december 26, 2024-January 1, 2025 montereycountynow.com LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Potty-Mouthed Parrot 6 | In a Pickle 8 | Ring in the New Year 38 | Baroque Bash 40 First Place General Excellence • 2024 CA Journalism Awards • The winners of the 101-Word Short Story Contest run free with their imaginations to blur the lines between fantasy and reality. p. 20 101-Word Short Story Contest Roll With It
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 26, 2024-january 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com december 26, 2024-January 1, 2025 • ISSUE #1900 • Established in 1988 Daniel Dreifuss (Canon R5 1/3200 F3.2) Wave watchers take in the powerful ocean scene at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on Monday afternoon, Dec. 23. A man was swept out at Marina State Beach, and rescuers were unable to locate him and called off their search by sea and by air due to conditions. Monterey County photo of the week Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: What happens when someone takes the words “Free Piano” too literally? An artist rendered Shawn Boyle’s short story, which received first place in the Weekly’s annual 101-Word Short Story Contest. Cover illustration: Chiara Xie 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.
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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump pledged retribution against those he feels wronged him, including the media. He appears to be making good on that promise. On Dec. 16, Trump sued the Des Moines Register, its owner Gannett and pollster Ann Selzer for an unspecified amount in damages, with a campaign spokesperson claiming a poll the newspaper released days before the election was a “collusive attempt to interfere in the election.” The poll showed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris in the lead in Iowa, a historically Republicanleading state, although Trump ended up winning by 13 points. “We stand by our reporting on the matter and believe a lawsuit would be without merit,” said a spokesperson for the Register. In an interview with PBS before the lawsuit was filed, Selzer said “it’s not my ethic” to create a poll to generate a planned response. “To suggest without a single shred of evidence that I was in cahoots with somebody, I was being paid by somebody, it’s all just kind of, it’s hard to pay too much attention to it except that they are accusing me of a crime,” she said. Gannett filed a petition to move the case to federal court. Good: Good news for commuters Beginning Jan. 2, residents from Gonzales and Soledad will be able to connect via bus with other parts of their cities. Monterey-Salinas Transit will launch two circulator routes, 31 and 32, for Gonzales and Soledad, respectively. These routes will replace on-call services in both cities, making public transportation more reliable. “It’ll provide more service with the resources that we have,” says Carl Sedoryk, MST’s general manager and CEO. The new routes will have designated bus stops at different locations including shopping areas and schools. The routes will operate every 30 minutes and will connect users with other routes. MST is also adding a new line on Jan. 6 from the Salinas Transit Center to Rancho Cielo during weekdays to provide a reliable route for students and staff. Sedoryk says it will benefit low-income students who don’t have access to cars. GREAT: On Dec. 16, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland designated Robinson Jeffers’ Tor House in Carmel as a National Historic Landmark. The stone house was built in 1918-19 for poet Robinson Jeffers and his wife, Una Jeffers, and he followed up by building Hawk Tower. Tor House Foundation President Elliot Ruchowitz-Roberts thanked many for helping with the nineyear process: “It has been a long, challenging road which many helped travel.” In 2015, then-president Vince Huth and then-administrative assistant Erin Carey began the nomination process. Trustee Gere diZerega took the lead in pursuing the nomination, enlisting the aid of trustees Jim Karman and Ruchowitz-Roberts, who were responsible for preparing the application. The foundation team is looking forward to a public celebration, perhaps at the already-scheduled May 5 garden party at the Tor House. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The number of nursing students in the first cohort participating in a cooperative program between Monterey Peninsula College and CSU Monterey Bay who graduated in a ceremony at CSUMB on Dec. 17. The program streamlines the path to a bachelor’s degree in nursing from four years to two-and-a-half years. Source: CSU Monterey Bay 21 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Why are we in a rush? Because businesses are hurting right now.” -Pacific Grove Mayor Nick Smith, after the City Council agreed to create a business liaison position on Dec. 18 (see story, montereycountynow.com). 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! MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 HEALTHY HABITS, HEALTHY YOU At Salinas Valley Health, we are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of everyone in our community. Join us! START YOUR JOURNEY TO A HEALTHIER YOU TODAY! SalinasValleyHealth.com Scan the QR code to learn more. PATHWAYS TO WELLNESS Explore budget-friendly (often free) classes, programs, events and support groups to help you live your best life. Scan the QR code to learn more. WALK WITH A DOC Take a step toward better health with monthly healthcare discussions by local doctors and health experts. WELLNESS Get moving with one of these free community classes: Zumba, Pilates or Yoga. Registration is highly recommended; walk-ins are also welcome. Scan the QR code to learn more and to register.