AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT SOMETHING TO SEE HERE 10 | IN THE (BLUE) ZONE 16 | DILLON ON STAGE 36 | DOGGIN’ IT 42 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Love, American Style High-end customs are drawing attention, the Cobra celebrates 60 and IROC is back on track as Car Week returns to Monterey County. p. 22 Published by BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® Haven HOME & LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE 2025-2026 FREE FINE LOCAL WINE DECORATING WITH ANTIQUES SEASONAL SPA TREATMENTS GOING BOUTIQUE AUTOMATING THE HOME cover_HAVEN_25.indd 3 7/24/25 11:51 AM BEST OF MONTEREY BAY® Haven, a home and lifestyle magazine, inside
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com ALL STAR WEEKEND MARK MARTIN • BILL ELLIOTT • BOBBY LABONTE • KEN SCHRADER DANNY SULLIVAN • DARIO FRANCHITTI • SCOTT PRUETT • ZAK BROWN GRAND MARSHAL OF THE IROC CLASS AL UNSER JR. INTERNATIONAL RACE OF CHAMPIONS COME JOIN OUR AUG 13-16 RACE ON AUG 16 JEFF GORDON • KURT BUSCH AND MANY MORE! SEE CHAMPIONS RACE! TICKETS ON SALE NOW WEATHERTECHRACEWAY.COM PAVED PARKING STILL AVAILABLE SCAN FOR TICKETS AND VIP PACKAGES OR VISIT US AT
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 Like a lot of you, we were born at Community Hospital. montagehealth.org It was the doctors at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula that brought Montage Health into the world. Our goal was to deliver exceptional care to more people, more effectively, by expanding beyond the hospital and into the community. Today, we’re much more than a hospital. We’re urgent care centers, wellness centers, primary care doctors, health insurance plans, and a groundbreaking mental health program for youth. Community Hospital is still our beating heart and a great place to be born.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com We’re proud to be ranked among the top-performing banks in the nation by American Banker, Newsweek, S&P Global and the Independent Community Bankers of America. Now that’s strength you can bank on when you put your money where your life is. 300 Bonifacio Place | Monterey 480 S. Main Street | Salinas 831.457.5000 | wccb.com Local Strength. National Recognition. From the Central Coast to Silicon Valley, businesses trust West Coast Community Bank because we deliver. Rich Aiello SVP Regional President Sun Shine Hohman VP Deposit Relationship Manager Chris Illig SVP Senior Relationship Manager Member FDIC Equal Housing Lender v
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 Exceptional Care More than 300 boardcertified physicians provide exceptional care across a broad spectrum of 53 specialties and subspecialties, including highly sought-after cancer, maternity and orthopedic services, to name just a few. DID YOU KNOW? Since 1953, Salinas Valley Health has been caring for our community. Started for the community by the community, a grassroots effort created the now cornerstone medical center. Today, a multifaceted healthcare system extends our reach, keeping outstanding healthcare here, close to home. Patient Focus Our medical center admits approximately 11,000 people per year and our emergency department provides care to nearly 64,000 patients per year – comprehensive and compassionate healthcare, 24/7. Wide Network of Locations Our network of 46 locations provides a range of urgent and acute care, routine care, outpatient imaging and specialty services across Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Consistently earning awards and recognition for high quality. Scan the QR code to search for locations and services.
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 • ISSUE #1933 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Susan Lambert (Sony a7RV with a 200-600mm lens) A day-old black oystercatcher is brooded by an adult in Pebble Beach. Black Oystercatcher Monitoring Project volunteers get to see these chicks in their first moments. (Learn about volunteering via the P.G. Museum of Natural History or Monterey Audubon Society.) MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The 1961 Chevrolet Impala Bubble Top known as “Dirty Martini” is one of the high-end modified vehicles that are gaining notice—and acceptance—in a collector culture that had put more emphasis on authenticity. It will cross the Mecum Auctions block in Monterey. Cover photo: Courtesy of Mecum Auctions, Inc. etc. Copyright © 2025 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. Subscribe to the newsletter @ montereycountynow.com/subscribe Go to montereycountynow.com We Deliver… NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR Local news everyday
