14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com By his own admission, Peter Meckel is not a musician, other than singing in the shower. “I am not a musician but I am a good musical administrator,” he says. “I see what combinations are going to work.” He has been finding combinations— of instruments, of groups, of students and teachers—for 62 years. He is the founding director of Hidden Valley Music Seminars, a nonprofit that began in 1963 in Southern California to provide summer programs to high school music students. The organization moved to Monterey County where it operated out of high school campuses for a few years, before settling on a beautiful campus in Carmel Valley in 1971. “We have been here ever since and we love it,” Meckel says. “This is my life’s work.” At 84, the founding director remains the organization’s only executive director, although since at least 2016, he has accepted nominal or no compensation for his work. Meckel says it’s time to come up with a succession plan, but finding the next director has been challenging. He searched for a replacement, but board members worried the candidates could not fill his shoes. So Meckel was left wondering what to do. “One night I just woke up and thought: Maybe we’re making a mistake, maybe instead of looking for an individual we should look for an institution that would stand for the things we stand for,” he says. So he turned to an institution that already has a relationship with Hidden Valley, and began talking with representatives of Oberlin College and Conservatory in Ohio. Oberlin is unique—it is the only major music school in the country that shares a campus with a liberal arts college, offering a dual-degree program in five years. Their faculty and students regularly visit Hidden Valley; for example, in January, Oberlin at Hidden Valley featured a public performance by the Verona Quartet, the Oberlin quartet-in-residence, which led a chamber music intensive. “We have greatly enjoyed our partnership with Hidden Valley…it’s a storied venue and one where our students and faculty have enjoyed performing,” Andrea Simakis, Oberlin’s director of media relations, says via email. “We are exploring possibilities for future arrangements between our two organizations.” Both Simakis and Meckel emphasize there is no agreement yet, nor a timeline for a possible decision on whether to move forward, just a conversation about a potential future agreement. It’s not just businesses in East Salinas but also the nonprofit business association that represents them that are facing a tough time. According to a 2024-25 annual report by the Salinas United Business Association (SUBA), only 40 percent of 420 business’ dues have been paid for the year, meaning only $40,550 has been collected of $100,440 projected in revenue from dues. Assessments collected have declined by 43 percent since 2017, although the dues are mandatory for businesses that operate in the geographically established Business Improvement Area. “SUBA is reducing the goals and objectives in the number of services being provided…due to the low volume of assessments collected,” the report states. Alejandro Chavez, executive director of SUBA, points to the Covid-19 pandemic for a downturn starting in 2020, and Trump administration policies on tariffs and immigration for a current slowdown. Delia Luevano manages Alisal Shopping Center and is a longtime business owner of La Movida Night Club and Bar Rio, a tavern. She says business has been bad in recent months, as most of her clients are farmworkers who are afraid to go out. She adds that most businesses in the shopping center are facing similar issues. “They all have their sales cut in half,” she says in Spanish. Tariffs are also impacting her costs. She used to pay $24 for a 24-pack of beer, but now she’s paying $32. “Tariffs hadn’t been increased yet and companies had already raised prices,” she adds. She has increased prices (by $1) and her clients have complained: “They don’t want to pay, they think it’s too much,” Luevano says. She pays over $15,046/ month in rent for both businesses. To keep afloat, she has spent $30,000 from her emergency funds and invests her entire earnings from managing the plaza. Luevano says if business doesn’t improve, she might be forced to sell or close: “As long as [Trump] is in the presidency, I think everyone is going to file for bankruptcy because there are no sales.” In Tune Without a clear path to the future, Hidden Valley explores Oberlin partnership. By Sara Rubin NEWS LIVE FROM CASTROVILLE Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church hosts a town hall with representatives of the County of Monterey and local agencies. The public is invited to ask questions and raise concerns about issues that affect Castroville. 5:30-7pm Thursday, Aug. 14. North County Recreation Center, 11261 Crane St., Castroville. Free. 755-5022, glennchurch.com. BUILDING CONNECTIONS The Housing Resource Center of Monterey County is hosting a workshop to connect property managers and landlords with clients ready to be housed. Regional housing agencies are expected to participate. 6-8pm Thursday, Aug. 14. El Estero Park Center, 777 Pearl St., Monterey. Free. 646-3995, davidf@hrcmc.org. SEASIDE’S LATEST Seaside City Councilmember Dave Pacheco hosts a town hall meeting, with updates from Campus Town developer Danny Bakewell Jr., Seaside Fire Chief Paul Blaha and Police Chief Nick Borges. 6pm Monday, Aug. 18. Embassy Suites, 1441 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside. Free. 521-0577. BOARD BUSINESS Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets to discuss county business. Public comment is accepted. 9am Tuesday, Aug. 19. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., first floor, Salinas. Free. 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. BANKING BLOOD King City is partnering with Vitalant to hold a blood drive. Those who donate blood will receive a $10 gift card and be entered in a raffle for a $10,000 gas gift card. 1-5pm Tuesday, Aug. 19. Recreation Center, 401 Division St., King City. Free. Make an appointment at (877) 258-4825, vitalant.org. IN PLANNING The Salinas Planning Commission meets to discuss various community development projects. Public input is accepted. 4pm Wednesday, Aug. 20. City Hall Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Ave., Salinas. Free. 758-7381, cityofsalinas.org. OPEN DOORS Meet City of Monterey staff and learn about the variety of programs and services offered. Various city departments will be on hand to meet residents. 5-8pm Thursday, Aug. 21. Hilltop Park Center, 871 Jessie St., Monterey. Free. suggest@monterey.gov, monterey.gov/ inyourcorner. Report Card Federal policies on immigration and tariffs are impacting local businesses in East Salinas. By Celia Jiménez Peter Meckel created Hidden Valley Music Seminars, where dormitories give students and faculty a chance to immerse for intensive master classes capped by performances. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “This is my life’s work.” TOM O’NEILL
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==