MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT STORY TIME 6 | BIG NUMBERS IN “CAMPING” 10 | THINK LIKE A KING 39 | PUT A PIECE OF CHEESE ON IT 46 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • FORKS IN THE TRAIL The Anza expedition transformed Monterey County and the West. Why is its 250th anniversary passing quietly? p. 18 By Pam Marino
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18 2026 www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 12-18, 2026 • ISSUE #1963 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Keely Richter (iPhone SE) The view looking south from Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve shows the blast work done to stabilize Regent’s Slide in Big Sur. Highway 1 reopened to through traffic here on Jan. 14 after a two-year closure. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: “De Anza’s Arrival in Monterey” was painted by artist Jack Laycox in 1976 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Juan Bautista de Anza Expedition. Anza arrived in Monterey with 240 men, women and children on March 10, 1776, on their way to colonize San Francisco. The feat was celebrated in 1976. Fifty years later in 2026, it’s looked upon through a different lens. Cover art: City of Monterey art collection 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 MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 PRESIDENT’S SPEAKER SERIES FOOD IS MEDICINE Cal State Monterey Bay, University Center Reception: 5:30 p.m. | Program: 6:30 p.m. Keynote followed by a panel discussion about the intersection of health, agriculture, and nutrition. Featuring Dr. Erin O’Dwyer, Stanford University
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH A federal judge ruled on March 7 that the mass layoffs at Voice of America in 2025 are void. Kari Lake, the senior adviser for the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which provides funding for Voice of America, billed herself as the acting CEO of the agency, which provides audio and online news reports about the United States to other countries. But the legality of her self-appointed title was questioned in court, and Judge Royce Lamberth decided it was not legal. “Lake satisfies the requirements of neither the statute nor the Constitution,” he wrote in his ruling. As such, the judge declared all of Lake’s actions void. “The American people gave President Trump a mandate to cut bloated bureaucracy, eliminate waste and restore accountability to government. An activist judge is trying to stand in the way of those efforts at USAGM,” Lake said in a statement to NPR about Lamberth, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan. Lake said she will appeal the decision. Whether those fired will be able to return to their positions is currently unknown. Good: The County of Monterey received $2.8 million in funding from the state to tackle homelessness and expand its housing stock. The funding was secured through the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention Program, which provides grants to cities and counties across the state. The most recent batch of grants totaled $159.3 million. Locally, the funding will go toward shelter services, case management and supportive housing projects, according to county officials. “This funding will allow us to stabilize proven local solutions that support individuals and families on their path to stable, permanent housing,” Homeless Services Director Roxanne Wilson said. The state also awarded $3.7 million to the Salinas/Monterey and San Benito Counties Continuum of Care, which provides funding for nonprofits and governments with the goal of ending homelessness. GREAT: Sunflower sea stars have had a rough go in recent years, with a strain of bacterium leading to a massive dieoff known as sea star wasting disease. The Sunflower Star Laboratory in Moss Landing not only studies the disease, but works to grow the animals and reintroduce them back into the wild. Its efforts were recognized with a recent $50,000 grant from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program to continue its work. Of the 55 programs across the world that applied for grants, the Sunflower Star Laboratory was one of five chosen. “The five selected projects directly advance SAFE program plans, bringing together aquariums, zoos, researchers and field partners to tackle some of the most pressing conservation challenges facing wildlife and the wild places they inhabit,” said Dan Ashe, president and CEO of the AZA. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY That’s how many incarcerated students graduated with high school diplomas and associate’s degrees during Feb. 24-25 ceremonies at Salinas Valley State Prison. The ceremonies were organized by officials from the prison and Hartnell College. Source: Salinas Valley State Prison 30 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “We have a place to cook, but we don’t have a home yet.” -Justin Noren, secretary of the board of Al & Friends, speaking on the nonprofit’s need to find a storage space to continue serving breakfast at Window on the Bay (see story, montereycountynow.com/news). 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 o v Camp Counselors at Summer Programs LEADERSHIP POSITIVITY CONFIDENCE THE CITY OF MONTEREY friendship friendship f h COMMUNITY
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 559 PACIFIC STREET MONTEREY, CA 93940 MONTEREYART.ORG SATURDAY, APRIL 11TH 11 AM–4 PM SAVE THE DATE FOR MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART’S 4TH ANNUAL Free and open to all, this vibrant arts festival transforms downtown Monterey into a bustling hub of art and creativity. The Science of Christianity challenges conventional views of prayer, presenting it not as blind faith, but as a scientific understanding of God’s ever-present love. Saturday, March 21, 2026 11:00 am PDT First Church of Christ, Scientist 780 Abrego Street, Monterey An in-person talk on Christian Science by Caryl Emra Farkas, CSB Member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship For more information, please call 831-920-2300 www.christiansciencemonterey.org Sponsored by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Monterey, California Can prayer be scientific? Mike Haynes gives back through his donor advised fund at the CFMC to support youth and local causes. Your Partner in Philanthropy Donor Advised Funds • IRA Charitable Distributions • Charitable Estate Planning (CGAs, CRTs) • Family Philanthropy • Scholarships & More 831.375.9712 | cfmco.org/GiveBack | SIMPLIFY Your Giving I have peace of mind and can focus on giving. It’s seamless.” – Mike Haynes, Haynes Charitable Foundation Fund