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 CA License 81410 THE EXPERIENCE BEGINS AT MECUM.COM THE PREMIER DAYTIME AUCTION OF MONTEREY CAR WEEK 3 WAYS TO BID TELEPHONE INTERNET IN PERSON C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH The dangers of newspaper ownership consolidation are well-documented, such as shrinking staffs that results in less local news. Also on the table: If one company goes out of business, many communities are left without a newspaper. That’s what happened in the Midwest, when Illinois-based News Media Corporation abruptly announced Aug. 6 that financial woes forced it to cease operations, shuttering about 30 publications in five states in the process. In a letter to staff, CEO J.J. Tompkins wrote that the “decision was not made lightly,” as declining revenue and increased expenses, along with a failed sale of the company, led to the closure. “It’s no secret that it’s tough times out there for all print media, and we’re no exception,” wrote Josh Linehan, managing editor of the Brookings Register in South Dakota. “But make no mistake—we’re closed for now as a result of poor corporate management.” News Media Corporation owned the King City Rustler and its affiliated Salinas Valley papers, along with the RegisterPajaronian in Watsonville, from 1995-2019. Good: In a major breakthrough, scientists have discovered the culprit behind the mysterious sea star wasting disease that struck the Pacific Coast in 2013: a strain of the bacterium called Vibrio pectenicida. The cause of one of the largest sudden species die-offs ever recorded was discovered by researchers from Hakai Institute and the University of British Columbia who worked together at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Marrowstone Marine Field Station in Washington. To make this discovery, scientists analyzed genetic material collected from infected sunflower sea stars’ “blood” (coelomic fluid) to identify the microorganisms present, then replicated the infection in the lab to confirm the bacteria caused the same symptoms of sea star wasting disease. Scientists are now turning their attention to understanding the factors that drive disease outbreaks related to this bacteria and the resilience of marine species. GREAT: Something’s cooking in Soledad— literally. City officials cut the ribbon on Aug. 13 for the upgraded Community Center, highlighted by a renovated commercial kitchen. In addition to a modified layout, the kitchen now features a new oven and stove, extended counters and other upgrades. More improvements throughout the Community Center include ADA features at the front entrance, motorized basketball winches and upgraded stage and gym lighting. The $1.3 million project was funded mostly from the American Rescue Plan Act, along with $50,000 each from the City and T-Mobile. “With this upgraded space, we can expand workforce development opportunities, support community health, and deliver programming and opportunities to our residents of all ages,” Soledad Parks and Recreation Director Jessica Potts said in an announcement. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many feet underwater the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s new imaging system can be deployed. Called EyeRIS, the system is studying the movement of the deep-sea octopus. Source: Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute 13,100 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “It’s time to leave this strange community, if you can call it a community.” -Monaco developer Patrice Pastor, after the Carmel City Council delayed its decision on his J.B. Pastor project on Aug. 4. Pastor has faced opposition on his various projects over the years (see story, montereycountynow.com).
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 We’ve led an exciting life. Now we have an opportunity to give back. Education is something you can keep forever.” – Michael and Gloria Ipson The Ipson/Tully Memorial Scholarship Fund of the CFMC GRATITUDE 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org | Design your giving plan. We can help. Learn more: cfmco.org/GivingOptions Join us for the Grand Opening of the Neighborhood Park at Ensen Community Park! ¡Únete a nosotros para la Gran Inauguración del parque del vecindario en Ensen Community Park! 99 La Posada Drive, Salinas, CA 93906 Sunday, August 17 | Domingo, 17 de agosto 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM © Learn more | Aprender más bit.ly/EnsenGrandOpening HEATABLE EATABLES! ELROY’S PRESENTS @ELROYSFINEFOODS WWW.ELROYSFINEFOODS.COM 15 SOLEDAD DRIVE (831) 373-3737 MONTEREY, CA 93940 SAVOR SENEGAL TICKET=$140 EACH (1 TICKET SERVES TWO PEOPLE) To place your order visit www.elroysfinefoods.com or scan this QR CODE! Quantities are limited, so order soon! From Elroy’s Fine Foods Executive Chef & Culinary Director David Hardie A pre-ordered, fully prepared meal to heat & eat at home. Offered on the last Thursday of every month. GLOBALLY INSPIRED & LOCALLY SOURCED All items will also be available à la carte for purchase at the Prepared Foods counter on Thursday, 8/28 until sold out! *ORDER BY: THURSDAY, AUGUST 21ST PICK UP: THURSDAY, AUGUST 28TH NEXT MONTH: BRINGING ON THE BAYOU! * NDAMBE stewed black eyed peas with sweet potatoes & red palm oil, served with a baguette and pickled okra (GF, VEGAN, CONTAINS: SOY. BAGUETTE CONTAINS GLUTEN) SALADU NEBBE black eyed pea salad with cucumber, tomato & lime (GF, VEGAN) MANGO AVOCADO NIAMBAAN sweet, creamy, spicy & sour, with chile and tamarind (GF, VEGAN) DIBI HAUSA grilled beef kabobs seasoned with chiles, ginger & peanuts (GF, DF, CONTAINS: FISH, SOY) POULET YASSA FONIO chicken stewed in caramelized onions with lime & mustard, served over fonio (GF, DF, CONTAINS: SOY) THIEBOUDIENNE the original jollof rice - heavily seasoned rice with tomato & vegetables, topped with herbed fish. Senegal’s national dish. (GF, DF, CONTAINS: FISH) PEANUT & BANANA TART peanut butter cookie crust filled with coconut millet & banana pudding (GF, CONTAINS: DAIRY, EGGS) *
