NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT BIG CUTS TO BIG AG 10 | DIVING DEEP 13 | SANTA RIDES INTO TOWN 32 | ON THE NEWS 42 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Local chefs and bartenders celebrate the versatility of the cranberry with new recipes. p. 20 By Dave Faries Gifts for DIY p. 28 RELISH THE CHALLENGE
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4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 • ISSUE #1948 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Mike McDaniel (iPhone 14 Pro Max, Pano setting) Late afternoon shadows stretch across the 18th fairway at Bayonet golf course in Seaside as the sun begins to go down. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: A shower of cranberries fall in and around a cocktail glass at Pearl Hour in Monterey. The team crafted Forest Fruit, a cranberry-flavored take on the classic negroni. The recipe, as well as others using cranberries, can be found in this week’s cover story. Cover image: Daniel Dreifuss 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 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 Annie Cobb annie@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
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6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Reporters from the nonprofit online news outlet Suncoast Searchlight in Florida accused their editor of using AI to edit their stories, adding false information and made-up quotes. In a letter to the nonprofit’s board, the four reporters stated Editor Emily Le Coz was hiding her use of AI tools from staff. Less than a day after the board received the letter, one of the reporters was fired, reportedly for performance issues, although the reporter told Nieman Lab that she had not received any prior warnings. The reporters, in the letter, requested the board to implement an AI policy, investigate whether AI-generated writing was published and asking Le Coz to not use AI to edit in the future. Board chair Keith Woods wrote that the board is conducting an internal review, but had spoken to Le Coz and had “full confidence in her editing processes.” “While the investigation remains ongoing, no issues have surfaced concerning the accuracy of Searchlight’s journalism or the ethics of the editorial process,” he wrote. “The board remains highly confident in the integrity of the Searchlight team’s journalism.” Good: Mina Harigae had a memorable weekend on Pebble Beach’s golf courses. Not only did the Monterey native and LPGA Tour professional win the TaylorMade Invitational, which wrapped up on Sunday, Nov. 23, she set a new women’s course record at The Links at Spanish Bay, firing a torrid 64 on Nov. 21. Harigae is only the second woman to win the unique event in its 54 years. Juli Inkster claimed the title in 1990. The pro-am tournament puts PGA, LPGA, PGA Champions and Korn Ferry Tour professionals on the same course, playing from different tees across three of Pebble Beach’s courses. Harigae recorded a 69 on Thursday, Nov. 20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links before setting history the next day at Spanish Bay. She ended the tournament by besting PGA Tour pro Cameron Sisk by 3 strokes. Harigae grew up in Monterey and turned pro in 2009. GREAT: Monterey-Salinas Transit has a plan to convert its entire fleet to zero-emission vehicles by 2040. That involves more than just purchasing electric buses, but also includes building up the infrastructure to keep the fleet running. The effort got a boost when U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, and Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, announced on Nov. 25 that the transit agency received a $1 million federal grant to go toward this goal. The grant, funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, will be used to purchase a backup generator for the bus fleet. “These funds are a critical part of building a complete funding package to develop an energy storage system for our growing fleet of zero-emission buses,” MST General Manager/CEO Carl Sedoryk said. “This system will ensure we can draw power during emergencies when the PG&E grid is unavailable.” GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how much Monterey County’s agriculture industry is estimated to pump into the economy per hour, according to a new study. The study looked at food processing, employment and economic ripple effects, finding that the industry contributed $11.706 billion into the economy in 2023. Source: Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office $1.33 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “If we are prepared and give our all, I can accept losing to a team that is better.” -Monterey Bay FC’s new Chief Soccer Officer Oliver Wyss, on setting standards for the team (see story, montereycountynow.com). million GIFT One GET One MONTEREY LANES 2161 N. Fremont St., Monterey 373.1553 VALLEY CENTER BOWL 1081 S. Main Street, Salinas 422.9031 STOP IN TODAY AND RELIEVE THAT HOLIDAY STRESS! *Promotional gift card valid 1/2/15-3/31/15. Not valid for alcohol of for league fees. is Holiday Season, spread a little cheer …and keep some for yourself! Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get a $20 Promotional Gift Card FREE* Buy $50 worth of gift cards and get a $10 Promotional Gift Card FREE* Give the perfect gi that can be enjoyed by everyone on your holiday list, PLUS get a gi card for yourself! MONTEREY LANES 2161 N. Fremont St., Monterey 373.1553 VALLEY CENTER BOWL 1081 S. Main Street, Salinas 422.9031 Buy $100 worth of gift cards and get a $20 Promotional Gift Card FREE* This Holiday Season, spread a little cheer …and keep some for yourself! STOP IN TODAY AND RELIEVE THAT HOLIDAY STRESS! *Promotional gift card valid 1/2/26 - 3/31/26. Not valid for alcohol or league fees. Buy $50 worth of gift cards and get a $10 Promotional Gift Card FREE* Give the perfect gift that can be enjoyed by everyone on your holiday list, PLUS get a gift card for yourself! Gift One Get One
