JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREYCOUNTYNOW.COM LOCAL & INDEPENDENT LOCAL ELECTION RESULTS 10 | BANNING PHONES AT SCHOOL 17 | GO FOR GOAL 32 | ART OF THE PICNIC 34 FIRST PLACE GENERAL EXCELLENCE • 2025 CA JOURNALISM AWARDS • Luxury camping experiences mean you can get outside without even sleeping on the ground. That, plus some other ideas we have for summer fun. p. 18 Gone Glamping SUMMER FUN
2 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com the art of the plate june 5–13, 2026 Join us for the 6th Annual Carmel Culinary Week with immersive food experiences, curated menus, special offers, and signature village-wide events set in some of Carmel’s most scenic and whimsical locations! Alvarado Street Brewery & Bistro Aubergine Brophy’s Tavern Bud’s at La Playa Hotel Cafe Luna Carmel Belle Carmel’s Hidden Gem Catch Chez Noir Cultura Dametra Café El Bistro by the Sea Flaherty’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar Foray Grasing’s Restaurant Hog’s Breath Inn Il Fornaio Il Tegamino Jeju Kitchen La Bicyclette Links Club Little Napoli Nora’s PortaBella Rise + Roam Seventh & Dolores Steakhouse Stationæry The Pocket Toro Sushi Vesuvio Village Corner VIN By The Sea Yafa discover more than 30 participating restaurants! Find exclusive menus, offers, events, and food tours at the restaurants—plus get all the details on signature village-wide events. Visit CarmelCulinaryWeek.com or scan the code now! Carmel_Culinary_Week_Weekly_6.4.26_FullPg_9.5x11.32_Final_REV.indd 1 6/2/26 1:03 PM
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 3 We are rooted here. We just branched out. montagehealth.org Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula created Montage Health to deliver exceptional care to more people, by expanding our services beyond the hospital. Today, we’re much more than a hospital. And as we’ve grown, we’ve remained true to our deep roots — nonprofit, independent, locally owned, and accountable only to the community we serve.
4 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 • ISSUE #1975 • ESTABLISHED IN 1988 Karen Loutzenheiser (iPhone 12) How about a book with a view? The Weekly’s business development director, Keely Richter, brought Our Perfect Storm by Carley Fortune— and a chair—up to Snively’s Ridge in Garland Ranch Regional Park. MONTEREY COUNTY PHOTO OF THE WEEK Send Etc. submissions to etcphoto@montereycountynow.com; please include caption and camera info. On the cover: An RV set-up at Laguna Seca Recreation Area invites campers (and glampers) to enjoy the outdoors with some of the comforts of a hotel. Cover photo: Daniel Dreifuss 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, pre-paid. 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) EDITOR/SALINAS VALLEY NOW Joseph Treviño joseph@salinasvalleynow.com STAFF WRITER/SALINAS VALLEY NOW Royvi Hernandez royvi@salinasvalleynow.com (x140) 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 JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 5 casaofmonterey.org CASA volunteers are parents, professionals, retirees—people who once felt too busy. Then they realized the moments were already there: a ride home, a day-o visit, an evening check-in. CASA becomes part of your life’s routine. You’re more ready than you think—become a CASA volunteer. Find out how you can impact the life of a child in foster care and juvenile justice systems. I’m a Entrepreneur and a CASA Paula A., Carmel
6 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com THE BUZZ FREE SPEECH Like all journalists, those at the Weekly review documents and contact the parties involved when writing any news article. Such was the case when staff writer Royvi Hernandez wrote about Daniel Muñoz’s attempt to recall Salinas City Councilmember José Luis Barajas and County Supervisor Luis Alejo. Hernandez went to the Monterey County Elections Office and Salinas City Hall to review Barajas’ and Alejo’s responses on why they shouldn’t be recalled. Hernandez was able to view the statements, but at Salinas City Hall, Assistant City Clerk Alexis Mejia told her that she couldn’t take photos, copies or notes. Hernandez instead memorized one of the sentences from Barajas’ defense statement. According to California Elections Code, election records are for viewing only, but the code does not specifically restrict a viewer from taking notes. City Attorney Chris Callihan confirmed it via email: “The response may be viewed and your team may take notes, but cannot have copies or take photos of the documents.” Good: Good news for kids and parents in Monterey County: free summer programs have joined the vast list of programs offered this year. Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County is offering an eightweek program in Salinas, Seaside and Gonzales, including football and leadership skills and a summer academy, where they participate in field trips, recreational and health and wellness activities. In the past, these programs have cost $300 per child, but this year, the organization is waiving the fee. First Tee, a youth development nonprofit, partnered with King City Union School District to offer eight-week programs including golf, swimming, animal welfare and photography for students. “A child who has never picked up a club is going to leave this summer with new friends, new skills and a lot more confidence,” said Nathan Nuñez, director of development for First Tee Monterey County. GREAT: The long, winding road of bringing addresses to Carmel is coming to an end. Soon you’ll find Carmel City Hall at 662 Monte Verde St., instead of Monte Verde Street between Ocean and Seventh avenues, and so on, for every home and business. Sunset Center’s address will transform from San Carlos Street at Ninth Avenue to 908 San Carlos St. The map was finalized and approved by U.S. Postal Service Address Management Systems and the County of Monterey, with the County currently integrating the new addresses into its systems, as well as coordinating notifications with agencies and service providers that rely on standardized address data, according to a report to the Carmel City Council on Tuesday, June 2. The Council voted 5-0 to confirm implementation of the system. Official notices will be sent to property owners about activating the addresses in the coming weeks. GOOD WEEK / GREAT WEEK THE WEEKLY TALLY The iconic red caboose along the Rec Trail on Cannery Row sold for its full asking price, and is now in escrow. The anonymous purchaser plans to move it to a private estate in California. Source: Ed Ciliberti, seller $75,000 QUOTE OF THE WEEK “The evidence supports a finding that [Smurfit Westrock] entered into negotiations with a closed mind.” -John Giannopoulos, an administrative law judge with the National Labor Relations Board, in his ruling finding Smurfit Westrock in Salinas acted in bad faith over health insurance negotiations with workers (see story, montereycountynow.com/news). RUN ROSES for the t foh r e A Kentucky Derby Event Benefiting Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey Catholic Charities Diocese of Monterey is strengthened by the generosity of community members like you. Thank you for your unwavering support and for helping us uplift the dignity of our neighbors. Thank You for Supporting Thank you to our Sponsors! sport coats soft coats outerwear shirting sweaters trousers carmel plaza carmel-by-the-sea new arrivals
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 7 We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE+CASES 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! 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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 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! 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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE CASES We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE CASES We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! 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A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE+CASES and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • 831-318-0306 • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX We are honored and look forward to working with you to support your pets best health and quality of life. 1023 Austin Avenue, Pacific Grove • www.pacificgroveanimalhospital.com ’24 ’23 ’22 ’21 Four years in a row! A Gold Certified Cat Friendly Practice montereycountynow.com/bestof BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 XX PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE PREVENTATIVE CARE • REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE – NOW SEEING URGENT CARE+CASES PACIFIC GROVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL Thank You So Much for Voting Us BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Brynie Kaplan Dau, MS, DVM Five Years In A Row! SURGERY • DERMATOLOGY • FELINE AND CANINE MEDICINE • PREVENTATIVE CARE REGENERATIVE MEDICINE, PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA) • LASER THERAPY • EXOTICS AND MUCH MORE – CONTINUITY OF CARE ’25 ’24 A NEW FREE, DAILY, DIGITAL NEWS SOURCE. • Telling the stories of Salinas and Salinas Valley • Community news, professionally crafted, available in Spanish ANNOUNCING Visit SalinasValleyNow.com to sign up for the newsletter to be delivered for free via email or WhatsApp
