AGGRESSIVE CONSTRUCTION PLANS WITH A $112.6 MILLION PRICE TAG, ARE IN THE WORKS FOR SALINAS VALLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. ADMINISTRATORS PLAN TO ADD ANOTHER FLOOR TO THE TOP OF THE MAIN BUILDING ON ROMIE LANE, TURNING IT INTO A 6 STORY STRUCTURE. UNDERNEATH THE BUILDING, A350 SPACE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE WILL BE ADDED. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT 3 YEARS, AND INCLUDE NEW MEDICAL BUILDINGS ALL AROUND SALINAS. THE PLANS WERE RECENTLY ENDORSED BY THE HOSPITAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

THE 1ST BAPTIST CHURCH HAS RE-CREATED "THE STREETS OF BETHLEHEM", FOR THE 13TH YEAR. THE HUGE SALINAS PRODUCTION TAKES PLACE AROUND THE CHURCH PERIMETER, AND FEATURES ELABORATE SET DESIGNS, LIVE ANIMALS AND A CAST OF MORE THAN 300 CHARACTERS. THE AUDIENCE TOURS THE "STREETS" AND PERFORMERS INTERMINGLE AS THEY WALK AND WITNESS A RE-TELLING OF THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.

NO MATTER WHAT THE MONTEREY COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION DECIDES TODAY, REGARDING THE RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT, THE MONTEREY COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER THE PROJECT AT A SPECIAL MEETING TOMORROW. AFTER 4 DAYS OF HEARINGS, AND NOTING CONCERNS ABOUT WATER AND TRAFFIC, THE PLANNING COMMISSIONERS SAID YESTERDAY THEY DON?T FEEL THEY ARE READY TO APPROVE THE PROJECT THAT WOULD BUILD 4 THOUSAND HOUSES, ON 27 THOUSAND ACRES (LOCATED JUST NORTH OF SALINAS). PLANNING COMMISSIONERS ARE ALSO EVALUATING BUTTERFLY VILLAGE, (THE FIRST PHASE OF THE RANCHO SAN JUAN PROJECT). COUNTY PLANNERS AND LAWYERS HAVE SAID THAT IF THE PROJECT IS NOT APPROVED, THE COUNTY COULD BE SUED FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS (BY THE DEVELOPER WHO OWNS THE LAND).

A 22 YEAR-OLD CARMEL MAN, WHO ATTENDS U.C.S.C., IS NOW HEADED TO NEW YORK TO LAUNCH HIS MODELING CAREER. THAT AFTER ASTROPHYSICS MAJOR JON JONSSON WON THE TOP PRIZE IN THE BRAVO CABLE NETWORK?S TELEVISION SHOW ?MANHUNT: THE SEARCH FOR AMERICA?S MOST GORGEOUS MALE MODEL?. JONSSON WAS 1 OF 20 YOUNG MEN WHO MADE IT TO THE SERIES AFTER A NATIONWIDE SEARCH. HE WON A CONTRACT WITH TOP AGENCY, IMG MODELS. HE IS GUARANTEED AT LEAST 100 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF MODELING WORK, WHICH STARTS THIS WEEKEND (WITH A PHOTO-SHOOT FOR A 4-PAGE SPREAD IN A MAGAZINE).