10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY january 2-8, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com The first weekend after Natividad hospital’s Level II trauma center in Salinas opened on Jan. 5, 2015, patients with major injuries were showing up for care, so much so, the radiologist on duty was astonished. “This place went from zero to 60 overnight. Where were all these people going?” Dr. Alexander Di Stante, trauma medical director and surgical services director, recalls the radiologist saying. Before Natividad earned the designation there were no trauma centers between San Jose and Santa Barbara, which meant precious time lost transporting people to emergency care, usually in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Weekly reported in 2013 that nearly 400 patients a year were flown by helicopter to that region annually, most of them the result of traffic collisions or gunshot wounds. Over the 10 years since, the Natividad Trauma Center, owned and operated by the County of Monterey, has treated over 14,000 patients, about 1,400 per year. Di Stante believes the center’s presence has resulted in “thousands of lives saved.” He also believes it has transformed the hospital as a whole, with the introduction of advanced technology medical equipment and highly trained staff. Natividad won the trauma center designation in a contest with Salinas Valley Health, scoring higher after a review by a panel of independent medical experts. Natividad spent approximately $12 million in upgrades and staffing costs at the time to qualify, expecting to recoup costs through the influx of new patients. Natividad’s center is staffed 24/7 by surgeons and other professionals—trauma surgeons must be able to respond within 15 minutes. There are many memorable cases that have come through the center’s doors, with the 2022 shark encounter of Steve Bruemmer in Pacific Grove perhaps most memorable, Di Stante says. Bruemmer was bitten across the thighs and abdomen by a great white shark off Lovers Point, and he required 28 pints of blood. He left Natividad three weeks later, grateful for the lifesaving care he received. Bruemmer is expected to be part of a Stop the Bleed class the center is offering to the public on Jan. 26, which will teach participants how to stop major bleeding in accidents. Public education classes like Stop the Bleed, fall prevention and violence intervention are just another aspect of Natividad’s mission as a trauma center. The County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, Jan. 7 and will consider adopting the 2024 Cannabis Program Strategic Plan, which updates management strategies to reflect the county’s evolving cannabis industry. Following the legalization of marijuana for recreational use in 2016 in California, the board established the Monterey County Cannabis Program to set out an initial list of goals and guidelines when it came to regulation, policy, enforcement, education and health. The initial strategic plan was created in 2018, with revisions scheduled every two years to reflect industry changes. Although the 2022 revision was delayed until 2023, representatives from seven county departments and industry members met in July and August 2024 to get the process back on track. The new plan’s goals are to help local growers transition from provisional cannabis licenses to annual licenses, as the California Department of Cannabis Control will no longer be issuing provisional permits starting in January 2025. “We’re trying to get people to the finish line,” says Michelle House, the new manager of the County’s Cannabis Program, succeeding Joann Iwamoto. “If they are unable to do that, they will have to close down because the state will not allow them to be in business after this next year.” Managing the cannabis industry has been tough— since the initial plan was adopted, regulations and policies have changed dramatically. The industry, once valued at $618 million in 2021 in Monterey County, dropped to $283 million the following year. Cannabis businesses in the county have faced struggles, with cultivators citing excessive taxation and regulation, compounded by falling marijuana prices. Much of these price declines have been attributed to overproduction and a lack of legal retail outlets. According to a civil grand jury report, annual funding allocations from the county’s Cannabis Tax Fund for community services declined from a high of $23 million to $100,000 for fiscal year 2023-24. Top Ten Natividad’s trauma center marks a decade of service and thousands of lives saved. By Pam Marino news Funding Focus The City of Monterey seeks input on how to spend $250,000 in federal funds. Community Development Block Grant funds are used for public social services programs and housing projects for those considered low- and mid-income. Information booth 4-6:30pm Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the downtown farmers market, Alvarado Street, Monterey. Online survey available through Jan. 31. Free. haveyoursaymonterey.org/cdbg-conplan. Higher Ed The Hartnell College Board of Trustees meets to discuss college business and accept public comments. 5:30pm Tuesday, Jan. 7. Hartnell College, Building C, Room 124, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. Free. hartnell. edu/about/hccdgb. growing green What exactly is Big Sur Land Trust up to, and what has it been up to for the last 46 years? Recent and current projects include the creation of Ensen Community Park in Salinas, the in-progress acquisition of Ferrini ranch along Highway 68 and more. Hear from President/CEO Jeannette Tuitele-Lewis about the nonprofit’s expanding role. Noon Wednesday, Jan. 8. Unitarian Universalist Church, 490 Aguajito Road Carmel. Free to attend; $25/lunch. 236-1611, lwvmryco.org. Drawing the Districts Learn how the City of Pacific Grove is creating its first-ever voting districts and help create future district maps in this interactive public workshop. 6pm Wednesday, Jan. 8. Pacific Grove City Council Chambers, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 638-3100, cityofpacificgrove.org. Preserving History The Monterey County Historic Resources Review Board meets to discuss the remodel of a historic home in Carmel as well as review the county’s Mills Act program. 11:30am Thursday, Jan. 9. Virtual via Zoom. Free. 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. Civic Life The City of Carmel is accepting applications to fill one open seat on both the Planning Commission and Forest and Beach Commission. The Planning Commission assists the City Council on planning issues, policies and projects. The duties of the Forest and Beach Commission include developing a management plan for the urban forest, parks and beach. Applications are due at 5pm Friday, Jan. 10. Free. ci.carmel.ca.us. Cannabis Crossroads County Supervisors will discuss updates to a strategic plan for the cannabis industry. By Katie Rodriguez From left to right: Trauma Program Director Julie Ramirez, and trauma nurse practitioners Pawanjit Dhillon and Scott Weyland are part of Natividad’s trauma team. e-mail: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “This place went from zero to 60 overnight.” Daniel Dreifuss
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