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8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com 831 A little after 11am on a recent Thursday, a dance party spontaneously breaks out inside the community room at Sherwood Village, subsidized senior housing run by CHISPA. As Montalvo the Band from Soledad is playing classic Spanish and English hits, some of the women in the room jump up and dance. There are smiles everywhere among the 50 or so seniors in the room. This is one of the monthly luncheon gatherings of Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley, known as Senior Socials. There are seven total each month that take place in King City, Soledad, Greenfield, Salinas, Marina and Castroville, open to people aged 60 and up. At Sherwood Village, the social typically takes place on the fourth Thursday of every month. The gatherings include lunch, music or an activity, resource tables and takeaway boxes of food from the Food Bank for Monterey County. The lunches started in 2021 as a way to get seniors out of their homes to socialize and receive nutritious food, two major challenges for the age group. Isolation is a nationwide problem, says MOWSV President/CEO Regina Gage. A study in 2023 found that 34 percent of older U.S. adults reported feeling socially isolated. Researchers have linked isolation and loneliness to increased risk of dementia, heart disease, stroke, anxiety and depression. Conversely, more social interaction can lead to increased wellness and longevity. MOWSV’s Senior Socials fill that need for social connection. “It gives them a place to go to see friends and have fun,” Gage says. She believes they are serving an underserved population of Monterey County that is often ignored and overlooked. Most of the gatherings see about 50-60 attendees, although the one in Greenfield, on the second Wednesday of each month inside the Greenfield Veteran’s Memorial Hall, can include as many as 110 guests. The popularity of the lunches is growing and they often max out on sign-ups, Gage says. Many guests like to dress up for the occasion. Yolanda Gonzales, a 14-year resident of Sherwood Village and one of the women out on the dance floor, has been coming to the socials since they began. She appreciates the healthy produce distribution, adding, “I’m a heart patient. It doesn’t look like it, but I am!” She also appreciates the resource tables in the back of the room with representatives from various nonprofits and agencies. “A lot of us can’t drive or go out, so it’s very helpful,” she says. On this day, Legal Services for Seniors, Monterey-Salinas Transit, the Community Health Partnership representing Ready California, Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice and MOWSV have tables set up. Gonzales picked up several pamphlets and fliers, as well as a blue plastic backscratcher from MST. In addition to providing food boxes, the Food Bank provides lunches at six of the seven social gatherings. Gage says without the Food Bank’s support it would be difficult to host the events. After about 20 minutes of socializing and dancing, Gage gets up to welcome everyone, with Vicky Canepa of Legal Services for Seniors providing Spanish translation. Lunch is served at 11:30am with helpers bringing out to-go containers full of spaghetti with meat sauce and a green salad. Later, trays of sugar cookies decorated with icing and sprinkles in fall colors are brought around to the guests “It’s very good,” says Ernesto Espinoza as he digs into the spaghetti. He says the meals each month are always good—”No sandwiches, it’s a meal,” he says. “I like everything [about the socials]. I like the environment.” After everyone’s been fed, it’s time for a brief speaker—every month a different nonprofit or agency is highlighted. Martha Ortega of the Community Health Partnership is there that day with emergency preparedness information from Ready California. Before Ortega introduces her team and starts her brief talk, she marvels at how happy everyone in the room is. “When I’m older I want to be as happy as you are. This is so fun,” she says. Information on how to sign up for a MOWSV Senior Social is available at mowsalinas.org/programs/monthly-socials-schedule, or call MOWSV at (831) 758-6325. The Lunch Bunch Mobile luncheons bring more than nourishment to seniors up and down the Salinas Valley. By Pam Marino “A lot of us can’t drive or go out, so it’s very helpful.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE NIK BLASKOVICH Live music complements a lunch gathering at Sherwood Village in Salinas. Meals on Wheels of the Salinas Valley hosts seven mobile luncheons monthly throughout the Salinas Valley. SHOP. EAT. STAY. LOCAL Find local businesses at montereychamber.com/list SHOP SMALL shop local this holiday season!
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 SE Corner of Monte Verde & 10th, Carmel-by-the-Sea 3 Beds, 2 Baths • $4,999,950 • www.SeaBreezeCarmel.com Lincoln 3 SW of 10th, Carmel-by-the-Sea 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths • $4,849,950 • www.Lincoln3SWof10th.com 5th Avenue 3 SE of Perry Newberry, Carmel-by-the-Sea 3 Beds, 2 Baths • $2,135,000 • www.5thAndPerryNewberry.com 67 & 69 W Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley 2 Beds, 1 Bath • $1,999,000 • www.CarmelValleyVenture.com Interested in a property? Contact us to schedule a showing! 831.624.2300 MontereyCoastRealty.com CalDRE #01871677 Locally Owned. Globally Connected. View all available listings by scanning the code All year long! PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES THE CITY OF MONTEREY Scan QR code for more info + registration MONTEREY.GOV/REC (831) 646-3866 play! MONTEREY • Preschool Programs • Youth Sports Leagues & Camps • School Break & Summer Camps • Gymnastics & Dance • Art Classes • Adult Sports Leagues • Adult & Senior Programs And much more!