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 There are the obvious draws for the 4.5 million visitors coming to Monterey County each year: the Monterey Bay Aquarium, beaches, remarkable vistas, outdoor sports, art, music and world-class events. Now, See Monterey, the county’s convention and visitor’s bureau, is capitalizing on another of the county’s unique features: its deep and rich history reaching back thousands of years. Recently, See Monterey launched a year-long storytelling initiative called Monterey 1000, designed to bring to life more than 1,000 years of the county’s history, simultaneous to the U.S. celebrating its 250th anniversary. The initiative is designed to connect key moments from the past with today’s landscapes, communities and traditions, throughout the entire county. “More than ever, travelers are seeking authentic, life-enriching experiences and the meaning behind them,” said Rob O’Keefe, See Monterey’s president and CEO. “Monterey 1000 connects the historical dots, creating a clear through-line from the past to the present through visitor experiences.” The bureau partnered with Brian Edwards as its local history expert—by day Edwards works for the City of Monterey as its library and museums director. For See Monterey, Edwards has been interviewing people from the wider community and has already posted articles and short videos with retired Congressman Sam Farr, Steinbeck scholar Susan Shillinglaw, Pebble Beach historian Neil Hotelling and Linda Yamane, a Rumsen Ohlone artist and cultural practitioner. More will be released throughout the year. The stories are posted with an interactive history timeline online at seemonterey.com/monterey-1000, as well as on the See Monterey app. The timeline links to the videos and articles. The initiative takes in the history of the entire county, not just the Monterey Peninsula that often tends to be the focus of many visitors. To reinforce that idea, Edwards is filming videos in other parts of the county. Edwards interviewed Shillinglaw inside the Steinbeck House in Salinas and at one point in the video, Shillinglaw noted she’s sitting on the exact spot where Steinbeck was born in 1902. The video emphasizes that people can come to the house themselves, have lunch and experience the home where the author grew up and wrote some of his stories. “I don’t think people really know that’s available to them,” Edwards says. The Monterey 1000 stories and videos seek to connect visitors to the very places that figures from the past lived and worked, places that people can visit for themselves today. In interviewing Yamane for an article on the See Monterey blog, Edwards sought to connect the county’s 10,000 years of history beginning with the Indigenous people who lived here before Westerners arrived. There is still an Indigenous presence today, and there are areas of the county that have changed little since their ancestors were alive. “You can go to places in Big Sur and see an area that looked the same 1,000 years ago,” he says. “That’s pretty unique for a lot of areas, specifically in the United States.” Monterey 1000 is linked to another of See Monterey’s initiatives, The Right Path, which encourages visitors to respect the region’s natural resources and residents, as well as to honor the county’s history and future. The county’s history is made up of smaller moments, each worthy of recognition and celebration, Edwards suggests. Much like the country celebrates the American Revolution and 1776, there are small periods of time, like the period that Steinbeck was alive and writing stories and novels about the region, that are worth remembering and helping people today to engage with it. More stories are to come, including those on the arts scene, music history, the rise of agriculture and the county’s wine country, among others. Ultimately, bringing more people to the county to experience its history will help keep history alive long term by spending money during their visits, Edwards says. “A lot of our nonprofits, our museums, federal funding is cut. State funding is cut. We need revenue, honestly. We need revenue to support activities, to support historic preservation. Museums need visitors to thrive,” he says. “We want people to understand the value of these stories.” Time Travel See Monterey leverages Monterey County’s rich history with a new outreach campaign. By Pam Marino “Museums need visitors to thrive.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Historian Brian Edwards encourages visitors to learn more about the county’s history. “We’re not going to protect our resources and our history unless people understand them, people visit them, people interact with them,” he says. 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 MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 BE A RACE DAY VOLUNTEER Go beyond spectating Hospitality Pavilion 1021 Monterey Salinas Hwy. 831.242.8212 Our community racing event is coming up, and we need your help. Join hundreds of locals by volunteering in a variety of roles. It’s fun, rewarding, and a great way to get involved. Sign up and learn more at our orientation on Saturday, March 28, 9:30am - 3pm. Scan the QR code for info and RSVP May 1-3 IMSA Monterey SportsCar Championship June 19-21 Ferrari Challenge July 10-12 MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest at Monterey August 8-9 Monterey Pre-Reunion and Corkscrew Hillclimb August 12-15 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion Sept. 4-6 INDYCAR Grand Prix of Monterey (Season Finale) Sept. 18-20 GRIDLIFE Laguna Festival October 2-4 Mission Foods Racing America at Laguna Seca SEASON SCHEDULE “I brought my Subaru to Hartzel on advice of a friend and I was so pleased with the service & attention I got from them. Not only finished on time, but under the estimate I was given. Very rare these days. So pleased with the whole experience & great peace of mind knowing it was done correctly. Highly recommend this guy.” —David F., Seaside 2/14/19 510 California Avenue | Sand City | 394.6002 hartzelautomotive.com EXPERT SERVICE WHEN YOU NEED IT. Subaru Mazda Lexus Infiniti Saab vintage MG SCHEDULE YOUR NEXT SERVICE ONLINE TODAY
