april 20-26, 2023 montereycountyweekly.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT fire fight 16 | Avian flu takes down condors 17 | Celebrate Earth Day 32 | Lighting Up 4/20 42 A guide to Sea Otter Classic, the largest gathering of bicyclists in the world. p. 26 Biking is for Everyone Adaptive mountain biker Annijke Wade on Fort Ord National Monument. History Series | Part 1: What a surveyor saw in 1861 in Monterey County. p. 18 By David Schmalz
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com MEALS ON WHEELS OF THE MONTEREY PENINSULA Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula • 700 Jewell Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 SUSAN ELWOOD • Recruitment & Outreach Manager MAKE OUR WHEELS TURN VOTED BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER ’21 ’22 Join our dedicated family of volunteers supporting seniors, disabled adults, veterans and underserved populations in our community. Become a Volunteer Today!
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Healthy, how you want it. Where there’s a will, there’s a wave. Regardless of where you are in your journey towards a healthier you — Montage Health can help you reach it. For exceptional care within your community, visit montagehealth.org.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 FOR GIVING YOUR TIME. FOR SHARING YOUR TALENTS. FOR YOUR COMPASSION AND COMMITMENT. Our incredible volunteers at Salinas Valley Health make a difference every day in the lives of our staff, patients and community. To them, we express our heartfelt gratitude. Learn how you can get involved at SalinasValleyHealth.com/Volunteer or by calling 831-755-0772. CELEBRATE NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK | APRIL 16-22, 2023
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 • ISSUE #1812 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Steve Zmak (Hasselblad Camera on DJI Mavic 2 Pro) After a super-rainy winter, the superbloom has begun. Yellow swashes fading into purple accents are seen here on the velvety green terrain of the Gabilan Mountains along Highway 198. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@mcweekly.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: After a spinal cord injury in 2021, mountain biker Annijke Wade of Seaside is regaining her skill level as an adaptive athlete. At Sea Otter Classic, she co-leads a community ride that is open to all. “Everybody who rides a bike is a cyclist,” Wade says. Cover Photo by Daniel Dreifuss etc. Copyright © 2023 by Milestone Communications Inc. 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, California 93955 (telephone 831-394-5656). All rights reserved. Monterey County Weekly, the Best of Monterey County and the Best of Monterey Bay are registered trademarks. No person, without prior permission from the publisher, may take more than one copy of each issue. Additional copies and back issues may be purchased for $1, plus postage. Mailed subscriptions: $120 yearly, pre-paid. The Weekly is an adjudicated newspaper of Monterey County, court decree M21137. The Weekly assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Visit our website at http://www.montereycountyweekly.com. Audited by CVC. FOUNDER & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@mcweekly.com (x103) PUBLISHER Erik Cushman erik@mcweekly.com (x125) EDITORIAL EDITOR Sara Rubin sara@mcweekly.com (x120) FEATURES EDITOR Dave Faries dfaries@mcweekly.com (x110) ASSOCIATE EDITOR Tajha Chappellet-Lanier tajha@mcweekly.com (x135) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@mcweekly.com (x145) STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@mcweekly.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Rey Mashayekhi rey@mcweekly.com (x102) STAFF WRITER Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@mcweekly.com STAFF WRITER David Schmalz david@mcweekly.com (x104) DIGITAL PRODUCER Kyarra Harris kyarra@mcweekly.com (x105) STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Dreifuss daniel@mcweekly.com (x140) CONTRIBUTORS Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Sloan Campi, Paul Fried, Jeff Mendelsohn, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner CARTOONS Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow PRODUCTION ART DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION MANAGER Karen Loutzenheiser karen@mcweekly.com (x108) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kevin Jewell kevinj@mcweekly.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alexis Estrada alexis@mcweekly.com (x114) GRAPHIC DESIGNER Lani Headley lani@mcweekly.com (x114) SALES SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Diane Glim diane@mcweekly.com (x124) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE George Kassal george@mcweekly.com (x122) SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE Keith Bruecker keith@mcweekly.com (x118) CLASSIFIEDS BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Keely Richter keely@mcweekly.com (x123) DIGITAL DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MEDIA Kevin Smith kevin@mcweekly.com (x119) DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION CONTROL Harry Neal BUSINESS/FRONT OFFICE OFFICE MANAGER Linda Maceira linda@mcweekly.com (x101) BOOKKEEPING Rochelle Trawick rochelle@mcweekly.com 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountyweekly.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountyweekly.com. We can tell you like the print edition of the Weekly. We bet you’ll love the daily newsletter, Monterey County NOW. Get fresh commentary, local news and sundry helpful distractions delivered to your inbox every day. There’s no charge, and if you don’t love it, you can unsubscribe any time. DON’T MISS OUT Sign up today at montereycountyweekly.com/mcnow
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 WORLD'S PREMIER CYCLING FESTIVAL MONTEREY | CALIFORNIA | USA | SEAOTTERCLASSIC.COM
