FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT AUDIT CONTEST 10 | OUT OF THIS WORLD 27 | TURNING A PAGE 28 | IFTAR FEAST 34 | DRINKING GREEN 35 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • INSIDE THE EPSTEIN FILES What millions of pages released by the federal government show about Jeffrey Epstein’s entanglements in Monterey County. p. 16
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 • ISSUE #1961 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Eden Rue (Cessna airplane at 5,000 feet with an iPhone XS Max) After a series of storms broke, snow blanketed the peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains on Friday, Feb. 20. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: The U.S. Department of Justice released more than 3.5 million records related to Jeffrey Epstein. The publicly available trove, collectively known as “the Epstein files,” includes photographs, emails, flight logs and checks, among other things. Cover images: U.S. Department of Justice 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 aga@montereycountynow.com (x138) STAFF WRITER Katie Rodriguez (California Local News Fellow) katie@montereycountynow.com (x102) STAFF WRITER Aric Sleeper aric@montereycountynow.com (x127) 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. NEWS • ARTS • ENTERTAINMENT • FOOD • DRINK • CALENDAR Subscribe to the newsletter @ montereycountynow.com/subscribe READ MORE NOW ONLINE NEWSLETTER Go to montereycountynow.com LOCAL NEWS EVERYDAY AT MONTEREY COUNTY NOW
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 (831) 755-4111 natividad.com BEGINS HERE GREAT CARE From expert cardiology and family medicine to comprehensive specialty and surgical services, Natividad offers exceptional, compassionate care for all. Cardiologist Dr. Michael Galloway with Natividad Patient Anne Healey.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH The Federal Communications Commission is threatening to invoke a century-old regulation to spur television shows to give time to right-leaning figures. Known as the “equal-time rule,” the provision was enacted in 1927 as Congress attempted to ensure fairness in the rise of radio programs. The rule was amended over the decades, and doesn’t apply to news interviews and documentaries. FCC chair Brendan Carr said the commission opened an investigation into The View for its interview with Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, a Democrat. Meanwhile, CBS did not air late-night host Stephen Colbert’s interview with Talarico, instead posting it online. Colbert alleged that CBS did so because it worried that it would face retribution from the FCC. Ironically, the interview netted 85 million views in just a few days, which was much more than it would have received had it been aired regularly. Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel called Carr’s threats “a sneaky little way of keeping viewpoints that aren’t his off the air. It’s his latest attack on free speech, and it’s a joke.” Good: To help curb pedestrian and cyclist safety issues on Broadway Avenue in Seaside, the city is gearing up to begin its Broadway Avenue Complete Street Corridor Improvements Project. The project will reduce a 1.3-mile section of the road from Fremont Boulevard to General Jim Moore Boulevard from four lanes to two. Alongside infrastructure improvements, the project includes an educational component. On Feb. 19, the Seaside City Council approved an agreement with the Transportation Agency for Monterey County and the Monterey County Health Department for the educational programming, which is intended to promote biking and walking among elementary school children, low-income families, seniors and those working along the corridor. The grant-funded programming is slated to begin in spring 2026 alongside construction and will conclude in summer 2030. GREAT: A team from Greenfield High School emerged victorious in the regional Academic World Quest Competition on Feb. 14. Six teams of high school students from Monterey County participated in the competition, hosted by the World Affairs Council of the Monterey Bay Area and the Monterey County Office of Education. The students are grilled with questions on U.S. foreign policy, including tariffs and international relations. The GHS team members are Marvin Johnson, Heriberto Hernandez and Fabian Serrano, led by their coach Evangelina Mateo. “We’re proud that we got to represent Greenfield,” Hernandez said. “Coming in as a team of three, we are thrilled to have been able to win the competition.” The team will travel to Washington, D.C. in April to take part in the national competition, with funds raised by the WACMB to cover costs. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The number of Teamsters at CSU Monterey Bay who took part in a statewide strike Feb. 17-20 against the California State University system. The strike was sparked by a disagreement over a negotiated raise in 2025. Teamsters Local 2010 leaders said CSU owed them the raise, while CSU officials said the union was using “false claims” to justify a strike. Sources: Teamsters Union 2010 and California State University 23 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “Black History Month isn’t about the past. It’s about the present, too.” -Zechariah Alexander, a Monterey High School student who recited his poem at Oldemeyer Center in Seaside (see story, montereycountynow.com/news). HEALTHY STEELHEAD — HEALTHY CARMEL RIVER For hundreds of years, steelhead on the Carmel River have played the role of an indicator species. 