december 19-25, 2024 montereycountynow.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT buying ferrini ranch 10 | No crab for Christmas 12 | Santa Says 48 | In the punch bowl 52 First Place General Excellence • 2024 CA Journalism Awards • There was progress, there were setbacks and there was everything in between. A look back at local headlines of 2024. p. 22 The Year in News Local Shopping guide Last Minute p. 32
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com december 19-25, 2024 • ISSUE #1899 • Established in 1988 Mike Sheehan (Nikon, 600mm, 1/1250 sec, @ F6.3) The photographer posted up in his Prunedale yard to capture the moon on a clear, blue-sky day. Then Southwest flights started cruising through his view, and this one flew by at exactly the right moment as the sun was setting, illuminating the plane from below. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: Etienne Constable commissioned his nextdoor neighbor, Hanif Panni, to paint this mural of his fishing boat on a 6-foot fence after Seaside Code Enforcement ordered Constable to obscure the boat. Panni’s social media posts depicting the mural— which looks exactly like the boat it obscures—went viral, generating national news coverage of his neighbor’s “malicious compliance.” Cover Photo: Sara Rubin etc. Copyright © 2024 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: $300 yearly, prepaid. 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.montereycountynow. com. Audited by CVC. Founder & CEO Bradley Zeve bradley@montereycountynow.com (x103) Publisher Erik Cushman erik@montereycountynow.com (x125) Editorial editor Sara Rubin sara@montereycountynow.com (x120) associate editor Erik Chalhoub ec@montereycountynow.com (x135) features editor Dave Faries dfaries@montereycountynow.com (x110) Staff Writer Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) Staff Writer Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) Staff Writer Agata Pope¸da (x138) aga@montereycountynow.com staff writer Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) Staff Writer David Schmalz david@montereycountynow.com (x104) Staff photographer Daniel Dreifuss daniel@montereycountynow.com (x140) Digital PRODUCER Sloan Campi sloan@montereycountynow.com (x105) contributors Nik Blaskovich, Rob Brezsny, Robert Daniels, Tonia Eaton, Paul Fried, Jesse Herwitz, Jacqueline Weixel, Paul Wilner Cartoons Rob Rogers, Tom Tomorrow Production Art Director/Production Manager Karen Loutzenheiser karen@montereycountynow.com (x108) Graphic Designer Kevin Jewell kevinj@montereycountynow.com (x114) Graphic Designer Alexis Estrada alexis@montereycountynow.com (x114) Graphic Designer Lani Headley lani@montereycountynow.com (x114) SALES senior Sales Executive Diane Glim diane@montereycountynow.com (x124) Senior Sales Executive George Kassal george@montereycountynow.com (x122) Senior Sales Executive Keith Bruecker keith@montereycountynow.com (x118) Classifieds business development director Keely Richter keely@montereycountynow.com (x123) Digital Director of Digital Media Kevin Smith kevin@montereycountynow.com (x119) Distribution Distribution AT Arts Co. atartsco@gmail.com Distribution Control Harry Neal Business/Front Office Office Manager Linda Maceira linda@montereycountynow.com (x101) Bookkeeping Rochelle Trawick 668 Williams Ave., Seaside, CA 93955 831-394-5656, (FAX) 831-394-2909 www.montereycountynow.com We’d love to hear from you. Send us your tips at tipline.montereycountynow.com. The fuTure is up To you To donate: mcgives.com/journalism Democracy depends on independent journalism. Producing that journalism requires new resources. reader revenue and philanthropy are current models to assist news organizations. your support is vital.
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Downtown Monterey 301 E. Franklin Street (831) 646-3730 BEST HEALTH CLUB 11 years in a row! 20% OFF ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS & NEW MONTHLY AUTOPAY SUBSCRIPTIONS PURCHASE ONLINE montereysportscenter.org TREAT YOURSELF & YOUR FAMILY TO THE GIFT OF FITNESS! offer valid November 29 - December 31 Use Discount Code: HOLIDAY2024 (FIRST MONTH ONLY) SCAN ME TO PURCHASE
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH It’s tick-tock for TikTok, which on Dec. 13 had its request to delay a federal law forcing its sale be denied. Earlier this year, President Joe Biden signed a law requiring ByteDance, the China-based owner of the social media platform, to sell TikTok to an American entity or face a ban in the U.S., over fears the company could turn over user information to the Chinese government. ByteDance argued that the Jan. 19 deadline should be delayed as it awaits to hear if the Supreme Court will review its challenge of the law. The company said the app, which is used by more than 170 million Americans, would shut down if the law is not overturned. Free speech groups have decried the law as censorship, with attorneys for ByteDance saying it violates the First Amendment rights of its users. President-elect Donald Trump has promised to “save” the social media platform, but his plan is unclear—the deadline takes place a day before he assumes office. Good: Christmas is coming early this year to 1,500 children and their families— specifically, families who are short on resources and might otherwise have to skip or pare down Christmas. On Dec. 19, Operation Santa brings toys, posole kits and holiday cheer to families of children in South County who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. The fourth annual event is the brainchild of County Supervisor Chris Lopez, who wanted to create a joyful space—none of the usual resources and information about assistance, just celebration. “It’s just magic,” Lopez says. “When you hit winter, things get really tight and resources get thinner. What often goes by the wayside is Christmas.” Festivities include a camouflage-clad Santa flying in via helicopter from Fort Hunter Liggett (err, we mean the North Pole), supported by a long list of sponsors, chiefly California Water Service, and volunteers. GREAT: Friday the 13th is generally considered unlucky. And it was on Dec. 13—but only for the opponents of Carmel High School. The Padres pulverized El Capitan 48-7 in the California Interscholastic Federation 5-AA state championship game, played in Fullerton. The win gave Carmel its first state football title, capping a perfect 15-0 season for head coach Golden Anderson’s squad, as well as a great week of postseason play. The El Capitan Vaqueros, from Lakeside, were riding a 10-game winning streak and were even with Carmel in the early going. But Padres running back Ashton Rees broke loose behind the big offensive line and the defense stood firm. Carmel piled on 41 points after the first quarter to secure the lopsided victory. While the Padres have only one loss in two years, reaching the title game was not as easy. In the regional finals they edged a tough Acalanes squad, 42-41. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how much two projects in Salinas will receive in federal funding, Rep. Zoe Lofgren announced. The Sam Farr Crop Research Center will get $200,000 from the U.S. Department of Energy to design a solar energy system, while Hartnell College will receive $199,951 from the National Science Foundation to upgrade STEM research equipment. Source: Rep. Zoe Lofgren’s office $399,961 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I put the best team in place so I can also do the big stuff.” -Supervisor-elect Kate Daniels, announcing she had hired former Salinas Mayor Kimbley Craig as her chief of staff (see story, montereycountynow.com). OCEAN LEARNING AVAILABLE FOR ALL YOU CAN MAKE MONTEREYCOUNTYGIVES.COM/OSO THE OCEAN IS YOUR CLASSROOM El océano es tu aula Support a Student at Rancho Cielo! With your generosity, we can continue to fund 100% of students’ academic and vocational education, preparing them for higher education and full-time employment. SCAN TO DONATE TODAY NOVEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 31 Rancho Cielo is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization. Federal Tax ID #77-0555859
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 700 Jewell Avenue, Pacific Grove, California 93950 MOWMP is a 501(c)(3) exempt organization. EIN 94-2157521 We know that it takes a village—a community coming together—to provide meals, connection, care, and compassion. Your donation does more than feed someone for a day; it helps us drive out hunger and isolation for our neighbors. Your generosity can make a profound impact on the lives of seniors, veterans, and disabled adults in our community. IT TAKES A VILLAGE DONATE TODAY MOWMP.ORG/DONATE DONATE NOW montereycountygives.com/chs Donate to Community Human Services HELP END HOMELESSNESS • OUTREACH • SHELTER • HOUSING PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES ALL YEAR LONG! THE CITY OF MONTEREY FOR MORE INFO + REGISTRATION MONTEREY.GOV/REC (831) 646-3866 SCAN ME! play! MONTEREY PRESCHOOL ADULT & SENIOR PROGRAMS ADULT SPORTS LEAGUES GYMNASTICS YOUTH DANCE CLASSES SCHOOL BREAK & SUMMER CAMPS YOUTH SPORTS LEAGUES & CAMPS AND MUCH MORE!
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Illustrations can show you images from mythical worlds, or be an abstract representation of something real. The craft has different uses—one of which brings science closer to people. At CSU Monterey Bay, the ninemonth Science Illustration Certificate Program helps students sharpen their skills to become scientific illustrators. The program is well-known nationwide and has been around since the 1980s. It was previously housed at UC Santa Cruz and moved to CSUMB in 2009. “The purpose of this program is to train people to make art that can explain science,” says Reid Psaltis, program director. Psaltis says science illustrations are everywhere, beyond the pages of specialized books and magazines. For instance, we can find them at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, on interpretive signage at local beaches and parks, and in murals. Sometimes they are accurate representations of what’s found in nature, such as the number of vertebrae in a dog; others are an amplification of nature, like putting together all of the amphibians, plants and insects that are part of an ecosystem; or they can be an oversimplification so viewers can understand different parts of the heart. Students in the program should show excellent illustration skills, but they don’t necessarily need an art or scientific background. “We look for people who have good observation skills so they can represent what they see,” Psaltis says. Part of the program requires students to enroll in an internship. Local organizations where CSUMB science illustration students intern include the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Monterey Audubon Society. The program attracts students from different backgrounds. One of them is Emma Regnier, who studied fine art and biology at Cornell University. “It’s well known in the world of science illustration. It has a very renowned reputation for producing a lot of great artists,” Regnier says. Sometimes, illustrations are needed because specimens can’t be photographed or don’t preserve well once scientists take them out of their natural habitat. One group of organisms that falls into this category are Rhizaria, a large, single-celled organism found in the open ocean. Rhizaria are miniscule to the naked eye, but get more detail in enlarged illustrations. They contribute to living plankton and transport carbon dioxide from the surface to the deep ocean. A membrane that surrounds them disappears once they are taken to the surface. “By the time you bring it up to the surface and on the ship, this [membrane] is gone,” says Colleen Durkin, an oceanographer with MBARI. Last summer, Emily C. Mitchell, who was a scientific illustration intern at MBARI and part of CSUMB’s science illustration program, joined the Carbon Flux Ecology Lab expeditions and jumped on the R/V Rachel Carson, MBARI’s coastal vessel, to observe and learn more about deep-sea Rhizaria with siliceous, or glass, skeletons and create illustrations of the translucent organisms after gathering