8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Charlie Meza is flanked on either side by beach sagewort and dune tansy, plants that thrive in the coastal air sweeping through the dunes near Salinas River State Beach. The wind whistles across these dunes on a Friday afternoon, a perfect complement to the intense sun blanketing the landscape in warmth. “You know what that river is over there? That’s the old Salinas River,” says Meza, a guide for the Monterey Bay Equestrian Center. Sitting atop a horse named Tadpole, Meza explains how this river is a remnant of the historic waterways that have since been engineered into a very different system we have today. Few places around Monterey Bay offer such an experience, a chance to do what was once common in the region’s early days: ride horseback through a wild stretch of Monterey County. Both beginners and more seasoned horseback riders alike can sign up with the Monterey Bay Equestrian Center for a guided ride through the dunes and along the coastline near Castroville and Moss Landing, to clear the mind and enjoy panoramic views, which stretch all the way to Santa Cruz on a clear day. In fact, the equestrian center is the only company left offering tours like these. Through an agreement with California State Parks, it has operated horseback rides on the beach near the Salinas River Dunes Natural Preserve since 1988. “There used to be commercial horseback riding down in Big Sur and Pebble Beach,” says Michael Mastroianni, one of the company’s co-owners, “but those closed down.” The region’s equestrian footprint has been gradually diminishing in terms of boarding options and commercial excursions. Marina City Council evicted the former concessionaire Chaparral Country Corporation from the Marina Equestrian Center earlier this year and will seek a new operator, while Pebble Beach Company closed its century-old equestrian center in 2024. “While the Equestrian Center has a storied history, it is no longer economically viable,” Pebble Beach Company spokesperson David Stivers said in an announcement at the time. Revenue from the equestrian center had been declining for years, the company reported, down by 40 percent in 2024 compared to 2019. The Monterey Bay Equestrian Center is a small business, run by Meza and his wife, Madaline Mastroianni. They field requests over the phone, gauge riders’ experience levels, and pair them with one of the 25 horses kept at their stables in Prunedale. The clientele comes from all backgrounds, many of them first-time riders. Most are visitors to the area, meeting guides and horses in the parking lot at Salinas River State Beach before heading out. Tours typically range from a few riders to groups of eight, traveling single file up through the dunes and along the shore. But in reality, there are two main characters in the equation: you and the horse. The charm of horseback riding lies in the unspoken communication between the two. In an era dominated by screens, relentless productivity and overscheduled lives, horseback riding offers a rare kind of mental and physical stillness. On this particular Friday afternoon, Meza walks a honeymooning couple visiting the area through the basics before leading the group out onto the sand. Some horses love the ocean and enjoy staying close to one another. Others are more temperamental. They’ll let riders know, and the rider’s job is to listen, and lead accordingly. Meza or one of the other guides on duty is there to help with this. The group strolls along a mostly empty beach, with the exception of a few fishermen and a couple eating lunch, with Moss Landing Marine Laboratories visible in the distance and the smokestacks from the old power plant riding beyond them. Meza leans down to give Tadpole a pat, who responds with a gentle shake of the mane. “Nothing beats this,” he says. Monterey Bay Equestrian Center is located at 19805 Pesante Road, Salinas. (831) 663-5712, montereybayequestrian.com. Coastal Canter Monterey Bay Equestrian Center offers one-of-a-kind horseback riding excursions through coastal dunes. By Katie Rodriguez There are two main characters: you and the horse. TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Charlie Meza (left) leads a group of horseback riders on a trail near the Salinas River State Beach. Meza serves as a guide for the Monterey Bay Equestrian Center, explaining the horses’ temperament and the surrounding scenery to the riders. SUMMER FUN Join us for an informative update from the Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center. From the bottom of the ocean to the stars and a new generator too! Find out what's new with FNMOC. Presented by the City of Monterey, the Monterey Bay Defense Alliance, and the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. GET TICKETS! PRESENTED BY THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2026 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM FERRANTE’S AT MONTEREY MARRIOTT TICKETS: $45/MEMBERS • $65/NON-MEMBERS • INCLUDES BREAKFAST QUARTERLY BUSINESS INSIGHTS BREAKFAST Join us for an informative presentation titled “Special Districts, Big Impact”. Enjoy a panel discussion moderated by Richelle Noroyan of the California Special Districts Association with representatives from Castroville Community Services District, ReGen Monterey, Monterey Peninsula Airport District, and Monterey County Mosquito Abatement District.