40 years ago, population reduction indicated the fish were in trouble. Mismanagement of the river through dams and over drafting had taken its toll, and the Carmel River was named the eighth-most-endangered river in the country. GETTING IT DONE Today, largely due to State regulations on the Carmel River and the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District's (MPWMD) leadership, the Carmel River Watershed has transformed into a healthy ecosystem. And the thriving steelhead population proves it. MPWMD’s 40 YEAR RESTORATION • Mitigation programs now monitor hydrology, water quality, river and lagoon health. • Over half a million juvenile steelhead have been rescued from dry portions of the river during the summer. • Restoration projects have replaced erosion-prone rubble. • Vegetation management helps prevent debris dams and stabilizes streambanks. • The innovative Aquifer Storage and Recovery project stores winter surplus water in the Seaside Aquifer. • Pure Water Monterey, the advanced water purification project MPWMD co-developed with Monterey One Water, now provides 60% of the Peninsula’s drinking water. PROOF. 34” migrating steelhead ready for river release (2.5.26) M P W M D . N E T
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 The phrase “culture shock” applies to unfamiliarities both large and small, curious and aggravating. For Santa Catalina School junior Marina Hurtado, however, these all add up to learning opportunities—and not just for herself. After a year spent in Austria, Hurtado returned to Santa Catalina with a mission in mind. “I felt like I had benefited from the experience,” she explains. “I wanted to share it.” At the start of the current academic year, Hurtado decided to start a club on campus, one dedicated to exploring different cultures and promoting exchange possibilities. The first meeting of Global Connect focused on Germany. An upcoming gathering will discuss Scandinavia. That Hurtado was able to bring a club together so readily, as well as to devote meetings to countries outside of her personal experience, has a lot to do with Santa Catalina, a private boarding school in Monterey. For the current school year, there are two exchange students enrolled from Germany, one from Sweden, another from Turkey, as well as two visiting from France on a short-term program. “Anytime a student has an interest in starting a club we support it,” says Julie Edson, head of Upper School at Santa Catalina, which includes grades 9-12. “Global Connect asks [exchange] students to share their experiences.” For Hurtado, the benefits of studying abroad are so clear that she finds it difficult to comprehend why so few of her peers participate. From Austria she could travel easily to other countries. There are regional foods to sample and new pastimes to try. And there are the bonds made with others in the program. “I saw a spectrum of things I hadn’t been exposed to,” she explains. “The connections you make are more intense—deeper. I feel like I have an advanced perspective of myself.” The U.S. welcomes far more foreign students to its classrooms, more than double the number of Americans who choose to study abroad. According to the Council on International Educational Exchange, just 2 percent of American high school students participate in exchange programs each year. On a positive note, the number of Americans holding valid passports is at an all-time high—half of the population, according to the U.S. State Department, compared to 30 percent in 2008. While the purpose of each meeting of Global Connect is to introduce educational exchange opportunities, the format gives foreign students a forum to speak about their country, its language and traditions. And they are also encouraged to expand on culture shock—the differences that stood out after arriving on the Monterey Peninsula. Cultural difference is something Hurtado knows firsthand. Even now her face registers the confusion she felt on the first day of school. “When an adult would come into the room, the students all stood up,” she recalls. “It’s a show of respect.” She still marvels at the fact that Austrian students—at least at her school in Graz—remain in the same classroom throughout the day. The teachers rotate through. Hurtado came to her interest in international studies through language. By the end of her sophomore year in high school, she had learned Spanish and French. Her grasp of languages proved helpful in Austria. “When I arrived I knew no German,” she points out. That was at the end of August, with classes about to start. “I was able to somewhat participate in school by November-December.” Hurtado’s fascination with languages began as a child when she spent two years in Canada. As a freshman, she took advantage of Santa Catalina’s partnerships and spent several weeks in France. “We’re committed to providing a global education for students,” Edson says. “Marina is keenly interested in being a global citizen and understanding as much as she can about the world.” Hurtado cautions students about the homecoming—especially for those immersed in another culture for an extended period. When she returned after a year in Austria, Hurtado rediscovered the limits to public transportation in the U.S., for example. It was no longer possible to jump on a train and take a day trip to Prague or spend a weekend in Brugge. “I was warned about reverse culture shock,” she says. World Class After a year studying abroad, a Santa Catalina student launches an effort to encourage others. By Dave Faries “I have an advanced perspective of myself.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Santa Catalina School junior Marina Hurtado is eager for another opportunity to explore after spending a year in Austria. She is currently in the process of applying to a critical language program that would send her to Russia. Let the Best Of Monterey Bay® Family readers know what you have to offer. FOR MORE INFO: CALL: 831-394-5656 EMAIL: sales@montereycountynow.com SUMMER PLANNING IS AROUND THE CORNER SUMMER CAMPS • ACTIVITIES • HEALTH • SCHOOLS PUBLISHING APRIL 2 AD DEADLINE MARCH 13 FamilyFREE 2025-2026 BEST OF MONTEREY BAY ® SUMMER CAMP LISTINGS 2025 FORGING LIFE SKILLS CAMP FROM A COUNSELOR’S PERSPECTIVE TEAM BONDING PUBLISHED BY cover_family_25.indd 1 3/20/25 10:59 AM