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Alex Kjellgren, Seaside’s animal control officer, didn’t necessarily have adopting an African grey parrot on his bingo card when he reported to work Oct. 7, nor did Seaside Police Chief Nick Borges, when he woke up that day, expect to have a new, honorary member of his staff, whose name is Jazzy. But that’s how it played out, as an elderly Seaside resident, who had six birds in his care, had to move out of state to receive hospice care. Kjellgren had visited the resident’s home previously after a neighbor voiced concerns about the state of the shed in the backyard, as it pertained to the birds’ health. In his initial visit to the shed, Kjellgren says, the conditions for the birds—three African greys, a cockatoo, macaw and eclectus parrot—were “not ideal,” and he informed their caretaker that the conditions needed to be remediated immediately, or the birds would have to be taken. In part, the problem was that all the shells on the ground were inducing an infestation of mice and rats. But the caretaker was unable to find someone willing to clean up the mess, so around five days later, Kjellgren took possession of the birds—three were going to be shipped out of state to their owner, one was going to go to the caretaker, another to a friend who’s a veterinarian, and the remaining African grey, Jazzy, Kjellgren adopted himself. Shortly thereafter, when Kjellgren put a tub of water next to Jazzy in order to bathe her, the bird said, “Oh shiiitt.” Kjellgren adds, “I quickly got my 3-yearold daughter out of the room.” African grey parrots are among the smartest birds, he says, and can be trained to do and ask for things, but he says most of the sounds they make are mimicry. In Jazzy’s case, those often included saying shit, crap, and according to Kjellgren’s wife, even dropping the f-bomb one time. And another sound she often makes, Kjellgren says, “is the stereotypical sound of an old person sitting down.” These days, Jazzy often accompanies Kjellgren to the office, which in his case is inside the Seaside Police Department, where she shuffles atop the cubicle partitions in the records department and drops the occasional swear word, much to the delight of employees. Borges, Seaside’s police chief, says Seaside’s had some great animal control officers in the past, but that with Kjellgren—who started in March 2022—“We really struck gold with this guy,” calling him a mix of Steve Irwin and Ace Ventura. He adds that they only bring Jazzy out to the records department—which can be within earshot of visitors coming to the front desk with an inquiry—when “she’s in a good mood.” Jazzy often repeats things coming across the police radio, Borges adds. “She’s a smarty pants.” On Dec. 5, during an afternoon visit to Seaside PD, Jazzy is reserved. Not only will she not be coaxed to curse, she doesn’t even utter a sound—perhaps she’s stage-shy—but she’s perfectly happy to be held and have her head petted. When touching base with Borges inside his office, he’s visibly amused by the new addition to his staff. He brings up the time when, in 2015, actor Will Ferrell, while promoting a movie he starred in, Get Hard, appeared on Late Night With Conan O’Brien with a cockatoo on his shoulder. O’Brien, after asking Ferrell how he was doing, then noted there was a bird on Ferrell’s shoulder. Ferrell, playing it straight, said, “You know Conan, I’m happy to go on your show, and I’m happy to talk about the movie…and I’m happy to talk about anything. But I don’t want to talk about my personal life.” Borges says he’s jokingly contemplated employing that same bit when entering a serious meeting, arriving with Jazzy on his shoulder, and when someone asks about her, he’d say, “I don’t want to talk about my personal life.” Just a few minutes later, Kjellgren puts Jazzy atop the partitions in the records department, where she starts shuffling about, back in her element and soon to be out of the eye of the media. Unfortunately, despite repeated inquiries, Jazzy declined to comment for this story. Bird With Words Seaside’s police department has a new member— an African grey parrot with a penchant for cursing. By David Schmalz Jazzy the parrot sits atop Seaside Animal Control Officer Alex Kjellgren’s shoulder. Kjellgren adopted the potty-mouthed bird after rescuing her from a home infested with rats and mice. “I quickly got my 3-year-old daughter out of the room.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP LUNCHEON CELEBRATING OUR MEMBERS! FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 2025 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM • HYATT REGENCY $85/MEMBERS • $100/PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS KEYNOTE SPEAKER: SECRETARY PANETTA GET TICKETS! VISIT WWW.MONTEREYCHAMBER.COM SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Join us in celebrating MPCC member milestones. Guests will enjoy networking, a three course lunch and Keynote Speaker Secretary Leon Panetta. Presented by