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 The smell of exhaust, the roar of engines, the snapping of camera shutters—nowhere was the return of Car Week more apparent on Aug. 8 than in downtown Monterey. Vintage race cars, before they took part in the Monterey Motorsports Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, filled a closedoff block of Alvarado Street, where drivers met with the hundreds of attendees, chatting about their vehicles and their racing strategies. Others hopped inside their cars to rev them up, much to the delight of the crowds. While these cars were the main attraction of the evening, they weren’t the only draw for many who came to Monterey. There was another show happening, one that wasn’t advertised, and one that can happen anywhere at any time. People combed the side streets throughout downtown, cameras in hand, looking for rare and unique cars parked or driving through. Others camped out at intersections, excitedly putting their camera’s viewfinders to their eyes and quickly snapping the shutter as they witnessed a car that caught their attention. It could be anything, from a multi-million-dollar McLaren P1 to an endangered Mazda RX-7 from the 1980s. “That’s a baaad car right there,” said a man as a Porsche drove by—in this case, “bad” means “good,” judging by how the word was said. On Aug. 10, more crowds gathered in downtown Monterey for the show before the show. As has become tradition for Car Week, people congregate on Del Monte Avenue in front of the Monterey Conference Center as transporter trucks unload vehicles that will be sold during the RM Sotheby’s auction later in the week. Sure, most of the paparazzi was focused on the trailers and what lies inside them. But again, it’s an opportunity to experience who—and what—is driving by. This is carspotting, a hobby that has exploded in popularity since the advent of social media that makes it easier to share photos, especially with Instagram. And with Car Week hitting its high gear, the opportunities to do so locally are nearly endless. Think of carspotting like birdwatching, except with steel and plastic instead of animals. Birders keep a list of their “life birds,” or those birds they saw for the first time in a specific spot in the wild, while carspotters keep a photo of those cars they witnessed in person. The “wild,” for purposes of carspotting, can be your neighborhood street or a parking lot. Carspotters say downtown Carmel is a hot spot to catch something you don’t see everyday. Upscale establishments are always good places to spot a unique car—think outside high-end restaurants and valet parking stands, says Doug DeMuro, a San Diego-based YouTuber with 5 million subscribers who runs the popular auto auction website Cars and Bids. DeMuro was once referred to on the internet as the “king of carspotting,” and his efforts were popularized in a 2009 article in Automobile magazine, where a reporter followed him as he drove around on the hunt to spot rare cars. “The key is to have your head on a swivel and always be ready at any time,” DeMuro says. “You might be surprised where I’ve seen some of the most exciting and crazy cars, and you always have to be ready for them.” DeMuro says the carspotting hobby is far from the days when he first started in 2005 with a “clunky digital camera” while driving around in a 1996 Volvo 850 Turbo sedan. “I think it’s so cool that we now have access to so many photos of amazing cars just being used at random times in various places,” he says. DeMuro adds that he will be attending Car Week for the first time since 2018. “The highlight for me has always been seeing all the special cars driving around on the street between the events—much more than the events themselves,” he says. “Walking through Carmel-by-the-Sea on a nice evening during Car Week and seeing streetparked Bugatti and Ferrari models, and other special cars, is so exciting. “I tell people there are car enthusiasts who have incredibly exciting cars they only ever take out for special occasions—and for those enthusiasts, Car Week is precisely the occasion.” On the Spot To catch that special car in public, carspotters know they have to be ready at any time. By Erik Chalhoub “The key is to have your head on a swivel.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Carspotters snap photos of vehicles driving through Monterey as the Aug. 8 Car Week kickoff event was underway nearby. Part of the allure of carspotting is to find something unique where it’s not expected—avoid dealerships, where such cars are advertised. DON’T LEAVE IT TO CHANCE VOTE FOR THE BEST THE ORIGINAL SINCE 1988 Best of Monterey County® FINALS ARE OPEN MontereyCountyNow.com/BestOf ’25