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 The Peninsula’s Downtown Shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses Spend some time with us Downtown… oldmonterey.org 11:30am-close, 10am Sat & Sun 484 Washington Street Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 www.melvilletav.com WOOD FIRED PIZZAS, BURGERS, PASTA, SAlADS & SANDWICHES INDOOR, PATIO DINING & TAKEOUT HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS SUN-tHUR 4-6PM wEEKEND BRUNCH Family-Owned. Locally Loved. Since 1980. Open Daily from 8am 1992– 2025 VOTED BEST Comfort Food Family Restaurant Desserts Now Open in Sand City! 447 Alvarado St • Monterey • 375-5332 www.gaspersjewelers.com Voted Monterey’s Best Jewelry Store 20 years ’25 Celebrating 11 years in Downtown! Sunday–Thursday 11:30am-10pm Friday–Saturday 11:30am-11pm 426 Alvarado St. Monterery 831-655-BEER asb.beer Monterey County’s Best Local Beer/Brewery Best Bar for Gen X Best Server-Chelsea Dalhamer Best Place to Eavesdrop Best Podcast - KRML’s ‘Pub Talk” new spring arrivals carmel plaza sport coats sweaters shirting outerwear carmel-by-the-sea
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS About 200 people showed up on Tuesday, Feb. 24, to a meeting of the Salinas Union High School District board of trustees. The crowd was there to protest the elimination of 14 staff positions, including the director of communications, director of health and wellness, and 12 restorative justice facilitators. Despite community objections, the board unanimously approved terminating the positions, but never specified how much money they expect to save. The vote, finally taken after 10pm, left the crowd in low spirits after many people spoke in support of Carissa Purnell, SUHSD’s director of health and wellness, and Marcos Cabrera, director of communications, as well as the restorative justice facilitators. “There was zero communication, zero transparency. We parents weren’t informed of anything at all,” said Alma Loredo. She and others collected over 250 signatures of community members who opposed the staff reduction. “It was a really big injustice to the people,” says Athena Vazquez Curiel, 17, a senior at Salinas High. She says working with a restorative justice facilitator has helped her with her mental health and trust in the school. SUHSD is not alone in cutting staff, joining Pajaro Valley, Monterey Peninsula and Pacific Grove, among others, in exploring reductions. Other districts, however, have hosted community forums seeking public input. Superintendent Zandra Jo Galvan said the restorative justice facilitators were grant-funded positions, which were cut because that funding dried up. Galvan added they are looking for resources to restore or reimagine these roles. The positions will phase out by July 1. Reduction in Force Salinas Union High School board terminates 14 positions, despite community outcry. By Celia Jiménez Following years of lawsuits and failed negotiations, the development of a roughly 60-acre ice-plant-laden property on the former Fort Ord, known as Main Gate, is moving forward again, with KB Bakewell Seaside Venture II taking the lead. KB Bakewell is the development group that built the Seaside Highlands project and is currently developing the 122-acre Campus Town property, next door to Main Gate. Comparing the Main Gate project—which will include a hotel and a new Monterey County Superior Courthouse—to their other projects in Seaside, the father-and-son team of Danny Bakewell Sr. and Danny Bakewell Jr. outline their vision for the properties. “Campus Town is more of a housing-driven development,” says Bakewell Jr., company president. “Although it is mixed-use, with retail components and office components as well. This one is similar, but the real driving force is going to be the retail and office space, and the housing will enhance that.” In June 2025, the City of Seaside put out a nationwide call for a master developer to take on the Main Gate site and four applicants answered the call: Shea Homes, which is building out a commercial and residential project nearby on the former Fort Ord in Marina, Montierre Development, City Ventures and KB Bakewell. A nine-person committee consisting of the former Fort Ord Reuse Authority director and representatives from the City of Seaside, CSU Monterey Bay and Monterey County Economic Development, recommended that KB Bakewell take on the project. The Seaside City Council unanimously approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with KB Bakewell on Thursday, Feb. 19. At the meeting, Seaside City Council and community members praised the development team. Councilmember Alex Miller stated that he would’ve liked to see all four proposals presented in a public hearing. Councilmember David Pacheco followed Miller’s comments by saying that KB Bakewell “won the gold medal.” “We were delighted to say the least,” says Bakewell Sr. “It’s a testimony to the work that we put into it and