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 9 Surround yourself with a variety of summer wildflowers. SUMMER WILDFLOWER Garland Ranch Regional Park 27th Annual Summer Wildflower Show FREE ADMISSION mprpd.org Garland Park Visitor Center 700 West Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley 831-372-3196, ext. 102 SATURDAY & SUNDAY 3 JUNE 13-JUNE 14 10AM TO 4PMShow By arrangement with Knight Hall Agency Ltd. Curated fantasy colliding with uncomfortable truths westernstage.com/tickets 831.755.6816 June 6 - 28, 2026 for Nobodies By Joanna Murray-Smith Songs Copyright by TROPOLIS PTY LIMITED copyright agent: Catherine King of 42M&P Ltd. Palladium House, 1-4 Argyll Street, London, W1F7TA Featuring Malinda DeRouen* *Member of Actors Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States SCAN for Tickets Garland, Holiday, Cline, Piaf & Callas. One incredible performer.
10 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com NEWS It was a festive atmosphere at Mo’s River Road Grill on Tuesday, June 2 even before the first election results came in. About 70 supporters of Dan Burns, a candidate for Monterey County Superintendent of Schools, had gathered for finger food like calamari and breaded chicken and three types of cookies while the playlist “Fun Cocktail Hour” from Spotify played in the background. Preliminary results show Burns, the former superintendent at Salinas Union High School District, leading by 14 points over Ralph Porras, the current deputy superintendent at Monterey County Office of Education and former superintendent of Pacific Grove Unified. As of midnight on Wednesday, June 3 he has 24,451 votes to Porras’ 18,443. Last year, Deneen Guss, the current MCOE superintendent, announced she will retire in 2027 after leading MCOE for two four-year terms. She endorsed Porras to take her seat. Burns says this year was the right time to run for superintendent after working as a consultant for various school districts and reigniting his passion to impact the education future of young people. “I have a granddaughter here,” Burns adds. “To be able to have some type of impact on her potential, continuing learning through her years is very important for me as well.” This was the first time since 2010, that the superintendent of schools’ seat was contested. Both candidates have 70 years of experience combined. MCOE provides services for the county’s 24 school districts and eight charter schools, as well as programs for migrant and special education students, and administers the Early Learning Program (combining federal Head Start and state preschool). “I really want the County Office of Education to be a premier support environment for all of our school districts,” Burns says. Class Time Dan Burns leads by a 14-point margin for Monterey County Superintendent of Schools. By Celia Jiménez Just after 7:30pm on Tuesday, June 2, Clint Novak carried a tray of Bloody Marymarinated tri-tip into the kitchen, advising people to be careful around the hot dish. The tri-tip was the centerpiece of a full menu for dinner at Glenn Church’s Royal Oaks home, which also included seasoned chicken wings, beer-marinated bratwurst and pepperoncini-marinated potato salad with no relish—a secret recipe, says Novak, Church’s nephew and a self-described hobby cook. It was a feast at home and at the polls for Church on election night as he vies for a second term as Monterey County supervisor. In early election results released just after 8pm Tuesday, Church held a sizable lead over his opponent, Ramon Gomez, garnering nearly 72 percent of the vote, a margin that held overnight at 71 percent as of June 3. Church was first elected to represent District 2, which encompasses North County communities and North Salinas, in 2022. The area has faced two major disasters since Church took office: the Pajaro River flood in 2023 (less than three months after he was seated) and the Vistra battery energy storage facility fire in Moss Landing in 2025. Those disasters, and Church’s responses to them, took center stage in his campaign. In Pajaro, for example, Church says he is now warmly greeted in the community that for years felt neglected by its government. “It’s a lot more supportive than it was in 2022,” Church says of his interactions with voters this time around compared to his first campaign. “I try to work with everybody. I try to be civil. I try to compromise. I try to find middle ground. With the fire and the flood, I tried to be straight up and honest with people.” Gomez arrived to his election night party at 101 Wine Press in Prunedale after the polls closed at 8pm, noting he wanted to be out campaigning right up to the last minute. Gomez, who serves on the Monterey County Planning Commission and North County Fire District board, says he is happy with how the campaigns were run on both sides. “I’ve been very proud of running a clean campaign and focusing