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS On Nov. 18, Salinas City Council approved allocating $620,000 to increase lighting in East Salinas with a goal of reducing prostitution and human trafficking in the area. It’s an issue that residents report worsened after California decriminalized loitering for the purpose of prostitution in 2023. Lisa Brinton, Salinas’ community development director, told the council it won’t be an overnight fix. “This is really a deterrent. It is a step toward making the neighborhood feel more safe,” Brinton said. Residents have organized a protest and attended council meetings to bring attention to this matter and demand a solution. In response, the Salinas Police Department increased its presence in the area and city departments began working together toward a recommendation. In addition to the lighting, staff proposed adding no-parking areas and investigating if food trucks were a contributing factor. Residents rejected both ideas, saying they would have negative impacts and they don’t think there is a link between vendors and prostitution. (Council adopted lighting improvements, not changes to parking or food trucks.) In addition, city officials will install nine cameras at intersections, at a cost of $94,234. That includes $840 for the first year of operations; future operations costs will be covered by Salinas PD. Salinas Police Sgt. Zachary Dunagan notes calls reporting suspected prostitution have increased since the law changed. He says 24/7 surveillance and lighting could contribute to reducing illegal activity. “Increased visibility, surveillance cameras will not necessarily completely get rid of any problem, but it will help,” Dunagan says. Human Cost Salinas City Council approves $620,000 to combat prostitution and human trafficking. By Celia Jiménez On Aug. 5, Arable Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on food and agribusiness, announced that its company organicgirl had acquired Braga Fresh through a merger, followed by the acquisition of Dole Fresh Vegetables/Bud Antle, a former division of Dole plc. Less than four months later, Tim Stejskal, CEO of organicgirl, announced they would be closing the Braga Fresh processing facility in Spreckels, resulting in the loss of 260 jobs. “Employees have been informed,” Stejskal says in a statement. “Throughout the phase-out, the company is committed to working closely with them in an environment of respect, fairness and support.” Industry experts note that layoffs are often a result of consolidation, and consolidation in agriculture—both in the processing facility space and in farming—is part of a larger trend driven by market pressures. According to James Sayre, an assistant professor of cooperative extension, agricultural and resource economics at UC Davis, mergers may be necessary to survive by increasing profit margins that are notoriously razor-thin. Mergers also allow companies to further flex economies of scale and market power. Braga Fresh, which has historically handled a majority of the packaging and processing for grower Braga Ranch, could expand services to the other companies within the organicgirl portfolio. “It’s resilience,” Sayre adds. “Maybe they’re looking to expand their supply chain, to have a basin in the Central Coast.” Braga Ranch, a third-generation family-owned farm, manages over 20,000 acres of farmland in the Salinas Valley and Imperial Valley. Its main crops are leafy greens such as romaine, spinach and spring mix, as well as broccoli and cauliflower. Over three-quarters of the business is dedicated to organic production, sold under the flagship retail brand Josie’s Organics. Starting on Nov. 10, Braga’s processing plant in Spreckels began moving operations to other locations in the network, initially impacting about 21 employees. The next phase is anticipated mid-January 2026, followed by additional phases until a planned 2026 completion, according to Stejskal. “Bringing these companies together creates an exciting new chapter,” Rod Braga, president and CEO of Braga Fresh, said in a press release. “It allows us to continue offering exceptional value to our customers, expand opportunities for our worldclass grower partners, and support the growth and development of our talented employees.” Taylor Farms has also followed the consolidation trend in recent months. On Nov. 3, it announced plans to expand into the United Kingdom by acquiring Natures Way Foods, adding 1,300 new employees. In April, the company acquired FarmWise, a robotics company specializing in precision weeding. This comes six years after acquiring Earthbound Farm. “We’re excited to partner with Natures Way Foods and expand our global footprint,” Bruce Taylor, CEO of Taylor Farms, said in a statement. “Agriculture is becoming larger, farms are becoming larger. It’s harder to keep up if you’re a small farm,” Sayre says. “You’re not going to buy a laser weeder if you’re a one-acre farm.” According to the Agricultural Commissioner’s 2020 ranch map atlas, Braga Ranch farms over 6,000 acres in Monterey County. Above, CEO Rod Braga. Mergers and Shakers Recent acquisition and staff cuts at Braga Fresh reflect larger trends in the ag sector. By Katie Rodriguez Sex workers have been routinely observed in a residential Salinas neighborhood. A plan includes installing cameras at major intersections, including Roosevelt and King streets. “It’s harder to keep up if you’re a small farm.” NIC COURY DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 THIS SEASON, A LITTLE LOVE GOES A LONG WAY. 700 Jewell Avenue, Pacific Grove, California 93950 • MOWMP.ORG • 831.375.4454 MOWMP is a 501(c)(3) exempt organization. EIN 94-2157521 mowmp.org/mcgives Give from the heart. Help us deliver hope. 2025 MEMBER AT&T Pebble Beach PRO-AM Temporary Special Event JOB FAIR Thursday, December 11, 2025 3p.m. - 7p.m. Friday, December 12, 2025 8a.m. - 12p.m. Lodge Conference Center 1700 17 Mile Drive, Pebble Beach Interviews on the spot These opportunities are for the period of February 8 - February 15, with most shifts February 13 - February 15. Hiring for all areas Bartenders, bussers, cashiers, cooks, housekeepers, servers, shuttle drivers, stewards, retail sales, valets, and many more! Please apply to the AT&T Job Fair Application at pebblebeach.com/careers Please come prepared to provide proof of employment eligibility. Questions: (831) 649-7657 LOCATED INSIDE THE PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA COMPLIMENTARY SELF OR VALET PARKING (831) 649-7830 | JACKSATPORTOLA.COM breakfast with SANTA Buttermilk Pancakes, Classic Eggs Benedict, Huevos Rancheros, Mimosas, and more. The Portola team will also host cookie decorating in the hotel lobby. Complimentary cookies decorating available while supplies last. Reservations are recommended. Please call Jacks Monterey at (831) 649-7830 or email jacks@portolahotel.com to secure your reservations. SUNDAY 11/30 & 12/7 8:30AM TO 11:30AM