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH As corporate owners have slashed staff at many local newspapers, the Digital First Media-owned Santa Cruz Sentinel was not spared. But in 2019, two former Sentinel reporters, Kara Meyberg Guzman and Stephen Baxter, saw a need to fill the void and created a new digital publication, Santa Cruz Local. Three years in, they conducted a survey to learn how to better serve southern Santa Cruz County, where 72 percent of residents speak Spanish at home. Among 162 respondents, they learned that local residents want local news in Spanish, and 29 percent would prefer to listen to the news. That prompted Santa Cruz Local to fundraise for new positions and now, $72,000 later, they are hiring two part-time Spanish-speaking roles to expand their coverage of the Pajaro Valley region. The biggest interest area among survey respondents is health, and people overwhelmingly expressed an interest in success stories. “We heard over and over again, ‘we’re so tired of a negative narrative,’” Guzman says. “If we really want to serve our community well, we need to show it with nuance, strength and beauty too.” Good: Assemblymember Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay, has chosen the Big Sur Health Center as her pick for 2023 nonprofit of the year for Assembly District 30. Founded in September 1979, the Big Sur Health Center plays a vital role as the only medical clinic on a roughly 90-mile stretch of coastline, providing care to both Big Sur residents and visitors alike. Through the Nonprofit of the Year Initiative, now in its eighth year, each California legislator gets to choose one nonprofit to highlight. “[This recognition] gives elected leaders the opportunity to shine a light on what nonprofits are accomplishing for the people in their districts and for everyone to appreciate the collective impact of nonprofits across the state,” Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, said in a statement. The chosen nonprofits will be celebrated with a luncheon at the State Capitol on June 7. GREAT: Seaside hasn’t had a farmers market since 2019, after a Saturday market on Broadway was discontinued due to lack of local buy-in. Not only was business slow, but some business owners along Broadway didn’t like it. Some residents didn’t appreciate it either—lower Broadway is a transportation artery, and the market blocked it. But the city wanted to bring a market back, and on April 6, Seaside City Council voted unanimously to do so, with the same market operator in a new time and place. Council awarded Everyone’s Harvest, a nonprofit that runs five farmers markets in the county, a two-year contract to manage a farmers market. After discussion about a time and place that will avoid conflicts, it will be located at Laguna Grande Park (located across the street from Seaside City Hall, on Canyon Del Rey) and will run weekly from 3-7pm on Thursdays. The hope is to launch it in late May. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY Surcharge on safe-and-sane fireworks sales collected by the city of Salinas. Revenues are used toward enforcement of illegal fireworks; the fireworks fund balance from 2022 is about $75,000. Source: April 18 report from Salinas Fire Chief Sam Klemek and Salinas Police Chief Roberto Filice 7% QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but that’s creativity.” -Steve Saunders, a Monterey-based master jeweler, speaking about a particular sculpture he made that resembles a tree, or an embrace (see story, p. 38). ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES Stop By To Shop And Find Your Vintage Treasure OVER 100 DEALERS 21,000 SQUARE FEET The Largest Antiques and Collectibles Mall on the Central Coast 471 WAVE STREET MONTEREY (831) 655-0264 P M canneryrowantiquemall.com Open Daily 11am-6pm ’22 Voted Monterey County's Best Antique Shop ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ Baccarat FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • Gega-003846, Gega-Gega-003703, Gega-000889 Gega-000891 Gega-002838 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 Available through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union Securities and advisory services are offered through LPL Financial (LPL), a registered investment advisor and broker-dealer (member FINRA/SIPC). Insurance products are offered through LPL or its licensed affiliates. Bay Federal Credit Union and Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union are not registered as a broker-dealer or investment advisor. Registered representatives of LPL offer products and services using Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union, and may also be employees of Bay Federal Credit Union. These products and services are being offered through LPL or its affiliates, which are separate entities from, and not affiliates of, Bay Federal Credit Union or Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union. Securities and insurance offered through LPL or its affiliates are: Not Insured by NCUA or Any Other Government Agency Not Credit Union Guaranteed Not Credit Union Deposits or Obligations May Lose Value Your Credit Union (“Financial Institution”) provides referrals to financial professionals of LPL Financial LLC (“LPL”) pursuant to an agreement that allows LPL to pay the Financial Institution for these referrals. This creates an incentive for the Financial Institution to make these referrals, resulting in a conflict of interest. The Financial Institution is not a current client of LPL for advisory services. Please visit https://www.lpl.com/disclosures/is-lpl-relationship-disclosure.html for more detailed information. Here for Your Future Relax and enjoy the now! The Financial Advisors with Investment Services at Bay Federal Credit Union can help plan your future and set you up for retirement. Schedule a complimentary appointment today! bayfed.com/invest 2020 INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS AND INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD AT 2:00 PM AT THESE LOCATIONS THE SUPERIOR COURT URGES YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN IMPROVING YOUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT! Greenfield Tuesday May 12 Monterey Wednesday May 13 www.monterey.courts.ca.gov/grandjury (831) 775-5400 Extension 3014 Salinas Thursday May 14 Monterey Courthouse May 9 at 2:00 pm Salinas Courthouse May 10 at 2:00 pm King City Courthouse May 11 at 10:30 am The 2023–2024 Civil Grand Jury Needs You! 2023 Informational session AND INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD AT THESE LOCATIONS 831-233-3263 1730 The Mall | Seaside SULLIVANSAUTOSERVICE.COM Make sure this Mother’s Day rides smooth. Featuring the “Mama’s Chariot” special 10% OFF ANY VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SERVICE (Savings up to $100) Brakes, filters, belts & hoses, spark plugs, etc Cannot be combined with any other offers. Limited time offer.