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS Downtown Carmel was hopping with activity on the Thursday of Car Week, Aug. 14, last summer. Hundreds of people crowded the streets to get a look at uber-expensive exotic and classic cars either parked or rumbling loudly as the autos cruised through the village. Chief Todd Trayer crafted a plan to keep pedestrians and drivers safe, and although it helped, he knew there was still more to be done. Recently, Trayer conducted town halls and reached out to business owners to gather input about how to handle the crowds that grow in size yearly. On Tuesday, March 3, he presented on a proposed pilot program for this year’s Car Week to the Carmel City Council that he believes would improve safety over 2025. The proposal includes managing traffic flow in the core of downtown and charging for parking—$200 to park on Ocean Avenue between Lincoln Street and Junipero Avenue, $100 on side streets between 6th and 7th avenues. An event company, Good Roots, would manage the program, bringing in 40 employees from 6-10pm on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Car Week. They would also bring in flood lights to illuminate intersections for pedestrians. Visitors would be encouraged to use a free shuttle from Larson Field on Rio Road. Mayor Dale Byrne and councilmembers Jeff Baron and Bob Delves said they were in favor of the plan, but councilmembers Hans Buder and Alissandra Dramov had concerns. “I think most residents just want their town back,” Buder said. “Let’s come up with a plan that leans in that direction.” The pilot program will come back to Council in May for a vote. Costs are to be determined. Park and Pay Carmel considers how to corral the Car Week chaos with a paid parking plan. By Pam Marino About a month after the Monterey dive shop Bamboo Reef closed in November, Monterey Bay Tritons, a local freediving group, has found a new home as part of a growing group of marine businesses. Moss Landing Boatworks is a shipyard and boat-building facility in Moss Landing owned by John Gregg, who also acquired the storied vessel The Western Flyer and led the creation of a nonprofit to refurbish the boat for research and educational purposes. The boatyard was no longer operational when husband-wife team Wendy Kitchell and Brad Wurstle leased it starting in July 2025. Tritons President Brandon Burke was introduced to Kitchell by one of his students, who used to sell steel to Moss Landing Boatworks until the defunct business closed in January 2025. The team also met with Captain Marina Maze Henry of Monterey Bay Ecotours, and the group saw an opportunity: to join forces as a new hub for freediving, education and ocean conservation. Burke’s business, Odyssey Free Diving, will open in a new storefront managed by Kitchell and Wurstle at the former Moss Landing Boatworks, now called The Ship’s Store. “We want to support not only our own boatyard,” Kitchell says. “We want to support the entire boating community as well as the local and diving community.” The Ship’s Store is more than just a marine chandlery, though it still sells fishing equipment and tackle along with art, equipment and bait from Monterey County-based artisans. It is also a manufacturing facility for boat parts. A vacuum table, used for the infusion of carbon fiber into boat paneling, hulls and now—to Burke’s delight—spearfishing equipment is in a room next door to the retail space. Kitchell says it’s one of the most efficient ways to build materials suitable for marine expeditions. Monterey Bay Ecotours’ fully electric catamaran, El Cat, remains docked just outside in the harbor and takes clients on tours of Elkhorn Slough. As an upgrade from a former outdoor ticketing kiosk, guests on the eco-tours will now be able to check in inside The Ship’s Store. One collaborative initiative includes recycling lead materials lost and found in the ocean into dive weights. “We’re currently building out our OSHA standards and safe practices to ensure we’re doing that correctly,” Burke says, noting lead is a hazardous material. In addition, Monterey Bay Ecotours serves as a contractor for a $2.6 million grant from the California Air Resources District to build a firstever-for-the-West Coast hybrid-electric whale-watching vessel for Monterey Bay Air Resources District. Joseph Kitchell, Wendy’s brother, is building that vessel in the boatyard, with an anticipated completion date in March 2027. “It’s like an octopus,” Maze Henry says. “Everyone has an arm.” Following a tumultuous year in the diving community in 2025, Burke sees what is happening at the boatyard as a coming-together of communities with raw potential. “It reminds me a lot of an ecosystem,” Burke says. The Ship’s Store holds a grand opening noon-4pm on Saturday, March 14 at 7501 Sandholdt Road in Moss Landing. From left, Brandon Burke, Marina Maze Henry and Wendy Kitchell in front of the hybrid-electric whale watching vessel being built in Moss Landing. All Ashore Freediving group finds a home in Moss Landing, where shipbuilders and conservationists work together. By Sloan Campi As seen during Car Week 2025 in Carmel, novelty vehicles can draw big crowds, especially in the era of social media. The police chief proposes hiring a contractor to manage streets. “It’s like an octopus. Everyone has an arm.” DANIEL DREIFUSS PAM MARINO
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 a retirement community that prioritizes people License #270700110. COA #082 Carmel Valley Manor senior living offers lush gardens, beautifully renovated common areas, housekeeping and fresh, seasonal menus. But as a non-profit Life Plan community, our real focus is on our residents – using resources to improve their quality of life. We also make personalized attention our priority, with three levels of care and an excellent staff to resident ratio. For more information, call Angie Machado at (800) 544-5546 or visit cvmanor.org
