The Buzz 09.10.15

WHO’S IN TOWN?

The U.S. Army is in show business. The 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show stops in Monterey on its six-month, 40-city tour. The cast and crew are soldiers who audition via video from bases worldwide, and those who qualify train intensively for six weeks at Joint Base San Antonio in Texas (physical fitness is part of that training, so they’re still in Army business when the show is over), then start touring. The tradition started in World War I, with Sgt. Irving Berlin’s Yip Yip Yaphank, which ran on Broadway in 1918. This year’s show, We Serve, explores what it means for the military to serve our country – and also what it means for the country to serve them.

6pm Friday Sept. 11. Price Fitness Center, Presidio of Monterey, 1759 Lewis Road, Monterey. www.armymwr.com.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT

A reader wondered what the heck the deal was with the giant concrete expanse at 2nd Avenue and 5th Street in Marina now owned by CSUMB. The area was used by the Army as a motor pool to park big trucks, and as a central loading and staging area.

OVERHEARD

“I guess I stay home and watch Orange is the New Black more than I should.” 
-Marina City Councilman Frank O’Connell, on why he hasn’t spoken with many people about developer Scott Negri’s proposed restaurant project at The Dunes.

GOOD WEEK / BAD WEEK

GOOD: For many, the wait has been long. Too long. But the end is near: In-N-Out closed escrow Sept. 1 on its parcel at 1350 Del Monte Blvd. in Seaside, and City Manager John Dunn says construction is set to begin any day. Dunn says the restaurant should be open in 120 days. For double double-loving locals, that means awesomesauce by Christmas. The restaurant has been more than five years in the making, and Seaside and Marina were once competing to attract the southern California-based chain. The location of the In-N-Out – just west Laguna Grande next to the border of Monterey – drew heavy scrutiny for the traffic woes projected by its environmental impact report, but Seaside City Council approved it. For drivers stuck in rush hour, at least the smell of burgers will mix with the exhaust.

BAD: We get it. To have crisp cell-phone reception, telecom companies need to add cell towers nobody wants. But Seasiders opposed to Verizon Wireless’ bid to install towers at First Baptist and Faith Lutheran churches were ruffled when Verizon used its own platform to play political games. A text went out Aug. 26: “Free message from Verizon: Reply YES to this text to show your support for improved Verizon Wireless service in Seaside. Add a message to tell the city you support new church steeple facilities on Hilby Avenue and on Waring Street.” One local’s reply: “No!!!!!!!” The response: “VZW Free Msg: This unmonitored mailbox cannot handle your reply.” The Seaside Planning Commission was expected to finalize its denial of the application Sept. 9; if denied, the company plans to appeal to City Council.