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8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 26, 2024-january 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com news The sharp whacking sound of pickleballs ricocheting off of paddles became too much for neighbors surrounding Forest Hill Park’s four pickleball courts in Carmel. They pleaded with Carmel officials to do something to restore peace to the neighborhood. On Dec. 12, the Forest and Beach Commission answered those pleas, at least for a time, by limiting days and hours for play. “Pickleball just isn’t a game that should be played in residential neighborhoods,” said John Kratchmer, who lives just across the street. “It is loud and it is just ‘pop, pop, pop’ all day long. It’s not just the decibel level but the high pitch of the noise.” On direction from the Carmel City Council, Public Works staff studied the issue and determined that the pickleball noise is fairly consistent throughout the day, seven days a week, and exceeds noise levels as prescribed in city ordinances. Staff presented commissioners with four options for a trial period: no pickleball; limiting hours and days; mandating “quiet” equipment; or reducing the number of courts. Commissioners voted to limit play to 9am-5pm Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, for 90 days beginning in January, once signs are posted. At the end of the 90 days they will assess and send formal recommendations to the council. “Our group is certainly amenable to the changes. We’re not upset. We all empathize with the neighbors,” says Suzi Crary, 80, who’s won national titles in pickleball in her age class. Crary and others received city approval to create the courts four years ago, then painted striping and purchased nets. “Carmel is such fun and we have a really good group of people,” she says. Pickled Ball Heeding residents’ pleas, Carmel will limit pickleball play in a three-month trial. By Pam Marino It was not the life the avid runner, bicyclist and mountain climber planned, but Jackson Sherry is making the best of his situation, having suffered major injuries in a vehicle crash in Big Sur on New Year’s Day in 2016 that left him paralyzed from the chest down. Now using a wheelchair to get where he needs to go, Sherry has discovered everyday obstacles that make life difficult, like curbs, cracked sidewalks and poorly designed parking spaces. Sherry turned to the Americans with Disabilities Act to enact change. Starting in 2023 he filed five lawsuits, first against the owners of the Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel, followed by American Assets Trust, Inc., owners of the Del Monte Shopping Center in Monterey. The City of Monterey came next, then in January of this year he filed a suit against Montage Health over accessibility challenges at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. In July, he sued the City of Pacific Grove. The suits cover access issues like problems with handicap parking spaces that don’t accommodate vans, limited access to entryways, missing or inadequate curb cuts, cracked or uneven sidewalks or pathways and steep slopes, among others. “I started to learn what is enforceable and how to effect the changes I wanted to effect when coming across sidewalk issues or parking issues around town,” he says. He turned to attorney Irakli Karbelashvili of AllAccess Law Group in Santa Clara “to push the dial a little way and help myself out and anybody else incurring issues.” The lawsuits against the Barnyard and Del Monte Center were settled, which he’s unable to comment on per the agreements reached, or Montage because it is ongoing. He says in the case of the Barnyard, which has steep slopes and stairways throughout, the company agreed to make changes. An agreement was reached in the Monterey case, with a schedule of fixes to be made through 2029. The agreement states the promise of repairs is a compromise and not an admission of liability by the city, which agreed to pay Sherry $25,000 for damages, attorney fees and litigation expenses. In the Pacific Grove case, the parties entered into a consent decree and order on Dec. 2 as a compromise and not an admission of liability on the city’s part. It includes a list of numerous corrections to be completed in 2025 that include installing curb cuts, repaving pathways, repairing sidewalks and providing van-accessible parking, among other fixes. Sherry was awarded $27,046 in that case. Monterey officials were not immediately available for comment. Pacific Grove City Attorney Brian Pierik says he has no comment. Currently Monterey is undergoing a routine ADA Transition Plan update, as required by law. The update identifies disability access projects and sets a schedule and monitoring. Sherry, who just finished his last semester at CSU Monterey Bay earning a degree in film, says it’s been an “eye-opening” experience to pursue the lawsuits, and a good example of how people in the disabled community can “create accessibility by taking the ADA into their own hands.” He plans on pursuing a masters in filmmaking. He’s directed two short films and worked on others. He also wrote a nonfiction book, 8 ¼ Rules for Resilience. Pacific Grove agreed to make Lovers Point more accessible after Jackson Sherry filed a civil rights lawsuit based on the Americans with Disabilities Act. All Access A young man in a wheelchair is seeking to improve accessibility for others through the courts. By Pam Marino Forest Hill Park’s pickleball courts in Carmel are used daily, attracting regulars as well as avid players from around the world visiting the area. Neighbors say the noise is too much. “I started to learn how to effect the changes I wanted.” Daniel Dreifuss Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 @thequailca /qlgolfclub
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 26, 2024-january 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Walking around downtown Salinas can be an architectural adventure. There are dramatic bas relief busts on the original courthouse (now county offices) by artist Jo Mora, and large Queen Anne homes with asymmetrical facades, art deco flair and embellishments on several commercial buildings, such as those that are home to Alvarado on Main and Live@Heirloom Pizza Co. The city has a brochure that includes a map and over 50 historical buildings focusing mainly on art deco, a style that shaped the city during the agricultural boom from the 1920s-’40s. To learn more, and create a more thorough catalog, the Salinas City Council on Dec. 3 approved a citywide historic resources survey update, with a nearly $364,000 price tag. The last time the city embarked on an inventory of its historic assets was in 1989. Additional updates were made eight years ago during a downtown property survey, and this effort is meant to be more comprehensive. “The city is interested in exploring a new effort to fully catalog historic structures in Salinas,” Community Development Director Lisa Brinton wrote in a report to the city council. “I’m over the moon that the city has moved forward with this. It’s a great decision,” says Michael Mazgai, an architectural historian and a member of Salinas’ Historic Resources Board. “There are buildings in different parts of the city that are special, and we still don’t really have designated, official historic districts.” Historical surveys are important in guiding planning decisions and can aid in preservation programs, such as historical designation for buildings. Beyond planning relevance, Mazgai believes such an undertaking can increase pride in the community. “There’s so much history here that helped define Salinas, but frankly, I don’t think most of the residents know about it,” he says. “If they don’t know about it, how can tourists or the rest of the public find out about it? It’s great heritage tourism [and] promotes business.” According to Brinton’s report, the survey aligns with Salinas’ General Plan and a statewide historic resources preservation program the council approved in June, among other things. Page & Turnbull, Inc., an architecture, design and planning firm, will be in charge of conducting the survey, evaluating cultural resources and cataloging sites, structures and buildings. That process is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The iconic Big Red Barn in Aromas got a boost at the Monterey County Planning Commission meeting on Dec. 11, receiving unanimous approval for a permit to expand its uses. Since acquiring the Big Red Barn in 2020, Sal Jimenez says he has worked with agencies like Caltrans, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the County’s Environmental Health Bureau, as well as meeting with neighbors, to address code violations and deferred maintenance and prepare the venue to host a wider variety of events. “I said [to the County], I’ll make the investment, just allow me to expand a little bit of the use of this and [create] different revenue sources so I can help pay for this long term,” Jimenez says. The barn currently draws about 8,000 to 10,000 people on Sundays for its famous flea market. The new permit, however, allows Jimenez to host a range of social and corporate events, including weddings, quinceañeras, car shows, food festivals and California Rodeo-related gatherings. “I ask you to consider the social impact, the jobs it will bring, the celebrations that will be possible there,” Jordan Caballero, board member of the North County Recreation and Park District, told commissioners during the meeting. “We are in desperate need of a venue of this scale, because what we currently have does not meet the demand.” While initially commissioners debated issues like noise, traffic and protection of wildlife corridors, those concerns were ultimately resolved. For residents of North County, the expansion of the Big Red Barn for social gatherings and other events represents a significant change, as the nearest larger venues now include the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville and Sherwood Hall in Salinas. “When we’re looking at a project like this, I think our developed commercial properties should be used to their fullest extent,” said Commissioner Martha Diehl. “I want to see us use what we’ve got, better.” Take Stock Salinas begins a survey to assess historical buildings in the city. By Celia Jiménez news ’Tis the Season Holiday trees can be dropped off for free at the Johnson Canyon Landfill and Jolon Road Transfer Station. Remove all tinsel, lights, decorations and stands before taking the trees to the landfill. Dec. 26-Jan. 31. Johnson Canyon Landfill, 31400 Johnson Canyon Road, Gonzales; Jolon Road Transfer Station, 52654 Jolon Road, King City. Free. 7553000, svswa.org/holiday-trees. Clean it up Friends of Seaside Parks Association (FOSPA) organizes weekly work days to clean up and maintain parks throughout the city. 10am-noon Saturday, Dec. 28. Farallones Park, Hilby Avenue between Flores and Harding streets, Seaside. Free. fospa.info@gmail.com, friendsofseasideparks.org. Know Your Rights The County of Monterey recently launched a website with immigration information and resources for residents and employers. The information is presented in English and Spanish. bit.ly/MontereyCountyKnowYourRights. Root for Recreation North County Recreation and Park District is recruiting to fill two vacant positions on its board. Those interested in applying must live within the boundaries of the district and have an interest in recreational services. Submit a letter of interest by Thursday, Jan. 2 at 5pm to Supervisor Glenn Church, district2@countyofmonterey. gov or PO Box 787, Castroville, CA 95012. Financial Aid The County of Monterey’s Pajaro Recovery Fund Program includes direct monetary aid for residents and business owners impacted by the 2023 flooding. Case workers from Catholic Charities and Community Bridges are working to assess losses and get payments out. If you believe you are eligible for a payment but have not received one, contact La Manzana to ask about how to apply. Ongoing; funds must be spent by Dec. 31, 2025. La Manzana center, 14 Porter Drive, Pajaro. 724-2997, communitybridges.org. Holiday Break Many of the County of Monterey’s operations will be closed Dec. 26-27 and 30-31 in observance of Christmas and New Year’s. During this time, many offices will be closed or have limited hours of operation. The recess will not close any public safety operations. For more updates, visit countyofmonterey.gov. Barn Party The Big Red Barn received long-awaited approval for a permit to host larger events. By Katie Rodriguez “Every city is unique and has its own personality,” says Michael Mazgai, an architectural historian who supports the process of updating the inventory of historic structures. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “There’s so much history here that helped define Salinas.” Daniel Dreifuss