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Nearly every seat was filled at the Big Sur Multi-Agency Facility on March 10. It’s uncommon to see a Land Use Agency Committee meeting at this level of capacity, LUAC members noted. They sat alongside the two people in the hot seat, there to defend a project involving popular campgrounds in Big Sur. Robin Bot-Miller, COO of EOS Investors—the company that owns Big Sur Campground and Cabins, Riverside Campground and Cabins, and the Pheneger Creek Community Housing Project—was flanked by Mike Linder, a consultant for EOS and a Big Sur resident. Their proposal aims to modernize the sites while addressing years of deferred maintenance. “We’re now five years in,” Linder said. “The Coastal Commission forced us to come forward with this massive project, so here we are with all three properties in one big project…I think this is a change for the better.” LUAC members thanked the presenters for what they described as a thorough and thoughtful proposal that worked within existing land-use codes. They unanimously recommended approval of the plan, which will head to the County Planning Commission. Linder said traffic, tourism impacts and housing concerns guided the proposal, which he described as a redevelopment rather than new development. The plan adds 24 housing units, bringing the total employee housing to 30 units. Of those, 28 would be reserved for employee housing and two would be set aside for people who work in the community. The number of visitor-serving units will shrink, from 130 to 107, with those 23 becoming tent-only sites. A key difference for the other sites is that visitors would no longer be able to bring their own RVs. Instead, they would be fixed “park-model units,” functioning like trailers but legally considered RVs because they would have wheels and the ability to be removed. A total of 61 tent-only campsites are proposed—50 at Riverside Campground and 11 at Big Sur Campground—with 13 designated as affordable. Linder argued these changes, in addition to the creation of a cafe, would help reduce traffic and keep visitors on site. “I completely understand the project in a different light,” LUAC member Christina DiPaci said. “There’s going to be a major improvement and it’s going to change how Big Sur interacts with Riverside. It’s a thoughtful and considerate approach, and a change needs to happen.” It’s been more than 20 years since Terry Tallen, CEO of Tallen Capital Partners, purchased the former Kmart building in Marina and brought Walmart to the city. With the exception of Quick Quack Car Wash opening in 2023, the rest of the Marina Landing Shopping Center on Beach Road has remained stagnant, with empty plots of land waiting for businesses to set up shop. Tallen says the shopping center lacks visibility from Highway 1, with relatively low traffic counts, estimated at about 20,000 vehicles passing by on Beach and Reservation roads daily. He’s been pushing the City of Marina for years to rezone his 5.5-acre portion of land next to Walmart as mixed-use to allow for future residential development that will give the center built-in customers and spur new retailers. That now seems to be gaining traction within city government, as the Marina Planning Commission voted 6-1 in November to recommend the city council rezone the property. It’s part of discussions around updating the Local Coastal Program, a land use document that covers 1.5 square miles of Marina, including the shopping center. Tallen points to the major mixed-use development at the Dunes in south Marina, and says north Marina is subjected to outdated zoning laws that hinder development. “We want equal property rights,” he says. “The bones of it are all good. It’s a great mixed-use/residential site. You can walk to a public library. You can walk to Locke-Paddon Park. You can walk to Monterey Bay. You’ve got a bus stop, and you’ve got a Walmart.” In a report to the council, Senior Planner Phil Angelo writes that city planners believe the land should be kept as commercial, as the city needs more retailers in light of the number of new housing units constructed. Yet, the Planning Commission considered how long the site has been vacant, leading to its recommendation for mixed use. The council is expected to discuss the plan on Tuesday, March 17. At Camp LUAC backs reconfiguration of two Big Sur campgrounds. By Katie Rodriguez NEWS PUBLIC PROCESS Monterey City Council meets and accepts public comment. Tell your elected officials what they are doing well and what you think they can do better. 4pm Tuesday, March 17. Colton Hall, 580 Pacific St., Monterey. Free. (831) 646-3799, monterey.gov. DRIVE SAFE A workshop focuses on how cannabis affects driving and the legal consequences of driving under the influence. The workshop, presented by the County of Monterey Health Department, is geared toward teens and their parents. 5:30-7:30pm Tuesday, March 17. Government Center, 1441 Schilling Place, Salinas. Free. Register at bit. ly/DUIworkshopMC. (831) 796-2871, covarrubiasL2@countyofmonterey.gov. LEADERS IN STEM Employers in the STEM fields will be on hand to meet with job seekers during the Monterey County STEM Talent Expo. Attendees can take part in mock interviews, networking, free professional headshots and more. 1-4pm Wednesday, March 18. Hartnell College STEM Center, 411 Central Ave., Salinas. Free. asanchez@hartnellcollegefoundation.org, mcstemtalentexpo. com. 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, March 18. Career Center, 344 Salinas St., Salinas. Free. (831) 796-3335. Register at montereycountyworks.com. RENTAL RIGHTS Salinas City Councilmember Tony Barrera hosts a discussion on housing rights. The event—open to renters, property owners, managers and the general public—will discuss rent increases, tenant protections and more. 6-7:30pm Thursday, March 19. Cesar Chavez Library, 615 Williams Road, Salinas. Also via Zoom at bit. ly/4tOUdj5. Free. (831) 566-0824, fernando@echofairhousing.org. FUTURE LEADERS The City of Salinas’ Youth Leadership Academy helps students build leadership skills, create résumés and learn how to master interviews. The weeklong program is open to teens ages 13-18. 9am-1pm March 23-27. Community Center, 940 N. Main St., Salinas. Free. (831) 758-7096, lizbeth.garcia@salinas.gov. Live and Shop Property owner pushes for housing development next to Marina’s Walmart. By Erik Chalhoub Mike Linder, Big Sur consultant for EOS Investors (wearing a hat), sits left of Robin BotMiller, COO of the company, at a LUAC meeting on Tuesday, March 10. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN “It’s going to change how Big Sur interacts with Riverside.” KATIE RODRIGUEZ
