Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1077792
BEST OF THE CARMEL POLICE LOG… Case of birdseed: A resident reported a neighbor placing birdseed in their driveway. Reporting party stated that it was captured on camera. Officer contacted the neighbor and advised them of the municipal code for wildlife. Warning given. SHORTCUTS CARMEL CONFIDENTIAL Eastwood's "The Mule" Has a Star-Studded Cast B arbara De Groodt, a dog trainer and animal behavior counselor who founded From the Hear t in Salinas, was named to the International Association of Canine Professionals (IACP) International Hall of Fame. She received the award during the annual IACP confer- ence held in September. De Groodt, who star ted working with dogs as a child, has earned previous national awards including the 2011 Westminster Dog Show Trainer of the Year and Purina Pro Plan's Show Dog 2010 Trainer of the Year. Local Dog Trainer Awarded for her Work C lint Eastwood and several of his family members celebrated the premiere of his latest film, "The Mule," in Los Angeles in December. The Monterey Peninsula resident directed and stars in the movie about a Korean War veteran and horticulturist who, desperate for money, transports cocaine for a drug cartel. Bradley Cooper, Dianne Wiest, Andy Garcia and Laurence Fishburne are among the film's cast members. Eastwood's daughter, Alison, also plays a role. Monterey's Portola Hotel & Spa was rec- ognized in Condé Nast Traveler's 31st annual Readers' Choice Awards in October. The water- front resort landed at number 11 on the publi- cation's best Northern California hotels list, based on votes by nearly half a million readers. A recent $6 million renovation project refreshed the resort's restaurant and lounge, while additional outdoor fire pit patio spaces and coffee shop updates are in progress. In September, the Post Ranch Inn topped the 2018 members' choice list from "Andrew Harper's Hideaway Repor t." In addition to cit- ing the proper ty's outdoor hot tubs, wood- burning fireplaces, spectacular views and high staff-to-guest ratio, the team lauded the lack of alarm clocks and televisions—"All reminders that Post Ranch Inn is first and foremost about rediscovering tranquility," noted an ar ticle about the award. Two Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey alumni are leading language work ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo. As chief and deputy chief of the interpreting staff, Alexandre Ponomarev and Maureen Sweeney will recruit, coordinate and supervise the professional interpreters and high-level vol- unteers who will assist with press conferences, interviews, medical situations and other happen- ings during the games. Staff members will facili- tate communications between thousands of athletes, staff and media representatives work- ing in approximately 30 languages. Ponomarev served as an interpreter for the 2008 and 2012 Olympics before being named chief interpreter in 2016. Sweeney, who worked in language services during the 1996 Atlanta 62 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 1 9 Alison Eastwood plays Iris and her father Clint Eastwood stars as Earl Stone in "The Mule." Eastwood also produced and directed the movie. Photo: Claire Folger, 2018 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved.