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By Chris Neklason
Published Sep 02, 2024

A relaxing nap can be a good way to spend the holiday which honors workers.
A relaxing nap can be a good way to spend the holiday which honors workers.
Image credit: Wikipediuh   CC BY-SA 4.0

Happy Labor Day to All Who Celebrate

We give thanks to all the people who worked over the three day weekend taking care of the rest of us loafers.

And special thanks to organized labor, which has brought us the five day work-week, safer workplaces, fair pay and continues to fight for worker rights in general. Their work is never done.

In this week's newsletter we're also taking a break, and will be back in action next week with a look at the unusual number of city council elections being cancelled for want of candidates running against incumbents,  and a reflection on how California is burning oil to make water.

In the meantime, enjoy the recipe of the week and catch up on all the news and government announcements from last week, below.


Recipe of the Week

Our friends at Sacramento Digs Gardening publish a recipe from their gardens every Sunday, which we feature here so you can start your week with some yum.

See more recipes in their Taste Summer! cookbook.


Cookies and lemonade made special with herbs

Shortbread and lemonade are an excellent treat any time. Use herbs to give them a special touch.
New! Lemon verbena shortbread, lavender lemonade from the Herb Team


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Monterey County's Homepage

Direct your browser to https://monterey.californialocal.com/ to catch up on the latest news in California and Monterey County. Bookmark the link and visit often, there's a lot happening in your community!



Get to Know a Group

Community Emergency Response Volunteers logo Community Emergency Response Volunteers

Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula's mission is “to support local CERT programs, build public awareness about emergency preparedness, and promote the community's capacity to respond to natural disasters and man-made emergencies.”

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From Our Media Allies

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Monterey County Weekly logo Pacifica Senior Living Reverses Eviction of 96-Year-Old Woman From Its Pacific Grove Facility.

Soon after a story went viral around the world about 96-year-old Jean Jacques of Pacific Grove Senior Living receiving a three-day eviction notice from owners Pacifica Senior Living—despite having a contract guaranteeing her care for life— the company reversed itself.

KSQD logo Charging Ahead: Inside Santa Cruz County’s E-Bike Surge – Talk of the Bay

It seems all manner of e-bikes are popping up across Santa Cruz County more and more—on trails, in streets, outside schools and grocery stores. Sometimes, the e-bikes are even carrying two passengers at a time as they zip down the …

Monterey County Weekly logo Jaime Fontes, Former Seaside City Manager, Files a Claim Against the City.

Former Seaside city manager Jaime Fontes, who City Council terminated for no cause (“loss of confidence”) effective June 6 of this year, is not done with Seaside yet.

Monterey County Weekly logo A Group of Carmel Residents Is Determined to Find Affordable Housing They Can Support.

After Carmel barely made a deadline in April to turn into the state their eight-year housing plan, known as a housing element, some residents became alarmed that the plan to add a required 349 units in the tiny village included …

Monterey County Weekly logo South County School Districts Embrace Technology for Language Translation.

It’s not that long ago that bulletin boards were one of the main resources to find out about community events, school announcements and job opportunities.

Monterey County Weekly logo An Internship Program in Salinas Gives Young People a Chance to Get Involved.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about how internships allow you to find your strengths and weaknesses, giving you a perspective on the career choices you have made or will make in the future.

Monterey County Weekly logo Gonzales Unified School District Parts Ways With Superintendent Matilde Zamora.

After leading Gonzales Unified School District for two-plus years, former superintendent Martinez Zamora has left her post after a mutual agreement with the district's board of trustees a year before her contract was up.

Monterey County Weekly logo Artistic After-School Programs Return to Alisal Union School District.

Students from Alisal Union School District welcomed the 2024-2025 school year with the news that after-school artistic programs are back after they were abruptly cancelled before the end of the previous school year.

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Recent Local News

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CSUMB Enrollment Up, Juggling With Housing
With enrollment up for the first time in years, Cal State Monterey Bay had to work hard to find enough student housing.
(09/03/2024) The Lutrinae
Looking Back on CSUMB Founding
The Monterey Herald sits down with Cal State Monterey Bay's first president, Peter Smith, and look back 30 years to the founding of the university.
(09/01/2024) Monterey Herald
Monterey City Council Candidate Forum Held
Learn what candidates on the November ballot had to say at a Del Monte Beach Neighborhood Association hosted forum held on August 20.
(08/29/2024) Monterey Herald
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Recent Statewide News

