JANUARY 1-7, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT ON TRACK 8 | AN OCEAN SWIMMER REMEMBERED 11 | HIGHS AND LOWS IN THE ARTS 24 | YEAR IN FOOD 30 MIND OVER MATTER FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • As a new year begins, a request—and even a prayer—to the Algorithms to give us what we need. p. 16 By Rob Brezsny
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 1-7, 2026 • ISSUE #1953 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 James Michael Dorsey (Canon Rebel XTE) Fresh catch! A mama osprey feeds her chicks a halibut in their nest in Elkhorn Slough. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: A digital artwork titled “Roots of Passion” by the Carmel artist also known as Digital Giraffe depicts some of what we might reveal in reciting Rob Brezsny’s prayer to the Algorithms. Cover illustration: Corinne Whitaker etc. Copyright © 2026 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) SENIOR STAFF WRITER Pam Marino pam@montereycountynow.com (x106) STAFF WRITER Celia Jiménez celia@montereycountynow.com (x145) 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, Jesse Herwitz, Luz Rimban, 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
Thank You www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 MAJOR PARTNERS Monterey County Gives! is a special project of Monterey County Weekly in partnership with PRINT | WEB | MOBILE $15,489,892 raised 6,852 donors nonprofits supported 213 Numbers as of December 30, 2025 Check montereycountygives.com for latest amount 2025— The best campaign ever! 1gigantic…
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH With 171 assaults on journalists documented in 2025 as of Dec. 29, the number is roughly the same as the combined total of the past three years. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a project of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, documents incidents across the country, including arrests, equipment seizures and other things that prevent journalists from doing their jobs. California led the nation with the most incidents at 140, many taking place in Los Angeles in June during protests surrounding President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Across the country, the Tracker has documented 32 instances of journalists detained, lower than the 51 documented in 2024. Most incidents never lead to prosecution, according to the Tracker, noting that 90 percent of these journalists in 2025 had their charges dropped or were not charged at all. Nearly 90 percent of the arrests and detentions happened while reporters were covering protests over the presidential administration’s immigration policies. Good: Commuters and Marina residents, rejoice. All four lanes of Imjin Parkway are finally open. The Imjin Parkway Widening Project, a 1.7-mile road improvement from Reservation to Imjin roads that included adding two lanes and replacing light-controlled intersections to roundabouts, was completed ahead of schedule. The project’s $44 million price tag was funded with Measure X and Senate Bill 1 funds. It broke ground in February 2024. It was supposed to wrap up by summer 2026, but opened six months earlier. “They were at the 18-month mark, and they are done now,” Mayor Bruce Delgado says. In addition to the four roundabouts, buffered bike lanes, pedestrian upgrades, retaining walls and more are part of the project. Delgado says since the road is now fully open, it is helping ease traffic congestion in the city. The only thing that is left to do is adding art along the way. GREAT: Riane Eisler, a long-time resident of Carmel, has dedicated her life to studying human society and advocating for peace. She recently received one of the Austrian government’s highest honors: the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art First Class. Eisler released her book The Chalice and the Blade in 1987, which has since become an international best-seller, examining models of society she refers to as domination and partnership. Eisler, who fled Austria in 1939 to escape the Nazis, is a sought-after speaker who has given keynotes at conferences internationally, as well as addressed the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Congress and other bodies. At 94, Eisler continues to work, serving as president of the Center for Partnership Systems. Christine Moser, the Austrian Consul General of Los Angeles, visited Eisler’s Carmel home to deliver the award. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The amount of enhanced premium tax credits that were delivered in 2025 to 15,970 Monterey County consumers who had health insurance from Covered California, the state exchange. These additional federal subsidies were approved by Congress in 2021 and expired in December. Source: Covered California Communications Director Craig Tomiyoshi $31.9 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “More people have lived in space than have lived underwater.” -Photographer Kip Evans, on his career that included being part of a team living underwater for a month (see story, p. 28). million Homes with Heart: Celebrating 40 Years Monterey Bay Property Management invites you to join us as we celebrate 40 years of serving the Monterey Peninsula. The event will recognize our nonprofit partners, including Habitat for Humanity, Alliance on Aging, I-HELP Monterey Bay, and the Veterans Transition Center, and will honor the homeowners, tenants, guests, and staff who have shaped our story over four decades. Enjoy wine, champagne and charcuterie as we unveil MontereyRentals.com 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes: A 7-night stay at a Monterey Peninsula vacation property valued at $4,000. Please join us for this milestone celebration of community, legacy, and the future ahead! EVENT DETAILS Thursday, January 8, 2026 | 4–6 p.m. 816 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940 RSVP by January 2, 2026 to info@thebuzzpr.net On Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m., we will host a public press conference and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at our headquarters, 816 Wave Street in Monterey. Event Flier:Eblast 8.5 x 11.indd 1 10/10/25 6:36 AM Homes with Heart: Celebrating 40 Years terey Bay Property Management invites you to join us as we celebrate 40 years of serving the Monterey Peninsula. The event will recognize our nonprofit partners, including Habitat for Humanity, Alliance on Aging, I-HELP Monterey Bay, and the Veterans Transition Center, and will honor the homeowners, tenants, guests, and staff who have shaped our story over four decades. Enjoy wine, champagne and charcuterie as we unveil MontereyRentals.com 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes: A 7-night stay at a Monterey Peninsula vacation property valued at $4,000. Please join us for this milestone celebration of community, legacy, and the future ahead! EVENT DETAILS Thursday, January 8, 2026 | 4–6 p.m. 816 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940 RSVP by January 2, 2026 to info@thebuzzpr.net On Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m., we will host a public press conference and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at our headquarters, 816 Wave Street in Monterey. Eblast 8.5 x 11.indd 1 10/10/25 6:36 AM Homes with Heart: Celebrating 40 Years Monterey Bay Property Management invites you to join us as we celebrate 40 years of serving the Monterey Peninsula. On Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m., we will host a public press conference and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at our headquarters, 816 Wave Street in Monterey. Homes with Heart: Celebrating 40 Years Monterey Bay Property Management invites you to join us as we celebrate 40 years of serving the Monterey Peninsula. The event will recognize our nonprofit partners, including Habitat for Humanity, Alliance on Aging, I-HELP Monterey Bay, and the Veterans Transition Center, and will honor the homeowners, tenants, guests, and staff who have shaped our story over four decades. Enjoy wine, champagne and charcuterie as we unveil MontereyRentals.com 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes: A 7-night stay at a Monterey Peninsula vacation property valued at $4,000. Please join us for this milestone celebration of community, legacy, and the future ahead! EVENT DETAILS Thursday, January 8, 2026 | 4–6 p.m. 816 Wave Street, Monterey, CA 93940 RSVP by January 2, 2026 to info@thebuzzpr.net On Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 4 to 6 p.m., we will host a public press conference and Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting at our headquarters, 816 Wave Street in Monterey. The event will recognize our nonprofit partners, including Habitat for Humanity, Alliance on Aging, I-HELP Monterey Bay, and the Veterans Transition Center, and will honor the homeowners, tenants, guests, and staff who have shaped our story over four decades. Enjoy wine, champagne and charcuterie as we unveil MontereyRentals.com 40th Anniversary Sweepstakes: A 7-night stay at a Monterey Peninsula vacation property valued at $4,000. Please join us for this milestone celebration of community, legacy, and the future ahead!
www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 NEW YEAR 20% OFF PERSONAL TRA I N I NG PACKAGES THE PREMIER Sports & Fitness Center on the Monterey Peninsula GET STARTED ON YOUR FITNESS JOURNEY TODAY (831) 646-3730 301 East Franklin St., Monterey montereysportscenter.org KICK START JANUARY 1 - JANUARY 31
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 When I first see Alan Washburn on a foggy November morning in Pebble Beach, he is on his knees among the pine needles of the Del Monte Forest. He reaches for the handle of his orange weed wrench as easily as someone reaching for a cup of coffee. His labrador retriever, Maisie, runs to me along the trail, tail wagging, glancing back only to confirm that her human is still behind her, still working. A professor emeritus of the Naval Postgraduate School, Washburn has spent his retirement walking the forest with a singular, stubborn purpose: removing French broom. Not casually pulling a stray sprig here or there, but committing himself to a near-daily practice, an almost monastic ritual, of spotting the spindly Mediterranean invader and wrenching it from the soil, roots and all. “I’ve learned to hate it,” he says, matter-of-factly. “Look.” He points to a seed pod split cleanly along the seam. “Those explode. They fling seeds everywhere. If you don’t pull them, you’ll have a hillside full of it before long.” We stop at a slope where he nods toward what used to be a thicket. “All French broom,” he says. “You couldn’t even walk up there. They crowd the trees. They crowd the trail.” The hillside now looks like well-maintained forest, pines rising through a carpet of red-brown needles, small openings where huckleberry and native brush can return. The change is not obvious unless you’ve spent years watching this place. Washburn has. French brooms have soft yellow blooms in spring, pea-shaped and measure less than a half an inch. Pretty. No irrigation needed. But its charm hides an ecological imbalance. French broom chokes out native species, fuels hotter fires and leaves behind a seed bank that can persist for decades. They can produce more than 8,000 seeds a year. Washburn started in Monterey’s Quarry Park after a neighborhood volunteer day introduced him to the plant. Eventually, he realized that Monterey prohibits herbicide use on city land. “You can’t get rid of broom without herbicide,” he says bluntly. “If you avoid pulling it and avoid spraying it, you’re choosing broom.” Pebble Beach, by contrast, allows herbicide application for follow-up treatment once the big plants are removed. So Washburn began spending his mornings here instead, combining his dog walks with the inevitable workout of weed removal. He shows me a towering pile of dead branches, one of many. “I pulled all of that,” he says, a little proud, a little amused at his own pride. He works alone most days, but often has helpers on weekends and joins a monthly crew supported by the Pebble Beach Homeowners Association. The Community Services District, too, has recently conducted large-scale clearing, using mastication equipment to reduce fire fuel. Washburn applauds the effort; he also knows its limitations. “They cut it and grind it,” he says. “But the stumps will resprout. It’s not their fault; it just means the work has to be repeated.” He squints up the hill. “They took out a lot. More than I ever could. But pulling or spraying is the only way to finish the job.” Maisie reappears, satisfied with her patrol. Washburn scratches her ear and then hands me the weed wrench. “Your turn,” he says. I position the orange jaws around the base of a broom stalk. He coaches: “Flush with the ground. Lean back.” The tool bites into the roots. The plant resists. I hesitate. “I don’t like killing things,” I tell him. He smiles, “I don’t either. But this one is an invader.” When the plant finally yields, the root snaps free with a dull pop. Washburn inspects the hole. “Not bad,” he says. “But if you leave any of the pulled plant’s roots attached to the ground, the plant survives.” Asked why he spends his retirement this way, Washburn shrugs. “I like accomplishing something,” he says. “Golf didn’t do much for me. I’m the kind of person who needs to be useful.” After a pause, he adds, “And I guess I’m apologizing to the Earth. Humans haven’t been very good to her.” He talks about growing up in Pennsylvania forests, being surprised by things that grow without us. That unpredictability still moves him. “The forest lives on its own,” he says. “It doesn’t belong to us. That’s part of the beauty. The surprise.” Broom Battle A devoted retiree spends his days clearing an invasive shrub from the Del Monte Forest. By Ava Homa “I’m apologizing to the Earth.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Alan Washburn, with his labrador retriever Maisie, is committed to clearing the Del Monte Forest of the invasive French broom. “It likes disturbed ground,” he says. “And once it’s in, it’s in.” SAVE THE DATES Join us throughout the year as we celebrate and support the Monterey Peninsula business community. Thursday, January 22, 2026 Annual Membership Luncheon Saturday, March 14, 2026 Annual Awards Dinner Thursday, July 23, 2026 Business Excellence Awards See the full schedule of events at montereychamber.com See our full schedule of events at montereychamber.com
