Violent Weekend…A 30-year-old woman was shot and killed on Dec. 5 as violence continued to erupt in Monterey County. Veronica Gallegos and another woman were shot early in the morning at Greenfield’s Pueblo Inn. Also last weekend, Salinas saw two more attempted murders and a Castroville home was shot at 13 times. [ZS]

Doc’s Out…Downtown Monterey nightclub Doc's Dance Lounge closed its doors last weekend. The adjoining Croce's East Coast Eatery, formerly owned by the same proprietor, Sean Croce, was also shuttered. Employees at Croce's Pizza counter, which was still open Friday night, mentioned “new management.” No notice of a new management contact was posted. [WR]

Let It Pour…The rainy season is finally kicking in this month, and Roger Manley wants to help locals tap the liquid running off our roofs. During a free public workshop Dec. 5, he reviewed the technology offered by his company, Central Coast Rainwater Harvesting, and showed participants how to make their own 55-gallon, recycled catchment barrels for about $30 each. Cistern rebates bring the net cost of two barrels to $35. [KA]

Christmas Cutting…City of Salinas facilities, including City Hall, the Community Center and Aquatic Center, will shut down for two weeks during the holidays. City Manager Artie Fields said the closures, running from Dec. 21 to Jan. 3, will save the cash-strapped city money and also help with accommodating employee vacations. [ZS]

Kudos for NPS Prof…Foreign Policy magazine has named NPS Professor John Arquilla one of the year’s 100 top global thinkers on a list that includes Bill and Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and writer Barbara Ehrenreich. [RU]

Bay View Vote…Monterey Peninstula Unified School District administrators have proposed a timeline for a Bay View Elementary shut-down, a move that parents have loudly protested. Under the plan, the school would close by 2012.  The School Board will vote yea or nay Thursday, Dec. 10. [RU]

Jealous Again…Benjamin Todd Jealous, the Pacific Grove-raised president of the NAACP, was the featured speaker at the county's 2009 Human Rights Day Luncheon on Saturday, Dec. 5. Diana Jimenez, a Castroville activist, was presented the 30th Annual Baha'i Human Rights Award. [ZS]