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com In December 2023, the County of Monterey and all 12 cities faced a deadline to turn in their updated housing plans to the California Department of Housing and Community Development for certification. Only Salinas made it. Since then, all but two—the County and Pacific Grove—have successfully been certified. As the stragglers head toward the finish line, instead of cheers, leaders are facing angry residents bristling against change. It’s a frustrating situation for all concerned. The eight-year plans, called housing elements, run from 2023-2031. This latest round comes with requirements to plan for more housing units, plus reforms to make it easier to gain approvals. The County is required to add at least 3,326 to its element, Pacific Grove 1,125. The County faced a well-organized campaign by Save Tarpy Flats, a residents group opposed to development of parcels along Olmstead Road off of Highway 68 in Monterey. At a Board of Supervisors meeting on Oct. 28, residents demanded those parcels be taken out of the element. Supervisor Kate Daniels, who represents District 5 where Tarpy Flats is located, told residents that their efforts were misplaced. The area was already approved for housing in the county’s 2010 general plan and because the county missed the state’s deadline they are subject to Builder’s Remedy, which streamlines approval for projects with affordable housing—a project for 100 market-rate units under the remedy is already in play. At this point the residents’ only option is to purchase the land for conservation, she said. At a Pacific Grove Planning Commission meeting on Nov. 13, some residents from a neighborhood near Sinex and Grove Acre avenues that is proposed for higher density, yelled at commissioners, demanding the City reject the state’s requirements. A few spoke in favor, recognizing the need for housing. Commissioners acknowledged residents’ anger, but said to balk now delays state certification, putting them at further risk of Builder’s Remedy projects, as well as state penalties. The P.G. commissioners voted 5-0 to recommend the updated housing element to the City Council, which will discuss it on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The County has more work ahead. A draft housing element update and environmental impact report are to be released soon for public review. County planners estimate bringing the update to the Planning Commission in mid- to late February. The Leapfrog Hospital Survey is touted as “the nation’s gold standard” in evaluating hospitals and surgery centers, using grades, much like in school. An “A” means a hospital is meeting safety standards and preventing harm to patients, an “F” indicates failure. In Monterey County, the three largest hospitals have routinely received As and Bs, until recently, when Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula saw its score drop to a C. CHOMP received As in 2021 and 2022, then Bs between the spring of 2023 and spring 2025. (Scores are released in spring and fall.) Salinas Valley Health and Natividad, both in Salinas, have consistently been scoring As over the past several years. The Peninsula hospital’s overall score this fall was 110.77 out of a possible 120 points. The average hospital score is 117.60. According to the report card, CHOMP performed “worse than average” on surgery-related issues and “effective leadership to prevent errors.” It rated better than average on nursing care and handling of medicines. Leaders of CHOMP’s parent company, Montage Health, characterized the drop as a failure in documentation and data submitted to Leapfrog as far back as 2021. “It does not reflect the safety or quality of the care that we provided to our patients,” said Mindy Maschmeyer, director of communications for Montage Health. “We have actively addressed the issues identified through enhanced processes, re-submitted documentation, and additional training. “We fully expect to see this score improve in spring when our efforts will be captured in the next report.” Earlier this year, Montage officials confirmed that the California Department of Public Health was investigating two isolated “surgical safety incidents” that took place since 2024. Montage officials said they were taking corrective action across the entire hospital system to prevent future problems and meet and exceed state regulations. Last Gasp Acrimony arises as the last two state-mandated housing plans approach completion. By Pam Marino NEWS WELCOME HOME SPCA Monterey County hosts a free adoption event. All adoption fees for shelter pets have been paid for by donors. 11am-5pm Friday, Nov. 28. SPCA Monterey County, 1002 Highway 68, Salinas. Free. (831) 373-2631, spcamc.org. REMOVAL REVIEW Boston-based attorney Claire Maguire represents individuals who have been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She speaks about the practice of deporting people to countries they have no ties to, known as “third-country removal.” 2pm Sunday, Nov. 30. Aromas Grange, 400 Rose Ave., Aromas. Free. aromasgrange.org. ON THE DAIS Monterey City Council meets and accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, Dec. 2. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 6463799, monterey.gov. PUBLIC’S BUSINESS Marina City Council holds its regular meeting to discuss city business. Items on the agenda include designating City Hall as a no-parking area between 1-6am and modifying its coastal plan to address sea level rise. As always, public comment is accepted. 6:30pm Tuesday, Dec. 2. Council Chambers, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. (831) 884-1278, cityofmarina. org. PUBLIC PROCESS Pacific Grove City Council meets to go over regular city business and accept public comment. The council will consider zoning amendments to the city’s general plan. 6pm Wednesday, Dec. 3. City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. Free. (831) 648-3181, cityofpacificgrove.org. FOR THE COMMUNITY City of Salinas officials are considering a community center at Northgate Park. Residents are invited to share feedback, including choosing which design option they prefer. Survey is ongoing at bit.ly/ D5RecCenter2. FIRE FEEDBACK Soledad Fire Department is gathering public input on what its priorities should be. Survey is ongoing at tinyurl.com/ SoledadFireSurvey. Down Grade CHOMP leaders have more work to do after seeing a national safety rating grade drop. By Pam Marino Monterey County Supervisor Kate Daniels told residents on Oct. 28 they need to redirect efforts to save Tarpy Flats toward purchasing the property for conservation. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX To balk now delays state certification. DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 The scuba diving community in Monterey County has been rocked in the past six months, both from tragedy and business challenges. One of three local dive shops, Bamboo Reef in New Monterey, is now shuttered. According to the company’s website, both the Monterey and San Francisco locations closed after 64 years in operation. Monterey Bay Scuba remains open at its location at the Coast Guard Wharf in Monterey. “There’s a lot happening in the scuba world right now on the California coast,” says John Richardson, owner of Monterey Bay Scuba Diving, LLC, the parent company of Monterey Bay Scuba. Richardson observes a similar trend of shrinking in neighboring Santa Cruz County: “They went from four shops down to oneand-a-half in just the last five years.” Richardson says he is not sure why so many dive shops have recently gone out of business, but he thinks it may be due to oversaturation for low-populated beach communities. He adds that repeated beach closures due to thousands of sea lions congregating at San Carlos Beach in Monterey, a popular scuba spot, might have contributed to a local industry slowdown. Besides taking the number of local dive shops down to just two, Bamboo Reef’s closure means some associated clubs and organizations are regrouping. The Monterey Bay Tritons, a local spearfishing and freediving group, is taking steps to formally become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. “The Monterey Bay Tritons will return to its roots as a freediving and spearfishing club,” says acting president Brandon Burke. “Challenging times bring people together.” Bamboo Reef served as the main sponsor for the Tritons as a host for club meetings and events after the Covid-19 pandemic. But according to Burke, members felt that the dive shop was swallowing the club, even pushing to change its name. Burke feels the move to become an independent nonprofit was necessary even if the store kept operating. Still, he acknowledges that losing a legacy dive shop like Bamboo Reef means the end of an era for a world-class diving location. Richardson’s shop continues doing business as usual after five-and-a-half years. “We’re a very different company here because we’re working on tourism,” Richardson says. The company offers offshore boat tours combined with scuba diving, removing a limitation of only entering the water from San Carlos Beach. The closure of Bamboo Reef comes less than four months after three members of the local diving community died in a plane crash in July. James Vincent owned Aquarius dive shop in Monterey; he and his brother-in-law, Jamie Lee Tabscott, owned Any Water Dive Center in San Jose; and along with dive instructor Steve Clatterbuck of Bamboo Reef, they led dive trips locally and around the world. Aquarius is still operating, with no plans to slow down. “The diving community continues to dive,” says Jake Hilliker, assistant manager at Aquarius. Surface Slowly After a tumultuous year for the scuba diving community, enthusiasts and leaders regroup. By Sloan Campi Bamboo Reef on Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey announced a going-out-ofbusiness sale on Nov. 3 and was shuttered within three weeks. The store first opened in 1961. NEWS “The diving community continues to dive.” DANIEL DREIFUSS ’25 ♦ 3 Card Poker ♠ Century 21st No Bust Black Jack ♣ Texas Hold’em ♥ FULL BAR! BLACKJACK BONUS POINTS PAYS UP TO $20,000 SMALL TOWN BIG PAYOUTS! 1-800-Gambler • GEAR-000383, GEAR-000376, GEAR-000375 The Marina Club Casino ensures the safety and security of all guests and team members at all times, while providing exceptional service. 204 Carmel Ave. Marina 831-384-0925 casinomonterey.com ♠ ♣ ♥ ♦ Just minutes from Downtown Monterey Where Monterey Comes To Play
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com MC GIVES On a recent Saturday, more than 100 people, many of them children, gather at Pajaro Middle School to get their hands dirty. The volunteers are there to add green to the campus by planting trees and other plants, as well as building garden beds and creating an orchard. At the end of the day, they are able to take a tree home to plant in their yard, stretching out the green canopy beyond the campus. The work is part of the Watsonville Community Forest Project, organized by Watsonville Wetlands Watch. The project is an effort to plant thousands of trees throughout Pajaro and Watsonville to increase its tree canopy. “Trees are a tremendous tool for climate adaptation,” says Watsonville Wetlands Watch Executive Director Jonathan Pilch. “It’s one of the best tools we have to create shade, improve air quality and beautify the community in a way that makes it a much healthier place to live.” Trees now taking root in the ground at Pajaro Middle School are ornamental and fruit varieties, including ginkgos, African fern pines and many different types of citrus. Planting at Pajaro Middle began in late 2022. The trees and shrubs installed around the athletic field serve as a windbreak between the school and the adjacent farmland. That effort halted after the March 2023 flood washed through Pajaro, forcing the school’s closure for more than a year. Fortunately, many of the trees survived the disaster, Pilch says, and volunteers got back to work. Thanks to a grant from Cal Fire, Watsonville Wetlands Watch staff gathered input from students and their families, along with school teachers and staff, to help design the next phase of the greening project. A grant from the Community Foundation for Monterey County then helped implement that design. This project was also funded by Monterey County Gives! in 2024, which helped the nonprofit pay youth and young adult interns to maintain the trees and plants. The Big Idea for MCGives! is to expand this project beyond the confines of the campus and into Pajaro’s neighborhoods. Residents and businesses are encouraged to adopt a tree and help boost the urban forest. For information, visit watsonvillecommunityforest.org. COURTESY OF WATSONVILLE WETLANDS WATCH Urban Forest Watsonville Wetlands Watch adds greenery to Pajaro Middle School and beyond. By Erik Chalhoub Watsonville Wetlands Watch pays interns to maintain trees and plants on the Pajaro Middle School campus. The goal is to expand this program through the town. How to Donate Go to www.mcgives.com and click the Donate button. Mental health, substance use, and homelessness often intersect. Community Human Services delivers care tailored to each person’s unique journey. Donate now to support those navigating life’s toughest crossroads. at the intersection of crisis and care.