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 SAVE-ON Mon-Fri 7am-7pm • Saturday 7am-6pm Sunday Closed 840 Playa Ave Sand City 831.394.3161 35 Plaza Cir. Salinas 831.757.3535 SAME DAY SERVICE in by 10am, pick-up 4pm 3 Doors Down from Costco Limited Time Special CLEANERS $4.25 $3.25 Pre-paid cash only. expires 2/28/2026 Excludes leathers, downs, gowns, and jumpsuits. Any Garment Dry Cleaned Any laundry shirt It’s time to rebirth and renew Untamed Fire & ROTA Psychic Fair Spring Equinox Celebration Sunday, March 22nd 11am-5pm FREE Workshops Light Returns Guided meditation Readings and Healing Aromatherapy; Craniosacral; Chair Massage; Energy Clearing, Hands-On Healing, Human Design, Reiki; Sound Healing; Tarot Join us and heal your body, mind, and soul 490 Orange Ave, Unit D, Sand City Applications are still being accepted: https://tinyurl.com/UntamedFire 465-D Olympia Ave, Sand City sweetelenas.com 831.393.2063 OPEN Mon-Sat 7am-3pm Sun 8am-1pm Phone orders available Sweet Ireland! Irish Soda Bread, Shamrock Cookies, Irish Lattes ’25 Best Restaurant in Sand City & Pie Find us at your local Farmers Market The Barnyard Tuesdays 9-1 Del Monte Shopping Center Fridays 8-12 Aptos at Cabrillo College Saturdays 8-12 Carmel on Ocean Avenue Thursdays 10-2 JUST ANDY Service and Repairs on: VolkSwAgeNS ToYoTAS HoNDAS Satisfying Local Customers for 30 Years! 394-4212 • 465-A Olympia, Sand City (Back exit of Home Depot)
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Faced with a problematic wastewater treatment plant, Greenfield City Council took drastic measures last year, voting to pause new construction to prevent further strain on the aging facility. However, that moratorium remains on standby pending final approval from the California Department of Housing and Community Development. A threemonth waiting period as a result of a backlog at the state agency has turned into a wait of over seven months. “We don’t yet have their approval to actually have the building moratorium in place, nor do we know why,” Greenfield City Manager Paul Wood writes via email. This isn’t the only policy that is on standby. Since the city didn’t include a moratorium when it submitted its housing element—a plan produced every eight years to map out the zoning for needed new development— Greenfield will also have to resubmit its housing development plan to HCD for approval. City officials pursued the moratorium to minimize impact on the wastewater treatment plant, which came under scrutiny from a different state agency, the Central Coast Regional Water Board, which issued three notices of violation since 2024 and in April 2025, ordered Greenfield to build a new plant by 2030. Meanwhile, operational issues with the existing wastewater plant persist, including slow percolation, slow processing and high influx. “Legally, we cannot stop permitting projects that are coming to the pipeline,” Public Works Director Jamie Tugel says. “That’s going to increase the load even further to our wastewater plant.” Since the moratorium was adopted last August, the City Council has not approved any new development, but four residential projects have received approval from the Planning Commission. Those include a 350unit, single-family subdivision and three multi-family projects: Phase II of Greenfield Commons at 100 new units, and two more for another 100 units combined, according to city planner Brent Slama. “Should any of them receive permits prior to the moratorium going through, they would certainly have an impact on the existing sewer plant,” Slama writes via email. The plant is permitted for an average daily flow below 1.2 million gallons. Tugel says they exceed the mark several times a month. With agricultural harvest season approaching, Tugel expects flow to increase by up to 100,000 gallons per day. Despite the delay, the process to get funding is advancing. The city is working with the State Water Board’s Department of Financial Assistance on its application to obtain grants and loans to build a new $111.3 million wastewater plant, with a capacity of up to 2 million gallons per day. (The city is seeking $75 million in grants and $36 million in low-interest loans.) Last year, Greenfield City Council approved increasing sewer rates. “We needed to show that we could pay for this wastewater plant even if we didn’t get the funding,” Tugel says. Out Flow State approval for Greenfield’s building moratorium on standby while wastewater issues persist. By Celia Jiménez Greenfield’s wastewater treatment plant exceeds its permitted daily flow of 1.2 million gallons several times per month, particularly during recent rains. NEWS “They would certainly have an impact on the existing sewer plant.” CELIA JIMÉNEZ 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 11:30am Mon—Fri 10am Sat & Sun melvilletav.com (831) 643-9525 scan QR code for menu IT’S MARCH MADNESS WATCH ALL THE GAMES HERE CORNED BEEF & CABBAGE, CORN BEEF SANDWICHES, IRISH BEER SPECIALS LIVE MUSIC TUESDAYS, 6:30-8:30PM DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY (HOUR) SUN-THURS 4–6PM DRINK BEER & EAT HERE ON ST. PADDY’S DAY GRAB YOUR BEST GREEN GARB AND JOIN US ON TUESDAY MARCH 17! 831-230-0910 1730 The Mall | Seaside SullivansAutoService.com *Cannot combine. 10% off labor only. Must present coupon at check-in. Shop supplies and any additional parts extra. Limited time only Spring Special 10% OFF BRAKES UP TO $150 OFF BOOK NOW!