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com 831 Jose Perez and Diego Sevillano are seated in a corner at Captain + Stoker coffee shop in Monterey. They are quick to smile and laugh often as they trade stories. It’s a bright morning, and for the longtime friends an exciting time. In December they launched a business—their first; the CSU Monterey Bay grads are young. But they are not huddled over laptops, tapping away remotely while sipping lattes. The only evidence of their work is a lavender pouch with a white strap Sevillano scooted to the edge of the table and a similar piece—this one appropriately in a cappuccino hue—Perez wears strapped diagonally across his chest. Waist bags. Belt bags. Fanny packs. Call them what you will. The pair named their company SunPaxx with the goal of merging utility and fresh, colorful fashion in the handy “cross body” accessory. “We don’t call them fanny packs,” Sevillano says. “We’re a Californiathemed bag company. That means so many things—California is so diverse.” The SunPaxx line hit virtual shelves at the end of 2022 with three palettes to choose from. They are currently bringing more to the market, with different fabrics and fun pops of color. The plan is for online sales to be the foundation while they seek out boutique shops like Monterey’s Dirty Girl Plant Co. to stock their line. “We’re hoping to keep going,” Perez says. Sevillano and Perez grew up in Modesto. Sevillano found a physical therapy position in Monterey while Perez moved to Sacramento, hoping to land a marketing gig with an outdoors outfitter—both are seasoned hikers. “As you can imagine, I struggled to get in,” he notes. His marketing experience is limited. SunPaxx started when Perez decided to design a backpack for his outdoors excursions. Meanwhile a random idea popped into Sevillano’s mind, that it would be cool if someone created a fanny pack with a speaker for music. The name came to him, but then he forgot all about it. As Sevillano tells it, Perez called to tell him about the backpack and a little problem—he needed a brand. “SunPaxx,” he responded. Perez took an instant liking to the name and told him, “We’re going to do it.” “I said ‘what do you mean we’re?’” Sevillano recalls, laughing. But Perez has always inspired Sevillano to step out of his comfort zone, from attempting dicey trails to becoming the first in his family to graduate from a four-year university. Bags strapped to the waist or chest have been common since ancient times. They were handy for cross-country skiers in the 1950s (there’s a reference to a “fanny pack” in a 1954 issue of Sports Illustrated). Yet the bulky nylon pack adopted by Americans in the 1980s almost doomed the accessory, in part because more overseas travel brought bag-wearing tourists to England and Australia, where “fanny” refers to a different part of the anatomy. And, well, they weren’t very hip. Over the past 10 years, however, they have seen a resurgence in popularity as belt bags, waist bags, crossbody bags—anything but fanny packs. Still, it’s not easy tapping into a market, even when it’s heating up. “There was a point when I was ready to give up,” Sevillano admits. “One day I saw four people wearing our product. I was a little teary-eyed.” Neither came into this with business experience. Perez studied health and human services, while Sevillano’s degree is in kinesiology—although he was a barista at Captain + Stoker when the popular shop opened. They learned quite a bit from Perez’s parents, who owned businesses in Modesto. “People are willing to help you,” Perez says. “The people around you want to see you succeed.” That’s one of the lessons he has gained from the experience of starting SunPaxx. For his friend of 20 years, the moral is far reaching. “The biggest thing I want people to take away is to take that leap of faith and see where it takes you,” Sevillano says. “I promise you won’t be disappointed.” View SunPaxx product lines at sunpaxx.com. Holding the Bag Two CSU Monterey Bay grads are making fanny packs fun and fashionable. By Dave Faries Jose Perez, left, and Diego Sevillano show off two cross-body (or waist) bags from their newly launched SunPaxx line. “We have an opportunity to create a brand in Monterey,” Sevillano says of the company. “Take that leap of faith and see where it takes you.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Local People, Local Bank Banking is better when it’s locally sourced. You receive personal attention from local experts, access to decision makers, and exceptional customer service. If you’d like some fresh ideas on how to grow your business, contact us. Our team is ready to serve you.
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 www.chservices.org/donate-now You can plant seeds of hope and create brighter futures for people in your community with pathways to permanent housing, recovery from substance abuse, and improved emotional health by donating today! @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 FREE SAMPLES from our amazing vendors! FREE NA DRINK SAMPLES from Parch, Pentire, For Bitter For Worse, and De Soi AT THE BAR! RAFFLE CONTEST with tasty prizes! FOR A GOOD CAUSE! A portion of our daily sales will go to The Monterey County Food Bank EARTH MILK MISS LIPPE’S MOONSCOOPS CE PATLI YOLK MARKETPLACE CAT & CLOUD VANA TISANE PHILOSOPHIE HEALTHY ON YOU LAVENDER CREEK CO. HAKOUYA HEY BODE MYCOSCI A springtime sample social! ELROY’S PRESENTS Friday, April 28th from 11am-4pm Prevention, Education, Treatment & Recovery serving youth, adults and families in Monterey County Are you in high school and looking to volunteer or get your community service hours done this summer? JOIN OUR S.T.E.P.S. PROGRAM TODAY! Support youth prevention services www.SunStreetCenters.org