www.montereycountynow.com NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 We continue to see an increase in women seeking warmth, basic care, and support, with demand for services now surpassing last year. This Holiday Season We Are Thankful For Our Community Since 2014, your support has provided: 12,281 113,727 13,959 8,016 Showers Meals Clothing Ensembles Case Manager Visits Thank you to our Volunteers, Donors and Supporters-because of you we meet this rising need each and every day. at montereycountygives.com/gathering GIVE TODAY gatheringforwomen.org ~ 831-241-6154 "I'm always so grateful for you guys. If it weren't for places like this, we wouldn't have a clue what to do. We'd be so lost." GFW Guest
16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com NOT FOR SALE I am heartbroken for Sylvia Jones and her family (“Friends of a Seaside woman protest her conservatorship and her home going up for sale,” Nov. 13-19). I am angry at the process that could yank someone from their home and force the sale of their home. I recognize we may not have the whole story, but why is this being rushed? So many questions. Forcing the sale of her home so quickly appears unjust on so many levels. Sharon Houy | Pacific Grove What is happening to Mrs. Sylvia Jones should alarm every resident of Seaside. An 88-year-old woman’s home boarded up, padlocked, and pushed into a rushed sale without real family input or community transparency, is not just unfortunate. It is a systems failure that hits our seniors, our Black families and our generational wealth the hardest. The community comments say what many already feel: Our systems are not communicating clearly, intervening early, or prioritizing dignity. People like Lisa Lewis, and the community and neighbors who protested outside the home are responding not to a single event, but to a pattern that is all too common in Seaside. This is bigger than one house. This is about how easily families lose property they spent decades building, often with no meaningful chance to understand, participate, or push back before the damage is done. Karla Lobo | Seaside This happens far too often. Be sure the person you choose to assist you in senior years is trustworthy. I hope she gets to keep her family home. Patty Cramer | via web WATER LEVEL Someone in the county approved plans to build in the flood zone. Now it floods. Residents now have a right to protect their property (“Where Santa Rita Creek crosses from county to city jurisdiction, stream management changes—and residents are tired of repeat flooding,” Nov. 20-26). Edward Nowak | via web Annual, predictable flooding, damaging property and causing costs. All because of a salamander? Another example of why Democrats are disliked and California easily caricatured. Common sense, the ability to prioritize and solve problems are nonexistent in this story, where we’re treated to a well-paid county supervisor lamenting, “You just can’t go and send out our crew to go clean this, because there’s state and there’s federal regulations, environmental regulations, that are extremely strict.” How absurd. Clean out the creek, maintain it annually before the rains. Even if it means a few dead salamanders. Peter Szalai | Salinas SAFETY FIRST Sad. Why does the state and county not do more to advertise situational awareness of these inescapable pockets that are death traps on our coastline? (“Search efforts continue for 35-year-old man swept into ocean at Soberanes Point,” posted Nov. 24.) Like a map marked in red zones that are higher risk—green, yellow, orange and red? Does that exist and where can it be found online on several state and county wide websites, tourist sites, state park sites…basically anywhere it will be seen by potential visitors as they plan their visits and research. Donna Ferguson | Seaside LOST AND FOUND Juan Heredia has strong talent, and a wonderful desire to help others (“The diver who found a 7-year-old lost at sea describes his process,” Nov. 20-26). Recovering the body, as sad as the death is, must certainly bring a sense of closure for the family. Diving in the cold ocean waters off of Big Sur is dangerous, and in high surf even more so. This and his other recovery efforts are very worthy events. Walter Wagner | Salinas He is amazing! Debbie Myers Bryant | via social media He’s definitely a hero! Erika Spencer Carpenter | via social media You can make light of what happened by re-directing attention to the skills of the diver, but the real crime is the negligence of park rangers who can’t be bothered to go out and monitor their beaches on big wave days. Three poor souls were swept to sea last Dec. 23. All could have been saved if they would be grown-ups and monitor their beaches when they know big waves are coming in. Jane Benight | via social media TALK ABOUT IT Loved your article on The Village Project (“How to reach young people with a message about mental health? Ask young people,” posted Nov. 12). I have two daughters, 19 and 28. While the oldest did not grow up in a social media world, the 19-year-old is. Her generation is going to need the most help from a mental health standpoint. She is a freshman at Monterey Peninsula College. I am always reminding her that asking for help is a sign of strength, not a sign of weakness. I have been in therapy myself and both my girls are aware of this fact. It is nothing to be ashamed of. I have a few adults in my life who would benefit from some good therapy. Thank you for reporting on this very important topic. Darcy Sweet | Marina I want to know this good man (“Ayo Banjo believes everyone deserves to thrive, and visibility into the darkest corners helps us get there,” Nov. 20-26). Patricia Qualls | via social media GIVE AWAY Loved the article about the Glickmans. What a refreshing attitude! (“How a couple decided to donate 15 percent of everything