www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 26 MONTEREY PENINSULA Col lege NEW YEAR. FRESH START. SPRING AHEAD! mpc.edu/findaclass Spring Classes Start January 27th ENROLL TODAY! *Early Spring Classes: Jan 6-25 *Early Spring Classes: Jan 5-24 INSIDE YORK JAN 13, 2026 6:00-7:30 PM go.york.org/insideyork26 DISCOVER WHAT MAKES YORK SCHOOL AN INSPIRING PLACE TO LEARN, GROW, AND BELONG. More information and registration here:
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Despite having similar life history patterns, not all Chinook salmon are created equal; their differences depend on the river they return to. Over time, as Chinook salmon migrate to the ocean and return to the exact same river to reproduce and die, ecologically and evolutionarily distinct populations form. On Dec. 9, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration denied protections for two Chinook salmon populations: the Oregon Coast Chinook salmon and the Southern Oregon-Northern California Coastal Chinook salmon, stating they “are not currently in danger of extinction, nor are they likely to become so within the foreseeable future.” The decision contradicts a 2023 preliminary finding under the Biden administration that said the species deserved increased protections. It also follows a petition from the Native Fish Society, Center for Biological Diversity, and Umpqua Watersheds calling for these groups to be listed as threatened or endangered. What this means for fishers in Monterey Bay is to be determined. The Central Valley fall-run of Chinook salmon historically has been the population that contributes most to commercial fishing in California, which has been closed for three consecutive years. Because many fish populations geographically overlap at some point in the ocean, an endangered listing would lead to restrictions to mitigate risk. “Selling out salmon runs will benefit only the logging industry and dam operators,” said Jeff Miller, a senior conservation advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Without endangered species protections, we could lose these spring run ‘kings’ of salmon forever.” Chinook Unhooked Two Chinook salmon populations are denied Endangered Species Act protections. By Katie Rodriguez A year-and-a-half into Friends of Laguna Seca’s concession contract with the County of Monterey to operate WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and the surrounding recreation area, President/General Manager Mel Harder is able to declare victory—of sorts. “We’re getting to where we can maintain, not just repair and replace,” he says. “That’s a different phase than where we’ve been.” The first phase of the contract calls for FLS to invest at least $10 million in repairs and improvements to the property over the first fiveand-a-half years. If they do so, the contract is extended by 25 years, at which point another investment goal comes into play. Harder says FLS has spent $3.2 million since officially assuming management on Aug. 1, 2024. “We have a roadmap to spend the rest of the $10 million,” he says. “We’re on track financially.” Given the scale of maintenance deferred over the decades, it would be easy to throw that amount into basic needs—every structure around the track is a temporary one, and potable water remains an issue. But the plan is to balance those requirements with work that elevates visitor experience, not only at the track, but also the campground and bike trails. The nonprofit’s first win came in August, when the Monterey County Board of Supervisors agreed to extend the deadline for submission of a master plan, one of the conditions set in the contract agreement. (Originally scheduled to be presented in August 2025, FLS now expects to present the master plan to the supervisors in the fourth quarter of 2026.) The plan will include results of a noise abatement study that is currently underway. Committing $2 million toward sound mitigation was part of a 2024 legal settlement. According to Harder, a team has taken readings out to four kilometers from the track. The information will be used to create the sound mitigation plan. “With data we can make great—no, make sound decisions,” Harder says with a smile. The agreement between FLS and the County outlines expectations in detail. The nonprofit oversees day-today operations of the county-owned property and puts revenue and funds raised back into maintenance and improvement of the grounds. All new structures belong to the County, and beginning in 2028, the County will also receive 10 percent of FLS’ net revenue. The initial round of improvements completed in 2025 include paving the ticketing area on South Boundary Road and improving traffic flow, replacing 160 panels on the scoring trilon, which had been semi-functional, and renovating public restrooms. According to Harder, the work is already bringing results. Attendance at major events was greater than in the past, Porsche has committed to an 80-day schedule for its Porsche Experience, which will bring a fulltime staff and enthusiasts from across the world to Monterey County in 2026. And IndyCar announced that it is returning its season finale race to the track in 2026. “We’ve shown there is change— positive change,” Harder says. “I think we’re in a really good spot.” Fans gather on dry grass to catch action at the Corkscrew. One of the Friends group’s goals is to improve the guest experience at the track, campground and trails. Green Flag Friends of Laguna Seca is on track to reach the initial goals set by the County of Monterey. By Dave Faries There are many different distinct populations of Chinook salmon. The one pictured above, belonging to the Puget Sound Chinook group, is listed as threatened. “We have a roadmap to spend the rest of the $10 million.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ SHUTTERSTOCK