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com news Years after Carmel’s attempt to find someone to restore the Flanders Mansion fell apart, a candidate has stepped forward to revive that idea—albeit in a slightly different format. Mike Buffo, documentary filmmaker and founder of the Carmel-based production company House of 8 Media, envisions restoring the 8,000-square-foot Tudor Revival house as a home for his family, a small interpretive center for the Mission Trails Nature Preserve and a venue for digital lectures or salons highlighting the city’s artistic culture. But first, Buffo needs City Council approval—he’s asking for a four-month “feasibility study” period to assess what restoration of the long-vacant property will cost and begin raising funds for that restoration from private donors. Carmel City Council has expressed support for a “residential curatorship” concept for the Flanders Mansion. Under this model, more common in Europe, an unpaid citizen is chosen to live in a government-owned home long-term, and in exchange is responsible for any restoration and upkeep. In 2018, Carmel put out a call for applicants—ultimately choosing a finalist before negotiations fell apart. (Buffo was an unsuccessful applicant for the role at that time.) Buffo presented his new proposal to City Council in January; he’s currently gathering signatures on a petition to show public support for the idea. “I see this as a natural evolution of my work here in Carmel,” Buffo says. “This can be a source of community pride—I think Carmel really needs this.” Carmel Mayor Dave Potter says the city is not accepting proposals at the moment, but working to figure out a process (perhaps a new RFP) and solicit applicants from there. This Old House A new proposal surfaces in the long-running Flanders Mansion saga. By Tajha Chappellet-Lanier For grower Javier Zamora, this winter was an unprecedented procession of weather-related misfortune. January’s storms turned nearly half of the roughly 70 growable acres on his farm, JSM Organics in the Pajaro Valley, into “a lake overnight.” Weeks after the waters receded, March’s storms blew through, turning the fields into a lake again. Even now, “parts of the fields are still wet,” Zamora says, hindering production of the berries that are his biggest cash crop, as well as the sugar peas, squash, broccoli and green beans that he also grows. Compounding his frustration is the fact that the disaster relief programs he applied to months ago, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, have been painfully slow to provide assistance. “We’re hanging by a thread—it’s been really difficult,” says Zamora, who came from humble roots in Mexico and, over the past 11 years, grew a small family-run farm into a successful, mid-sized operation. Still, he doesn’t know if he’ll have the resources to continue unless he receives help soon. “The USDA keeps saying they have emergency loans, but they’re going to come when—in August, September?” Zamora asks. “We’ll be lucky to stay in business.” In the meantime, he’s been left to borrow money from relatives, bargain for advances from his buyers and even set up a GoFundMe page for his workers—many of whom are undocumented and ineligible for government unemployment benefits. The first three months of 2023 brought weather that devastated Monterey County’s agricultural sector, hurting growers of all sizes. Estimates of the damage vary; county and state officials pegged the toll as approaching $800 million, while the Monterey County Farm Bureau has predicted north of $1 billion. While large growers have the balance sheets and crop insurance to withstand such pain, small and midsized farmers often do not, heightening the importance of government aid. Monterey County’s USDA-FSA office has received some 350 requests for assistance this year in the tri-county area it serves; however, only around $1 million has been approved to date. “Overall, it does take a long time for [government relief] money to get to farms,” says Reggie Knox, CEO of California FarmLink, a nonprofit agricultural lender that primarily provides funding to low-income growers of color. In addition to offering zero-interest disaster loans of up to $100,000, FarmLink is working to raise funds for grants of up to $10,000 for impacted farmers. Similar grant programs are operated by nonprofits like Davis-based Community Alliance with Family Farmers and Santa Cruz-based California Certified Organic Farmers. Of the 193 people who have applied this year for $5,000 grants through CAFF’s Family Farmer Emergency Fund, 72 are in Monterey County. CCOF is providing grants of up to $20,000 to qualifying organic producers. In lieu of slow-moving government aid, “nonprofits like ours are trying to fill in those gaps and provide quicker, more nimble support,” says Adrian Fischer of CCOF. Zamora is applying for help, but admits a $5,000 grant would be “a little band-aid on a big wound.” “We are a big part of the ag community,” he says of small farmers. “There’s hundreds of us, and if you put it all together, it becomes a big part of the food system.” Flooded strawberry fields in the Pajaro Valley as seen after the levee broke in March. Even after water recedes, damage and food safety concerns have lasting impact. Left Afield Small growers feeling the pain of winter storms are frustrated at slow-moving government aid. By Rey Mashayekhi Mike Buffo, seen with wife Brittney and sons Theodore, Jamison and Wesley, wants to raise funds from private donors to restore Flanders Mansion—and make a documentary about the process. “We’ll be lucky to stay in business.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Making a Difference Together Children and teens in Monterey County are in need of a safe and stable home. Becoming a resource family gives youth the chance to become reunified with their family or adopted. Monterey County Family and Children’s Services works towards building healthy families and strong communities. Become a resource family today, and change a child’s life forever. Federally Insured by NCUA | Equal Housing Lender 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, ext. 304 www.bayfed.com/HomeLoans * An example Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for a 5/5 ARM is 6.285%. An example monthly mortgage payment is $4,480.00 per month (excludes taxes and insurance). The estimated quotes are based on a loan amount of $800,000 with credit scores of 680+ and a 80% loan to value. This offer and term are effective as of January 13, 2023 . Actual payments may be greater than the example and may vary based on the actual loan amount. The APR and payments on 5/5 ARM loans are fixed for the first 5 years and are variable thereafter, adjusting every 5 years. Other Adjustable and Fixed Rate mortgage loans are available for loan amounts up to $3,000,000. Additional down payment requirements, closing costs, and other conditions may apply. All loans are subject to approval of credit, income verification and property valuation. Bay Federal Credit Union membership required at the time of closing. For more information, visit www.bayfed.com, any Bay