10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 13-19, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Jesus “Chuy” Ruben Hernandez still can’t believe he is the owner of his first car, a 2007 VW Jetta he was awarded through a new Rancho Cielo program dubbed RIDE: Rancho Investing in Driver Equity. When a case manager at the school called him at his home in Greenfield to say he could come pick up the car in Salinas, it didn’t seem real. He took the bus to get there. The car is now Hernandez’s ride into a future he never imagined. He’s currently studying psychology at Hartnell College, determined to one day counsel young people who are struggling as he once did. Growing up he thought school wasn’t for him. Then he entered Rancho Cielo’s program that helps young people ages 16-24 from underserved communities, and with support from the staff, discovered he could succeed. “I never dreamed I would go to college,” he says. “[Rancho Cielo] changed the trajectory of my life.” RIDE began after Rancho Cielo’s Equity Committee saw a need for students to gain access to identification, says Jaime Kitz, a Rancho Cielo board member and chair of the committee. They launched a driver’s education program that helped students earn licenses. Free training was offered and Rancho Cielo instructors took students out on the road to get in required practice hours. From there the committee decided to find a way to make cars available to students who demonstrated a certain level of need and maturity. Three students applied for the new grant but there were only two cars available. After a committee reviewed their applications and interviewed each student, John Phillips, founder of Rancho Cielo, was so moved by each of their stories he went out and found a third car. The three students were coached on the ins and outs of car ownership, budgeting for expenses and maintenance. “It was probably pretty shocking filling a tank,” Kitz says. A ceremony was held on Feb. 4 at Rancho Cielo officially awarding the students their cars. “It was very moving,” Kitz says, “the humility they all had and the graciousness they had at the same time. It was almost a sense of relief for them.” With the first generation of RIDE now complete, the plan is to expand it. Nonprofit leaders will be asking the public to donate cars at Rancho Cielo’s upcoming sold-out fundraiser, the 15th annual Culinary Round Up on Feb. 23 in Monterey. Early in the morning on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, federal agents served a warrant on the East Garrison home of Zelene Charles and her partner, Jennifer Amorin. It marked the beginning of a federal criminal case against Charles, who was indicted in May of 2024 and then in July pleaded guilty to defrauding the United States government. It also marked a new chapter for Charles, who wrote in a January letter to United States District Judge Edward Davila: “I no longer had to hide from this secret I was carrying. I know that if I want to live a blessed life, I must confront my past and right my wrongs.” Charles is asking Davila for a probation-only sentence with no prison time. Federal prosecutors are asking the judge to impose a 27-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release and $630,628 in restitution. Charles, who had previously served for 10 years in the military, worked as a civilian employee at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey from 2010 to 2019 where she was responsible for IT supplies. She created fake invoices, using Department of Defense accounts to buy items that were never actually purchased by the DoD, and instead paid to at least 78 different account names she personally accessed, in 185 transactions, such as a purchase of $9,942 for 250 MacBook cases, according to court records. “DLI is currently experiencing a shortfall of 386 MacBook Pros that should have been replaced in fiscal year 2025, but due to Charles’ actions, DLI no longer has funds to obtain the equipment,” according to prosecutors. Charles’ attorney, Irvine-based Diane Bass, argues for a more lenient sentence: “Ms. Charles is an extraordinary human being with a heart the size of California. Unfortunately, she exercised extremely poor judgment and engaged in an inexcusable course of conduct while employed at a job she loved, that she was great at.” The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 3 at the federal courthouse in San Jose. Test Drive Rancho Cielo helps students succeed with a new program to get them on the road. By Pam Marino NEWS LOOK BACK AND FORWARD Pacific Grove Planning Commission meets to present its annual report. 6pm Thursday, Feb. 13. Council Chamber, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. 648-3190, cityofpacificgrove.org. HEALTHY AGING Alliance on Aging hosts a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its new brand. Leaders from the nonprofit organization that supports older adults will share their vision for the future. 11am Friday, Feb. 14. Alliance on Aging, 247 Main St., Salinas. Free. 655-1334, allianceonaging.org. SCHOOL FUNDS Salinas City Elementary School District Board of Trustees meets to discuss implementing development fees for residential, commercial and industrial construction. 6:30pm Tuesday, Feb. 18. Salinas City Elementary School District, 840 S. Main St., Salinas. Free. 753-5600, salinascityesd.org. PUBLIC PLAN The County of Monterey, along with the cities of Gonzales, Greenfield, Marina and Sand City, is eligible to receive federal Community Development Block Grant funds for housing, economic development and other projects. The public is invited to provide input. 6pm Wednesday, Feb. 19. County of Monterey Housing & Community Development (Thyme Conference Room, second floor), 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas, or virtual at bit.ly/4hvWqJo. Free. 755-5025, housingprograms@countyofmonterey.gov. ON THE DAIS Soledad City Council meets to discuss city business. Public comment is accepted. 6pm Wednesday, Feb. 19. Soledad City Hall, 248 Main St., Soledad. Free. 2235000, cityofsoledad.com. CLEANUP CONTINUES An online workshop covering the latest on the former Fort Ord cleanup is now live, and public input is accepted. Pre-recorded presentations cover topics such as groundwater cleanup, landfill maintenance and more. Workshop is live through February 2026. Free. fortordcleanup.com. WOMEN’S VOICES The Monterey County Commission on the Status of Women is conducting a survey to gather information on women in the county and the challenges they face. Survey is available in English: forms. office.com/g/sJqAUeDyd7. Spanish: forms.office.com/g/Xv2N1WJq9J. Free. co.monterey.ca.us/csw. House of Laptops Feds seek 27-month prison sentence for former DLI employee who stole government property. By Sara Rubin Chuy Ruben Hernandez is one of three Rancho Cielo students who secured a driver’s license and a car (in his case, a VW Jetta) through the new program, called RIDE. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “[Rancho Cielo] changed the trajectory of my life.” DANIEL DREIFUSS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==