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Keep Rocking! ADVERTISEMENT Est. 1908 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200, Carmel (831) 375-3151 www.hudsonmartin.com ESTATE PLANNING ESTATE ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS LAW LITIGATION NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION VOTED BEST ESTATE PLANNING ATTORNEY 2023 2021 GOLDEN PINE CONE AWARD ESTATE PLAN 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 Memory Care with Compassion Inspire Connection (831) 718-9041 • merrillgardensmonterey.com 200 Iris Canyon Rd, Monterey, CA 93940 M O N T E R E Y Lic #275202591 Our Inspire Connection Program embodies what is important to you and your loved one. With our special approach designed for memory care, we create an atmosphere where residents continue to enjoy life one moment at a time. Call Today To Learn More
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com After a series of high-profile departures from Carmel Unified School District, it started to look like maybe the leadership team would stabilize. In the midst of a shakeup, with the superintendent resigning and Carmel High principal fired, longtime River Elementary School Principal Jay Marden announced his retirement at the end of the 2022-23 school year. His departure came after he raised objections to the former superintendent’s failure to notify Marden about why a custodian had been reassigned to River School; that reassignment, it was later revealed, came amid allegations of harassment by a direct report who subsequently sued the district. Alberto Ramirez was hired as Marden’s replacement. He lasted just one year; in June, Superintendent Sharon Ofek notified families that Therese Phillips would take over for the 2024-25 school year. “I would like to thank Mr. Ramirez for his time as principal; however, there will be a change in leadership,” Ofek wrote. On Oct. 24, Ramirez filed a claim against Carmel Unified, alleging that his termination was a retaliatory act taken against him when he stood up for student safety. “The basic facts here cast Carmel River Elementary School and the district in a very poor light,” his San Francisco-based attorney, Michael Welch, wrote. The claim centers on a physical education teacher, Russell Shugars. In March of last year, according to multiple parents and Welch’s letter, Shugars threw a cone at a fifth-grader, striking him under the eye. Shugars was placed on leave pending an investigation, for about six weeks. According to his claim, after the incident with the cone, Ramirez heard about other instances of alleged bullying or threatening behavior Shugars had exhibited toward students. Parents describe a history of screaming and intimidation toward students as young as kindergarten. Ramirez urged Ofek and Human Resources Director Craig Chavez to keep Shugars away from River School for good. “In my capacity as principal, and with over 30 years of experience in education, I do not see him fit to be around children,” Welch claims Ramirez wrote to the CUSD administration. “Please do not allow [Shugars] to return to Carmel River School.” He did return, in spite of Ramirez’s pleas—and then Ramirez learned CUSD leaders intended not to renew his own contract for the 2024-25 school year. Ramirez also claims he was underpaid by about $25,000 based on his qualifications. He is seeking upwards of $240,000. The CUSD board has yet reviewed the claim. If they deny it, Ramirez may proceed with a lawsuit. Ramirez’s attorney declined to comment. Ofek declined to be interviewed, noting the district cannot comment on ongoing litigation. Shugars was later placed on leave for this school year. The Carmel High newspaper The Sandpiper reported in November that Shugars also resigned from coaching high school and middle school wrestling. Shugars could not be reached. School Yard Staff changes at Carmel River Elementary School prompt a claim against the school district. By Sara Rubin Alberto Ramirez succeeded Jay Marden, who served as principal of Carmel River Elementary School for two decades. Ramirez is now pursuing legal action against Carmel Unified School District. NEWS “The basic facts here cast [the school] in a very poor light.” DANIEL DREIFUSS 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 ’23 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.montereycountynow.com December 26, 2024-January 1, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Moving can be a distressing event in any kid’s life, especially if they are experiencing neglect or abuse. Having a steady presence in their life while navigating the court system and an uncertain future can have a positive lifelong impact. That’s the role Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, fills for children who are in the foster care or juvenile justice systems. CASA is a nationwide organization that’s been operating in Monterey County for 30 years. It recruits, supports and trains volunteers—known as CASAs—to become advocates for kids. “They can absolutely change a child’s life,” says Beth Wilbur, CASA of Monterey County’s executive director. As part of the nonprofit’s 30th anniversary, CASA is launching a “30 in 30 for 30” campaign seeking to recruit 30 volunteers in 30 days in January. (Training begins in February.) Currently, there are 57 kids on the waiting list, the largest number since 2020. Last year, CASA helped 148 kids in Monterey County; 13 of them were in the juvenile justice system. There is more than advocacy—there is mentorship and support. Chris Farmerie has volunteered with CASA for 18 years. The first youngster she was matched with was Reyna Gabot, starting when Gabot was 13. “From the beginning, we found a common interest, which was cooking, and we started baking together,” Farmerie says. (One reason she introduced the teen to baking was to help her with math.) Gabot says Farmerie remained in her life while other adults were in and out constantly. “I remember thinking, ‘here’s another person that’s going to leave,’ and she never did,” Gabot says. Consistency is key. “The commitment that we ask is for a volunteer to stay with a child until the case is resolved,” Wilbur says. “What we try to do in training and screening volunteers is to make them understand that if they decide to quit, that’s one more loss for that child who has really learned that he or she can’t really trust the world and can’t trust grown-ups.” Generally, the cases of children in foster care go to a judge every six months to determine whether a child will be returned to their parents. In this process, CASAs advocate for what they believe is best for the child and report to the judge about how the child is doing academically and socially. The volunteers are expected to meet at least twice a month with their youth, spending time on activities together like hiking or visiting an attraction like the Aquarium, helping them with schoolwork or organizing a meet-up with siblings. Farmerie and Gabot kept in touch after Gabot left the foster care system at 21. Gabot, who is now a pastry cook at Pebble Beach Resorts, says having a CASA advocate changed her life and helped her find her passion. “I really wouldn’t be where I am,” she says. To learn more about becoming a CASA, call 222-3965 or email karen@casaofmonterey.org. Volunteers who speak languages such as Spanish and Triqui are encouraged to apply (English is required). High Impact CASA is turning 30—and is seeking 30 new volunteers to aid and uplift kids in foster care. By Celia Jiménez CASA advocate Chris Farmerie was paired with Reyna Gabot when she was 13 and in foster care. They’ve stayed in touch, and Gabot today is a pastry cook—years after Farmerie introduced her to baking. NEWS “They can absolutely change a child’s life.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com MC GIVES Housing policy is climate policy; the bridge connecting the two is exactly what the nonprofit LandWatch Monterey County aims to fortify. The environmental watchdog group monitors land use policy decisions made by local governments, encouraging the public to get involved with plans for new housing, water supply, climate change and infrastructure—factors that will have a profound impact on the future of Monterey County. “We have the yin and yang. The yin is open space and protecting habitat, and then the yang is encouraging infill, supporting development in areas that are really dealing with all the climate and equity issues,” says Michael DeLapa, executive director of LandWatch. The question at the center is: How does a city create more housing in a way that doesn’t deplete our natural resources and lead to urban sprawl, while also meeting the needs of the community in an inclusive way? In the last year, the organization has been looking at new and old policies and projects, and tracking them to implementation. Most recently, they commissioned a study called the Pajaro River Flood Risk Report, which assessed whether or not the $599 million Pajaro River Flood Risk Management Project would make the area suitable for housing development. A big push to create affordable, multi-family housing across the county involved providing comments on over a half-dozen housing elements—planning documents prepared by each jurisdiction envisioning where future housing units will go. In addition, to ensure more long-term rentals are available for locals, LandWatch weighed in on the county’s vacation rental ordinance. The team collaborates with an array of agencies, policymakers, lawyers and consultants to effect change. Achieving equitable solutions, with climate-friendly plans at the forefront, is the goal. Sometimes, when they believe that is not happening, the group sues. That includes pending litigation opposing developments on the former Fort Ord in an effort to protect habitats and threatened species on Seaside East. “Our efforts on housing elements, and advocacy of climate-friendly infill that meets the needs of our local working families is really the stuff I’m most proud of,” DeLapa says. DANIEL DREIFUSS Hard Fought LandWatch’s work spans policies and projects to advocate for climate-friendly and inclusive development. By Katie Rodriguez From left to right, LandWatch Executive Director Michael DeLapa and Deputy Director Laura Davis work with Diane Coward, CEO of developer ReVision West, on infill projects. How to Donate Go to www.mcgives.com and click the Donate button. At First Tee, we do this by helping them develop their swing, but more importantly, their inner strength; with coaches who help them navigate the course as well as guide them through new challenges. Because we know what’s inside doesn’t just count; it changes the game. We’re Building Game Changers. We believe all kids deserve to feel excited to grow, safe to fail and better equipped for whatever comes at them next. Thank you for your support. For more information visit: MCGives.com/tee