Federal Credit Union branch, or call a Bay Federal Home Loan Consultant at 831.479.6000 or toll-free at 888.4BAYFED, extension 304. Save an average of $252 on your mortgage payment! An annual savings of $3,024 Visit bayfed.com/arm to learn how much you can save. The Salinas City Elementary School District is seeking applicants to fill the important role of serving as a member of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. This committee exists to ensure that the proceeds from Measures G&H—the two general obligation bonds passed in 2022—are spent in accordance with the will of the voters. This committee satisfies the accountability requirements of Prop 39. Among the duties of this committee: Reviewing quarterly expenditure reports produced by the District to ensure that bond proceeds are expended only for the purposes set forth in the ballot measure and no proceeds are used for any teacher or administrative salaries or other operating expenses of the District. Recruitment for this committee is ongoing and will remain open unless and until four new members are approved. If you are interested, please visit this link: bit.ly/3YrZhsE to download and print the application, or you may obtain a paper copy of the application between the hours of 8:30am–4:30pm, Monday-Friday, at the front desk of the District Office, 840 S. Main St., Salinas. Please email your completed application to jacardenas@salinascity.k12.ca.us or return it to the District Office. Scan QR code to download application SEEKING APPLICANTS FOR THE CITIZENS’ BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Starting in the late 1960s, Sand City, population 325, established a reputation as a hub for local artists as a place to both work and live. Though the city is almost entirely concrete and buildings—aside from some dune habitat—it possesses a certain industrial-chic vibe that feels light, not deadening. That became even more true in late 2019 with the arrival of now-former city manager Aaron Blair, who catalyzed the conversion of a maintenance yard into the Sand City Art Park, and ushered in the creation of murals that now splash the city with color. City Manager Vibeke Norgaard has built off that momentum. Sand City City Council has been a crucial cultivator of the city’s artistic vibe, perhaps most critically with its unflagging support of the city’s West End Celebration. In that respect, the council has been a force multiplier in the region, and on April 18, the council weighed in on who to appoint to a seat vacated by former councilmember Kim Cruz who, due to medical reasons, last attended a meeting in December. Four candidates each made their pitch at a council meeting on April 4. Two weeks later, on April 18, the council appointed Marilee Diaz, a resident of Sand City for more than 20 years and who has nearly 25 years of office management and bookkeeping experience. Before that, she was a sergeant at Fort Ord. But the biggest news in Sand City right now is that local artist Jayson Fann, who fashions art pieces out of salvaged wooden trunks, roots and branches, is installing a temporary outdoor art installation on a vacant lot adjacent to The Independent building. The project began on April 17. Walking through the lot on April 18, where several pieces of wood have already been trucked in on flatbed trailers, Fann waxes philosophical about the pieces he collects and transforms into art, often percussion instruments. “Each kind of wood has its own shape, its own vocabulary,” he says. One piece on a trailer is a giant hunk of a 1,500-year old redwood, still awaiting transformation, that Fann says the Coast Guard originally thought was a whale (it was later towed into Monterey Harbor). Fann’s vision for the installation is to create a botanical garden from plants (many already on site) that he’s cultivated, and make it a theater for musicians and other artists to gather and perform. While it won’t be fully completed until the West End Celebration in August, he plans to have open hours to visit before then, and is hoping he can get volunteers to help with the buildout. Every year, when cycling enthusiasts from around the world roll to the Laguna Seca Raceway for the Sea Otter Classic, the county-run campgrounds at the racetrack are packed to capacity. But like every year since 2006, campers still have to bring their own water. That’s because the water that comes out of the taps at the campground contains a level of arsenic that exceeds the federal limit of 10 parts per billion—before the law went into effect in 2006, the federal limit was 50 parts per billion. (The arsenic in the campground’s water, and in other places along the Highway 68 corridor, is naturally occurring.) But finally, due to money from the Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan Act, which Congress passed in 2021, the county has the funds for a fix. In 2021, the county allocated $1.9 million toward making the Laguna Seca campground’s water potable—though it’s since been reduced to $1.6 million— and County Parks Director Bryan Flores says a feasibility study has just been completed, but it remains in draft form at the moment. The plan entails installing somewhere between seven and 10 “kiosks” throughout the campground—like one might see outside a grocery store to fill up 5-gallon jugs—that will filter the water at “the point of contact,” Flores says. A facility-wide filtration system for Laguna Seca, he adds, would be prohibitively expensive. A system-wide fix, however, is in the works at the county’s Lake San Antonio recreation area, which is also being built with ARPA funds at a cost of over $3 million. The reason, Flores says, is that the filter of a point of contact system can’t sufficiently filter out the fine particles of mud in the water there. The project at Laguna Seca is expected to be completed next spring, but it’s too early to say if it will be in time for the 2024 Sea Otter Classic. Take Root Sand City, known for its murals, will soon get a different kind of public art. By David Schmalz news Get a Boost This vaccine clinic provides an opportunity to get your Covid-19 booster shot. Bring proof of your previous vaccination; available for those ages 5 and up. 11:30am-3:30pm Friday, April 21. Greenfield Unified School District, 493 El Camino Real, Suite A, Greenfield. Free. 206-0789, bit.ly/ GreenfieldBoosterApril. Community Love Keep Salinas beautiful at the Amor Salinas Earth Day Festival. Volunteer to help with weeding, painting and trash removal to keep Natividad Creek Park clean and accessible. A resource fair kicks off at noon with live entertainment, food and family activities. 