information in real time. Durkin says Mitchell was seeing these organisms with fresh eyes. “She noticed just different morphologies, different shapes that we overlooked because we just expected everything to be one way,” Durkin says, noting Mitchell’s observations help them to hypothesize about these organisms. Mitchell was a paid intern at MBARI. The organization received a $10,000 grant from the Maxwell/ Hanrahan Foundation for a science illustration internship in 2022, and it was recently renewed for three additional years at $45,000. “It was just a one-year, kind of one-off opportunity, but because this went so well we’re going to be able to do it again for three additional years,” Durkin says. Natalia Llopis Monferrer, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions postdoctoral fellow at MBARI, says she really enjoyed working with a scientific illustrator because they are a bridge that helps them to better communicate their research with the community. Learn more about the Science Illustration program at CSUMB at csumb.edu/scienceillustration or 582-3785. Art Meets Science Students at CSU Monterey Bay learn how to make science more accessible through illustration. By Celia Jiménez CSU Monterey Bay student Natalie Chan draws a bat during a Science Illustration class. Students in the program sharpen basic skills using traditional methods such as pen and paper, later learning about different editing software. “It has a very renowned reputation.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS GIVE THE GIFT OF GOOD HEALTH! Our Local Impact: Our Big Idea expands FOOD IS MEDICINE in Monterey County through nutrition programs and farmers’ markets providing local, sustainably grown fruits and vegetables to families in need. Please Donate Today! 213 Farmers Markets hosted annually 2,750+ Families served weekly (avg.) $2.2M in Healthy Food Incentives provided over the past 10 years (includes: Fresh Rx, Market Match, Edible Education, and Farms Together Produce Boxes) Nov. 14 - Dec. 31, 2024 montereycountygives.com/harvest
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 JOB FAIR Saturday, January 11th, 2025 9a.m. – 12p.m. 2790 17-Mile Drive, Pebble Beach (Next to Pacific Grove Gate) Interviews on the spot These opportunities are for the period of January 27 – February 2, with most shifts January 30 – February 2. Hiring for all areas Bussers, cashiers, cooks, housekeepers, servers, shuttle drivers, stewards, and many more. Please come prepared to provide proof of employment eligibility. Questions: (831) 649-7657 AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM Temporary Special Event
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com news Nearly two years after floods in the North County town of Pajaro displaced most of its residents, the community’s recovery process is still ongoing. That includes the distribution of the funds meant to bolster recovery. The State of California allocated $20 million in aid to the community, a gift remarkable in its size and its flexibility. It was up to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors to decide how to allocate the money, and based on feedback from the mostly low-income community, they decided half of the money would go directly to residents and business owners. Another $2 million would go toward infrastructure, $1.2 million to parks, $3.5 million to the library, and so on. The plan was approved a year ago, on Dec. 6, 2023. According to a progress report released on Dec. 18, only $2.6 million of the $10 million in direct aid has been distributed so far. (Another $287,000 has gone to administrative costs.) “It’s important to note that this process was never sold as a quick solution,” says Kelsey Scanlon, director of the County’s Department of Emergency Management. “We’re being very mindful about the time and attention necessary to get these families back on their feet.” She adds that case workers are helping residents and business owners apply to any other programs available to them, from the local to the federal level. (Scanlon notes in the report that the $20 million is in addition to $14 million more from other government programs and philanthropy that went to Pajaro’s recovery.) “The disaster case management process and collecting documentation is very much intended to Red Tape A year after the County approved $10 million for Pajaro aid, just $2.6 million has been spent. By Celia Jiménez For conservationists, the dream of preserving Ferrini Ranch, an approximately 870-acre property that straddles Toro Park along Highway 68, has been in the ether for decades, long before the County Board of Supervisors, in a 3-2 vote, approved a development on the property in 2014. That approval was subsequently litigated on grounds that it didn’t comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, but the lawsuits—there were three—also stopped the clock on the deadline for the developer to start the project within two years. After the litigation was resolved, the clock again started ticking, and in 2022, the supervisors voted 4-1 to approve a six-year extension for the development rights. As far as proposed developments go, it’s had a catlike number of lives. But it turns out the development— which proposed 185 residential lots—isn’t likely going to happen, as nonprofit Trust for Public Land was expected to close a deal on Dec. 18, after the Weekly went to print, with developer Mark Kelton to acquire the property for $14 million. TPL’s appraisal for the land is over $25 million. In 2021, the property was listed at over $35 million. “These things are really hard to put together,” says Christy Fischer, TPL’s Northern California coastal conservation director, who’s also a Carmel Valley resident. “In every community there are a few exceptional properties that contribute in important ways to the health of the land,” she says, “and this property, Ferrini Ranch, is one of them.” In her view, the most critical aspect of the land going into conservation is to preserve the wildlife corridor on the half of the property southwest of Toro Park, near San Benancio Canyon, which connects the Sierra de Salinas with the Fort Ord National Monument. That corridor helps piece together a series of acquisitions in recent decades in the Sierra de Salinas that nearly cover its entire crest. TPL plans to later transfer the land to local nonprofit Big Sur Land Trust for long-term stewardship. Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis, BSLT’s executive director, and Rachel Saunders, its vice president of conservation, are also thrilled. TuiteleLewis says it’s a property BSLT has long had its eyes on, but it couldn’t make a deal happen to acquire it, and asked for TPL’s help. She calls the property a “pinch point” in wildlife connectivity. Saunders adds, “This is the linchpin property. If we lost this property, it wouldn’t get reclaimed again.” BSLT expects it will take about two years to raise $15.5 million to pay back TPL for the acquisition, and to cover stewardship. TPL is bankrolling the acquisition through a loan from the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County’s Central Coast Climate and Conservation Action Fund. Asked why he decided to sell at a discount, Kelton writes, “Our family has a long history with this property. While it had been our intent to develop this into a unique and special neighborhood, we also have a strong affection for natural beauty and we are very happy to find a long-term opportunity to see this special property conserved.” TPL and BSLT, Kelton adds, “do a wonderful job of taking care of important places.” From left, Christy Fischer (of the Trust for Public Land), is teaming up with Big Sur Land Trust’s Rachel Saunders and Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis to acquire Ferrini Ranch. Wild Corridor Nonprofit Trust for Public Land is acquiring Ferrini Ranch to transfer to Big Sur Land Trust. By David Schmalz Maria Colin Paniagua, the owner of Mi Rancho restaurant, says revenue still has not returned to pre-flood levels. She is borrowing money and paying bills in small increments to make ends meet. “If we lost this property, it woudn’t get reclaimed again.” Daniel Dreifuss celia Jiménez tape, continued on page 12
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 This holiday season, the County of Monterey’s Family and Children’s Services is recruiting Resource Parents to help protect foster children and support family reunification. To learn how you can help keep families together, visit fcsmc.org Foster Youth in Monterey County Partner. Protect. Support. INVESTING in IMPACT 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org Leverage Your Year-End Gift by December 31, 2024 Each donation to your choice of 206 participating nonprofits receives a partial match. Gifts of stock or IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions are welcome to benefit multiple nonprofits with one gift. montereycountygives.com MCGives! is a project of the CFMC, the Monterey County Weekly and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. We are grateful to our donors and nonprofit partners for helping create healthy, safe, vibrant communities. Your Partner in Philanthropy Donor Advised Funds, Charitable Estate Planning (e.g. CGAs, CRTs), IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, Scholarships & More COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR MONTEREY COUNTY Let’s make sure no grandparent goes hungry or feels alone. Donate: montereycountygives.com/mows
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com There will be no California crab for Christmas again this year. This marks the sixth consecutive year that the Dungeness crab fishery—one of California’s most valuable fisheries—has faced delays, dealing yet another major blow to local commercial crab fishers. The fishery will remain closed at least through the end of 2024. “There’s really no other fisheries we have access to, so we just have to wait,” says Brand Little, a fisherman whose main catches through the year include salmon, shrimp, black cod and crab. But on Dec. 11, the California Fish and Game Commission unanimously approved the expansion of an experimental fishing permit, which doubles the number of fishers under the permit from 20 to 40, allowing them to fish for crab using Sub Sea Sonics ropeless gear this spring. The commissioners also increased the number of crab traps allowed per line from 10 to 50, and extended the interval time—the period fishers have to remove and replace their gear—from 96 hours to seven days. “This is as good as it gets,” says Geoff Shester, Oceana’s California campaign director and senior scientist. Ropeless crab traps work by allowing fishers to release a lid with buoys using a bluetooth signal before floating to the surface with a rope attached to the trap. While the system isn’t perfect and tends to be slower, Little says, “It works, and it will work for a spring fishery.” The Dungeness crab season has been shortened at the start and end of the season due to the increased presence of whales feeding in local waters and potential for entanglements. While ropeless traps have been around for some time, they were first used in the crab fishery commercially in California waters under an experimental fishing permit in the spring of 2024. The use of the fishing gear thus far has shown to be a success. The largest trial of pop-up fishing gear involved 19 commercial Dungeness crab fishers who brought in 229,000 pounds of crab, valued at $1.5 million. “I want to give them as much opportunity to succeed,” Commissioner Darius Anderson said during the Dec. 11 meeting. The experimental permit currently allows for use of Sub Sea Sonics’ ropeless trap, but other manufacturers are steadily entering the market. The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation has established a gear lab where fishers can check out ropeless gear in exchange for reporting back data. “It may not be a one size fits all,” says Greg Wells of NMSF. “That’s why we’re creating this library of options.” be mindful of the experience of the disaster victims and to help them navigate a very complex process,” Scanlon says. “That is also very much