www.montereycountynow.com DECEMBER 26, 2024-JANUARY 1, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Donate to Community Human Services HELP END HOMELESSNESS • OUTREACH • SHELTER • HOUSING DONATE NOW montereycountygives.com/chs 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
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY december 26, 2024-january 1, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Ranch Land It is beautiful land, and should remain in conservation. Kudos to these three for helping that come to pass (“Nonprofit Trust for Public Land is acquiring Ferrini Ranch to transfer to Big Sur Land Trust,” Dec. 19-25). Walter Wagner | Salinas Believe in Something Thanks, Sara Rubin for The Local Spin (“Christmas icons are all over public property, a sign of the times.,” Dec. 19-25). I was born and raised in the Southern Hemisphere where Christmas is at the beginning of summer. No snow on evergreen trees; rather longer days and the start of summer vacation from school, when we were allowed to ride our bikes until 9pm because it was still daylight. Growing up in a Catholic country, the symbol of Christmas was the nativity scene, devoid of snow. Having lived here for 42 years, I still see the Christmas tree as a lovely pagan symbol of the winter season, just like the Easter bunny is a pagan symbol of spring and fertility. By the way, I had never seen an Easter bunny until I came to the States. Both Christmas and Easter were deeply religious holidays in my childhood memories. Religious symbols, of any religion, do not offend me, but I am a believer in equal opportunity; if the Christmas tree and the nativity are displayed, so too should be the menorah and the Hindu Ohm, and Muslim crescent with a star, etc. Happy holidays, whatever you celebrate. Mabelle Lernoud | Monterey Lights Out With every gust of wind. We’ve been begging PG&E to put the power lines underground for 40 years (“High winds and intense rain take out power to over 38,000 customers, mostly on the Monterey Peninsula,” posted Dec. 14). Trish Sohlé | via social media Well, looks like Pacific Grove won’t be getting power back until 2025. Sean McCray | via social media Off Trail It is with great disappointment I read the Weekly’s article on the termination of General Manager Rafael Payan’s contract with Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District that was significantly biased against him (“Monterey Regional Park District’s general manager is fired after an unusually public kerfuffle,” Dec. 12-18). There was no mention of the many public commenters from both his own staff and from the community, including Marina’s mayor and a city councilmember. These comments were about Rafael’s being respected and loved by so many, of his many positive regional contributions, talking about the “toxic environment” of MPRPD with implications for systemic racism given his Mexican and Indigenous background, about his championing a marginalized community of color, of his high-level professional experience and credentials. There was no effort to balance out the board’s investigations and other actions targeting him for dismissal, with an opposite view of Rafael that is also true. I can think of many public figures who might have people who love him/her and with others diametrically opposite that hate and vilify that same person. In the aftermath, let’s all realize that this may be the unfortunate case of Rafael, but those in power had the final decision. Kathy Biala | Marina Note: Biala is a member of Marina City Council. For a Ride David Schmalz, thanks for staying on top of this story (“Monterey-Salinas Transit will be getting less federal money than expected for SURF! busway,” Dec. 12-18). Based on your reporting, it would seem that MST’s costs for SURF! rose by $10.67 million due to the immediate needs of redesigning the busway to meet the Coastal Commission’s requirements. I think that still leaves open the question of what mitigation costs will still be needed for SURF! The project’s price tag is likely to rise yet again. Hans Ongchua | Marina Dying with Dignity Great choice to highlight this place with an article (“Monterey County Gives!: When there’s nowhere else to go in the final days, Jerry’s Place offers safe refuge at no cost,” Nov. 28-Dec. 4). Ryan James Miller | via social media Dr. Jerry Rubin was a beautiful human. Sydney Wasson | via social media Dr. John Hausdorff is an amazing man. Dallas Shake | via social media Beyond Books Thank you for the wonderful article about the Harrison Memorial Library Foundation (“Monterey County Gives!: The Carmel Public Library Foundation supports an extensive collection of historic artifacts,” Dec. 5-11). The library is the heart and soul of Carmel and the surrounding areas. Well done. Ben Heinrich | Carmel Valley Note: Heinrich is a past president of the Carmel Library Foundation. In Gratitude Every week, a new cover, a new main article. I was pleased to see pre-election endorsements when Big City dailies didn’t, and so-called “locals” across the country (chains) didn’t [endorse] either—even when I disagreed a few times with your local choices. And election night parties covered, with photos—fun! (Minus the libations.) And follow-up to let the readers know who did win locally! Thank you for your careful note-taking and then the end product, including Monterey County Gives! and Best Of Readers’ Poll, etc. And the Weekly has evenly printed letters pro and con. Nancy Riddle Iversen | Salinas Correction A story about experimental crab fishing gear inaccurately stated how some of the ropeless traps work (“Some good news for crabbers (and crab lovers) comes amid season delays,” Dec. 19-25). They use an acoustic signal, not bluetooth. The photo depicts EdgeTech, not Sub Sea Sonics gear. 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.