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Standing near the statue of the Spanish missionary Junipero Serra in Lower Presidio Historic Park, overlooking the expansive Monterey Bay, it’s easy to understand why so many different groups of people have gathered on the scenic bluff over the span of thousands of years. The roughly 25-acre park, maintained by the City of Monterey through a 50-year lease with the U.S. Army, is bordered on its eastern side by a bluff, which has been spilling soil onto the sidewalk along Lighthouse Avenue at the base of the slope, partially due to burrowing gophers and ground squirrels. And with thousands of years of archeological artifacts buried in the soil, every so often, some spill over the bluff onto the sidewalk along with the dirt. In 2021, the Army requested that the City of Monterey stabilize the hillside with a retaining wall. The project stalled due to multiple factors but is now moving forward with the aid of federal funds. According to Assistant City Manager Nat Rojanasathira, no city funds are anticipated to be used for the project. An environmental assessment and impact report was released on Feb. 5 for the stabilization project, with a deadline of March 5 to submit comments. The assessment states that the Army “received a Department of Defense Legacy Resource Management Program grant for compliance and design efforts that will provide funding to support the needed site stabilization and protection of cultural and tribal resources.” The environmental assessment outlines three alternative strategies to stabilize the hillside. The first option in the report calls for the installation of a 3- to 4-foot-tall, approximately 250-foot-long retaining wall along the slope and over the Lighthouse Avenue sidewalk. The report states that portions of the sidewalk may need to be removed and replaced and portions of the sidewalk would be temporarily closed, alongside potential partial closures of Lighthouse Avenue during the installation process. The report also mentions that the City of Monterey recently installed a temporary wooden retaining wall on the portion of the slope within city property. On March 3, the Monterey City Council agreed to send a letter to the Army expressing the City’s preference for the small retaining wall option. “We recommended the project that was similar to what the City of Monterey installed along the Lighthouse curve,” Monterey Library and Museums Director Brian Edwards says. “The City believes that adding the fence along with the additional slope stabilization and erosion control measure will be beneficial for long-term management of cultural resources.” In the second alternative, the Army would install a taller wall, up to 8 feet high, along the Lighthouse Avenue sidewalk. The third option does not include a retaining wall and would instead use living materials and possibly include geofabrics, soil nailing, vegetation and spray-applied additives for soil erosion control. Hill Spill Project to stabilize a hillside of the Presidio overlooking Lighthouse Avenue moves forward. By Aric Sleeper Portions of the sidewalk between Lighthouse Avenue and Lower Presidio Historic Park in Monterey may be temporarily closed during the proposed hillside stabilization project. NEWS The project is now moving forward with federal funds. DANIEL DREIFUSS The City of Monterey is an Equal Opportunity Employer. THE CITY OF MONTEREY Now Hiring! APPLY Today! Do you enjoy helping children? Are you flexible and adaptable? Do you have a positive attitude? SUMMER JOB OPPORTUNITIES • Playground Recreation Leader • Day Camp Counselor • Field Sports Recreation Leader • Camp Quien Sabe Resident Camp Counselor, Support Staff (Kitchen Helper, Handyperson, Crafts Assistant), Crafts Leader, Lifeguard and Cook WHERE TO APPLY: MONTEREY.GOV/SUMMERJOBS SCAN ME! fri-sun mar 13th-15th carmel plaza carmel-by-the-sea handmade italian sportswear trunk show
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 12-18, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com FLYING HIGH This has been long overdue (“Monterey Regional Airport’s ‘metamorphosis’ project is underway,” March 5-11). Chris Sierra | Monterey UNDER FIRE Kudos also to Monterey-Salinas Transit, whose kneeling ramp buses, drivers and supervisors were on scene to transport the residents to safe shelter (“Fire at Casanova Avenue apartment in Monterey sends multiple residents to hospital, cause unknown,” posted March 9). They are going to need a lot of support in the coming days, so please donate to All In Monterey County! Kate Spencer | Pacific Grove SCHOOL BELL Established in 1951, Notre Dame High School has long been a vital part of our community, forming young women in faith, leadership and service. The decision to close the school—announced