we understand the importance of that project to the City of Seaside.” As part of a 2018 legal settlement, Marina Coast Water District—the water utility for the area—agreed to cap the number of new residential groundwater hookups on the former Fort Ord at 6,160. Watchdog group LandWatch Monterey County notes that Campus Town accounts for all but 10 of those 6,160 connections, and in a letter to Seaside City Council, asserts the need “to find a source of potable water supply that does not require groundwater and that does not violate the settlement agreement between LandWatch, Keep Fort Ord Wild and MCWD.” The Bakewells say they are confident they will find a viable solution. The pair say they also plan to host a series of public meetings to hear from community members and incorporate their feedback into the project’s ultimate design. “There’s work to be done and we’re gearing up,” Bakewell Jr. says. “We are excited about the opportunity to bring another first-class development to the citizens of Seaside.” The roughly 60-acre Main Gate property (north of Lightfighter Drive and east of Highway 1) is next to Campus Town, a project that KB Bakewell is currently building. Recent Developments The Seaside City Council chooses a development group to take on the Main Gate property. By Aric Sleeper Student Athena Vazquez Curiel urged the SUHSD board to keep restorative justice facilitators: “Even if students are hesitant to open up, they slowly build that process and make them feel heard.” “We understand the importance of this project to the city.” DANIEL DREIFUSS CELIA JIMÉNEZ
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 OUR LEGACY HAS A NEW LOOK Monterey County Bank is proud to unveil a new identity that reflects our growth, new leadership, and unwavering commitment to you. While our brand has evolved, our dedication to building strong foundations and personal connections remains the same. Monterey 601 Munras Ave. (831) 649-4600 Carmel 3785 Via Nona Marie, Ste. 100A (831) 625-4300 Pacific Grove 542 Lighthouse Ave., Ste. 101 (831) 422-4600 Salinas 1127 South Main St. (831) 655-4300 montereycountybank.com 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! 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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice 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 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. ’24 Four years in a row! 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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice 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 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. ’24 Four years in a row! 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 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 We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! 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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice 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 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 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. Four years in a row! 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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice 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 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 We are honored ’24 Four years in a row! We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. ’24 Four years in a row! 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. Four years in a row! 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 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 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
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com The race for Monterey County auditor-controller is generally anything but flashy. The role serves as the county’s chief financial oversight position, a watchdog responsible for independent auditing and ensuring public funds are handled properly. Two candidates have so far filed to run: Enedina Garcia, who currently serves as assistant auditor-controller, and Burcu Mousa, a certified public accountant and former senior leader in the Auditor-Controller’s Office. In addition to serving as the county’s financial watchdog, the office also handles payroll for more than 5,000 county employees every two weeks, allocates property taxes, reviews revenue deposits and vendor payments, and maintains financial records to ensure transparent reporting. The current auditor-controller, Rupa Shah, is planning to retire. “It’s all about transparency and public trust,” Mousa says. “It’s a hidden role. You don’t hear about the auditor-controller until something goes wrong. If things are operating as it should, then it’s kind of in the shadows making sure the engine’s running.” The contested election follows a 2025 disclosure of a multi-year tax calculation error in the county’s property tax system involving a voter-approved bond for the Gonzales Unified School District. The miscalculation impacted around 3,000 parcels, prompting the county to bill undercharged property owners and issue refunds to those who were overcharged. Mousa has eight-and-a-half years of experience in senior management roles in the Monterey County AuditorController’s office, first as chief deputy of general accounting and later as assistant auditor-controller. Before that, she worked in public accounting, auditing governments, public retirement systems and nonprofits. Garcia joined the AuditorController’s Office in 2025 after beginning her public service career in Fresno County more than 18 