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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE CASES We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE CASES We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE+CASES and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE+CASES PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM Five Years In A Row! SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE • PREVENTATIVE CARE REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE ’25 ’24 casaofmonterey.org I’m a Veteran and a CASA CASA volunteers are parents, professionals, retirees—people who once felt too busy. Then they realized the moments were already there: a ride home, a day-o visit, an evening check-in. 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10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com When the Salinas Valley Health Medical Center emergency department was built in 1980, it was designed to handle 15,000 patient visits a year. Today the 17-bed department sees 65,000 visits annually. Doctors, nurses and technicians regularly play a game of Tetris to care for patients within the facility’s constraints. “When you’re challenged from a geographic or space issue you have to become extremely efficient,” says Dr. Allen Radner, SVH president and CEO. Anticipating an increase in patients at the start of Covid-19, SVH officials added triage tents outside of the emergency department which worked well—so well, the tents remained after the pandemic subsided. In the meantime, officials weighed how to move away from tents toward a more permanent solution, Radner says. Ultimately that would mean building a whole new facility. That step would take years and a large amount of capital, so officials debated whether to upgrade the tents or switch to temporary modular buildings until a permanent solution was ready. The decision was made to go modular, but even that process was a lengthy one—about a year—due to strict California Department of Public Health Guidelines. “It’s a laborious, complicated process to get approval,” Radner says. The cost of the project was over $1.1 million, approved by the SVH board of directors in 2024. Two modular buildings were finally certified by the state to open last July, and so far it’s working well—doctors, nurses and patients are especially appreciative now that the rainy season is here, Radner says Leaders of the public health care district are now turning their attention to a $10 million capital campaign through the nonprofit SVH Foundation, with the goal of constructing a $100 million facility of 40 beds or more to replace the current administration building. The plan is to tear down the administration building to make room for the new facility. In June, the board approved $1.6 million for initial plans by HDR Architecture based in Omaha, Nebraska, with an amount up to $2 million for additional services as needed. The hope is to start the project in early 2027, with a goal of opening in 2030. “If we could get it open in three years, I’d be pretty happy,” Radner says. Over the past few months, the cities of Soledad and Gonzales have each conducted surveys to assess community interest in a parcel tax to fund their fire departments. Emergency calls have increased. In Soledad, calls have doubled in the past decade; over 20 years in Gonzales, calls have nearly tripled, according to an analysis by officials in each city. Fire departments, however, haven’t grown at the same rate; both have a team of seven. “We haven’t seen additional people on our equipment,” says Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jason Luckenbach. (Soledad contracts with Cal Fire.) Response times are within the standard, under five minutes, but each engine has a crew of two firefighters, below the recommendation. The National Fire Protection Association recommends four; many departments operate with three. Most calls—75 percent in Soledad and 64 percent in Gonzales—are for non-fire-related incidents including medical emergencies. The potential measures both cities are looking into would be similar to one Greenfield voters approved in 2017. Soledad is considering floating an annual parcel tax of $226 per single-family residential parcel and $169 per apartment; Gonzales is looking at $349 for single-family parcel and $262 per apartment. Soledad City Council could decide to bring the issue to voters as early as June 2026. If approved, funds would be used for personnel and replacing outdated equipment. The Soledad Fire Department’s budget for this fiscal year is $4.3 million. City Manager Megan Hunter says the city doesn’t have enough money to fund new positions and equipment and a new funding source is needed. “We would be in a lot of hurt if not for Measure S and Measure Y,” Hunter says, referring to voter-approved sales tax measures from 2012 and 2020. Soledad is still waiting for survey results while Gonzales City Manager Carmel Gil says results are favorable, showing support for a measure. Build Out SVH embarks on a $10 million capital campaign to build a new emergency department. By Pam Marino NEWS WHARF WALK Historian Tim Thomas leads monthly walking tours of Monterey’s Old Fisherman’s Wharf. The next tour’s theme is “The Saga of the Sardine Industry of the Monterey Bay.” 10am-noon Saturday, Jan. 3. Meet near Harbor House store, 1 Old Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey. Free. Reserve by calling (831) 646-3933, monterey.gov/ library/events. PUBLIC FACING Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets to discuss county business. Public comment is accepted. 