on the issues,” the Prunedale resident says. “I think my opponent has done the same thing. That’s been a good thing for the voters.” Church says he’s making a plan for what he wants to accomplish over the next four-and-a-half years. Many things are already in motion, he notes, including flood control in the Bolsa Knolls neighborhood (with the supervisors hearing a report on a drainage study on June 2), additional sidewalks in Castroville and the proposed transfer station at the former Crazy Horse Landfill in Prunedale. “What I like about a nonpartisan office is that you cross those red and blue lines,” he says. “I’ve had some texts today, one coming from a conservative Republican and one coming from a liberal Democrat, and both were wishing me the best of luck.” Glenn Church (right) chats with family and friends during an election night gathering at his Royal Oaks home, where his dog Shasta greeted visitors. Round Two Early results show Glenn Church netting two-thirds of the vote for another term as county supervisor. By Erik Chalhoub Israel Salazar congratulates Dan Burns on election night. Burns has worked mostly in Salinas and was surprised by the support he received from areas like Carmel, Pacific Grove and South County. “I tried to be straight up and honest with people.” ERIK CHALHOUB CELIA JIMÉNEZ
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 11 Clear, effective human interactions build trust. Nurbli’s person-to-person translating is performed by trained, vetted translators from your community who understand local nuances and dialects. No more prompting AI bots, or choosing a language from a dropdown menu. On-demand, onsite translation at the most critical moments: • In Person • By Phone Nurbli supports Greenfield Union School District with more than 1,800 interpretations, 200 audio flyer translations, and a 200% increase in workshop participation district-wide.* From the classroom to the emergency room, build trust through clarity: *During the 2025-2026 school year © Nurbli • On Video • Documents translated to audio for oral languages NURBLI’S TRANSLATION PLATFORM IS HUMAN POWERED BECAUSE AI BOTS DON’T EXACTLY RADIATE TRUST. Contact Benito Sanchez, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, to discuss your needs. HUMAN-POWERED TRANSLATION ON DEMAND • ONSITE nurbli.com benito@nurbli.com School Districts Healthcare Providers Law Enforcement Social Services / Nonprofits City / County Government Legal compliance, IEP accuracy, budget justification, avoiding liability from failed interpretation Patient communication, consent forms, diagnosis accuracy, regulatory requirements De-escalation, court appearance accuracy, community trust, liability protection Family engagement, service delivery, grant compliance, community impact Public meetings, resident services, equity and inclusion mandates 146 12TH STREET • PACIFIC GROVE Seán Gavin & Colm Gannon Duo Master uillean piper and flute player, Sean Gavin, and accordion wizard Colm Gannon combine their talents to bring an afternoon of pure Irish bliss to Pacific Grove. SUNDAY, JUNE 14 • 3PM Doors Open at 2:30pm Snacks and Libations available at the Bistro AdvAnce tickets AvAilAble At www.celticsociety.org Celtic Society discounts honored. $30 Adv/35 door kids (12 and under) $12 Adv/15 door For more info call or text 831-224-3819
12 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com About a dozen members and friends of the Pacific Grove Progressives were crowded around a couple of tables sharing pizzas and sipping craft beers at Hops and Fog Brewing Co. on the evening of Tuesday, June 2 in downtown P.G., in part to reward themselves after weeks of campaigning in support of Measure C, a proposal to increase compensation of city councilmembers. They had also hoped for a celebration but it was not to be: The early election results based on mail-in votes showed the measure trailing by more than 400 votes. It was not totally unexpected. Shortly before the results were released the speculation among the group was that the California governor’s race would impact smaller races. “My sincere hope was that the Democrats were waiting until the last minute,” says John Mothershead, president of the P.G. Progressives, referring to voters statewide holding off until the last minute to see which Democratic gubernatorial candidate was in the lead. Members theorized that as Democratic ballots are counted, Measure C would have a chance of winning. If the measure pulls through, the monthly compensation for councilmembers would rise from $420 to $987, and from $700 to $1,645 for the mayor. As of midnight on the morning of June 3, it is behind by 500 votes, a 56-44 margin. Two parcel taxes to fund emergency and fire services in South County also faced negative results on election night, with voters possibly souring on paying more taxes in the face of higher gas prices and a weakened economy. Soledad’s