abruptly and without meaningful consultation with the community—has left many families shocked, distressed and searching for answers (“Notre Dame High School to close at the end of the school year,” posted Feb. 27). Guided under Canon 50, a decision of this magnitude should involve transparency, collaboration and a genuine effort to explore every possible path forward before concluding that closure is the only option. Parents were invited to a Feb. 26 meeting under the impression that it would be a meet-and-greet with the Bishop. Many of us attended with optimism, believing it would be an opportunity to share ideas and discuss ways to strengthen the future of Notre Dame High School. Instead, the meeting began with the immediate announcement that the school would close. Notre Dame High School was recently named Top Catholic High School of 2026 by Education Insider Magazine. When families chose to enroll their daughters at Notre Dame, we did so based on assurances that the Diocese supported a three-year enrollment growth plan. I respectfully call on the Diocese to pause this decision, engage in open dialogue and allow time to explore alternative solutions that could preserve the school and its mission. Our daughters deserve that effort. Linda Castillo | Salinas Note: Castillo is a parent of a freshman at Notre Dame. SMOKE OUT But their reaction times would be greatly compromised (“Monterey County planning commissioners discuss next steps to allow on-site cannabis consumption,” March 5-11). That = DUI. This lounge will kill innocent people, just like a bar serving too much alcohol. Peter Sariego | Monterey This assumes that everyone will be driving. I hate to break it to you, Peter Sariego, but Amsterdam has had places like this for decades, and DUIs are not a thing there. Aaron Dye | Salinas PAYMENT PLANS I enjoy your journalism skills, Pam Marino. Straight information, with insights from both sides (“A proposal to create a housing fund by taxing the sale of luxury homes heads to county supes,” March 5-11). Nancy Anderson | Vista, California Perhaps Mr. Pinterits [representing the Monterey County Association of Realtors] should distinguish between taxes on commercial properties vs. residential mansions when citing studies. His employer is anti all taxes even if the funds would go directly towards funding much-needed affordable housing we have few resources to build. Greed in the real estate industry and the obscene amount of dollars it pours into campaigns and lobbying efforts is partially to blame, as evidenced in the 2024 Salinas City Council elections. We may not be able to tax our way out of the housing crisis but we can prioritize prevention of more homelessness in our county, as others have, by at least requiring those that can afford to own $10-million-plus homes to contribute to the basic need of housing for those less fortunate. Esther Malkin | Monterey Note: Malkin is vice chair for the California Democratic Renters Council’s Central Coast region and a founder of Monterey County Renters United. CHILDREN FIRST Only the worst of the worst humans would abuse anyone, let alone someone disabled (“Seaside High School special education aide arrested for reportedly physically abusing student,” posted March 5). I hope the punishment is swift and harsh. Denise Kay | Seaside LIFE SAVERS Dr. Reb Close, you are such a blessing in so many people’s lives (“Local doctors are helping patients get off fentanyl with a pioneering treatment,” Feb. 26-March 4). Ashley Callaú Navarro | Pacific Grove HAPPY DANCE The location has historical significance (“Happy Girl surpasses fundraising goal. Owners now under contract to purchase the building,” posted March 3). The Granary was a natural foods store that opened in that space in the 1970s. It was acquired by Whole Foods Market in 1997 (pre-Amazon). Not only did the Granary pre-date Whole Foods itself, it was older than any of its other acquisitions. Andrew Terry | Seaside CHOO CHOO Historic train museums are cool (“Salinas inches toward heritage designation of its transit center, hoping to increase tourism,” March 5-11). A hand cart tour along the historic coastal tracks would be neat too. Mike Moeller | Marina ON PITCH [Midfielder Adrian Rebollar is] one of the kindest individuals that has made a major impact for this club. He’s local and leaves it all on the table every time he’s on the pitch (“Monterey Bay FC hopes a new plan on and off the pitch pay off as the 2026 season gets underway,” March 5-11). Let’s go Union! Jeremy VanderKraats | Prunedale LETTERS • COMMENTSOPINION Submit letters to the editor to letters@montereycountynow.com. Please keep your letter to 150 words or less; subject to editing for space. Please include your full name, contact information and city you live in.