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 girl boy girl Mission St. & 7th Avenue Carmel~by~the~Sea 831-626-3368 girlboygirlboutiquecarmel Open 7 days COMPLIMENTARY PARKING paloosh Ocean Ave & Dolores St. Carmel~by~the~Sea 831-626-2773 palooshboutiquecarmel Open 7 Days ZIMMERMAN ULLA JOHNSON logo TWP La DOUBLEJ ISABEL MARANT SPRWMN PETER COHEN A.L.C Sea ny NILI LOTAN forte-forte logo VERONICA BEARDlogo Ann Mashburn ROSE CARMINE logo SABLYN IRO JONATHAN SIMKHAI LISA YANG BROCHU WALKER La Prestic Ouiston logo VINCE XiRENA alice + olivia Saloni The GREAT SMYTHE ALIX OF BOHEMIA Theory ANNIE BING Hunter Bell Frank & Eileen Enza logo MOTHER R13 MOUSSY VINTAGE CITIZENS of HUMANITY AGOLDE RE/DONE AMO ATM FREECITY Aviator Nation and many more … HANDBAGS ISABEL MARANT Golden Goose VERONICA BEARD logo Jerome Dreyfuss Maria La Rosa Clare V. SHOES IRO ULLA JOHNSON logo ISABEL MARANT Golden Goose LOEFFLER RANDALL DEAR FRANCES forte_forte logo JEWELRY SINGLE STONE JACQUIE AICHE Renato Cipullo Logan Hollowell Lionheart logo zofia day EF Collection Gigi Clozeau and more ... girl boy girl Mission St. & 7th Ave. Carmel-by-the-Sea 831-626-3368 LoveShackFancy
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Driven by Salinas City Council’s interest in pushing for economic development, city officials are in the early stages of crafting a pilot program called From StreetFront to StoreFront with two goals: to support local entrepreneurs and fill vacant commercial spaces in downtown Salinas. The program would focus on home-based businesses, helping them transition to a brick-andmortar operation, says Assistant City Manager Lisa Murphy. “The financial barriers tend to be pretty high to start a business,” she adds. The city will partner with owners of vacant commercial properties and negotiate below-market-rate rent of up to 50 percent. Then they are prepared to chip in for upstart entrepreneurs: “We will financially support them by paying the first six months of their rent. In return, they pay the city 10 percent of their revenues,” Murphy explains. Besides financial support, city staff would connect business owners with resources, business coaching and financial planning. The pilot would start with $10,000 to aid two businesses with hopes of expanding. The target group is retail businesses. “The intent is that they are secure enough and have done well enough that they want to either stay in that location or move to another brick-and-mortar spot,” Murphy says. Various cities, including San Jose, Santa Cruz and Fairfield have implemented similar programs with positive outcomes, such as increasing sales, promoting business incubation and community engagement. If the program moves according to plan, Murphy hopes they will start this winter. In a report to City Council on Aug. 12, she wrote, “From StreetFront to StoreFront is a low-cost, high-impact strategy to boost our local economy, and uplifts small businesses.” Business Plan Salinas to launch a pilot program to help businesses open up downtown. By Celia Jiménez When the number of visitors rises, so do bathroom visits. And California State Parks personnel who manage and maintain several of the most populated parks in Big Sur are no stranger to this correlation. State Parks is exploring two popular locations in Garrapata State Park— Soberanes Canyon and Garrapata Beach—to install permanent restrooms, replacing the current, temporary porta-potties with vault toilets. They’re in the design and planning phase and recently wrapped up gathering initial public input through two Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council meetings, as well as public field trips to talk about the project on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9. “We have people using the bathroom in the bushes, walking off trails, trampling work sites and natural resources in certain areas,” John Hiles, State Parks project lead, told a small group of people on the side of Highway 1 on Wednesday morning, Aug. 6. “That’s why we have projects like this that we’re proposing.” Hiles says that while most are in support of bathrooms in these highly trafficked areas, the concern lies in the specific placement alongside the highway, whether or not they will impact the viewshed and, most critically, whether their construction fits within the guardrails of the Big Sur Land Use plan. The proposed toilets will have two stalls and be similar to those used at national parks and many campgrounds: vault toilets with no running water that collect waste in a hole dug into the ground, ventilated by high ceilings. At Garrapata Beach, tensions between State Parks and locals center on people crossing the road to use the restrooms, and their visibility from Highway 1. The restroom planned for Soberanes Canyon has seen less pushback so far, with plans to be nestled near the current portable restrooms at the trailhead on the east side of the highway. “A challenge we have is we have one group that doesn’t want any advertisement, and another group wants every bathroom on Google Maps so that the public knows where they can find it,” Hiles says. The project aims to complete design and permitting by early next year, with construction expected to take up to two years. While the restrooms themselves will be prefabricated, the site work, including pads and road improvements, will be the most costly part of the project. The Coastal Conservancy is funding the design and permitting, covering costs for environmental review and permits. Funding for construction has not yet been identified. State Parks is working with environmental consultant Denise Duffy and Associates to conduct an environmental review as well as BKF Engineers to prepare an analysis of design plans. Caltrans, with jurisdiction over the highway, is also involved. “This has been a project that has been talked about for decades,” Hiles said at the Garrapata Beach site visit on Aug. 6. “This really is the furthest that we’ve been able to move it thanks to support from the Coastal Conservancy and this entire team trying to find a solution.” John Hiles of State Parks speaks about a potential bathroom project along Highway 1 at Garrapata State Beach. “The need has been talked about for decades,” he said. Pit Stop State Parks is looking at two possible locations for public restrooms in Garrapata State Park. By Katie Rodriguez The City has invested in downtown Salinas in recent years, and now is looking to invest directly in businesses that need a boost getting into brickand-mortar space in the neighborhood. “This has been a project that has been talked about for decades.” DANIEL DREIFUSS DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Walk, bike or use local shuttles. Leave nature as you find it. Spread kindness wherever you go. montEREY SeeMonterey.com/RightPath Car Week is back and in full throttle. Come share your love of motorsports…and show a little love to this wonderful place, too. That means enjoying all of the natural offerings of Monterey County responsibly, so future generations can, too. Let’s take the right path—together. FRIDAY, AUGUST 8 – SUNDAY, AUGUST 17, 2025 Seaside’s Premier European Auto Service Experts and Dealership Alternative (831) 230-8031 Monday – Friday 8:00am - 5:30pm 684 Ponderosa St, Seaside, CA 93955 www.MarlowMotorWerks.com Proudly servicing Mercedes, Sprinter, BMW, Audi and Land Rover with precision and passion! on Aug. 17 and shop with purpose at Goodwill Central Coast CELEBRATE NATIONAL THRIFT SHOP DAY WHERE VALUE MEETS MISSION SCAN TO LEARN MORE
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
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 PRECISION RESPONSIVE EXCELLENCE Business Law • Estates and Trusts Planning • Litigation 26515 Carmel Rancho Blvd., Suite 200, Carmel | 831.375.3151 | hudsonmartin.com Est 1908 THE BEST ATTORNEY ’12-’24 In Monterey County Jeannette K. Witten Monterey County Weekly Voted Best Estate Planning Attorney and Best Attorney If You Want To Sue Somebody ADVERTISEMENT Vista Harden Ranch Senior Living is a stunning, locally owned, vibrant community in the heart of Salinas that offers: Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. 290 Regency Circle, Salinas CA 93906 VistaHardenRanch.com • (831) 443-6467 Want to find out more? Call us today! We would be happy to schedule a personal tour
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Seven-and-a-half years ago, Tiffany DiTullio and her team were given the task to improve the overall health of the Salinas community on behalf of the national Blue Zones Project. Soon the charge grew to include coastal communities, then nearly all of Monterey County. Recently the team learned their task is completed—on Aug. 5 they announced the national organization had certified Monterey County as a Blue Zones Community, the first county in California to achieve the status. The Blue Zones Project was founded on the research of journalist Dan Buettner, who studied regions of the world where people live long, healthy lives. Since 2009 BZP has launched 75 community initiatives, encouraging people to make healthier choices through changes to the built environment, policies and social networks. Buettner visited Salinas in 2019 to help launch Blue Zones Project Salinas. Salinas Valley Health, Taylor Farms and Montage Health provided the financial support. As the program expanded, Blue Zones Project Monterey County sponsored walking groups, volunteer projects, cooking demonstrations and workshops. To achieve certification, BZPMC had to achieve certain metrics, DiTullio says. In Salinas organizers had to enlist 50 percent of the largest employers to become Blue Zones workplaces, plus 50 percent of public schools, at least 25 percent of grocery stores and 10 percent of restaurants. The city was named a Blue Zones Community in 2024. Across the county 70 workplaces representing 14,000 employees implemented health-oriented policies and 64 campuses across 14 school districts adopted improvements. Sixty-two restaurants achieved the Blue Zones Project Approved designation. “We could barely keep up with the number of organizations that wanted to participate,” DiTullio says. BZPMC also had to document incremental improvements in health. In 2019 researchers from Boston University conducted a baseline community survey asking about social determinants of health. Follow-up surveys were done in 2021, 2023 and 2025. Results showed there was a 13-percent increase in people reporting