In the News
Internet
Access Comes to Library
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Kids Learn About Bicycle
Safety
Volunteering: It Just Feels
Good |
“Smart Parking” Comes to
Monterey
Mural Project Teaches Teens
About History, Art
Internet Access
Comes to Library
Surf the Net – free! Internet
service is now available at the Monterey Public Library. The Library
developed Web pages with useful links to sites that can be accessed from
five workstations in the Library. You can also visit these helpful pages
from your home, school or office by visiting the
Library’s Web page at
www.monterey.org/library
Kids can have fun too – the Kids’ Pages are linked to carefully selected
sites that are appropriate for the whole family.
Internet access at the Library is not filtered or monitored. Children have
access to all materials in the Library, including the Internet. As a
concerned parent, you are encouraged to use the Internet with your children
and discuss the rules your family must follow when using this service. If
you have any questions, comments or suggestions about Internet services at
the Library, please contact Library Director Paula Simpson at 646.5601
or by e-mail:
simpson@ci.monterey.ca.us
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Kids Learn About
Bicycle Safety
Have fun and learn more about bike safety at a MPD Bicycle Rodeo.
Designed for school-age kids who want to have a great time while learning
about operating their bike, the Monterey Police Department’s Bicycle Rodeo
Program is now underway.
Last year, MPD held bicycle rodeos at Bayview, Foothill, La Mesa and Monte
Vista schools. This school year we plan to have six rodeos. Thomas O. Larkin
and Del Monte schools are now on the schedule as well.
A typical rodeo consists of a safety inspection, a presentation by MPD
Bicycle Officers and a written and skills test. Free gifts are given away
and there are prizes for top finishers in each age category. Parents and
children alike can also have bicycles registered as part of the Monterey
Police Bicycle Registration Program.
Successful Bicycle Rodeos were held this fall but more are planned at
Bayview, Larkin and Monte Vista schools this spring. For more information,
call Officer Michael Sargent at
646.3808.
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Volunteering: It
Just Feels Good
Background: When faced with a disability retirement, Mr. Howell began a
career as a volunteer doing what he loves best - coordinating games of
strategy.
An avid bridge player, he won first place in two tournaments this fall.
On volunteering: Mr. Howell has been a City volunteer for nine years.
Last year, he gave 617 volunteer hours to our community. He got his start
assisting with the bridge classes at the Senior Center and then expanded to
the Casanova Oak Knoll and Hilltop centers, adding billiards instruction to
his teaching assignments. He is now interested in sharing his expertise in
bridge and billiards with local teens. He currently helps young people with
homework and school projects on his own time.
Why volunteer? Mr. Howell says he enjoys helping other people: “It makes me
feel better.” And he advises, “It can be challenging and fun.”
Read about volunteer opportunities on the insert in this issue of City
Focus, or call 646.3719 for more information.
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“Smart Parking”
Comes to Monterey
Parking is more convenient than ever in the City thanks to our new
electronic parking meters. Capable of using “smart parking cards” as well as
coins, these new meters – powered by lithium batteries – are highly accurate
and require less maintenance than the old ones.
The “smart cards,” which resemble phone cards, are encoded with a computer
chip that allows you to purchase a pre-determined amount of parking – in
$25, $50 and $100 increments – for use at the new meters.
The card can be reused until all of the credit is gone. They are
nonrefundable and if you lose them it is the same as losing cash. Please
note that electronic meters in the areas of Cannery Row and Wave Street do
not currently accept the cards.
Smart cards can be purchased at the Parking Division Office at 310 Tyler
Street, the Monterey Harbor Office and the Monterey Sports Center. There is
a $1 processing charge per card. For more information on smart cards and
other parking related issues, please call our Parking Division at 646.3953.
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Mural Project
Teaches Teens About History, Art
Jessica Williford worked as a muralist in the City and got paid to do what
she enjoys most – being creative.
A Monterey resident, Jessica joined seven other Monterey County teens to
create a mural on the outside wall of Fire Station No. 1, which faces
Madison Street. The mural depicts life in Monterey under Mexican rule and
shows El Cuartel, the former military barracks and government headquarters.
“It has helped me use artistic abilities as a form of occupation and share
it as a group effort,” said Jessica, who is attending Monterey Peninsula
College.
“I enjoyed learning new techniques.”
Ninety-two youths worked in 12 different cities this past summer on the “One
Voice” Mural Project sponsored by the Monterey County Youth Program.
The project’s goal was to enhance awareness of local cultural identities for
County youths and their communities.
After two months and 320 hours of work, Robert Caruthers said he had
discovered more about his community.
“I learned a lot about history,” said Robert, who is in the 10th grade at
Monterey High.
Each of the murals was customized to the area and had to be painted on a
public building.
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