years ago. She started as an accountant before moving into management roles, including accounting and financial division chief and deputy auditor-controller. “The transition from Fresno to Monterey has been seamless,” Garcia says. Regarding the property tax error, she says the process had been reviewed and additional internal controls were implemented before she joined the county. “I bring a fresh perspective. I see opportunities to enhance efficiencies, reinforce internal controls, elevate accountability, and provide full transparency to our residents.” The scourge that is fentanyl not only puts its users at risk of a deadly overdose, it also becomes a relentless cycle where the user no longer gets high, they just need it to avoid the pain of withdrawal. Getting patients off that cycle has been a challenge, but a new treatment method evolving on the streets of Monterey County is showing promise of helping them finally break free. The method, called Direct to Inject, or DTI, allows physicians to transition patients onto buprenorphine in a way that wasn’t previously available, explains Dr. Reb Close, an addiction specialist with Pacific Rehabilitation and Pain in Monterey and president of the nonprofit Central Coast Overdose Prevention. “Bupe,” as it’s also known, works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain, partially activating the receptors, but not fully, and in the process blocking other opioids from accessing the receptors. Previously, Close and her colleagues instructed patients to microdose bupe as they continued to use substances, allowing the bupe to slowly build up in the body until the original substance is no longer needed. In the past six months, the protocol has changed as specialists in other cities, who also work with patients in the streets, have found success with directly injecting those patients with initial larger doses. A new doctor joined the Monterey practice, Dr. Andrea Jakubowski, from New York, where they had started injecting patients with a slightly larger initial dose, followed about a week later with a full monthly dose. Close was skeptical but reports: “It totally worked.” Then a manufacturer developed a new timeline using two full doses a week apart before starting a monthly regimen. Close tried the new dosage schedule on two patients successfully. Neither went through a big withdrawal and they no longer felt the need to use fentanyl. “This is the revolutionary thing we’re able to do on the street,” Close says. DTI, she says, is giving patients a way out. Class Audit Two candidates are in the race to be Monterey County’s chief financial watchdog. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS DISTRICT UPDATE Monterey County Supervisor Glenn Church and guests from the County of Monterey host a town hall for Castroville residents. Learn about county projects and ask questions. 5:30-7pm Thursday, Feb. 26. Castroville Branch Library, 11160 Speegle St., Castroville. Free. (831) 755-5022, glennchurch.com. POWER TO THE PARENTS Central Coast Early Childhood Advocacy Network hosts the seventh annual Parent Power Summit. Parents, caregivers and advocates are invited to participate in various workshops and activities. 9am-2:30pm Saturday, Feb. 28. Boys & Girls Clubs of Salinas, 85 Maryal Drive, Salinas. Free. Register at bit. ly/4pQG3vi. (831) 200-8870. A GOOD BOOK Monterey County Free Libraries marks the grand opening of the new Gonzales Branch Library. Various family activities take place. 10am-noon Saturday, Feb. 28. Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center, 630 Fifth St., Gonzales. Free. eMCFL. org, GallegosCD@countyofmonterey. gov. CITY CONVERSATION Seaside City Councilmember Dave Pacheco hosts a town hall. The meeting includes various city updates, as well as guest speakers City Manager Greg McDanel and Police Chief Nick Borges. 6pm Monday, March 2. Embassy Suites, 1441 Canyon Del Rey, Seaside. Free. (831) 521-0577. LESSONS OF HISTORY For its 29th season, the Leon Panetta Lecture Series is themed “The 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution: What will be its Legacy in the 21st Century?” The first session includes a discussion with historians Douglas Brinkley and Lindsay Chervinsky, and journalists Nicholas Kristof and Chris Whipple. 7pm Monday, March 2. Monterey Conference Center, 1 Portola Plaza, Monterey. $100. (831) 582-4200, panettainstitute.org. GET A JOB 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, March 4. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Suites 205206, Salinas. Free. (831) 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. CLEARING OUT The Fort Ord Cleanup Online Community Involvement Workshop is now live. Learn the latest cleanup updates and provide feedback. Online at fortordcleanup.com. Cutting Edge Local doctors are helping patients get off fentanyl with a pioneering treatment. By Pam Marino So far, two candidates Enedina Garcia (left) and Burcu Mousa are running for County Auditor-Controller. The deadline to file for the election is March 11. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “You don’t hear about it until something goes wrong.” JASON COLLIN DANIEL DREIFUSS