they owned, and what it taught them,” Nov. 13-19.) What wonderful, caring people. Jean Duff | Seaside SEE THE SEA It’s so bay-utiful (“A new ‘night gallery’ on Cannery Row offers a deep dive into underwater photography,” Nov. 20-26). Patrick Webster | via web 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 NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 17 Say you want to install a new water meter on the Monterey Peninsula—no can do. Since 1995, the region’s water utility, California American Water, has been under a cease-and-desist order from the State Water Resources Control Board to stop illegally overpumping the Carmel River. That order led to a ban in 2009 on new water meters, making it difficult to impossible to build needed housing since then. In this mess, some real water supply projects have advanced, chiefly a recycled water project called Pure Water Monterey. It means Cal Am is within its legal pumping limit—yet the ceaseand-desist order is still in effect. Everything in local water is a proxy for something else, and in this mess of public agencies and projects, one recurring storyline is that Cal Am is a villain—in some tellings, it is a hero thwarted in its efforts to develop an alternate water supply. What people think about that alternate water supply, specifically a desalination plant, often tells you how they perceive Cal Am. The company continues to pursue a pricey, controversial desalination plant, even though lower-cost recycled water has so far shown enough promise to justify lifting the cease-anddesist order. The Monterey Peninsula Water Management District—an antagonist to Cal Am in the storyline, with current efforts including a public takeover of the private company—has asked the State Water Board to lift the cease-and-desist order. Some cities are joining in, including Monterey City Council, which voted 4-1 on Nov. 18 to send a letter to the State Water Board urging them to lift the 30-year-old order. The city’s community development director, Kim Cole, suggested council include a reference to the desal project, which she assured them “is going to construction fairly soon.” Council opted instead to send a letter without that phrasing. All of this is water politics, more than water supply analysis. As I reported last year, Erik Ekdahl, deputy director for the state board’s Division of Water Rights, says, “I don’t have an exact number. It’s not just a clear, bright line.” In Cal Am’s assessment, only a desalination plant—the biggest project with the highest-cost water—is a viable path forward. A growing chorus of other voices say there is plenty of water with innovations like recycling, and the sourcewater is secure. (“The likelihood the ag industry is going to start building their own plant is very low,” Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson said. “Aliens could also come to Earth.”) As the politics of water play out in council chambers and board rooms, a long-awaited legal battle is getting detailed treatment in Monterey County Superior Court, where Judge Thomas Wills is presiding over a trial that attempts to answer a major legal question underlying the hero/villain story: Does Cal Am have a right to the water in Marina where it intends to build a desalination plant? In 2020, the City of Marina and Marina Coast Water District sued Cal Am, the sand mining company Cemex that granted an easement to Cal Am for its desalination plant, and the Monterey County Water Resources Agency, arguing that it does not. “Cal Am lacks any right to extract groundwater for the project at the Cemex property or to export this groundwater to users located outside of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin,” according to the city’s suit. In the ongoing trial, a small army of attorneys are talking about water and whose hydrological analysis is to be believed. The story about protagonist and antagonist keeps inserting itself into the courtroom, but Judge Thomas Wills keeps trying to keep it out. An attorney for Marina Coast called George Riley, a member of the board of MPWMD and founder of the group that became Public Water Now, to the stand to talk about the cost of water. Wills was skeptical. “The purpose of this trial is not a straw poll to find out how many people are for or against the plan,” he said. “The question is whether it is unreasonable or reasonable.” There seems to be little progress on answering that in city halls, where the political arc of the story depends on who is telling it. It seems equally unlikely that the answer will come from a courtroom, where zero hydrologists are employed. Until the state water board weighs in, a divisive narrative persists. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Water Wars Politics, law and reality collide in pursuit of relief on Peninsula water woes. By Sara Rubin GOING ROGUE…Squid loves a good espionage flick, but even Squid was a little disturbed by the last Mission: Impossible. Its plot seems all too plausible in this day and age when AI is taking over the world. Apparently, real-life espionage just includes adding your email address to a Google Drive, if a lawsuit is to be believed. Joby Aviation, which is building electric air taxis at the Marina Municipal Airport, sued its San Jose-based competitor Archer Aviation and a former employee, alleging that said employee stole trade secrets to benefit the rival. According to the lawsuit filed Nov. 19 in Santa Cruz County Superior Court, George Kivork was recruited to work for Archer in the summer of 2025. The lawsuit alleges that Kivork, while still employed by Joby, added his personal email to the company’s Google Drive and downloaded a “treasure chest of competitive secrets” to his personal devices two days before he announced his resignation in July 2025. The lawsuit claims that Joby lost a contract with a developer to build