intended to ensure that the people who are participating in the program are getting what they need, and that the people who are not supposed to be in the program are identified and directed to a different program that might be more appropriate.” Some funding was earmarked for individuals regardless of immigration status, helping those who did not qualify for funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Nonprofits active in the community—Catholic Charities and Community Bridges—are tasked with distributing $6 million in funds. They have so far distributed $1.1 million, according to the county progress report. For the first phase, covering food spoilage, those groups approved 688 of 757 applications and distributed $464,600. Because unspent funds remain, the county will make a second round of phase-one funds available for those who qualified the first time. The second phase is still ongoing and focuses on housing assistance, personal property and vehicle repair. So far, 384 cases from 84 households have been approved and $633,975 distributed. In a community that prefers cash over credit cards and where many don’t have a bank account, proving losses has been a challenge, but Ray Cancino, CEO of Community Bridges, says they have adapted to what is practical. “It’s not just receipts, it’s also photos. People have been creative,” Cancino says, noting Pajaronians have used not just photos but also text messages and videos to prove losses. The Monterey County Workforce Development Board has so far distributed $1.6 million out of $4 million earmarked for small businesses. For the first phase, losses and damages, the workforce board has approved 34 out of 89 applications and distributed $1.2 million. For the second phase, it has distributed $258,859 to 29 out of 58 applications; $517,717 was approved and will be disbursed once projects are completed. Maria Colin Paniagua, owner of the Mexican restaurant Mi Rancho, says she hasn’t received any funds. “Two years have passed, and nothing,” she says. County projects—like road, park and library improvements—have yet to break ground, but are in development. The library repairs are set to begin in January. Gear Drop Some good news for crabbers (and crab lovers) comes amid season delays. By Katie Rodriguez news Ring in ’25 First Night Monterey seeks volunteers to assist with various tasks during the nine-hour New Year’s Eve celebration. The 32nd annual event features music, art and more for the countdown to 2025. Volunteer orientations scheduled for 3pm Saturday, Dec. 21 and 3pm Saturday, Dec. 28. Archer Park Community Center, 542 Archer St., Monterey. 373-4778, firstnightmonterey.org. Support the Future Seaside’s Youth Leadership Academy hosts its third annual Youth Summit. The event, which includes food, entertainment and raffle giveaways, celebrates the city’s youth leaders. 5-8pm Saturday, Dec. 21. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave., Seaside. Free. ci.seaside.ca.us. Civic Duty The City of Marina is accepting applications to fill seats on three commissions: Public Works, Recreation and Cultural Services, and Planning. It is also recruiting for the Tree Committee and Transportation Agency for Monterey County Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee. Application deadline is 5pm Friday, Dec. 27. Free. 884-1278, cityofmarina. org. Give to Gives! Monterey County Gives! invites you to join in supporting the missions of 206 local nonprofits. Read about their Big Ideas and donate online. Ends at midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 31. To donate by check to CFMC, write nonprofit names in the memo line and mail to: CFMC, 2354 Garden Road, Monterey, CA, 93940. 375-9712, mcgives@cfmco.org, montereycountygives.com. Trash Transformation The City of Salinas has installed trash corrals along the East Alisal Street commercial corridor, and is seeking the submission of professional photography/art showcasing the Alisal community, its history and culture that will be installed on the new corrals. Submission deadline is 5pm Friday, Jan. 10. Free. 758-7381, bit.ly/41BW6Uj. Council Search The City of Pacific Grove seeks applicants interested in filling a vacant city council seat. Represent your community for a partial term, with a two-year commitment. Applications are due at 5pm Friday, Jan. 3. 648-3181, cityofpacificgrove. org. Greg Wells of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation shares how the Sub Sea Sonics ropeless crab gear works using bluetooth technology at its gear lab in Santa Cruz. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “It works, and it will work for a spring fishery.” Katie Rodriguez tape, continued from page 10
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Valley Health Associates provides Outpatient Substance Use Treatment for Adults and Youth, pioneering a transformative "whole-person, whole-family, whole-community" approach to substance use treatment. (831) 424-6655 valleyhealthsalinas@gmail.com www.valleyhealthassociates.com Join us in supporting holistic healing that addresses the mind, body, and spirit. Internships are always available. Contact Valley Health Associates for more information. *Take larger quantities—like leftover turkey fryer oil—to your local household hazardous waste collection facility Scrap the drain to protect critical infrastructure and the environment! ClogBusters.org TRASH* Cooking oil and grease GREEN CART Food scraps without a bag RECIPE FOR CLOG-FREE HOLIDAYS • Southern Monterey Bay Dischargers Group ReGen Monterey • This Holiday Season… Come experience horses in a place of peace & purpose. www.seastarhorsesanctuary.org | info@seastarhorsesanctuary.org 53A Riley Ranch Rd, Carmel | (831)595-2185