www.montereycountynow.com MARCH 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 Conall Jones’ work days are busy with calls, Slack, texts, Zoom meetings. As a documentary film producer, there is always something to do—schedule interviews, view footage, coordinate logistics. He occupies the same frenetic world as we all do, with multiple screens competing for his attention all the time. Still, he says, “I do believe in the power of cinema to transport people.” That makes a film all about absence all the more stirring. There is a weight of vacancy in All the Empty Rooms, a slow-moving, 34-minute documentary. The film, directed by Joshua Seftel, follows CBS correspondent Steve Hartman on a project around the country as he documents the empty bedrooms of children who were killed in school shootings. Hartman is grappling with his own numbness after covering too much violence. Each child dead is not a statistic, he knows—but in visiting surviving parents and siblings in the intimacy of their homes, and the intimacy of their late children’s bedrooms, Hartman really knows. And this knowing is what Hartman, and by extension Seftel and Jones, hope to share with viewers. “I wish we could transport all Americans to stand in one of those bedrooms for just a few minutes,” Hartman says in the film. “We’d be a different America.” Jones, speaking from his home in Carmel Valley, says this is the goal of the film: to transport us all to these bedrooms, “so people can feel what it’s like to be there and that these kids were real, they are not a statistic.” It is atmospheric, with the sounds of creaking floors sometimes taking up space instead of dialogue. Through close-ups of the details of mundane acts of living—a toothpaste cap left unscrewed, a laundry basket still full five years later, a shoebox under the bed—we join these parents in their unspeakable grief in the wake of entirely preventable loss. As the media and the public move on from each shooting, half expecting the next, they endure the daily emptiness of their loss. In Uvalde, Texas, Javier Cazares keeps a chair next to his daughter Jackie Cazares’ bed. “It brings me some comfort just to go in there, just to chat sometimes,” he tells the camera. Jackie was 9 when she was murdered in a mass shooting at her elementary school. In Santa Clarita, Cindy and Bryan Muehlberger keep their 15-year-old daughter Gracie Muehlberger’s clothes, selected to wear on Friday, on the hanger. She was killed on a Thursday at Saugus High School in 2019. Gracie was a natural performer, and she aspired to be in an Oscar-nominated film someday, Jones says. All the Empty Rooms is one of five nominees for Best Documentary Short at the Academy Awards (to be announced Sunday, March 15), “and now she is, for all the wrong reasons,” Jones says. When the families and film crew joined a video call early one morning in January and heard they’d been nominated, Jones says the Muehlbergers wept. Jones has seen the film hundreds of times and says he cries on every watch, but quickly says it’s not about him—it is about the grieving families. But Jones is also a parent of a 1-yearold son and a 6-year-old daughter and he, too, is changed. “I have a more profound gratitude for my kids and my life,” he says. “I have been trying to keep my daughter away from even knowing what this film is about, because I don’t want her to even think about it.” After growing up in Carmel Valley, Jones found documentary film by way of San Francisco, LA, Korea and New York, before returning in 2021. This is his second Oscar nomination and yes, he will be wearing a tux for the big night. “It’s strange being part of the glitz and glamor,” he says. “There’s a little part of me that thinks it’s fun, but thankfully we are bringing the families with us and that helps ground us in not getting too caught up in the celebrity of it all, which is a temptation.” The film truly settles into the humanness of who these children were and how they are frozen in time for their grieving families. There is no discussion of politics or policy remedies. That was partly to ensure Netflix would buy All The Empty Rooms and not to alienate prospective viewers, but also to make sure that it’s about what it is supposed to be about: real people enduring preventable and heartbreaking grief. Sara Rubin is the Weekly’s editor. Reach her at sara@montereycountynow.com. Film Shoot A Carmel Valley film producer heads to the Oscars for a short documentary. By Sara Rubin HOT LINKS…Squid oozes around town and also around the internet, where you never know what you might find. Screenshots of sassy comments posted then deleted by slow-moving sea stars? Check. The internet is forever, even when you delete stuff. Squid expected that in 2026 politicians would know that to be true, but there’s always something to learn and such is the case in the race for District 2 on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors. Just before the deadline to file candidacy paperwork on March 6, Squid started perusing the websites of incumbent Glenn Church and challenger Ramon Gomez. Squid was baffled to see Salinas City Councilmember Aurelio Salazar listed as an endorsement on both. So was Salazar. “I have made no public endorsements yet,” he tells Squid’s colleague. (Later updates show him on team Gomez.) There were a few other outdated endorsements on Church’s page, including former supervisor Lou Calcagno, who died in 2023. Whoopsies! There was also Cristina Medina, wrongly identified as a member of Marina City Council, from which she resigned in 2024. (Medina is making no endorsement this year and as a member of the Democratic Central Committee advocated for a dual endorsement, on which she was overridden; the party went with Church.) Obviously it was an outdated list, left over from 2022. Squid’s colleague asked Church what was up, and he described it as “weird,” adding: “I thought it was removed. I’m not a tech person to know those details.” Details, shmetails. On his endorsements, Gomez offers a quote: “Ramon Gomez is a true leader.” Attribution: “Example Endorsement.” As in, an example of what not to do. SHOULDER TAP…Squid’s colleagues paid close attention in 2025 to the appointment process by California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas to the influential California Coastal Commission. He went with Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez, over incumbent Justin Cummings of Santa Cruz. Less dramatic was Rivas’ Nov. 25 appointment of an alternate, Lopez’s nominee, who Squid was surprised to learn was not even a contender in round one: Seaside Mayor Ian Oglesby. (Oglesby has not yet filled in for Lopez, who prioritizes attendance at the meetings. “I am excited to welcome him and have him there to back me up,” Lopez says. “Seaside is one of those cities that is doing, and clearly making a difference.”) Squid’s colleague asked Oglesby about his approach. “I look to play a role in protecting the coastline and making sure it is fairly developed and that we continue to have access to the coast. It’s pretty straightforward.” Only nothing is straightforward in coastal politics. Oglesby explains how it came to be: “[Lopez] approached me, and I said yes.” Both men have growing power. Squid will watch to see how they use it. THE LOCAL SPIN SQUID FRY THE MISSION OF MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY IS TO INSPIRE INDEPENDENT THINKING AND CONSCIOUS ACTION, ETC. “These kids were real, they are not a statistic.” SEND SQUID A TIP: squid@montereycountynow.com
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