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Health Care in California: How the State Made Almost Everyone Eligible for Coverage
Almost everyone in California has health insurance. That trend reflects about a decade and a half of policymaking designed to expand access to health care. The state’s average uninsured rate has dropped from nearly one in four Californians in 2009 to less than one in ten today.
(09/03/2024) CalMatters
CalFire Deploys New Air Tanker
CalFire received the first of five planes promised by the federal government, a former Coast Guard C-130 Hercules air tanker.
(09/02/2024) https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/fires/article291844345.html
California’s Economy Lags Behind Other States, Here’s Why It’s So Sluggish
California’s unemployment rate, 5.2% of its labor force in July, is no longer the nation’s highest after months of having that dubious distinction.
(09/02/2024) CalMatters
Gavin Newsom Calls Special Session on Gas Prices
Unable to jam through bills he says will lower California gas prices, Gov. Newsom calls the Legislature back into session.
(08/31/2024) CalMatters
More Affordable Housing Funds Could Come With New Labor Requirements
The Legislature is willing to guarantee $500 million annually to affordable housing developers, but with a caveat.
(08/30/2024) CalMatters
California’s Inequality Hotspots
A large apartment complex in San Rafael’s majority-Latino Canal neighborhood. Latino families in Marin County are far more likely than white families to have trouble making ends meet, a new report finds.
(08/30/2024) CalMatters
California Emergency Alerts Warn You About Fires and Extreme Weather. How to Sign Up in Your County
Early warning systems save lives during disasters, but a recent FEMA survey found that only a third of people are signed up. Use this resource to find your county’s emergency alert sign-up page.
(08/29/2024) CalMatters
From Inmate Release to Immigrant Housing Aid, California Bills Spur End-of-Session Fireworks
Some Democrats are pushing bills that could put their colleagues on the hot seat in an election year. The authors say they’re representing their constituents and there’s never a perfect time for votes.
(08/28/2024) CalMatters
1 in 6 CHP Jobs Are Vacant — Despite Historic Raises and Newsom’s Hiring Campaign
California Highway Patrol officers received historically high raises in 2022 and 2023, but it continues to face a high vacancy rate of 16%.
(08/28/2024) CalMatters
These Middlemen Say They Keep Drug Prices Low. California Lawmakers Don’t Buy It
Pharmacy benefit managers attempt to negotiate cost savings for insurers. California is considering new rules that would require them to pass their discounts on to consumers.
(08/27/2024) CalMatters
Lawmakers Say Newsom Staff ‘Inflated’ Cost of Failed Health Care Bills
A trio of California Democratic lawmakers say they’re frustrated by high cost estimates that helped kill their health care legislation. Did the Newsom administration inflate the numbers to quietly kill the bills?
(08/26/2024) CalMatters
Millions of Californians Have Medical Debt. It Wouldn’t Hurt Your Credit Under Proposed Rules
About 4 in 10 Californians are carrying medical debt. Lawmakers are advancing a bill that would prevent that debt from affecting credit scores.
(08/26/2024) CalMatters
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Government Announcements

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Image of City of Monterey seal. City of Monterey Voters Invited to an Informational Session on Proposed Charter Amendments: Measures V, W, X, and Y
City of Monterey   (09/03/2024)
Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. test
City of Pacific Grove   (09/01/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29: Speaker Rivas’ Statement on Lowering Energy Costs
Speaker Rivas Statement on Lowering Energy Costs vincelty Fri, 08/30/2024 - 12:21 Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov Phone 916-319-2029 Friday, August 30, 2024 SACRAMENTO, CA Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) issued the following statement regarding the lowering of energy costs: The Assembly has been ready to stop skyrocketing prices at the gas pump and deliver significant relief to Californians to …
State of California   (08/30/2024)
Image of United States seal. Hickory Hollow Jerky Recalls Ready-To-Eat Jerky Products Produced Without Benefit of Inspection
WASHINGTON, Aug. 30, 2024 - Hickory Hollow Jerky, a Eufaula, Ala., establishment, is recalling approximately 6,229 pounds of ready-to-eat jerky products that were produced without the benefit of federal inspection...
United States   (08/30/2024)
Image of City of Greenfield seal. DUI/DL Checkpoint September 5th
Greenfield Police Department Holding DUI/DL Checkpoint September 5th
City of Greenfield   (08/29/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Robert Rivas CA Assembly 29: Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas Announces Millions of Dollars in New CAL FIRE Grant Funding For Wildfire Prevention Along the Central Coast
Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas Announces Millions of Dollars in New CAL FIRE Grant Funding For Wildfire Prevention Along the Central Coast vincelty Wed, 08/28/2024 - 12:35 Title Press Secretary Email Cynthia.Moreno@asm.ca.gov Phone 916-319-2029 Wednesday, August 28, 2024 SACRAMENTO- In an effort to help prevent wildfires from devastating communities, families, homes and businesses, Speaker Robert Rivas announces millions of dollars in …
State of California   (08/28/2024)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. Fence Removal Along Trail in Del Rey Oaks Park Thurs 8/29 and Fri 8/30
Fence Removal Along Trail in Del Rey Oaks Park Thurs 8/29 and Fri 8/30 LauraBatra01 Wed, 08/28/2024 - 8:56 AM Microsite Community Development and Planning News Release Date 08-28-2024 News Type Announcement Page Features News Hide FAQ Title Off Placement Left Back to News Show/Hide Attachment Header Show Attachment Header This page contains an external form Off
City of Del Rey Oaks   (08/28/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Dawn Addis CA Assembly 30: California Native American Day
Monday, August 5, 2024 Assemblymember Addis participated in a ceremony at the State Capitol, honoring Native American Day.
State of California   (08/27/2024)
Image of City of Monterey seal. DRAFT Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) FY 2023 - 24 - For Public Review
City of Monterey   (08/27/2024)
Image of State of California seal. Dawn Addis CA Assembly 30: Holding Polluters Accountable
Monday, August 26, 2024 Asm. Addis spoke at a rally on several bills that aim to hold polluters accountable.
State of California   (08/26/2024)