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com In the 1990s, city officials decided the village of Carmel-by-the-Sea could only tolerate so many drinking establishments—businesses whose primary purpose is serving alcohol—to preserve the city’s character. That number, debated at the time and still a source of tension, was three. The locations selected to receive the permits have changed very little since their inception and housed Barmel, Sade’s Cocktails and A.W. Shucks (formerly Maxwell McFly’s). In the past year, that exclusive list has seen a shakeup. Today, A.W. Shucks operates as a full-service restaurant, with most of its revenue, roughly 5-to-1, coming from food sales rather than alcohol, according to co-owner Karen Basi during a Carmel Planning Commission meeting on Oct. 11. Over the past eight months, the use permit—which runs with the property, not the business owner—has come into question. Planning commissioners have debated whether the landlords should retain the permit if the business continues operating in its current form. On Wednesday, Feb. 11, when the Planning Commission discussed the issue for the fourth time, commissioners determined the landlords had abandoned the use permit. They voted 4-1 (with Commissioner Erin Allen dissenting) on a resolution giving the business owners six months to either scale back restaurant operations and convert back to a drinking establishment, or surrender the permit. “I love the food and service at A.W. Shucks. I’ve been a regular customer for many years and was at Maxwell McFly’s back in the day,” Commissioner Stephanie Locke said. “When McFly’s changed to A.W. Shucks and added food service, it changed from a smelly cigarette-filled bar to a great restaurant over the years. But it’s not a drinking establishment. It’s not a bar.” John Plastini, who represents landlord TSD Carmel Properties, argued that removing the use permit would affect the property’s value, and said the A.W. Shucks owners had relied on city officials’ communication to ensure compliance. “Our tenant purchased it in 2023 for a significant amount of money,” Plastini said. “That use permit is worth about $250,000. When we market and lease the property, everyone knows that. We followed the rules and acted in good faith.” The lease with A.W. Shucks ends in nine years, with an option to renew. Parties have until Feb. 27 to appeal the decision to the City Council. Commissioners maintained their position that the city should allow only three drinking establishments rather than add a fourth permit. If this decision is upheld, the use permit could become available to other applicants in six months. “In this case, the City acted with misdiscretion in continuing to approve a full-line restaurant,” Commissioner Michael LePage said. “But as a planning commission, we are not bound by those decisions. This business is operating as a restaurant. What we’re proposing is not a taking. It’s our responsibility to make decisions on what the land use law says.” Shake and Stir For the first time, one of Carmel’s three drinking establishment use permits may be available. By Katie Rodriguez A.W. Shucks received one of only three use permits for drinking establishments in Carmel back in the 1990s. The Planning Commission decided on Feb. 11 it is a restaurant, not a drinking establishment. NEWS “It’s not a drinking establishment. It’s not a bar.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Hernandez v. County of Monterey is a class action lawsuit about conditions at the Monterey County Jail (the “Jail”). In September 2023, the Court found the Jail’s health care provider California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. (“CFMG”) in contempt for violating Court orders about medical, mental health, and dental care. CFMG has agreed to pay $2,470,000 to people incarcerated at the Jail from May 27, 2016 to December 31, 2025 (the “Settlement Period”) to compensate for its violations of Court orders about minimum standards of care at the Jail. This settlement is only about CFMG’s liability for contempt for violating the Court’s orders. The settlement does not compensate people for personal medical conditions, and it does not affect any individual claims you might have about health issues or injuries you may have experienced at the Jail. Administration costs will be paid from the settlement amount. If you were incarcerated at the Jail between May 27, 2016 and December 31, 2025, you can submit a claim online at www.MontereyJailSettlement.com. To receive money, you must make a claim by April 20, 2026. If you were incarcerated during this period and are currently incarcerated, you can request that the money be sent to an address outside the Jail. HOW MUCH MONEY WILL I RECEIVE? It is estimated that the minimum amount each person will receive may be as much as $110, depending on how many valid claims are submitted. This minimum amount will be the full payment if you were incarcerated for 10 days or fewer during the Settlement Period. If you were incarcerated for more than 10 days, you will receive an additional payment based on the number of days you were incarcerated. The exact amount that each person receives may be changed by a further order of the Court once the number of valid claims is known. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE AND SUBMIT A CLAIM? For more information, go to the settlement website at www.MontereyJailSettlement.com. The website has links to the complete settlement documents and a form for you to submit a claim. You can also call 833-319-5926 or contact the attorneys who represent incarcerated people in this case at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, LLP, P.O. Box 390, San Francisco, CA 94104. WWW.MONTEREYJAILSETTLEMENT.COM 833-319-5926 NOTICE OF SETTLEMENT AND CLAIM PROCESS CFMG Contempt Fines – Hernandez v. County of Monterey If you were incarcerated at the Monterey County Jail between May 27, 2016 and December 31, 2025, a settlement may provide you with money. Please read this notice to learn more and submit a claim.
