Spring 2025

BEST OF THE CARMEL POLICE LOG… Case of animal vs. person bite: Friend of a cat owner was bitten while attempting to trim the cat’s nails. SHORT CUTS CARMEL CONFIDENTIAL US Representative Jimmy Panetta Works to Protect the Region T wo teams from CSUMB took part in NASA’s recent MITTIC Space 2 Pitch competition. The event challenges students to come up with innovative uses for materials developed by the space agency. NASA selected just 12 teams to participate after evaluating applicants from across the nation. CSUMB teams traveled to Houston for the event, where they toured NASA headquarters and visited Mission Control. CSUMB Team Honored With Trip to NASA HQ U .S. Representative Jimmy Panetta has introduced the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act. The bill would initiate a National Park Service study to assess wheth- er coastal communities along the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary would qualify for National Heritage Area designation. “The Monterey Bay region is home to an unparalleled blend of natural beauty, history and culture that deserves to be recognized and preserved for future generations,” Panetta said in a statement. “Through the Monterey Bay National Heritage Area Study Act, we’re taOing an essential first step to[ard recogni^ing and showcasing our area’s unique identity. This study will help determine the feasibility and community support for this designation, while ensuring that local voices guide the process every step of the way.” Panetta introduced the bill along with several Central Coast co-sponsors. He also recently announced a $22.17 million grant to support construction of MST’s SURF! Busway and Bus Rapid Transit project. In the fall, Panetta secured a $14.2 million federal investment for terminal construction and improved access at the Monterey Regional Airport. Pebble Beach Company has announced renovation plans for The Links at Spanish Bay. Updates to the 40-year-old course are slated for completion before Pebble Beach Golf Links hosts its seventh U.S. Open in June 2027. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner of Hanse Golf Course Design will lead the project, refreshing the 1980s-era, Scottish-inspired links while staying within the existing development foot- print. Crews will update course infrastructure and make improvements to shape the facility’s environmental standing. “The focus of this project is to further enhance the golf experience at Pebble Beach Resorts,” said Pebble Beach Company CEO David Stivers. “Partnering with Gil, Jim and their team gives us the utmost confidence that Spanish Bay will be a ‘must play’ on par with its fellow courses.” The Links at Spanish Bay will close for construction in March 2026 and reopen to guests in spring 2027. The renovation plans also include reconstruction of the Spanish Bay boardwalk, which offers public coastal access between the golf course and the beach. That project component will begin in spring 2025. “Whalefall,” a forthcoming thriller set along the CaliJornia coast, [ill include Jootage filmed in Carmel. Based on a 2023 novel by New York Times bestselling author Daniel Kraus, the story follows the journey of a young diver swallowed by a 60-ton sperm whale and left with only an 64 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 5 Panetta’s new bill could qualify communities along the Monterey Bay for National Heritage Area designation, helping to protect the area for generations to come. Photo: Mike Brake/Shutterstock