they are “thriving in daily life,” from 59 to 66 percent of the county’s population. There was a 10-percent increase in people reporting they exercise at least 30 minutes three or more days per week. They also found that 42-percent fewer residents reported high cholesterol. An overall community well-being score improved by 3.7 points since 2019, from 63.2 to 66.9. County residents reported improvements in four areas—community, social, purpose, physical—with physical taking the biggest jump, from 62.1 to 69. The only metric where the county decreased was financial, falling from 63.7 in 2019 to 60.3 this year. BZPMC as a project is now complete, and its offices are closing. Montage Health Foundation and Salinas Valley Health will integrate some of the programs into their own. Certified Fresh Monterey County becomes the first in the state to be called a Blue Zones Community. By Pam Marino A woman leads children in a Blue Zones community event. More than 41,000 people took part in Blue Zones Project Monterey County activities, the group reports. NEWS “We could barely keep up.” COURTESY BLUE ZONES MONTEREY COUNTY
www.montereycountynow.com AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 The tiny homes, looking like slatted cubes, started arriving behind a church in Watsonville on Aug. 5, the fruition of over two years of work to give people living in tents along the Pajaro River a warm, dry place to sleep and a stepping stone to future permanent housing. It’s just one of three success stories for the County of Monterey in transitioning unhoused people living along the Pajaro and Salinas rivers into homes, using over $19 million in state encampment resolution funding awarded since 2023. The Watsonville tiny home village—a partnership between the counties of Monterey and Santa Cruz, the City of Watsonville and the Pajaro Regional Flood Management Agency— was already in the planning stages in 2023 when the state awarded the project nearly $8 million, three months after the river’s levee was breached, flooding the community of Pajaro and displacing the encampment’s residents. The units can temporarily house up to 34 people. Residents will receive supportive services as well as help finding permanent housing. It’s scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. “We still have a lot of work to do,” said Roxanne Wilson, Monterey County’s homeless services director, during a county press briefing on Aug. 6. There are utility line connections to be made, and each unit must be lifted 3 feet off the ground in case of flooding. Meanwhile in King City, a celebrational groundbreaking took place on July 30 for Casa de Esperanza, the former Days Inn hotel originally slated to become a Homekey project, the state’s program to repurpose hotels into permanent supportive housing. When that fell through after developer Shangri-La defaulted on its loans, King City officials stepped up to finish it. The city purchased the hotel on April 22 for $4.4 million, immediately signing it over to the Housing Authority of the County of Monterey. A coalition of the city, HACM, county, state and Central California Alliance for Health were able to raise the $16.7 million needed for the project, including $6.4 million in encampment resolution funding awarded last year. When finished, Casa de Esperanza will include 46 studio apartments, supportive services and health care. Meanwhile, the city has been paying for the project’s future residents— many of them displaced after a fire along the river in 2022—to live in a nearby hotel. Soledad received $4.7 million in encampment funds in 2024. Officials moved 40 people onto an alternative site on city-owned property, where they are camping until a second tiny home village can be built. Wilson said they removed 380 tons of trash and debris from the Soledad encampment in the process. Officials hope to break ground by mid- to late-August on the village. “Even though people are still experiencing a technically unsheltered provisional site, 25 percent of those individuals have been permanently housed,” Wilson said. “We housed 11 people effective Aug. 1. That’s permanent housing; we don’t expect them to return to homelessness.” Homeward Bound The county makes progress on transitioning people from three encampments to housing. By Pam Marino The Watsonville tiny home village is now under construction behind Westview Presbyterian Church, located near the Pajaro River. The 32 modular units can temporarily house up to 34 people. NEWS “We housed 11 people effective Aug. 1. That’s permanent housing.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Can it be… …They’re really turning 80?! Bill & Kathi Wojtkowski (Aug/Sep 1945) HAPPY BIRTHDAYS! —Dave & Kristin (831) 718-9041 merrillgardensmonterey.com 200 Iris Canyon Rd, Monterey, CA 93940 We are so confident you’ll love living here, we guarantee it. If you are not completely satisfied with your new home, we will refund your rent for up to 60 days of your stay.* Enjoy an extra layer of comfort — even before you move in. The 60-Day Merrill Family Guarantee. * Call for details. Lic #275202591 A comforting community with a guarantee to match. Enjoy Lunch On Us!