9am-3pm Saturday, April 22. Natividad Creek Park, 1395 Nogal Drive, Salinas. Free. 758-7166, bit.ly/ SalinasEarthDay2023. Organic Goodness It’s an Earth Day Fair around the theme of “Fostering Environmental and Sustainable Learning,” presented by Big Sur Advocates for a Green Environment. There are several activities lined up, as well as speakers and organic foods to try. Celebrate plant-based foods and try out interactive plastic pollution awareness activities. 11am Saturday, April 22. Henry Miller Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. 241-8177, sustainablemontereycounty.org/big-sur-home. Garden Gratefulness Sustainable Pacific Grove hosts an Earth Day celebration at the city’s community garden. Tour the garden area, and watch special presentations about succession planting, composting with earthworms and more. Listen to Appalachian tunes performed by local artists Matt & Lance, and visit a children’s garden hour for story time and crafts. Noon Saturday, April 22. Pacific Grove Community Garden, 210 Ridge Road, Pacific Grove. Free. 521-8196, sustainablemontereycounty.org/events. Recycling Ready Seaside is celebrating its 12th annual Earth Day event, featuring electric vehicle testing and rides, music by Palenke Arts and activities for children. Dozens of vendors and information booths will be available and guests have an opportunity to recycle e-waste. Check out the Trashion Fashion show, where models will show off wearable works of art made of at least 90-percent recycled or repurposed materials. 1pm Sunday, April 23. Seaside City Hall, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. 915-7257, tinyurl.com/seaside-2023earth-day. Arsenic Laced The county has a plan to make Laguna Seca’s water potable again, but it’s a year away. By David Schmalz Though his work often takes him around the country, Jayson Fann is currently at work on two artist-in-residence projects locally, in Sand City and Walden Monterey. e-mail: publiccitizen@mcweekly.com TOOLBOX “Each kind of wood has its own shape, its own vocabulary.” Daniel Dreifuss
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16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY April 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com When the board of directors of the Monterey Peninsula Airport District met on April 5, the room overflowed and firefighters spilled into the hallway, packing the room to ask the board to renew their contract. On Dec. 20, the airport released a request for proposals for three years of fire service with a potential two-year extension. The airport board now has two options: renew a contract with the Monterey Fire Department, its fire service provider for nearly a decade; or sign on with Pro-Tec Fire Services, a private company based in Wisconsin, which operates at two other airports in California. Monterey Fire’s bid is $3.1 million, while Pro-Tec’s is 45-percent less, at $1.7 million. Since MFD took over airport fire service in 2014, MFD and the airport have used a cost-sharing service model. The station has four firefighters per shift, though the airport only requires three. They respond to fire and emergency calls not just at the airport but also in surrounding communities, including Highway 68, Fisherman’s Flats, Ryan Ranch and more. An airport contract with Pro-Tec, which would cover just the airport with three-person engine teams, would not offer coverage of those nearby Monterey neighborhoods; Monterey officials estimate response times would get three to five minutes longer, with the closest fire station on Montecito Avenue in the Villa Del Monte neighborhood. Monterey city officials are joining the fire department’s campaign in urging the public to pressure the airport board members to stick with MFD. “We are not planning on losing that fire contract and we are not planning on diminishing service levels—but should this happen, that would be a consequence,” Monterey City Manager Hans Uslar says. But airport Executive Director Michael La Pier says that will be the city’s problem: “We have no responsibility to go off airport to fight structure fires. That’s the city of Monterey’s responsibility, not the airport’s.” He adds that MRY has been clear for years in its direction to transition to an airport-only fire service model. Even if Monterey Fire keeps the contract, planned construction at the airport is likely to cause increases in response times to nearby communities. Along with a new airport terminal, the existing fire station will be demolished; a new one will be on the northern side, further from Highway 68. Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer says they are exploring alternatives, one of which is crossing the runway, where planes have priority. “If we need to cross the runway we might have to wait. It’s not an ideal situation,” Panholzer says. During the April 5 meeting, the board directed MRY staff to tighten up potential contracts and clarify whether Pro-Tec’s bid includes start-up costs and vehicle costs. The Monterey Fire Department will hold a community meeting to discuss the contract at 6pm on Thursday, April 20 at the Monterey Public Library. The MRY board is set to choose a new contractor on Thursday, April 27. Fired Up A new firefighting contract at Monterey Airport could increase response times in nearby neighborhoods. By Celia Jiménez Monterey Fire Chief Gaudenz Panholzer presents the city’s proposal at Monterey Peninsula Airport District’s special meeting on April 5. NEWS “That’s the city of Monterey’s responsibility, not the airport’s.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com VOTED MONTEREY COUNTY’S BEST VETERINARIAN Two years in a row! ’21 ’22 WE ARE pRoud to INtRoduCE ouR NEW AssoCIAtE KAtE CARtER Kate Carter has been in small animal general practice since graduating from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2019. She shares Dr. Kaplan Dau’s dedication to offering the highest quality of care while working with clients to manage their pets’ health. She believes strongly in practicing evidence-based medicine. She is excited to be practicing at Pacific Grove Animal Hospital and looks forward to meeting you and your pets! CAN YOU SOLVE THE MYSTERY BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT? Follow the rabbit. Rob the bank. Travel through time to save the world....and many more. A 60 minute adventure, 9 rooms to choose from each with a different theme. Great for birthdays or special events. Kid friendly. All locations surrounded by great local restaurants. 4 MONTEREY LOCATIONS 765 Wave St, Ste A2 • 599 Lighthouse Ave • 700 Cannery Row, Ste DD and Oscar’s Playground 685 Cannery Row 831.241.6616 BOOK TODAY! Escaperoom831.com Voted Monterey County’s Best Place For a Birthday Party Two Years in a Row ’22