9am Tuesday, Jan. 6. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., first floor, Salinas. Free. (831) 7555025, countyofmonterey.gov. FUTURE CITIZENS Adults studying to take the citizenship interview are invited to attend a class to help them prepare. 5:30-7pm Tuesday, Jan. 6. Cesar Chavez Library, 615 Williams Road, Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7916, library. salinas.gov. GET HIRED Monterey County Works hosts a job fair to connect local employers with job seekers. Attendees are encouraged to bring their résumés and dress to impress. 1-4pm Wednesday, Jan. 7. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Suites 205206, Salinas. Free. (831) 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. TAKE OUT Marina Planning Commission meets to consider removing up to 55 trees from the California Avenue portion of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway (FORTAG) project. Public comment is accepted. 6:30pm Thursday, Jan. 8. Marina City Council Chambers, 211 Hillcrest Ave., Marina. Free. (831) 884-1278, cityofmarina.org. BE INVOLVED City of Monterey is recruiting to fill vacant seats on the Building and Housing Appeals Board and the Neighborhood and Community Improvement Program Committee. A resident representing Monterey is also sought on the Transportation Agency for Monterey County Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Committee. Applications are due Jan. 16. monterey. gov/bcc. VISION 2040 City of Salinas’ draft 2040 General Plan is available for public review. The plan outlines the city’s growth through 2040. Public review period ends Feb. 13. vision.salinas.gov. Fired Up South County cities explore ways to get more funding for fire departments. By Celia Jiménez Two modular buildings replaced Covid-era triage tents in July, outside of the outdated emergency department at Salinas Valley Health. E-MAIL: toolbox@montereycountynow.com TOOLBOX “If we could open in three years, I’d be pretty happy.” RICHARD GREEN
www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 1-7, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 For 20-plus years, every Sunday morning at 11:15am, an informal ocean swimming group called the Kelp Krawlers has gathered at Lovers Point in Pacific Grove to get in the water. The swim took a tragic turn on Sunday, Dec. 21 when 16 swimmers went out and only 15 returned. While swimming around the point, group co-founder Erica Fox had a fatal encounter with a shark. The next Sunday, Dec. 28, the group met as scheduled. But instead of swimming, Kelp Krawlers and their friends walked parallel to a popular swim route, to a destination known as “near rock” in Otter Cove. (A disclosure: This reporter is also a member of the Kelp Krawlers.) The walk was followed by remarks, including many remembering Fox’s competitive spirit and for encouraging them to train for races. Her husband (and fellow Kelp Krawler and triathlete) Jean-François Vanreusel said when they met, he said he could barely swim—his style was “European survival swim,” which he learned in his upbringing in Belgium. Fox encouraged him to get a coach, and he did. But still, she was always faster. “I would ask, ‘How did you get so fast?’ She’d say, ‘I’m a fish, I don’t know.’” Since they met 30 years ago—at a Halloween party in 1995, when he was a student at the Naval Postgraduate School, she at Middlebury Institute of International Studies—they have been partners and competitors athletically, Vanreusel said. “In our relationship it was not necessarily competing against each other—it was about reaching your full potential as a human being.” The walk and gathering on Dec. 28 took place one week after Fox died, and one day after officials located her remains along the shore just south of Davenport on Saturday, Dec. 27. The Santa Cruz County SheriffCoroner’s Office continues investigating, meaning no cause of death has yet been officially determined. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a forensic analysis, then Fox’s wetsuit will go to the Shark Lab at CSU Long Beach for a bite mark analysis, where Professor Chris Lowe and his team will attempt to determine what happened. But, Lowe cautions, there may still be unanswered questions. “When sharks bite people it’s extremely rare, and when they do, the question is why—and frankly we don’t have good answers for that,” he says. (There is no explanation for three shark-human interactions near Lovers Point area in 2022, he adds.) The Shark Lab has conducted extensive analysis on juvenile white sharks in Southern California. “They are swimming around people every single day,” Lowe says, noting there is no correlation between higher shark populations and humans being bitten. Part of Lowe’s research has focused on understanding humans’ fear of sharks. “People say, ‘I don’t think I should ever go back in the water.’ I say, ‘Why wouldn’t you? I am sure you know people in their life who have been killed in car accidents, and you still get back in the car.’ I think it’s a matter of perspective.” Into the Deep After the body of Kelp Krawlers co-founder Erica Fox is recovered, a community grieves. By Sara Rubin Kelp Krawlers at Buoy 46240, a half-mile from Lovers Point where the water is 58 feet deep. Swimmers from right include co-leaders Chris Villanueva and Erica Fox. “She was our matriarch,” Villanueva says. NEWS “I would ask, ‘How’d you get so fast?’ She’d say, ‘I’m a fish.’” COURTESY CHRIS VILLANUEVA