vertiports because the terms were leaked to Archer, pointing the finger at Kivork. Eric Lentell, Archer’s chief legal officer, tells Squid’s colleague that Kivork did not bring any confidential information to Archer, noting that “Joby knows this, as we clearly communicated it to them.” Squid plans to reach out to Tom Cruise to convince him to give it one more go—a fight scene in a silent Joby aircraft above Marina has “Hollywood blockbuster” written all over it. BIRD’S THE WORD…At Squid’s Thanksgiving table, shrimp-flavored mashed potatoes are on the menu. What kind of bird to serve was up for debate. Should sea creatures even eat poultry? Meanwhile, some humans on land are having their own bird-related issues. Officials in the City of Salinas are grappling not with cooking, but location. The city cleared the way for a new Chick-Fil-A on Market Street a few months ago, to be located around the corner from an existing chicken joint, El Pollo Loco. The new, 4,855-square-foot Chick-Fil-A location will have dual drive-thru lanes and parking lots. But not everyone is on board with the plan. On Nov. 18 Kelly McClendon from the California Department of Transportation spoke up during the public comment period of a City Council meeting about how this fast food restaurant would impact traffic on Highway 101. “We are very concerned that the project will adversely impact the state highway system,” McClendon said. McClendon added that if the project moves forward without mitigation, it is expected to increase traffic congestion and rear-end collisions. If that happens, “Caltrans expects the City of Salinas to be responsible for adjusting these impacts.” Squid is grateful for real talk; ’tis the season. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “Aliens could also come to Earth.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY NOVEMBER 27-DECEMBER 3, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Manners Matter Reflections on how to be a good guest, not just at the Thanksgiving table, but everywhere we go. By Maija Danilova West FORUM As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been thinking about what it means to be a good guest—not just at someone’s dinner table, but on another people’s homelands. My own learning has come from the time I’ve been honored to spend with Native tribes, including here in Monterey County. This region is home to at least five sovereign Nations, many of them “unrecognized” by the federal government. And yet, recognition or not, their sovereignty is inherent and alive, an expression of self-determination. Their languages, cultural practices, and stewardship of the land continue despite generations of erasure. These Peoples include the Esselen, Rumsen, Ohlone, Chalone and Salinan. When we recognize that most of us who are not Indigenous are, in fact, guests on these lands, we begin to see manners not just as politeness but as a form of relationship and reciprocity. So what does it mean to be a good guest? For me, it begins with learning. I encourage people to visit native-land.ca to learn whose land you live and work on. Knowing the name of the Nation is a first step. From there, we can begin to ask: How can we support these Nations in their ongoing efforts of cultural preservation, land stewardship and restoration? These lessons aren’t just for our relationship with First Nations. They are also for our daily lives in one another’s homes. I was taught three simple guidelines for being a good guest: 1. Do not come hungry. Unless you’ve been invited to, arrive nourished—in body and in spirit—so you’re not placing extra burden on your host. 2. Do not come empty-handed. Bring something of yourself to share. It might be food, a gift, a skill or simply your presence offered with care. 3. Do not come unhelpful. Be ready to contribute, to clean up, to lend a hand. Ask how you can be of service. These are not just social niceties. They are practices of reciprocity—ways of ensuring the exchange of energy between guest and host is balanced, life-giving and respectful. Dominant culture often teaches us to show up and be served, or to treat hospitality as entitlement. These small but powerful practices help us unwind that conditioning and step into relationships of mutual respect. It reminds me of the old Emily Post books on manners. I’ve always appreciated her attempt to look across international boundaries and offer ways for people of different backgrounds to meet with respect. How do we do that? Whether you are visiting a friend’s kitchen or stepping onto ancestral homelands, simply asking, “What does it mean to be a good guest here?” is one of the most respectful gestures you can make. I hope to encourage you to think about your own practices of showing up in the world—whether at the dinner table, on the road, or in relationship with the First Peoples of the land you live on. Maija Danilova West is a retired attorney and author and consultant with experience advising nonprofits, businesses and tribes. She lives near Gonzales. OPINION These are not just social niceties. SHOP LOCAL. Buying holiday gifts at our museum stores, you aren't just buying a present; you're preserving the magic of these historic landmarks. Preserving the magic of Monterey. www.MSHPA.org The magic starts with you! Custom House & Pacific House Downtown Monterey near Fisherman’s Wharf. MUSEUM STORE LOCATIONS: Gifts that are unique, local, and treasured. GIVE HISTORY. Los Exploradores connects children with Monterey’s rich cultural and natural heritage through hands-on learning and historic play. MSHPA provides funding and scholarships to keep this California State Parks program thriving when State resources fall short. Los Exploradores: Summer History Camp Old Town Monterey Grades 3-5 DONATE TODAY. www.MCGIVES.com Scan QR or visit:
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