6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH When an alleged gunman attempted to storm the White House Correspondents Association’s dinner on April 25, the hundreds of journalists on site quickly got to work after the initial daze wore off. Many ducked under their tables before they knew what was going on, wrote journalists from The Atlantic, while countless others had their cellphones in hand, snapping photos of President Donald Trump being escorted out of the room and chronicling the chaos that ensued. Others complained of bad cell service that kept them from sharing their reports and photos with the world. Whether the incident marks a change in the Trump administration’s attitude toward the press is unknown. “This was an event dedicated to the freedom of speech that was supposed to bring together members of both parties with members of the press and in a certain way it did,” Trump said after the incident. Yet later, in an interview on 60 Minutes, Trump called CBS’ Norah O’Donnell “a disgrace” for quoting a sentence from a message by the reported gunman. Good: Congrats to three teams from North Monterey County High School that placed in the top three in various categories during the California SkillsUSA State Competition in Ontario, California, a hands-on competition that draws about 57,000 students. Avery Ragle and Ethan Craig received a gold medal in robotics and automation technology; Leandro Montoya and Marcos Mendoza obtained a silver medal in mechatronics; and Eder Martinez and Isaac Fernandez a bronze medal in robotics and automation technology. In total, six teams (12 students) from NMCHS’ engineering and mechatronics career and technical education (CTE) pathway participated, led by instructor Heather Tynan. The students have been part of CTE classes for up to three years, helping them prepare for careers in engineering, agricultural technology and drone applications. GREAT: After losing its studio space on Garden Road in Monterey to a fire in 2024, the nonprofit Power Over Parkinson’s—which offers movement and educational programs for those experiencing Parkinson’s disease— returned to its prior home, now upgraded and twice as big, expanding from about 1,800 square feet to roughly 3,900, according to Power Over Parkinson’s President Ramie Allard. “We are very excited to share that with the community and let them know that we have more space than ever to fulfill their needs in Parkinson’s exercises,” Allard says. The nonprofit offers Rock Steady Boxing, which is specifically geared toward those living with Parkinson’s, strength training, yoga, pilates, tai chi, dance and rock climbing, alongside speech therapy and board game nights. Allard says there are about 160 participants and she hopes that number grows. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The total direct tax revenue from tourist spending in Monterey County in 2025, a 6.1-percent increase over the total in 2024. Monterey County’s share of that number is $199 million, a 6.3-percent increase over the year before. Source: Visit California $346 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I don’t do it happily because Chavez has always been a hero to me.” -Alisal Union School District Trustee Robert Ocampo, after the board voted to form a committee to explore the renaming of Cesar E. Chavez Elementary School (see story, montereycountynow.com/news). million Two Portola Plaza Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 649-4511 portolahotel.com Brunch reservations MOTHER’S DAY AT PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA SUNDAY, MAY 10, 2026 | 10AM TO 2PM DAVE CONLEY ON PIANO Complimentary Mimosa for Mom $89.95 Adults | $74.95 Seniors (over 65) $29.95 for Children 12 & under | Under 5 free Prices exclude tax and gratuity | 20% Service charge for all parties Reservations are required To reserve a table, please call (831) 649-7870 or email sgarcia@portolahotel.com MENU & INFO Treat Mom and Grandma to a spectacular dining experience the whole family will cherish. Brunch kicks off with a Complimentary Mimosa for Mom to start the celebration on a sparkling note, followed by an exquisite buffet hosted in the elegant De Anza Ballroom.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==