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 On March 9, staff at The Peregrine Fund, a nonprofit that manages the California condor flock in Arizona and Utah, observed a condor showing signs of illness. They initially suspected the bird was suffering from lead poisoning. By March 20 the bird had died, and its body was sent to a lab for a necropsy. The results, confirmed on March 30 by a U.S. Department of Agriculture lab, showed the bird didn’t die from lead poisoning, but from H5N1, a new strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, aka bird flu. By April 13, a total of 18 condors from the Arizona-Utah flock had died, six of which so far have been confirmed to have bird flu. The news has sent shockwaves through the condor management community, as the California condor is a critically endangered species that was nursed back from the brink of extinction starting in the late 1980s, when there were only 22 remaining on Earth. The Central Coast flock, which is managed by nonprofit Ventana Wildlife Society and staff at Pinnacles National Park, currently numbers 89, and has been slowly recovering—until now, perhaps. “What’s scary is we don’t know the extent of this outbreak,” says VWS Executive Director Kelly Sorenson. H5N1 has been detected in every U.S. state except Hawaii, and it can spread through various means that include bird-to-bird contact and environmental contamination with fecal matter, which humans can then transmit via shoes or clothing. Scientists believe the timing of the recent outbreak suggests the new strain was brought north by migratory birds overwintering in South or Central America. Though it hasn’t yet been detected in condors in California or Baja, Sorenson and his colleagues are bracing for impact. VWS staff have been wearing hazmat suits when handling birds, and ordered 10 quarantine pens. Though each can hold three birds, sick condors will be kept in isolation until it’s determined if they have H5N1 or lead poisoning. (In the worst-case scenario, Sorenson says, VWS would capture healthy condors and keep them in captivity until it’s safe to release them.) Ashleigh Blackford, the California condor coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says it’s unclear why this particular strain is so virulent to condors, but it appears this strain is uniquely deadly to vulture species. “Just like all viruses, there’s got to be some genetic predisposition to what species are impacted greatest,” she says. “It’s an evolving situation. We’re learning as much as we can as fast as we can.” Blackford adds that it’s “incredibly frustrating” to see condors face this threat when so much work has gone into their recovery. The good news is that there is a vaccine for the bird flu. But the bad news is that, per current USDA guidelines, it’s not legal to administer it to wild birds. USFWS has asked USDA officials for an emergency authorization to change that, and Mike Stepien, a USDA spokesperson, says federal agencies “are exploring the logistics and use of a vaccine in that population.” Flu Season A new strain of bird flu appears to pose an existential threat to California condor flocks. By David Schmalz Scientists say it’s possible some condors that succumbed to bird flu may have had weakened immune systems from lead poisoning, which condors get from feeding on carcasses with lead bullets. NEWS “What’s scary is we don’t know the extent of this outbreak.” COURTESY OF VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY Try Us First. We Pay The Highest! MONTEREY COIN SHOPPE Since 1970 same street for 40 years Open Mon-Thur 11am-4pm and Friday by appointment only. Call for an appointment: 831.646.9030 449 Alvarado St., Monterey www.montereycoinshoppe.com WE BUY GOLD AND SILVER, JEWELRY, COINS, DIAMONDS, WATCHES, ART & RARE ANTIQUES Monterey One Water • ReGen Monterey • Southern Monterey Bay Dischargers Group GREEN CART Food scraps without a bag TRASH Cooking oil and grease ClogBusters.org Good kitchen habits protect the environment & public health from sewer overflows! www.ClogBusters.org OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY In Downtown Santa Cruz – 585 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz See Website or Phone for Details • 831-621-2309 • www.currentebikes.com EVERY BIKE INCLUDES: • FREE LIFETIME TUNE-UPS • PROFESSIONAL ASSEMBLY • ASSISTANCE WITH SIZING & ADJUSTMENTS • DISCOUNTS ON ACCESSORIES, RACKS, ETC. • COMPLETE POST SALE SERVICE MENTION THIS AD FOR AN ADDITIONAL $50 OFF ANY BIKE IN STOCK ELECTRIC BICYCLES Orbea Rise Lightest eMTB in Class Quality Electric Bikes In-Stock eBikes ON SALE NOW
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY april 20-26, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com Up and Down Monterey County, 1861 | Part 1 William H. Brewer was born in New York state in 1828 and grew up on a farm near Ithaca. At age 20, he enrolled in Yale University’s School of Applied Chemistry and had originally planned to attend for just a year, but quickly realized one year wouldn’t be enough to explore his burgeoning interests, so he ended up spending two. After teaching for a few years following his time at Yale, he traveled to Germany in 1855 and spent two years in Europe, where he studied chemistry, geology, mineralogy and botany. In the summer of 1856, he walked 600 miles through Switzerland, soaking up the majesty of the Alps. He returned to America in 1858, having also traveled to France and England, and took a job as a chemistry professor in Pennsylvania. Tragically, his wife Angelina, whom he married in August 1858, died shortly after giving birth to their son nearly two years later, and his son died just a few weeks after that. It was at this inflection point of Brewer’s life that, in 1860, the California State Legislature authorized a geological survey of the state, including its botanical features. Josiah D. Whitney, a professor of geology at Harvard, was put in charge of the