Measure A was losing 677 to 633 as of June 3. In Gonzales, Measure B was losing 327 to 293. A proposed sales tax in Monterey, Measure D, was also behind—2,600 to 2,374, or 52 percent to 48 percent. If it passes, it would raise the city’s sales tax by 0.375 percent, to a total of 9.625 percent. The money would be funneled into the general fund to pay for services that are currently in danger of being cut due to an estimated $12 million budget deficit in the coming fiscal year. The increase could bring in as much as $4.5 million annually. Burcu Mousa was no longer nervous when Election Day, June 2, rolled around. “A sense of calmness has washed over me,” she says. The certified public accountant and former staffer in the Monterey County AuditorController’s Office had spent the past few months getting a crash course in local politics. “I didn’t necessarily have a mentor until I met with Jane Parker and she guided me,” Mousa says of the former county supervisor. That guidance helped connect Mousa through her campaign for auditor-controller to progressive figures in local politics like Salinas activists Demetrio Pruneda and Chris Barrera who attended her election night gathering at Stonies Taphouse in Salinas, where Mousa ordered a Manhattan but seemed barely able to find time to sip on it between conversations with supporters—her husband, Deputy Public Defender Shadee Mousa, ended up drinking her first attempt at a cocktail. On the other end of the political spectrum, she also drew support from the Monterey County Republican Central Committee, a rarity for a registered Democrat even though the position of auditor-controller is nonpartisan. “We endorsed her because of her authenticity,” says incoming chair Gregory Fuller. “She walked in and wowed everybody.” Despite an ability to wow supporters and outspending her opponent, Enedina Garcia, by about 35-to-1, early election returns showed Mousa trailing the assistant auditor-controller by about 3,500 votes, with just 46 percent of the vote. Garcia did not respond to the Weekly’s interview requests leading up to and on Election Day, but ran with endorsements from retired Auditor Rupa Shah, and County Supervisor Luis Alejo. Mousa says that when the County Board of Supervisors twice discussed recruitment/appointment of an auditor-controller after Shah stepped away, she reached out to all five supervisors to let them know about her campaign for the two-way election that would be decided in June. She heard back from four, but not from Alejo, who then endorsed Garcia. “In my heart, I believe it’s not a political position but the way certain things played out, I learned how it is viewed,” Mousa says. “That was really interesting.” Ballot Tax Tax measures and a plan to boost council pay in P.G. trail in early election results. By Pam Marino NEWS LOOKING TO UPGRADE City of Marina officials answer questions about facilities and the budget. Marina is contemplating a utility users tax for the November ballot. 6pm Thursday, June 4. Via Zoom at bit.ly/MarinaJune42026, password 883989. Free. (831) 884-1278, cityofmarina.org. BUILDING BLOCKS Learn about the current and future state of infrastructure in Salinas during the Infrastructure Summit. The all-day event includes panel discussions from industry representatives and others. 8:30am-3:30pm Friday, June 5. One Main Street, 1 Main St., Salinas. Free. RSVP at (831) 758-7407 or sophia. rome@salinas.gov. (831) 758-7381, salinas.gov. MAYOR MEETUP Monterey County Mayors’ Association meets to discuss various updates among the cities. The agenda includes a report by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas. Noon Friday, June 5. Stillwell Hotel, San Carlos and 5th, Carmel. Free. RSVP at (831) 620-2016 or nromero@ci.carmel.ca.us. SUMMER TIME Learn about summer programs at Salinas parks, recreation centers and libraries. A kick-off event includes games, food, music and arts and crafts. 11am-2pm Saturday, June 6. Ensen Community Park, 99 La Posada Drive, Salinas. Free. library.salinas.gov/ events/summer-kick-event. BOARD BUSINESS Monterey County Board of Supervisors meets to discuss county business. Public comment is accepted. 9am Tuesday, June 9. Board of Supervisors chambers, 168 W. Alisal St., first floor, Salinas. Free. (831) 755-5025, countyofmonterey.gov. DOWNTOWN VISION Share input on the City of Marina’s Downtown Vitalization Specific Plan. A survey is now live where the public can submit feedback. Survey ends 5pm Tuesday, June 9. Free. cityofmarina.org/downtownvitalization. ON THE DAIS King City City Council meets and accepts public input. 6pm Tuesday, June 9. City Council Chambers, 212 S. Vanderhurst Ave., King City. Free. (831) 386-5971, kingcity.com. HAVE A VOICE The City of Salinas is now accepting applications for the Youth Council. High school students looking to become civically engaged in their community are encouraged to apply. Ongoing applications at salinas.gov. By the Numbers In a rare contest for county auditor, insider Enedina Garcia leads in early results. By Sara Rubin Supporters of Pacific Grove’s Measure C to increase city council compensation wait for results at Hops and Fog Brewing Co. on election night. E-MAIL: publiccitizen@montereycountynow.com PUBLIC CITIZEN Voters are possibly souring on paying more taxes. NIK BLASKOVICH