www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 As President Donald Trump’s second administration has toughened immigration policy, pausing visas from 75 countries and halting citizenship ceremonies for residents from 19 countries including Afghanistan and Venezuela, chilling effects are being felt locally. For over 40 years, An McDowell has taught hundreds of adult students in classes preparing for the U.S. citizenship exam. Her classroom at the Pacific Grove Adult School is empty when class starts on Monday afternoon, Feb. 23. She waits for 15 minutes before the first student walks in. A few minutes later, a second student arrives. It’s a contrast to this time two years ago, when eight students participated in a Saturday session. Kristen Arps, P.G. Adult School program coordinator, says attendance has slowed down since last summer. “If it continues to be this low, we might not have as many sections,” Arps adds. During the 2024-2025 school year, 53 students took the class and 20 obtained their citizenship. This year, 33 students are enrolled and so far, four have become citizens. Salinas Adult School also reports a similar trend in participation. The decrease contrasts to the early days of Trump’s first administration, when there was an influx of students, Arps says: “It was a big motivator.” Since October of last year, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services implemented changes to its civic test, increasing the number of questions they need to study from 100 to 128. A handful appear on the oral exam; now 12 correct answers out of 20 questions are needed to pass, up from six out of 10. USCIS also eliminated several short-answer questions about U.S. holidays and geography and added more difficult “why” questions. McDowell, who has taught citizenship since the 1980s, says it is normal to see fluctuations but notes the new test is more challenging, especially if English is a second language. With the previous exam, “I felt confident that I could prepare them for this,” McDowell says. “Now, if students come from the first class [English], I may tell them to wait to apply.” The Santa Cruz Immigration Project provides free or low-cost legal immigration services. The number of applications the nonprofit processed in January and February for naturalization dropped by 85 percent compared to the previous year. Claudia Magallon, directing attorney for the organization, says preparing an application can be a lengthy process, up to a year. Steps include filing U.S. Freedom of Information Act requests with agencies like USCIS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI. “Right now, when someone applies, it reopens their whole immigration history for review,” Magallon says, noting it can uncover undetected and deportable offenses. Actions that weren’t necessarily problems before have become flags, Magallon says, like crossing the border with family members. “As of two years ago, a lot of those cases started getting flagged for potential smuggling,” she says. Border Land Fewer local residents are attending citizenship classes and applying for naturalization. By Celia Jiménez Since she has been teaching U.S. citizenship classes starting in the 1980s, An McDowell says she’s seen fluctuations in the number of students, but the current dip is particularly low. NEWS “It reopens their whole immigration history for review.” DANIEL DREIFUSS Camp Quien Sabe Overnight Camp >> Whispering Pines Day Camp >> Tiny Tots Summer Camp >> Summer Fun Playground Program >> Sports Camps >> Specialty Camps >> LEGO® Camps >> Gymnastics Programs >> And so much more! SUMMER REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! MONTEREY.GOV/REC WHERE SUMMER BUILDS MORE THAN MEMORIES. Scan here for more info + online registration. Whispering Pines Day Camp and Camp Quien Sabe Overnight Camp ADVENTURE good vibes good vibes v Camp Counselors at Summer Programs LEADERSHIP POSITIVITY CONFIDENCE THE CITY OF MONTEREY friendship friendship f h COMMUNITY
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 26-MARCH 4, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LAST WORD Whenever I speak in public comment I come prepared with my remarks to be as concise and constructive as possible with my allotted time (“Who gets the last word becomes a controversy at the Board of Supervisors,” Feb. 12-18). All elected officials appreciate that. Those I disagree with will often later tell me, “You made good points today.” To take time out of my day to go up and just rant and basically say “you suck” is a waste. You might think being a jerk is an effective strategy. It’s not. Paul J. Ingram | Carmel Valley The frustration from the public comes from wasted time and wasted money. When only two minutes are allowed and you’ve been there for four hours on a weekday…Do you see how decorum can