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY December 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Three-and-a-half years ago, Monterey-Salinas Transit made paying for bus fares as easy as the tap of a card, convenient for anyone who has a credit or debit card. Those without cards were left fumbling for change. A new partnership between MST and an initiative that offers a way for people to open low-fee bank accounts and thus gain contactless bank cards is set to eliminate the fumbling, as well as provide MST with some cost savings. Bank On is an initiative of the nonprofit Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund, which seeks to connect people to safe and affordable bank accounts. The accounts cost $5 a month or less and have no overdraft fees or insufficient funds fees. The accounts are available through participating local banks and credit unions— accounts are opened through the Bank On website, joinbankon.org/certifidedaccount. Online bank accounts are available through bankononline.org. According to Bank On, close to 4.5 percent of U.S. households, or approximately 5.9 million adults, are “unbanked” without a checking or savings account. Another 14 percent are “underbanked,” meaning they use fringe financial services such as payday lenders and pawn shops. Nationally, just over 33 percent of Hispanic households are unbanked or underbanked, compared to less than 12 percent of white households. “We have a banking system that is less accessible to those people who are historically underrepresented or are very low-income, who look very much like, and share the same characteristics of, those who use public transit,” says Carl Sedoryk, MST general manager/ CEO. MST leadership saw an opportunity through partnership with CFEF to provide riders with a way to access financial tools they might not otherwise be able to, like debit cards and direct deposit. MST has incorporated a discount program that caps the regular fares of tap-to-pay users at $6 per day, $20 per week and $70 per month. Sedoryk says about 40 percent of riders who use tap-to-pay are achieving discounts. There’s a benefit to MST as well, since the more people use cashless tools, the less expense to the transit system: Sedoryk says it costs 18 cents of every dollar collected to process cash, compared to approximately 5 cents to process tap-to-pay. Collecting cash is expensive for both customers and MST, “so why are we doing that? We need to stop,” Sedoryk says. “Our goal [is] we want to increase the number of bank cards into our passenger base because it’s good for the passenger and it’s good for MST.” Currently about 10 percent of MST riders are using tap-to-pay, but it’s more than doubled since 2022. Sedoryk sees room for more growth. The longer-term vision is to go cashless, as many businesses already have. “It would be in everyone’s interest that we don’t even take cash. But that’s a long way to go,” Sedoryk says. “We have to start somewhere, and we want to get these tools into people’s hands so they don’t have to carry coins and cash wherever they go.” Bank On It A new MST partnership offers contactless bank cards to those without accounts. By Pam Marino MST envisions someday going cashless, which would save the transit agency money. Fare boxes cost about $30,000 apiece, are expensive to maintain and slow down boarding to make change. NEWS “It’s good for the passenger and it’s good for MST.” DANIEL DREIFUSS * Borrowers must be members of Bay Federal Credit Union and your business be eligible for Bay Federal membership. Qualification of membership is defined as the business headquarters is located within Santa Cruz, Monterey, or San Benito Counties. Must meet membership and account criteria, all loans subject to approval. Only commercial properties located within the state of California are eligible for financing. Rates and terms will vary based on collateral and credit. Programs, rates, terms, conditions, and services are subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply. 831.479.6000 • www.bayfed.com • 888.4BAYFED Federally Insured by NCUA | Equal Housing Lender 1524 N. Main Street | Salinas Now Offering Commercial Real Estate Loans No pre-payment penalties Purchase or refinance Loan amounts up to $5,000,000 Multi-family units, farm & agriculture, office space, warehouses and other properties Visit a branch today!
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 VNA Connections For over 73 years, VNA continues to provide vital health care services to those in need! Our Connections Program is a FREE service that assists patients and families navigate the complexities of the health care system and coordinate community resources to support acute ailments, chronic conditions, or life-limiting illnesses. Our Connections Team is available to help identify caregiving options, transportation, and food resources, coordinate community services, understand advance directives and health benefits, and provide emotional support and counseling. VNA…Delivering Compassionate, Trusted, Team-Driven Care. Support VNA Connections today at montereycountygives.com/VNA! VNA Connections For over 73 years, VNA continues to provide vital health care services to those in need! Our Connections Program is a FREE service that assists patients and families navigate the complexities of the health care system and coordinate community resources to support acute ailments, chronic conditions, or life-limiting illnesses. Our Connections Team is available to help identify caregiving options, transportation, and food resources, coordinate community services, understand advance directives and health benefits, and provide emotional support and counseling. VNA…Delivering Compassionate, Trusted, Team-Driven Care. Support VNA Connections today at montereycountygives.com/VNA! VNA Connections For over 73 years, VNA continues to provide vital health care services to those in need! Our is a FREE service that assists patients and families navigate the complexities of the health care system and coordinate community resources to support acute ailments, chronic conditions, or life-limiting illnesses. Our Connections Team is available to help identify caregiving options, transportation, and food resources, coordinate community services, understand advance directives and health benefits, and provide emotional support and counseling. VNA…Delivering Compassionate, Trusted, Team-Driven Care. Support VNA Connections today at montereycountygives.com/VNA!