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 Insured by NCUA 1The dividend rate and Annual Percentage Yield (APY) are accurate as of 05/27/2026. The dividend rate and APY may change at any time. There is no minimum balance required to earn the stated APY. The minimum deposit for the 16-month certificate special is $500. The APY is based on an assumption that dividends will remain in the account until maturity. Any fee, withdrawal or transfer reduces earnings and there may be penalties for early withdrawal. This certificate is not extended to organization accounts. Rates and terms are subject to change without notice. Call 1-877-GOLDEN 1 (1-877-465-3361) for current rates. 0526-MTW Visit a branch, call 1-877-465-3361 or scan to learn more Limited-time offer 4.15% with a Term Savings Certificate Earn up to APY1 Two Portola Plaza Monterey, CA 93940 (831) 649-4511 portolahotel.com PAWTY FIND YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND AT PORTOLA HOTEL & SPA Saturday, June 13 12pm to 3pm MEET ADOPTABLE CATS & DOGS FROM More Info Cornucopia Community Market offers quality nutritious and environmentally safe products, free of artificial additives and preservatives. Your Source for Local and Organic Food for a Healthy Lifestyle HAPPY SUMMER! • Natural, Organic Produce • Fresh Bakery and Deli • Olive Oil/Vinegar/Local Honey • Wine, Beer, Juice, Coffee and Tea Selections • Fresh, Organic Dairy Products • Healthy Snacks • Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements • All Natural Bath and Body Products Your Local Health Food Store OPEN MON-FRI 9AM-7PM SAT & SUN 10AM-6PM 831-625-1454 26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd, Carmel (at the mouth of Carmel Valley)
14 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JUNE 4-10, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com Even though elected officials like District 30 Assemblymember Dawn Addis and 19th Congressional District Rep. Jimmy Panetta have experienced the ups and downs of the campaign trail on more than one occasion, they still get a little nervous on election day. “It’s not so much nerves, as it’s anticipation for the results at 8pm,” Panetta says. “There’s really not much that you can do except know that if you have done the work, you have done the job.” Addis says that every Election Day and even when she returns to the California State Capitol from the Central Coast, she gets the jitters. “I always get butterflies,” Addis says. ”I still get that feeling of awe when I walk into the Capitol and I still get those butterflies knowing that I have an opportunity to represent the people one more time.” In the three-way race for the 30th, Addis has received 53 percent of the vote as of 4:45am Wednesday, June 3. With the early vote counts favoring Addis, she said her celebratory plans include driving to Sacramento early Wednesday morning to participate in budget negotiations as she chairs the Health Budget Subcommittee. “It will be a celebration if I know I am on my way to do this work for more time,” Addis says. Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, who represents the neighboring 29th Assembly District, leads with 63 percent of the total count, over two Republican challengers. Rivas spent election night in LA at Xavier Becerra’s event, where Becerra celebrated a lead over other Democrats for governor and appears to be headed to the November general election. Like Addis, Panetta says the way he celebrates a primary election victory is immediately returning to work. “I will be on a red-eye flight back to D.C. to do my job,” he says. For the 19th Congressional District race, Panetta leads in the early vote counts with 64,596 votes, or about 58 percent of the total in the seven-way race as of 4:45am on June 3. In the race for the 18th Congressional District, Rep. Zoe Lofgren leads with 32,122 votes or 52 percent of the total in a four-way race, ahead of Republican Shane Lewis with 20,567 votes or 33 percent. Lofgren says she no longer gets nervous on Election Day and will be celebrating the primary results by voting yes on the War Powers Act when she returns to Washington, D.C. “I am honored to have your trust to continue fighting in Congress for our communities. Californians are demanding that Washington focus on pocketbook issues, not vanity projects and culture wars,” she said in a statement issued on Tuesday night. Addis adds that she feels lucky to live in a democracy and represent her constituents during the 250th