8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 20-26, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com The need for the services of The Blind & Visually Impaired Center of Monterey County is growing. In 2023, the nonprofit had 343 clients, helping them with eye exams, adaptive equipment and training, according to Executive Director Steven Macias. Last year the client list grew to nearly 500. This year they expect the list to grow to over 600 people, in large part thanks to the opening of a new clinic in Salinas, complementing their original location in Pacific Grove. BVIC is opening the Marjorie R. McNeely Low-Vision Optometry Clinic and Assistive Technology Center, located inside AOA - The Hub in Salinas, a sort of one-stop shop of nonprofit services for seniors and people living with disabilities operated by the Alliance on Aging. Macias says it’s the only low-vision clinic in the tri-county area of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties, named for a donor’s mother who was a past client. BVIC has had an office at The Hub since 2021, providing some supportive services there to clients from the Salinas Valley, and last year expanded to three offices. They’ve grown the staff to include three low-vision optometrists and three orientation and mobility specialists. The new optometry clinic is already booked eight weeks out into May. “For clients in Salinas and South County it provides them the opportunity to get the services they need,” Macias says. Previously clients had to travel to BVIC’s Pacific Grove headquarters for exams, a challenge for those who aren’t able to drive. A bus ride from King City takes three transfers and over three hours; King City to Salinas on an express bus takes an hour. The nonprofit uses grants from the California Department of Rehabilitation and private donations to provide free services that include outfitting clients with assistive technology, such as magnifiers, computer software and CCTVs that magnify images. Lowvision exams without insurance are $224, but there is funding for low-income individuals to cover the cost. BVIC staff also provide free orientation and mobility trainings, support groups and braille classes. Peer-led support groups meet at 10-11:30am the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. A grand opening ceremony takes place 5-6:30pm on Thursday, March 27 at The Hub, located at 236 Monterey St. in Salinas, with an opportunity to tour the offices and learn more about available services. cians, the research teams at Salinas ARS will face serious setbacks that could compromise critical projects essential to improving our nation’s food supply and agricultural resilience,” Gary Obenauf, executive director of the California Specialty Crops Council, said in a statement to USDA administrators. The loss of these positions also impact organizations like the California Leafy Greens Research Board, where the USDA’s public breeding program provides needed plant material for the industry, focusing on breeding resistance to plant pathogens, diseases and viruses across key crops like lettuce, strawberries and melons. Adding to the confusion, USDA released a statement on March 11 announcing plans to rehire the fired probationary employees: “By Wednesday, March 12, the Department will place all terminated probationary employees in pay status and provide each with back pay, from the date of termination. The Department will work quickly to develop a phased plan for return-toduty, and while those plans materialize, all probationary employees will be paid.” Yet as of March 18, Salinas USDA workers have yet to be informed of whether or not they will actually be rehired. “I just waste a lot of time because things just change and change, and then I’m reevaluating over and over again what to do,” says one federal employee who was laid off and spoke to the Weekly on the condition of anonymity due to current uncertainty about job prospects. “Even if I have my job back, I don’t know how secure that is or how long I’ll have it.” For the Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Monterey County, programs that researchers were going to write grant applications for have disappeared, such as the Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. “We had started an application process in January,” says Laura Murphy, a soil scientist with RCD, “but when we went back in February to check on some details and move our application forward, it was nowhere to be found.” On March 5, RCD received notice that the lease for the USDA Service Center in Salinas, where they work alongside federal partners, will not be renewed in August, with no plans for moving elsewhere. Separate from the USDA research station, this center assists farmers with disaster aid, crop reports and houses agencies like the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Big Vision The Blind & Visually Impaired Center is set to help more people at new Salinas clinic. By Pam Marino NEWS ON THE DAIS Seaside City Council meets to discuss various city business. Public comment is accepted. 5pm Thursday, March 20. Council Chambers, 440 Harcourt Ave., Seaside. Free. 899-6707, ci.seaside.ca.us. FUTURE LEADERS The City of Salinas is accepting applications for its summer internship program. Current high school juniors and seniors are invited to apply. Deadline to apply is 11:59pm Sunday, March 23. Free. cityofsalinas.org. SAFETY FIRST The California Highway Patrol hosts a presentation on traffic safety, including seatbelt and child safety restraint use, the dangers of impaired or distracted driving and safe driving practices for teens and parents, among other topics. 5-7pm Monday, March 24. Hartnell College, Soledad Education Center, 1505 Metz Road, Soledad. Free. 7708019. DIVE INTO DEVELOPMENT The Monterey County Planning Commission meets to consider various development projects, including construction of a single-family home with an accessory dwelling unit in Aromas, and modifications of a home in Pebble Beach. Public comment is accepted. 9am Wednesday, March 26. Board of Supervisors’ chambers, 168 West Alisal St., Salinas. Free. 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT The Monterey County Workforce Development Board is working on a plan that outlines regional efforts to invest in career pathways for in-demand industries. Public comment is accepted. Comments due by April 2. montereycountyworks.com/local-regional-plan. WHALEFEST ASSIST Volunteers are sought for the 15th annual Whalefest, covering areas such as arts and crafts, merchandise, costume photo opportunities and more. Event runs 10am-5pm SaturdaySunday, April 12-13. Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. signup.zone/whalefest-monterey. GET INVOLVED The City of Monterey seeks residents to fill vacancies on the Architectural Review Committee, Building and Housing Appeals Board and the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. 646-3935, monterey.gov/ bcc. Dr. Lucy Yen performs a low-vision exam on Marisa Vallejo at The Blind & Visually Impaired Center in Pacific Grove. A second clinic is opening in Salinas on March 27. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX The new clinic is already booked eight weeks out into May. THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED CENTER OF MONTEREY COUNTY CROP continued from page 6
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==