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 14-20, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com IN FEAR Thank you Weekly team. Your presence in our community is essential (“Immigration raids have not yet come to Monterey County, but the fear that they could is changing people’s lives,” Aug. 7-13). Lorraine Yglesias | via social media Thank you, as always, for your consciousness. Patricia Qualls | via social media Immigration is a touchy subject, but to me it boils down to following the law. Legal immigrants that are not in trouble with the law have nothing to worry about. Immigrants that have avoided the proper path are breaking the law and certainly have a right to be afraid as well as green cards with a criminal record. Some people in the article even admit they didn’t do it right, but still for some reason think the USA owes them the right to stay. Norm Groot and Jimmy Panetta need to get on board with the law. There have been and still are successful programs for bringing in farmworkers from Mexico. It is unfair to the legal workers to allow them to be infiltrated with ones that are illegal. Instead of fighting ICE, why not cooperate with them? If local law enforcement cooperated they might find the atmosphere would be a little calmer. As former President Ronald Reagan once said, “a country without borders is not a country.” Robert McGregor | Salinas Everybody’s next—this is what we voted for, giving more power to ICE. Sam T. Alvarado | via social media Thanks for this thorough article. Folks can find Child Safety Plans on the Sus Derechos website: susderechos.info/en/recursos. Emily Gottlieb | Seaside If you’re here legally, you have nothing to worry about. If you’re not, that’s called law enforcement doing its job—not some horror story. Stop turning immigration laws into a boogeyman to score political points. Chris Martinez | via social media Chris Martinez, my friend just spent four days trying to get her nephew released from detention. He’s Guatemalan with a green card, picked up purely because of how he looks. No criminal history, nothing improper in how he got here and has gone through immigration process. Just pure racism and bounty hunters getting paid to do it with absolutely no recourse when they screw up. Blair Cushing | via social media BUILDING BATTLE Great summary of this six-and-ahalf-hour session (“The J.B. Pastor project sees a further delay after a trimmed Carmel City Council pushes a decision into fall,” posted Aug. 5). Nancy Twomey | Carmel I don’t blame Patrice Pastor one bit for being fed up with Camel’s nitpicking (“Monaco developer Patrice Pastor says he’s thinking of leaving Carmel after disappointing council action,” posted Aug. 8). In a misguided attempt to keep Carmel Carmelish, the town has stifled the very sort of creativity that made it such a special place in the first place. James B. Toy | Seaside You can’t get anything done in Carmel without pushback from self-appointed Carmelites who want to “keep Carmel, Carmel.” Whatever that means. It seems to change by the hour. Elizabeth Barratt | via social media DEATH OF NIGHTLIFE What did Steinbeck say? “And Carmel, begun by starving writers and unwanted painters, is now a community of the well-to-do and the retired. If Carmel’s founders should return, they could not afford to live there, but it wouldn’t go that far. They would be instantly picked up as suspicious characters and deported over the city line.” (“Carmel bars Barmel and Sade’s face closure amid clash over late-night ‘community hubs,’” posted Aug. 7.) At $4,000 to rent a studio apartment, $27 for a martini, 1,000-squarefoot homes for sale in the multi-millions, greed is palpable, it’s in the air in Carmel…yet I go there for a nice quiet meal once a week. Kenny Summit | Monterey LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION I am so excited someone stepped in (“Lighthouse Cinema has a new owner—and big plans,” posted Aug. 4). This is such a great theater with lots of history. I am looking forward to the reopening. Walter Kupiec | via social media Love it! I have been seeing movies there since I was a kid; I saw the first Jurassic Park there! I’m so glad it is staying a movie theater and not turning into a bunch of overpriced condos! Rachelle Davi-Razzeca | Moss Landing So happy a local bought it. Roxane Viray | via social media I feel incredibly honored to carry forward the history and heart of this beautiful theater. Lighthouse Cinema has meant so much to so many over the years, and I’m committed to making its next chapter just as meaningful—maybe even more. Ayman Adeeb | Seaside Note: Adeeb is the new cinema owner. ALL AROUND This is such a necessary improvement! (“Steps to ease the traffic congestion at Laureles Grade construction site have been rolled out,” July 31-Aug. 6). All the time I sat at this intersection coming down the Grade and wondering how to make a left turn on a Saturday without getting clobbered! Congratulations to everyone who regularly drives this road. Stef Helbock Pummell | via social media I lived in Santa Barbara for 10 years, where it was just about impossible to get to a post office and Trader Joe’s until they put a roundabout in. It solved all the traffic jams. Sherry Craft | Santa Cruz FLAVOR PROFILE Lighthouse Bistro is making a name for itself (“A new spot in Monterey travels the culinary world, offering something for everyone—with a surprise or two,” July 31-Aug. 6). Excellent food and friendly service. Mark Carbonaro | Monterey 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 AUGUST 14-20, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 19 I’ve been conducting an informal poll of Monterey County residents about Car Week: Do they love it, hate it, or are they indifferent? I’ve been surprised by how many respondees are indifferent. They might like certain types of events (say, vintage racing) and not others (exotics); they might find the traffic a hassle but can hunker down; it’s super busy, but good for business. Such contradictions are nothing new for the Peninsula’s tourism-driven economy. There are impacts year-round from tourism—traffic is a big one— but it’s most noticeable during peaks. And there is no more obvious peak than Car Week, which draws 100,000 visitors and accounts for 5 percent of all hotel room nights for the entire year, according to See Monterey, the county’s tourism bureau. Whether you love it or hate it, it’s nearly impossible to avoid Car Week. See Monterey counts 42 events (and some of those