www.montereycountynow.com december 26, 2024-january 1, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 In her youth in Castroville, Leticia Ibarra Anthony sometimes resented going with her family to work in the fields picking strawberries—she would rather sleep in or go to the pool, kid stuff. But she and her brother made it fun; they would have strawberry fights and eat their fill. Fast forward a few years. Ibarra got married, moved to Greenfield, started a family and began her career in early childhood education. Her children had learning disabilities so she wound up homeschooling them, but continued to work and volunteer in Head Start and afterschool programs. She found that she could relate to kids who other teachers found frustrating and uncooperative. “The kids just need to connect with you. That was my passion and still is,” she says. “But sometimes you are called to do something else.” That “something else” has evolved for Ibarra. She started by reaching out to parents of students with disabilities to advocate to get their needs met. Then, as she tells it, “one thing led to another.” She got involved in Community Emergency Response Volunteers (CERV) as a volunteer doing disaster preparedness outreach. She became active in Líderes Campesinos, advocating for the community’s needs, and connected to Celebration Foundation during the pandemic. She then got trained up as a community health worker, sharing information with South County farmworkers about vaccinations and the right to stay home from work and isolate, and distributing masks and food. She now volunteers with Brighter Bites, helping package fresh produce. “I think one person can make a ripple effect,” she says. “If I can’t be over there helping, I’ll be over here helping.” Ibarra lives a life deeply devoted to volunteerism—it’s just what she does. I spoke to her on Christmas Eve and her plan for Christmas was to deliver food to unhoused people in Soledad. Her commitment to the community happens on the ground, face-to-face as a volunteer. She provides muscle to organizations, but she is loathe to take credit. “It’s not about me, it’s about organizations that are willing to put out time and effort and energy,” Ibarra says. I have that network of organizations on my mind as the year comes to an end, partly because people like Ibarra are spending the holiday helping others. It’s also because everyone is invited to make an impact through Monterey County Gives! to raise money for local nonprofits that are out there doing the work that frontline volunteers like Ibarra know needs to be done. MCGives! Is an initiative of Monterey County Weekly in partnership with the Community Foundation for Monterey County and the Monterey Peninsula Foundation. There are 206 participating organizations that all could use your help— and I invite you, whatever your means and whatever your interest, to join in as a philanthropist. Among the many partners that contribute to an overall matching, helping your donation go further, are several local businesses, including Cannery Row Company. I asked CEO Ted Balestreri why. Balestreri spent his childhood in Brooklyn, and remembers spending time at the Boys Club (before it was Boys and Girls). It was less about mentorship than it was simply a place to be, and to play basketball. “It was more like camaraderie,” he says. “This was a place to go that we thought was a safe haven.” Balestreri today is most often moved to donate to organizations that directly invest in training and coaching young people, particularly that help with culinary career pathways. “The most important thing is the human mind,” he says. “If we can capture as many young people as possible and help them to succeed, we’re doing the right thing. It’s the best investment in the world.” You can make your own choice about the best investment by donating, at any amount, to any variety of nonprofits, using a handy online shopping cart checkout system. As of Dec. 23, MCGives! had raised a whopping $9.7 million in challenge gifts and individual donations combined, over $2 million more than this time last year. Joining in—as a volunteer, a donor, or both—is one way to help grow the ripple effect and make a difference. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. To donate to Monterey County Gives!, visit montereycountygives.com. The deadline to give is midnight on Tuesday, Dec. 31. All In Our community relies on support and services from nonprofits. Join in. By Sara Rubin The People’s McMansion…Squid’s pretty happy with Squid’s modest lair, but a project that came before the County Planning Commission on Dec. 11 makes Squid’s lair look like a speck. On a 0.081-acre parcel—3,252 square feet—in Carmel Valley, at 10196 Oakwood Circle, is a proposal to build a six-story, 12,470-square-foot home, plus an attached garage just over 930 square feet, a 2,124-square-foot accessory dwelling unit, a 483-square-foot junior ADU and around 3,420 square feet of decks. The house is proposed to be built into an oak-studded hillside at a slope of more than 25 percent—in excess of what’s allowed by the county’s zoning ordinances—which is one reason county staff recommended denying a permit for it, and a county report also notes the project application contained “misleading and factually incorrect information.” The applicant, San Francisco-based Rene Peinado, has a separate application into the county, so far deemed incomplete, for essentially the exact same project on the same property, except that the junior ADU would be deed-restricted as affordable. That, theoretically, would allow it to qualify as a “builder’s remedy” project, meaning that county officials would have much less discretion to deny it. What exactly a six-story mansion is a remedy for, Squid cannot tell. Drama Queens…Squid loves a good songand-dance routine, and live theater. So Squid had in mind to ooze over to Golden Bough Playhouse in Carmel to see Jersey Boys, produced by Pacific Repertory Theatre, before it closed Dec. 22. But when Squid went looking for tickets, there were big red letters announcing: Canceled, “due to medical issues and further circumstances beyond our control.” Ticketholders might consider donating to the nonprofit, or they could request a refund, an announcement read. Behind the curtain, people were talking. Squid received a copy of a lengthy email from a cast member who quit, saying he stayed up all night to pen his list of grievances. They include objections to costume-fitting and choreography, among more serious claims, like a performer going onstage with a concussion. In his letter, Jeremy Ingraham noted that some of his concerns had been preemptively dismissed by ex-colleagues, including one who said it was “Gen Z’ers not understanding ‘the show must go on.’” Squid’s colleague reached out to PacRep Executive Director Stephen Moorer to ask if it was just Gen Z crying, and he responded by throwing shade at the Weekly. “In classic tabloid tradition—because who needs facts or credible sources?—they’ve graced us with thirdhand gossip and half-baked slander from a disgruntled out-of-town performer,” he wrote. Do two helpings of half-baked gossip make a full drama? Squid thinks it plays like a tragedy. the local spin SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “I think one person can make a ripple effect.” Send Squid a tip: squid@montereycountynow.com
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