10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 16-22, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The paved, two-lane portion of Highway 1 through Big Sur is an attraction unto itself. It’s also the artery that residents, employees, emergency responders and tourists use to get to and from the remote community. With access limited on all sides—on the South Coast, due to three separate slides, and due to a slip-out to the north at Rocky Creek Bridge—travel into and out of Big Sur has been a chore as much as a scenic attraction. After the southbound lane collapsed down the cliff on March 30, Caltrans opened twice-daily convoy access to local traffic and essential workers only in the remaining northbound lane. In the six weeks since, vehicles have lined up to pass in either direction at 7am and 5pm daily. It’s meant Big Sur is not quite an island—there’s still access to town, but life south of the convoy is quieter and free of crowds. “There are these really beautiful glimmers of magic that can only happen when it’s quiet like this,” says Diana Ballantyne, general manager of Fernwood Resort. But Ballantyne, the “mother hen” responsible for 44 employees, has also been stressed; 40 are laid off. She expected 1,500 campground nights in April. Instead, she sold just two campground nights. That was before Caltrans announced the general public could also travel through the convoy point, but even since that change took effect two weeks ago on April 29, tourism activity has been slow. And each reservation requires a discussion with a prospective guest about convoy travel. “Every conversation with a guest is at least 15 minutes on the phone. You talk about their dog sitter schedule. You go through the whole thing and then they says, ‘Eh, I don’t think that’s going to work for me,’” Ballantyne says. Fernwood is planning to staff up for the Hipnic music festival May 17-19, and the highway will open to 24/7 traffic just in time. Caltrans announced on May 14 that traffic signals will be ready to replace the convoy starting at 6:30am on Friday, May 17, providing one-way traffic control. Even so, people expect the ramp-up to be slow. “Consumer confidence in Big Sur as a destination product is at an all-time low,” says Matt Glazer, general manager of Deetjen’s, where 36 of 42 employees faced a reduction in hours and $250,000 in room stays were refunded. “Getting the word out about being reopened is more difficult because the news cycle talks about the disaster.” For the past couple of years, the state has pushed to transition K-12 campuses into community schools, designed to serve not only as a space to learn but a hub where parents and students can get support for needs like housing, mental health and more. The goal is to break down the barriers for families so they can reach the services they need and students can focus on academic success. School districts aren’t starting from zero; most already provide similar services on campus or through family resource centers. But funding is helping drive the vision forward. For the 2024-2025 school year, the California Community School partnership program distributed $1.3 billion. In Monterey County, Alisal Union, Salinas Union High School, Monterey Peninsula Unified and Soledad Unified school districts received five-year implementation grants for community schools. AUSD received the largest sum, $17.1 million, and will convert all 12 of its elementary schools into community schools. (It has pilot programs now running at four, including Jesse G. Sanchez and Virginia Rocca Barton schools.) “We understand that the biggest impact we will have is if we take the whole family on the adventure,” says Monica Anzo, associate superintendent of educational services at AUSD. MPUSD received $8.7 million for its Seaside schools; SUHSD got $6.6 million for El Sausal Middle, Everett Alvarez and North Salinas high schools; and Soledad received $5.7 million for four elementary schools. Each school will offer slightly different services based on local needs. Monterey County Office of Education implemented a community school framework last year. While community schools may focus on services outside of a classroom setting, the goal is enabling students to thrive: “We hope to see lower chronic absenteeism rates, lower suspension/expulsion issues, and higher academic achievement,” says Ernesto Vela, assistant superintendent at MCOE. Slow Road Limited access on Highway 1 creates hardship, but also some magic, in Big Sur. By Sara Rubin NEWS OPEN HOUSING Hear from city representatives and regional partners from the City of Del Rey Oaks about the future of housing and sustainable development. Following a brief presentation, attendees will be invited to ask questions. 6-9pm Thursday, May 16. Monterey Moose Lodge, 555 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Del Rey Oaks. Free. 394-8511, jguertin@delreyoaks.com. POLYGLOT The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center hosts Language Day, inviting visitors to campus to learn about different cultures. Come see live performances, and language and cultural exhibits. 10am-3pm Friday, May 17. Soldier Field, Presidio of Monterey, 76th Artillery Street and Corporal Ewing Boulevard, Monterey. Free. Language_ Day@dliflc.edu. POWER PLAYERS The third annual Women Empowerment Resource Fair features workshops on resume writing and job interviewing; financial literacy; CPR; and more. The keynote speaker, Sheriff Tina Nieto, shares her personal story. Useful items for job interviews and school (such as clothing, backpacks, etc.) will also be available. 10am-2pm Saturday, May 18. Greenfield Memorial Hall, 615 El Camino Real, Greenfield. Free. info@ womenarelimitless.org, rotary5230.org. FIRST CITY Make your voice heard by providing input to the City of Monterey Parks and Recreation Department’s online survey for the Old Capitol Site Park Plan. This is the second online survey and it is intended to inform the open space plan that will guide the future of the site. The survey is available until Friday, June 7 online at haveyoursaymonterey. org/oldcapitolsite. BUILDING UP Members of the public are welcome to comment on the county-wide housing plan, known as the housing element. Staff invites residents to review the plan and submit feedback before final approval. The draft plan is available for viewing online at countyofmonterey.gov/ generalplanupdates or in hard copy at the County’s Housing and Community Development Dept., at district supervisors’ offices or at Monterey County Free Libraries branches. Comments can be submitted until June 6 by mail to: County of Monterey Housing and Community Development, Attn: Jaime Scott Guthrie, 1441 Schilling Place, South 2nd Floor, Salinas, CA 93901 or by email at GeneralPlanUpdates@ co.monterey.ca.us. 796-6414. Class Act Monterey County schools receive nearly $40 million to implement community schools. By Celia Jiménez Convoys have been running for about one hour twice a day at 7am and 5pm, with roughly 700 vehicles a day, up from about 500 when it was closed to visitors. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “There are beautiful glimmers of magic when it’s quiet.” SARA RUBIN
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