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY December 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The news caught everyone by surprise. When insurance claims came into the Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group (MCSIG) in October, they were a record $11.6 million. More high-cost claims came in November. Already operating at a deficit, the MCSIG board gathered for a special meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11 and voted that the small insurance joint powers authority would assess its members a total of $6.7 million by Jan. 17, knowing most of the participating school districts and cities would be hard-pressed to find the money. “This increase is driven by unusually high medical claims, and of course Monterey County is expensive as well, so that adds to that,” MCSIG Executive Director Neddie Sarmiento told the board. The claims are for diseases that include cancer, diabetes, sepsis and kidney disease. “Quite a few members are very ill,” she said. The assessments range from $928 to $1.24 million, depending on the size of the district. It’s an expense that no district budgeted for and it will likely mean either more money out of employees’ pockets or reduced services to students and residents, or a combination of both, MCSIG Board President Steve McDougall said during the meeting. One member, Hartnell Community College District, will pay its $680,000 assessment out of reserves, according to a spokesperson. Staff shared with the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Dec. 17 that the district is going to look into providers other than MCSIG. The MCSIG joint powers authority includes nearly 30 participating school districts and municipalities inside and outside Monterey County to operate and maintain health insurance for their employees. When claims come in, MCSIG pays on those claims to health care providers, using money from premiums. Of the $11.6 million in October’s claims, only three claimants had claims of over $500,000; anything above $500,000 is reimbursed by third-party stop-loss insurance. MCSIG is only receiving a $463,230 refund; the rest of the $11.6 million must be paid by the JPA. MCSIG was already operating at a deficit, Sarmiento said. The new claims nearly doubled that deficit from $6.8 million to $12 million. The large claims are spread among all the members—no single district is seeing a concentration of claims, said Tom Edwards, a consultant with Keenan & Associates. That being said, the claims coming from districts and municipalities within Monterey County are the driver of the high costs, he said, adding that some costs of medical conditions treated at local hospitals have doubled since a couple of years ago. Also adding to costs is the jump in claims for drugs used for diabetes and weight loss, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Four such drugs accounted for 25 percent of prescription drug costs, said Bordan Darm, also with Keenan & Associates. He suggested MCSIG may have to limit access to the drugs, as other insurers have done. Caught Short School districts and cities are on the hook for $6.7 million after health insurance claims soar. By Pam Marino The board of the Municipalities, Colleges, Schools Insurance Group (MCSIG) meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11, when they approved assessments for each member agency to help cover expenses. NEWS New claims nearly doubled MCSIG’s deficit to $12 million. DANIEL DREIFUSS (831) 649-4511 | Portolahotel.com Experience the magic of the Holiday Season at Portola Hotel & Spa Calendar of Events LIVE PERFORMANCES Dec 20 | 5PM to 8PM Evergreen Duo with Lisa Marie Bohn and Scott Slaughter at Jacks Monterey Dec 21 | 5PM to 8PM Evergreen Duo with Lisa Marie Bohn and Scott Slaughter at Jacks Monterey Dec 24 | 5PM to 8PM Peninsula Harmony Company Trio Carolers KP at Jacks Monterey THE MEAN GREEN ONE IS BACK! Dec 21 & 24 | 6PM to 8PM Meet & greet at your leisure at Jacks Monterey Reservations recommended CHRISTMAS EVE Dec 24 | 4PM to 10PM Cioppino Dinner Special at Jacks Monterey Reservations recommended CHRISTMAS DAY Dec 25 | 2PM to 7PM Christmas Dinner Buffet De Anza Ballroom Full menu available online Reservations required
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 Keep Rocking! ADVERTISEMENT BUSINESS LAW ESTATE PLANNING ESTATE ADMINISTRATION LITIGATION VOTED BEST ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY 2023 2021 GOLDEN PINE CONE AWARD Est. 1908 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200, Carmel (831) 375-3151 www.hudsonmartin.com The Best Attorney ’12-’24 In Monterey County Jeannette K. Witten Monterey County Weekly Jeannette K. Witten VOTED BEST ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY 3 YEARS, LAWYER IF YOU NEED TO SUE SOMEONE BUSINESS LAW TRUST & ESTATE PLANNING LITIGATION
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY December 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com MC GIVES For the season of giving, Jacob Martinez and his team at Digital NEST had an idea: If the nonprofit that provides career skills to youth could garner 100 donations, Martinez would get his first tattoo on his upcoming birthday. Challenge accepted. Digital NEST quickly netted 120 donations, totaling about $7,500, and on Nov. 23, Martinez got a tattoo of the nonprofit’s logo on his arm, which was livestreamed on social media for all to see. Such a creative fundraising effort proved effective, with about half of the donations coming from first-time donors, he says. It’s that type of ingenuity that is a critical component of Digital NEST’s mission—as an organization that is deep into the ever-evolving world of technology, such out-of-the-box thinking is required to ensure its students always remain in step with whatever digital advances come their way. Digital NEST offers technology learning centers for youth ages 14-24, teaching them career skills in the tech space and placing them in jobs in the Silicon Valley and beyond. Launched in Watsonville in 2014, Digital NEST has since expanded to Salinas, Gilroy, Modesto and soon, Stockton. “We launched with this ambitious, big bold vision that a lot of start-ups have,” says Martinez, the founder and CEO of the nonprofit. “I always thought we’d be in communities all across the state, but I didn’t realize how quickly it would happen for us.” For Monterey County Gives!, Digital NEST’s Big Idea is to help support the growth of its Salinas center, located downtown at 210 Salinas St. in an historic fire station. Digital NEST’s in-house digital media agency, bizzNEST, offers young people ages 18-24 paid internships to work at businesses within their communities. For 2024, there are 60 interns, chosen from a pool of 550 applications, resulting in more than $1 million in total salaries. These interns are ready to work in a variety of jobs—from web development, to marketing, graphic design, IT support and more. But they need businesses to hire them. “When companies are looking for talent to bring in, let’s not look beyond our region,” Martinez says. “We have the talent right here in our community.” GENEVA RICO PHOTOGRAPHY Digital Decade Digital NEST marks 10 years of training the next generation of tech leaders. By Erik Chalhoub Students in Digital NEST’s programs learn the ins and outs of videography and other tech-centered careers. How to Donate Go to www.mcgives.com and click the Donate button. • The Academic World Quest (AWQ) program develops the global awareness necessary to understand our interconnected and rapidly changing world. This High School academic competition is a collaborative experience that presents opportunities to students to learn about global issues by focusing on international politics, economics, geography, history and cultures. The result is improved communication and leadership skills. Our local winning team earns a trip to Washington DC to compete at the national level against other teams sponsored by World Affairs Councils of America. • The World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area conducts numerous programs involving the presentation, discussion and study of international affairs, including monthly guest speaker luncheons and dinners with presentations by global thought leaders. To learn more join the World Affairs Council to gain a better understanding of your world www.wacmb.org Please Support Monterey Peninsula Youth Education, Creating our Leaders of Tomorrow montereycountygives.com/wac Donation Deadline 12/31/24 Please donate to support World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area After 30 years in Monterey County, The Marine Mammal Center must relocate to a new facility. Before we can continue serving this community with our critical conservation work, your help is needed to make our new home a reality. You support will help sick and injured seals, sea lions and sea otters so they can be released back to the wild. A Seal Pup Needs You Donate MarineMammalCenter.org .......................