repeat). And that’s not including the plethora of private events that do not make See Monterey’s calendar. Events in unincorporated Monterey County—including Pebble Beach and Carmel Valley—go to the County Housing and Community Development Department for review, meaning there is at least a public record that they exist. But many do not. In some cases, it’s because no special event application is required: Throwing a party in your backyard is not necessarily an “event.” If you expect more than 100 attendees, it might be. If you are selling food or drink, it’s an event. If you charge admission, it’s an event. Same if you’re erecting a tent larger than 400 square feet. Each of these checkboxes triggers review by various agencies. For example, the County Health Department signs off on a temporary kitchen; the building inspector checks tents for safety; the Sheriff’s Office is on safety and evacuation routes. To account for the multi-agency nature of event review, the Monterey County Special Event Task Force brings together various departments to keep tabs on who needs to do what. They meet monthly and last month, on July 23, reviewed 20 events, ranging from a private birthday party to a nonprofit anniversary celebration to Car Week events including an Aug. 16 road race between San Ardo and San Lucas, and an invitation-only “Aston Martin of the Americas” party in Pebble Beach featuring the debut of the Valhalla, a new hybrid. By HCD’s official count, there are 16 public events and six private events—astoundingly low—tied to Car Week. Permit Center Manager Liz Gonzales concedes there are likely many more. “A lot of organizers kind of jump from house to house: Why spend $9,000 on a coastal development permit when they are not going to have it at that same place the next year?” Pebble Beach is a particular area of concern, she adds. The county’s task force only addresses events in unincorporated Monterey County. Events in the cities of Carmel, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Seaside and Marina don’t go to the County for review. No agency is accounting for the big picture. If somebody were to apply today to host Car Week as we know it, I think we can all agree it would have zero chance of being approved. It would require intensive environmental review, not just a questionnaire about street closures, porta- potties and alcohol sales, each reviewed independently by independent agencies. Cumulatively there is traffic, noise and environmental impact in the form of untold emissions—from the show vehicles themselves, the car-hauling trucks, the private jets that fly visitors to MRY. But the impacts of Car Week are not addressed cumulatively, instead in a piecemeal eventby-event, tent-by tent approach. “The impacts are felt on the roads we all share and the neighborhoods we all live in,” says County Supervisor Kate Daniels. “We all understand the benefits of Car Week. But we need to ensure we can continue to be able to function as a community.” I asked Daniels if she might convene a group to zoom out and think broadly about Car Week’s cumulative footprint; she said yes. “We have an opportunity to maybe reimagine the entire thing and ask ourselves, what we are looking for in terms of the totality of the event,” she says. “It’s time to revisit what we want out of this event as a county.” Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com or follow her at @sarahayleyrubin.bsky.social. Zooming Out It’s time to rethink the ever-growing series of Car Week events. By Sara Rubin DRIVE TRAIN…Like many creatures of both land and sea, Squid stays close to home during Car Week, stocking up on shrimp-flavored popcorn and inviting cephalopods over for friendly poker games (octopuses have the worst poker faces, blushing with every flush). Squid’s interest was piqued by an event called the Central Coast Poker Rally, only to find out that no poker will be played. Rather, a group of cars was set to go full tilt around Squid’s lair on Aug. 11. The day kicked off at a bar where, if the promotional video on the rally’s website is to be believed, mimosas and Bloody Marys flow freely. No problem with that, except it’s the ante to…drive around. (Squid checked, that’s still illegal; an organizer argues it probably just show spectators.) The itinerary then promised a drive to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca for photo ops, before “traveling down Lourdes Grade on Carmel Valley Road.” Squid assumes they mean not a hill next to the French cathedral, but Laureles Grade, where participants would have a needed chance to sober up waiting at the construction traffic light before driving to a restaurant (with two more drink tickets to start— maybe the designated drivers give theirs away?) to end the 37-mile drive. “They are required to follow the law and not drive intoxicated,” explains an organizer of the event, now in its fifth year. The heart of the Rally, says the website, is their commitment to giving back. Squid tried to donate to the group’s 2025 charity, but the donate button didn’t work. Besides, the charity is based in New York. Squid donates a portion of Squid’s poker winnings locally instead. SLIP N’ SLIDE…Squid loves to lounge around the lair, but is not the most patient cephalopod of the sea. When Squid needs to get somewhere, Squid knows creative ways to ooze and dart through the water. So when Squid heard there was going to be an announcement about the long-awaited cleanup of Regent’s Slide—which has been blocking Highway 1 through Big Sur since February 2024—Squid was ready to leap into the jalopy for a road trip. (Passage all the way through has been blocked since early 2023.) In mid-July, Toks Omishakin, the State Secretary of Transportation, visited the southern end—a little too far for Squid to swim to—“to provide the latest updates” on the closure. Only his update was mostly to announce there would be another update, sometime kinda soon. “Caltrans will update the public and local business owners with an estimated date for the reopening of Regent’s Slide by the end of summer,” the agency promised following Omishakin’s tour. Summer hasn’t ended yet, but Caltrans already followed up to clarify: an update is coming mid-September. But given their track record, Squid has doubts: What if the big September announcement…slips? THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “The impacts are felt on the roads we all share.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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