No. 44 On the Internet: www.carmelpinecone.com November 2-8, 2007 Y OUR S OURCE F OR L OCAL N EWS, ARTS AND O PINION S INCE 1915 C.V. fire crew fights SoCal wildfires NEW PARKS By MARY BROWNFIELD OFF LIMITS A FIRE department with a state-owned engine in its sta- tion, such as the Carmel Valley Fire Protection District, can use it to fight local fires whenever it needs to. TO PUBLIC But when the California Office of Emergency Services wants the engine to fight a conflagration in another part of the By CHRIS COUNTS state, a local crew has to be ready, willing and able to go. “With an OES engine, you make a very strict commitment WHEN IT was acquired by the Big Sur Land Trust in that when they call with an immediate need, you’re on the the late 1990s, Point Lobos Ranch was advertised as a road within 30 minutes,” said Carmel Valley Fire Capt. Jim “future state park.” And the ranch, which is just across Smith. “You turn it down once, and you lose the engine.” Highway 1 from Point Lobos State Reserve, now belongs to Fulfilling that commitment, Smith, engineer Steve the California Department of Parks and Recreation. But state Bonanfant and firefighters Jud Boone and Silas Fischer parks officials said this week they have no plan to open the grabbed their gear and hit the highway the night of Oct. 21 ranch to the public in the foreseeable future. less than an hour after state officials ordered the engine to join “In order to have hiking access, we need a general plan or one of the many strike teams heading to battle the wildfires an initial general use plan,” explained Matt Fuzie, Monterey sweeping through Southern California. Strike Team 2804A, comprising OES engines from Carmel See PARKS page 28A Valley, North Monterey County, Santa Clara County, South Santa Clara County and Salinas Rural fire departments, arrived in San Diego the following morning and was immedi- Crosswalk victim See FIRE page 29A dies, driver could face manslaughter By MARY BROWNFIELD THE WOMAN hit by an SUV on Ocean Avenue two PHOTOS/COURTESY JIM SMITH weeks ago died from her injuries Monday. Carmel resident Rebecca Mitchell Tarumoto, 62, had been in critical condi- Carmel Valley Fire Capt. Jim Smith collected these pho- tion in a San Jose trauma center since the Oct. 17 accident in tos of the huge blazes his crew battled in San Diego last which a Dodge Ram struck her in a Junipero Street cross- week as part of a California Office of Emergency Services strike team, including a shot of his engine walk. The Santa Clara County Coroner’s Office notified (above). Whipped up by 80 mph Santa Ana winds, the Carmel police Tarumoto died at 3:29 p.m. Oct. 29. fires were the worst he’s seen in more than three decades On Wednesday, Cpl. Steve Rana requested California on the job. See VICTIM page 9A Raccoons injure dogs in midnight tussles Gay police officer By MARY BROWNFIELD wounds in her back and leg. Lexi, 6, sustained punctures in her back and also lost a couple of teeth and some of the nails alleges harassment, FALL SEEMS to bring raccoon encounters in Carmel, on her right paw. and the aggressive scavengers fought with pets at two homes “They’re doing fairly well and are almost back to normal, early Sunday and Monday, sending three dogs to the vet, ani- personality-wise,” Sayles said Wednesday. “They were pretty discrimination mal control officer Cindi Mitchell reported. skittish all day Monday and most of yesterday.” The more serious attack occurred around 1 a.m. Oct. 29 By KELLY NIX when a raccoon climbed through an open window in the See DOGS page 29A garage of a San Carlos Street house, possibly landing on the GAY Pacific Grove police officer has filed a two miniature schnauzers sleeping in their bed below. A A raccoon claim with the city after enduring what he says has been “You know how you think you hear something, but you nearly 10 years of “discrimination, harassment and think your dreaming? It was unbelievable barking — I’ve attacked minia- ture schnauzers retaliation” by fellow officers, a former police chief and never heard the dogs make sounds like that before,” recalled others. Wally Sayles. Annie (left) and Lexi (right). In a lurid six-page claim filed in August, Sgt. Darrin His partner, Jeff Doherty, rushed to investigate the ruckus Both suffered Smolinski, who began working at the department in and opened the door to the garage. In ran the dogs, trailing puncture 1997, alleges he was repeatedly turned down for sever- blood, with a raccoon in pursuit. wounds, and al promotions, including the positions of detective and “He slammed its head in the door,” Sayles said, and when Lexi lost some commander. Doherty let off the pressure, the raccoon retreated into the teeth and some “Smolinski’s sexual orientation became a subject of garage and out through the window. “There was blood every- claws on her jokes, ridicule and innuendos within 20 months of his where.” right paw, initial employment and [the harassment is] continuing,” Also hearing the commotion, two Carmel police officers which she is favoring. according to the officer’s claim. on patrol came to see what the problem was. Sayles said he The claim — which alleges wrongdoing on the part was grateful for their attentiveness, as well as the help from Mitchell, who followed up on the incident later that day. PHOTO/MARY BROWNFIELD At the vet’s office, Annie, 8, was treated for puncture See CLAIM page 21A Get your complete Carmel Pine Cone every Friday morning in convenient pdf format as an email attachment. Free subscriptions available at www.carmelpinecone.com. 2A The Carmel Pine Cone November 2, 2007 Coastal panel finds project no real threat to neighbor’s views By MARY BROWNFIELD Kathy Grady contended in an appeal that Shan Sayles’ pro- tention that her view will be destroyed, “appears to be an ject would ruin her view and the council violated zoning overstatement” because she “will continue to enjoy bay views A NEIGHBOR failed to convince the California rules when it approved it. from both the first floor and second floor.” Coastal Commission to overrule the Carmel City Council’s But coastal commissioners, at the recommendation of Furthermore, Carmel’s zoning rules do not require private approval of a second-story addition to a San Antonio Avenue their staff, decided against rescinding the approval. views to be maintained as is, which would “essentially pro- home. According to the coastal staff’s analysis of the project, hibit residential additions that included above At a coastal commission meeting in San Pedro Oct. 12, Sayles’ plan — which includes demolishing part of the structure/ground elements in most cases,” coastal planners house and adding a 478-square-foot second story — com- said. plies with the city’s zoning rules. Architect Brian Congleton sited the addition “to address the potential impacts on neigh- bors’ views and to ensure that the maximum amount of pri- vacy is preserved.” khaki’s . In addition, the project will not significantly affect the ‘Oh, I wish I were an character of the neighborhood or public views of the coast. the best In her appeal, Grady argued she would lose about 40 per- Oscar Mayer Wiener ...’ in men’s cent of her view from upstairs, “solely to pacify an owner who now has a good view but wants to build an additional GRAB SOME canned food, powdered milk or dried clothing bedroom and office which will also have additional good grains and go check out the WienerMobile. views of the water.” She argued the council failed to balance The Oscar Mayer icon will be parked next to Keller the rights of all property owners. Williams Realty at the mouth of the valley Tuesday, Nov. 6, new arrivals But Sayles’ attorney, John Bridges, said the code calls for during a drive for the Food Bank for Monterey County. avoiding substantial elimination of anyone’s view, not “that “We support this important charity all year long, but this all neighbors’ views be completely protected.” is the kickoff for the holiday season,” reported realtor Patty sportcoats According to the coastal commission’s staff, Grady’s con- Ross. “Did you know that one out of every five people on the Monterey Peninsula uses the food bank every year? It’s sweaters astounding! Please come by, have a hot dog, bring some food leathers Did you know... for the bank (any boxed, canned or dried food will do) and shirts help us help others.” The Monterey Bay Aquarium has The event will run 3 to 6 p.m.