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 19-25, 2024 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19
20 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 19-25, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com Storm Time Does Monterey County know how to build anything well? I’ve never experienced such poor infrastructure in my life, from the houses to the electrical grid it all seems pretty bottom of the barrel (“High winds and intense rain take out power to over 38,000 customers, mostly on the Monterey Peninsula,” posted Dec. 14). Mike Grambush | via social media It’s interesting, where I come from (Brittany, France) we call this a wee bit of wind. Power lines were put underground in the ’70s! Never heard of power outages like the ones we experience here. What the heck is PG&E doing with the money we give them to provide services? Ah! That’s right, the shareholders. Yann Lusseau | via social media Deep Seep Thank you for your recent reporting on saltwater intrusion into Salinas Valley aquifers (“Elected officials are watching idly as seawater intrusion continues advancing down the Salinas Valley. If only someone could do something,” posted Dec. 12). What is happening is so shortsighted. Michael Marsh | Salinas When I was working in India a few years ago, I visited a manufacturing site in Bangalore with similar issues that had successfully re-infused their groundwater wells. It was so successful that they were able to sell water to their neighbors. The approach? Leveraging impervious and landscapes adjacent to the wells to direct monsoon rains through surface and subsurface adjustments. I am wondering if there is any effort to explore these low intensity but high impact solutions. Lisa Kleissner | Big Sur I am sad to learn of the latest estimate that the intrusion will continue even if all pumping stopped. This is like watching a slow-motion car wreck that could be stopped, but no one will do so. Thanks David Schmalz for continued, accurate, succinct writing. Berj Amir | Seaside In Service Supervisor Mary Adams has accomplished many good things during her two terms in office. One of her best ideas was mentioned again at her final board meeting: term limits for supervisors (“Big spending led candidates to victory in Salinas’ $1.2 million election,” Dec. 5-11). Term limits are in place for the governor, state representatives and state senators; seems logical to consider them for county supervisors as well. Although Adams will not be able to accomplish this goal while still in office, hopefully she will continue to strive for implementing term limits. With a groundswell of citizens backing the idea there is hope term limits could be achieved. The remaining sitting board members might not like it, though for the sake of democracy and broader citizen representation the idea of term limits is worth considering. Joseph Hertlein | Carmel Valley Big Bite This is a great report of a local success. Hopefully, this is a silver lining in the cloud of the slow recovery of the otter (“New study reports endangered sea otter helps control invasive species,” posted Dec. 11). It appears that the European green crab has invaded extensively both in the Atlantic and in the Pacific. If the otter follows the food, it should help recovery of the otter population along the entire West Coast, which is the original range of our local otter, and the prospective range of the green crab. Walter Wagner | Salinas Under Water A great activity for those of us trying to learn to slow down and deepen attention (“There’s magic to be found in tidepools—if you look closely and slow down,” posted Dec. 10). And a reminder that, though humans think themselves the center of things, the natural world has its own headlines and schedules. Paul Fleischman | Monterey Behind Bars It would be nice to think he could be rehabilitated (“The Monterey man who evaded police by hiding under his house is sentenced to prison time,” posted Dec. 5). But he should not be allowed to torment his neighbors and disrespect the rule of law. I hope he gets help in prison, but prison seems to be exactly where he needs to be for as long as it takes to change his ways. Polly Dickinson | Durham, N.C. Feeling Crabby Maybe we just make Dungeness crab a Super Bowl tradition (“No California Dungeness crab until 2025,” posted Dec. 6). Paul J. Ingram | via social media Let’s just get more rope-free traps in use. Great that the pilot was so successful! Barbara Senft | via social media Kick Off In an era marked by increasing division, it’s easy to forget what can be achieved when communities come together. We are fortunate, however, to have a tangible reminder here in our backyard: the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex, which recently hosted a historic event, the region’s first-ever high school girls’ soccer tournament (“Great Week,” Dec. 5-11). The girls had the honor of being the first to play on the new state-of-theart turf fields. The Soccer Complex results from extraordinary community effort, with the City of Salinas, the County of Monterey, multiple Salinas Valley Soccer Leagues and countless community members working collectively toward a shared vision. It’s rare to find such a bright illustration of our better selves. Yet, the Soccer Complex shows that together, we can achieve something extraordinary. Let’s be encouraged to seek more opportunities to come together to build the kind of community we all want to call home. Catherine Kobrinsky Evans | Salinas Difference of Opinion I LOVE the cartoons! (“Letters to the Editor,” Dec. 5-11.) And thanks for the refreshing intelligent viewpoints versus the rightwing nut job writing and opinions of the local daily struggling to keep the circulation up from its dwindling and fading readership. Truth on! Jim Knight | Seaside Letters • CommentsOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==