go out the window? The Board of Supervisors meetings should be properly timed. Most of the conversations they have between themselves are long-winded and usually go in circles. But then the public is required to get all their concerns polished into two minutes or the chair will ring the bell on you. Cheryl “Rebelle” Robinson | Prunedale Civility and respect is a two-way street. If there is an expectation that the public comes and respects the electeds, there should also be an expectation of those elected or appointed officials to respect the public. When a three-hour agenda turns into a five-hour series of discussions and then items get tabled because they are ready to go home, that is a disservice to the public. Glenn Woodson | via social media As an elected official, I deeply respect the public’s right to speak publicly, and in a public forum. Public comment exists so that community members can be heard by the public, in a town-square setting where ideas, concerns, praise and criticism are shared openly. I’ve had very kind things said about me during public comment— and I’ve had some not so kind things said as well. That comes with the responsibility of serving. Either way, the public deserves the opportunity to be heard, and I would never want to see that opportunity diminished or taken away. Having said that, it is also the public who should encourage their fellow community members to speak with respect and dignity. A healthy civic culture doesn’t rest solely on elected officials—it takes a village. Brian McCarthy | Marina Note: McCarthy is a member of Marina City Council. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Adriana is a great journalist! (“Univision reporter Adriana Frederick Sutton brings information to a Spanish-speaking audience,” Feb. 12-18.) Thank you for keeping our community informed, Adriana. Claudia Otero | Monterey Adriana is the best! Truly a class act. She’s smart, she’s on top of everything happening in her community and works tirelessly to ensure her audience is well informed and understands how policies and events will impact them. And, yes, she is easily the hardest-working reporter on the Monterey Bay. Congrats, Weekly, on having the vision to showcase this wonderful human. Fatima Dias | Monterey I think Adriana is the best journalist at covering the stories that matter and keeping democracy alive than anybody in my 36 years in the Monterey Bay region. Mark Weller | Salinas I love reading the closed captions of her reports. Really delves into the issues of the community and alerts the public of areas of concern that we should have eyes on. Thank you for showing appreciation for this work, and thank you to our local media! Colleen Ingram | Pacific Grove FIRE HAZARD If you look around the neighborhoods in Monterey, you’ll see wood fences, and shrubs planted directly against houses (“Citing safety concerns, Monterey residents advocate for flexibility in the city’s tree ordinance,” Feb. 12-18). Do you know what two things Cal Fire identifies as risks in fireprone areas? Wood fences and shrubs against houses. Do you know what isn’t identified as a risk? Mature trees. This isn’t about fire safety. This is about removing environmental protections so that homeowners and home sellers can create ocean views. Alexander Schenck | Monterey OLD AND NEW Layne Long has done an excellent job and it will be sad to see him go (“Layne Long announces retirement as Marina’s city manager after 13 years,” posted Feb. 19). He will definitely be a hard act to follow. Wishing him all the best. Camille Jaque | Soledad SMUGGLE TROUBLE Crime does not pay (“Former Salinas Valley State Prison employee faces contraband smuggling and weapons possession charges,” posted Feb. 10). Even if you get away with it, you will be wracked with guilt all the days of your life thereafter, affecting your ability to function as a decent person. Walter Wagner | Salinas FAMILY RECIPE Love this place! (“A third location of El Charrito opens in Marina, offering the same signature tortillas,” posted Feb. 19.) Karyn Lee-Garcia | East Garrison CORRECTIONS A story about a special district position on LAFCO failed to state that not just one but two of the four candidates are seeking a position as alternate, not a primary commissioner role (“A surprise challenge for a LAFCO seat stands to shift the balance of power,” Feb. 19-25). Both David Kong and Bill Lipe are both pursuing the alternate position. A story incorrectly stated the number of oil wells that have been idle for over a decade statewide (“Hundreds of unplugged oil wells sit on top of groundwater sources in Monterey County, a study finds,” Feb. 19-25). The number in Monterey is 168, as reported; the number statewide is 12,527. 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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