Run For Your Lives


Hey Squid. You’ve got some inaccuracies in your Mike Dove story (“Squid Fry,” Jan. 24-30). There was never any lying – the column in question basically just said, “There was an Internet rumor there would be drug testing.” There was. And the decision to end the column was not decided by reader opinion. I was copied on 30 emails to [Royal] Calkins saying the column should stay and were complimentary. He didn’t print those. The decision to end the column was a joint decision between the Herald and the writers. As usual, there is a lot more to this story than you have written here. - Mike Dove | via Web


Royal rage?- Royal Calkins | via Web


(Editor’s note: For a link to Mr. Dove’s letter referenced in the Squid item, visit www.mcweekly.com/dove. Also, if you repeat a rumor that you know isn’t true, what exactly would you call it?) 


Sayonara Indy


I recently told someone that one of the missions of the market (I was surmising) was to attract a permanent tenant to the space (“The Independent Marketplace is dead; long live the Independent Marketplace,” posted Jan. 23). So I’m not surprised, and am pleased they found someone. LOVED the market though – perhaps it can be moved – to the train station in Monterey perhaps??? - mocolocal | via Web


(Editor’s note: We loved it too, and we look forward to its return in whatever way we can get it.)


Fussy on Food


I am Chef Michael from Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (“Monterey County’s medical centers reinterpret the lesson that food is medicine,” Jan. 17-23). I was one of the folks interviewed for this article and I have a few comments I would like to share. I like this article and it gives the overall impression that hospital food has moved in a positive direction and our hospital offers our patients good food, both of which I believe to be true. However, there are a few statements that I feel compelled to clarify.


The first is while we have a couple hundred pounds of powdered non-fat milk, it is safely tucked away in our disaster supply. We would never use this product except in an emergency. The product we use is a high quality, low-salt-low-fat béchamel sauce.


The cut of meat described in the article is called teres major. The teres major is a seldom-used muscle in the shoulder. It is very similar to beef tenderloin in that it is both very lean and uber-tender.


This article would have me dragging my cooks around by a leash. If there is one thing I understand in my profession, it is that our food is only as good as the cook that prepares it. Allowing cooks to own what they do and be creative is paramount for a successful operation. Franco, the cook described, has all the qualities I value in a culinarian. His possesses a high level of creativity, initiative, pride, and the love he puts into his food is truly amazing. I would be a fool if I were to put any limits on these attributes. He makes our hospital and me look very good indeed. I am grateful that he is so willing to share his talents. - Michael Gaines | via Web


Case Dismissed


Two years with more than 60 hearings, held at considerable cost, and disproportionately much more painful costs to Eva, raise serious questions for taxpayers of Monterey County (“Criminal charges dropped against Eva Ruiz-Gomez in child custody case,” posted Jan. 25). Judge Larry Hayes found that the prosecution did not provide evidence of willful violation of custody orders or any attempt to hide the child. Why has it taken so long and so many judges, prosecutors, investigators and Children’s Services staff to get to the core of this protracted case? It was there in plain sight once the orders re-appeared in the court files after mysterious absences. Her own copies were meticulous and comprehensive, which proved her innocence. 


Eva steadfastly refused to plea bargain, as advised by several earlier defense attorneys, because she carefully followed the two court orders and wasn’t guilty of any crime. Today she and her family and her dozens of supporters celebrated her vindication and the removal of the threat of three years prison time if she were found guilty of this manufactured “crime.” The damage of this ordeal for herself and her family will take a long time to fade. - Carole Erickson | Carmel


Judge Hayes was very impressive. He had obviously read all the court records that had been presented to him before holding court. He listened to both the prosecution and defense, asking pointed questions of each. He assigned both to present answers to questions still remaining last week, again allowing him time to read the answers before entering the courtroom today. I felt hopeful after the court hearing two weeks ago that Judge Hayes was not coming into the courtroom with a predetermined judgment, as opposed to other judges that heard this case. As one of “Eva’s friends,” I’ve learned how corrupt our local legal system can be. - jct215 | via Web


Long fight she shouldn’t have had to endure. - Esther Malkin | via Facebook 


Finally!!! - Colleen Ingram | via Facebook


Best news I’ve heard all day. - Celia Bosworth | via Facebook


It shines a light on injustice and abuse of power in Monterey County, that’s the bigger story. They just got caught this time. - Luana Conley | via Facebook 


Two Guys, Two Guns


Just go through all the gun registrations (“Four held at gunpoint in Oldtown Salinas robbery,” posted Jan. 17). I’m sure these men bought those guns legally with paperwork, background checks and have them registered according to the law… or maybe, being criminals, they bought them from the trunk of someone’s car and aren’t so worried about protocol or the law. - Brian Gingrich


Remind me why I don’t spend money in Salinas anymore? - Tom DeBiase | via Facebook


Too bad a law-abiding citizen with a gun wasn’t there. - Dana Chase | via Facebook


CORRECTION: A story (“Where Salinas City Councilman Jose Castañeda goes, controversy follows,” Jan. 10-16) identified Francisco Estrada, Jr., as the Hartnell College student body president. He is actually the former president, having resigned his seat on Oct. 22; the new president is Wayne Ross.