I received an unexpected message recently from Fuheis, a community of 22,000 people in the hills northwest of Amman, Jordan. Known for oak trees, olive groves, and a deep history, they told me they are struggling to hold onto what makes their town worth living in as the modern world presses in from every direction. Sound familiar? Their representatives asked how a small coastal community managed to protect its character for more than a century against the relentless pressure

June 4th, 2026 Good morning. It is truly an unexpected honor to be here today with you. My name is Dale Byrne, and for six more months I have the honor of serving as the Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea. But I want to be honest with you right up front: I did not plan any of this. In some ways everything I have done in life has led me here, from the time I thought I was managing the project to build our new family home next door when I was five years old to managing a Foster’s Freez

Memorial Day in Carmel is always meaningful. This year it was something more. Standing in Devendorf Park on a cloudy Monday morning, I had the honor of introducing Secretary Leon Panetta to a crowd of residents, veterans, and visitors gathered to honor those who gave everything in service to this country. Surrounded by war memorials, it was one of those moments that reminds you why this community is unlike any other. Leon Panetta is one of us. He lives in Carmel Valley. He sh