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 1-7, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com BUILD UP After years of waiting, watching the Hebbron Family Center near completion feels deeply personal for many of us who showed up to community meetings and shared what this space needed to become. Those conversations mattered, and the project reflects them (“The new Hebbron Family Center in Salinas is nearing completion,” Dec. 18-24). What stands out is how intentionally the new center was designed. It includes spaces that invite learning, gathering and connection. I’m genuinely grateful to City Council for sticking with this project through tough votes and budget decisions, and to Library and Community Services Director Kristan Lundquist and her team for the steady, behind-the-scenes work that turns community input into a real, welcoming place. The Hebbron Center has always been an anchor for Alisal, and soon it will be again. Victor Tafoya | Salinas CHART A PATH If the respective districts had been doing a good job of serving the students, there wouldn’t be a demand for charter schools (“County Office of Education to decide on a countywide charter school proposal,” Dec. 25-31). Too many of our schools have become self-serving instead of student-serving. Unfortunately the teachers unions are largely responsible for the degradation of our educational system, which is indicated by the poor achievement results in many, but not all, schools. I’m certainly glad we don’t have school-age children today. Robert McGregor | Salinas DOWN SHIFT Bummer, I like that shop (“Work Horse Bicycles’ owner is set to retire and close the shop Dec. 31,” posted Dec. 22). Scott Cunningham | Arroyo Grande Thank you, Frank, for years of business in Monterey. The biking industry hasn’t been good for a while. AJ Young | via social media Such a huge loss for the community. Dave Koesel | San Juan Bautista PATIENTS’ PATIENCE It sounds like Anthem Blue Cross is deliberately seeking to exclude this market, likely because it is not cost-effective for them (“Thousands of Anthem Blue Cross customers could lose in-network access to CHOMP by Feb. 1,” posted Dec. 22). Perhaps Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula and Salinas Valley Health should form their own insurance company for the non-medicare market, like they did with Aspire for the Medicare market. Walter Wagner | Salinas CLASS TIME Disappointing he’s returned. This is the standard we’re holding? (“A CSUMB professor who spent over two years on paid leave for problematic behavior returns,” Dec. 18-24.) Samantha Cairncross | Monterey I feel like some higher-ups there need to be more on top of it. Adam G. Lester | Monterey I liked his class. He’s a good person. People just don’t like hard work. Gina Grajewski | Santa Cruz VACANT SEAT It sounds like a sad loss to Sand City (“Sand City City Councilmember Libby Sofer resigns, citing high housing costs,” Dec. 11-17). Chris Swainson | Marina GIFT EXCHANGE Thank you for the mention of the Monterey Jazz Festival (“Squid Fry: Merry Squidmas,” Dec. 25-31). We are busy preparing to celebrate our 69th year on Sept. 25-27. We remain proud to be the longest‑running jazz festival in the world. Like many arts organizations, MJF faced challenges during the Covid era. In recent years, we also experienced leadership transitions. Yet, as jazz itself evolves through time, resilient, adaptive and endlessly creative so does the Monterey Jazz Festival. The organization is thriving, and fine tuning an exciting lineup for 2026. We invite your readers and jazz lovers everywhere to purchase tickets and be part of this next chapter in our storied history. Larry Williams | via email Note: Williams is Monterey Jazz board president-elect. INTO THE SEA Thank you for your thoughtful and comforting article addressing the tragedy at Lovers Point (“Today’s big local news story has been about a shark attack, but it’s really about loss,” posted Dec. 22). I swim daily at dawn at Lovers. I haven’t missed a day in over two years (unless out of town). Your words gave me the faith to get back in. Nan Johnston | Pacific Grove As a former open water swimmer, I don’t think you could have written a more beautiful and apt tribute to Erica and the creatures with whom you all share the sea. Daniel Slosberg | Los Angeles WHO’S TALKING Thank you Monterey County Weekly for sharing this information. It is very helpful (“A wine and restaurant influencer promises to help local restaurants, but then they say he turns on them,” Dec. 11-17). Christy Grothe | Spreckels Perhaps it’s time to retire the word “influencer” as we already have an appropriate word: Shill. Mari Adams | via social media “Influencers” should always identify themselves at dining and drinking establishments…so they can be charged double. Gary Bolen | via social media ON A ROLL Great place to eat! The food and service are awesome! (“A veteran sushi chef with a non-traditional spirit has revived Castroville’s Japanese restaurant,” Dec. 18-24.) Jody Beltran | via social media CORRECTION A story incorrectly reported the number of meals currently produced (“Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula secures a Seaside building to expand,” Dec. 25-31). The existing kitchen was designed to produce 300500 meals a day, as reported, but currently produces 3,000-5,000. 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.
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