THE PACIFIC GROVE CITY COUNCIL VOTED LAST NIGHT TO REOPEN THEIR BIGGEST ATTRACTION, THE BUTTERFLY SANCTUARY. OVER 60,000 PEOPLE REPORTEDLY VISIT THE SANCTUARY EACH YEAR. BUT IT WAS CLOSED 8 MONTHS AGO, WHEN AN ELDERLY VISITOR WAS KILLED. THE ACCIDENT WAS BLAMED ON A TREE LIMB WHICH FELL, FROM A TREE (SOME ARGUE) SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED OR TRIMMED. ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS THEY ARE TRYING TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN PUBLIC SAFETY, AND ACCESS TO THE BUTTERFLY GROVE. A SHORT-TERM PLAN WAS AGREED UPON FOR THE REMOVAL OF DEAD TREES, AND WHICH ALLOWS LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE GROVE. TIME WAS AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE RE-OPENING, SINCE WORK IN THE SANCTUARY MUST BE COMPLETE BY OCTOBER, WHEN THE BUTTERFLIES RETURN. A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE FAMILY OF THE WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED BY THE TREE LIMB, IS STILL PENDING.

THE PEBBLE BEACH COMPANY HAS DECIDED TO RAFFLE OFF A 1963 BENTLEY CONVERTIBLE AT THIS YEAR'S CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE. THE CHARITY EVENT WILL COME TO PEBBLE BEACH AUGUST 21ST . THE RAFFLE FUNDS WILL BENEFIT THE ANIMAL FRIENDS RESCUE PROJECT IN PACIFIC GROVE, AND THE COURT ADVOCATES OF MONTEREY COUNTY. THE CAR IS VALUED AT ABOUT $70,000, AND IS THE TOP PRIZE IN THE RAFFLE.

A JUDGE HAS RULED THAT A VERY OLD MAP CAN, IN FACT, BE USED TO CREATE A NEW SUBDIVISION IN THE SMALL TOWN OF SPRECKELS. THE JUDGE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY ZONED THE LAND FOR AGRICULTURAL USES, THE TANIMURA FARMING FAMILY CAN INDEED BUILD A SUBDIVISION (ON THE 73 LOTS THEY OWN THERE). HE SAID THAT?S BECAUSE THE NEARLY CENTURY OLD SUBDIVISION MAP, WAS VALID UNDER THE ?STATE MAP ACT?.

THE NATIONAL BLOOD SUPPLY CONTINUES TO BE SCREENED FOR WEST NILE VIRUS. SCREENING BEGAN IN 2003, AFTER HEALTH AUTHORITIES LEARNED THAT THE MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESS COULD BE PASSED ON THROUGH TRANSFUSIONS. ACCORDING TO THE CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL THE EFFORT HAS PAID OFF, WITH MORE THAN A 15 HUNDRED INFECTIONS OF WEST NILE AVOIDED BY THE SCREENING OF 27 MILLION BLOOD DONATIONS.