anniversary of the United States. “We are some of the luckiest people on the planet because we have a democracy that’s worth fighting for,” says Addis. “And I think that this election and the election in November is going to say a lot about that.” Big Leagues Early vote counts show state and federal incumbents headed to November runoff elections. By Aric Sleeper U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, led the way with 58 percent of the vote in a seven-way race and is headed to the general election in November against Republican Peter Coe Verbica. NEWS “I still get that feeling of awe when I walk into the Capitol.” DANIEL DREIFUSS EARN3.50APY*% 9-MONTH CERTIFICATE LIMITED-TIME OFFER 831.647.1000 www.montereycu.com APY = annual percentage yield. Minimum opening deposit $10,000. Maximum $20,000,000. Funds to open this certi cate must be new to Monterey CU. New to Monterey CU means the funds must have not been on deposit with Monterey CU in the last six months. Limit to one promotional share certi cate per member. O er available for limited time starting 06/02/26 and subject to change or cancellation without notice. Early withdrawal penalties apply. Monterey CU membership required. 26135 Carmel Rancho Blvd Suite B-4, Carmel, CA 93923 Keeping Monterey Bay clean, one car at a time. Happy World Oceans Day! from Choose Hans Auto Repair 1st green Certified business in Seaside 384 Olympia Avenue, Seaside | 831-583-9820 | hansautorepair.com
www.montereycountynow.com JUNE 4-10, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 15 From 2010 to 2019, the California Roots Music and Art Festival grew from a one-day, single-stage reggae fest at the Monterey County Fairgrounds into a three- and four-day event hosted on multiple stages drawing big-name acts like the Wu-Tang Clan, Burning Spear, Damian Marley and Ice Cube, among others. In 2012, the festival’s founder, Jeff Monser, brought Dan Sheehan on board as an equal partner to further expand the annual event, according to court documents. In 2018, the duo formed California Roots Holding Company, LLC, which encompassed the festival’s brand, operations and other assets, and established Sheehan as the manager. After canceling the festival in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cali Roots returned in full force in 2022 with a solid lineup and was well-attended, which resulted in a potential sale for up to $10 million of the Cali Roots entity to a live events company called USLive Op Co, Inc., or LiveCo. Sheehan presented the potential offer to Monser around June 2022 and Monser later agreed to sell his ownership of the festival to Sheehan for $1.9 million, according to court records. Monser was paid $1.64 million and $261,000 in loan forgiveness for money owed to the festival in 2023. However, in May 2023, the festival didn’t perform as anticipated and the sale to LiveCo fell through. Monser later learned that the opportunity to sell the festival was lost. He suspected that Sheehan never intended to sell Cali Roots but wanted to take full ownership of the festival, deceiving Monser into selling his share through a lawyer that Monser assumed represented LiveCo., according to court records. In 2024, Monser filed a lawsuit in Monterey Superior Court alleging that Sheehan never planned to close the sale. Monser is seeking at least $1 million in damages and renewed ownership of Cali Roots. In an August 2024 email from Bruce Hanson of LiveCo to Monser’s lawyer, “LiveCo ceased work on this potential deal in or about the first week of June 2023.” Hanson said the lawyer who facilitated Monser’s payout was “sellside counsel” and not LiveCo’s lawyer. A trial date was set for June 8, 2026, but was canceled due to Monser filing for bankruptcy in October 2025. A new trial date is on hold. After selling his share of Cali Roots, Monser says he has been working on numerous projects, including running a screen-printing and embroidery shop and helping to produce festivals and concerts in the Bay Area. Regarding Cali Roots, Monser says he is glad that fans continue to show up and enjoy the festival, which he has “nothing but positive feelings for.” “We are hopeful the festival will continue next year and many years into the future,” he says. A spokesperson for Cali Roots says in an email, “Looking ahead, we remain committed to continuing to grow and strengthen the festival experience while preserving the community spirit that has made Cali Roots so special over the years.” Shifting Roots A lawsuit filed by the founder and former co-owner of Cali Roots is stalled for now. By Aric Sleeper The 15th annual Cali Roots festival took place from May 22-24, drawing about 9,000 attendees each day, organizers report. Dates for 2027 have already been announced and tickets are for sale. NEWS In 2023, the festival didn’t perform as anticipated. DANIEL DREIFUSS
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