survey, and in recruiting his men, corresponded with one of Brewer’s former professors at Yale. Upon hearing of Brewer’s qualifications and character, Whitney decided to hire Brewer as the first man to join him. From November 1860 to November 1864, Brewer traveled with Whitney and other men on various traverses throughout California, and aside from keeping a journal, Brewer also wrote letters to his brother Edgar, which were published posthumously in 1930. Those letters paint a vivid picture of California in the early days of the American West, a treasure of contemporaneous observations. In 1861, Whitney’s party traveled on two occasions throughout Monterey County. The Weekly is publishing edited versions of those letters, chronologically, as space allows. (Look for subsequent installments in the coming months.) These excerpts have been edited for length. Brewer entered Monterey County at its southern border, and here is where our journey begins. -David Schmalz Camp No. 28, Nacimiento River. Saturday afternoon, May 4, 1861 It is a lovely afternoon, intensely hot in the sun, but a wind cools the air. A belt of trees skirts the river. I have retreated to a shady nook by the water, alike out of the sun and wind; a fine, clear, swift stream passes within a few rods of camp, a belt of timber a fourth of a mile wide skirts it—huge cottonwoods and sycamores, with an undergrowth of willows and other shrubs. We have been here three days… We crossed the San Luis Pass of the Santa Lucia Mountains, a pass about 1,500 or 1,800 feet high, and entered the Santa Margarita Valley. North of the Santa Lucia chain, which trends off to the northwest and ends at Monterey, lies the valley of Salinas, a valley running northwest, widening toward its mouth, and at least a hundred and fifty miles long. This valley branches above. One branch, the west, is the Santa Margarita, into which we descended from the San Luis Pass. We followed down this valley to near its junction with the Salinas River and camped at the Atascadero Ranch, about twenty-two miles from San Luis Obispo and six from the Mission of Santa Margarita. On passing the Santa Lucia the entire aspect of the country changed. It was as if we had passed into another land and another clime. The Salinas Valley thus far is much less verdant than we anticipated. There are more trees but less grass. Imagine a plain 10 to 20 miles wide, cut up by valleys into innumerable hills from 200 to 400 feet high, their summits of nearly the same level, their sides rounded into gentle slopes. The soil is already dry and parched, the grass already as dry as hay, except along streams, the hills brown as a stubble field. The Mission of Santa Margarita was in ruins. It is the seat of a fine ranch which was sold a few days ago for $45,000. The owner, Don Joaquin de Estrada, lives now at Atascadero Ranch, where we camped. This last ranch is all he now has left of all his estates. Five years ago he had sixteen leagues of land (each league over 4,400 acres, or over 70,000 acres of land), 12,000 head of cattle, 4,000 horses, etc. Dissipation is scattering it at the rate of thousands of dollars for a single spree. Thus the ranches are fast passing out of the hands of the native population. Camp No. 29, Jolon Ranch, on San Antonio River, May 8 The American who has this ranch keeps 15,000 or 16,000 sheep. He is a very gentlemanly Virginian and was very kind to us. He says that the loss of sheep by wolves, bears, and rattlesnakes is quite an item. We are in a bear region. Three men have been killed within a year near our last camp by grizzlies. Monday we came on here, about twenty-five miles. The day was intensely hot, and as we rode over the dry roads the sun was scorching. We crossed a ridge by a horrible road and came into the valley of the San Antonio, a small branch of the Salinas, and followed up it to this point, where we are camped on its bank. We passed but one ranch and house in the 25 miles. In one place, two bears had followed the road some distance the night before—their tracks were very plain in the dust. The contemporaneous letters of William H. Brewer, a scientist with the California Geological Survey, bring the Wild West to life. By William H. Brewer Edited by David Schmalz William H. Brewer, a scientist with the California Geological Survey, wrote in his journal on Dec. 19, 1862: “I have been adding up my perigrinations in this State since I arrived twenty-five months ago, and the following are the figures: mule-back, 3,981 miles; on foot, 2,067 miles; public conveyance, 3,216 miles; a total of 9,264 miles.” The Mission of Santa Margarita was in ruins. It is the seat of a fine ranch which was sold a few days ago for $45,000.
www.montereycountyweekly.com APRIL 20-26, 2023 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19 We are connectors, providing our members with introductions to business connections, new customers, referral sources and access to valuable business resources and connections. We are promoters, seeking to raise awareness of our members through marketing opportunities in our Chamber Connection, Member2Member news, our social media pages and our member referral program. We are informative, serving on advocacy-focused committees and task forces to stay on top of key business government and community issues and educating out member on topics impacting businesses in our region. We are inclusive, guided by our commitment to be an organization where all members have a sense of belonging, feel respected, valued and are provided a level of service and support that enables them to be successful. Join today at montereychamber.com 353 Camino El Estero, Monterey, CA info@montereychamber.com • 831.648.5350 We Invite You to Join Our Business Association! SPCA MONTEREY COUNTY thanks our caring and compassionate volunteers who make all our programs possible. THANK YOU for your love! spcamc.org WHERE TO APPLY: MONTEREY.ORG/SUMMERJOBS The City of Monterey is an Equal Opportunity Employer. THE CITY OF MONTEREY Now Hiring! APPLY Today! Do you enjoy helping children? Are you flexible and adaptable? Do you have a positive attitude? SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES • Playground Recreation Leader • Day Camp Counselor • Field Sports Recreation Leader • Camp Quien Sabe Resident Camp Counselor, Support Staff (Kitchen Helper, Handyperson, Crafts Assistant), Crafts Leader, Lifeguard and Cook
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