Greetings, friends—and happy holidays to those of you celebrating the 12th day of Christmas–the feast of the Epiphany. And to all y’all—welcome to the first workweek of the new year (ouch… I feel ya).
In today’s edition of The Newsletter, we are celebrating local news, as we do 52 weeks a year. Today, we turn our attention to a couple of local news initiatives that serve people in rural California communities.
Just below, I share my own story about work I’m honored to be doing in San Benito County, in the little city of Hollister—a farm town a stone’s throw from Silicon Valley. As you’ll see if you click the link (please do; it’s a relatively short read) BenitoLink, an independent nonprofit newsroom, is providing its community with the essential information that they need for self-governance.
I also want to make you aware of important work being done by our friends at Bay City News and their newly acquired outlet, Mendocino Voice. Up on California’s North Coast, there are important issues being decided, and Mendo Voice is the only place people up there can find out about this important stuff.
Please follow this link to see what Mendocino Voice is up to. And read on here to get local news about what’s happening in your county, and, as always, a recipe to help you make life just a little bit better in your kitchen and dining room.
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By Eric Johnson
Published Jan 06, 2025
This ad for BenitoLink's NewsMatch fundraiser proved somewhat successful--and you can still contribute.
Rural California Local News Matters
BenitoLink: A Community's Connection
Founded by the Community Foundation for San Benito County, this nonprofit newsroom brings indepenendent journalism to a rural community in the shadow of Silicon Valley.
Greetings from San Benito County
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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! | |
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 Winter! cookbook.
Get to Know a Group
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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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Hartnell Celebrates Grand Reopening of Gary Shaw Track and Bill Elliott Football Field |
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Hartnell College recently celebrated the grand reopening of the Gary Shaw Track and Bill Elliott Football Field with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community members, Hartnell students, staff and local leaders. |
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Operation Santa 2024 Brings Christmas Cheer to Hundreds of South Monterey County Families |
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The spirit of Christmas was alive and well earlier this month at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City, as nearly 600 families from South Monterey County gathered for the annual Operation Santa event. |
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Prescribe Safe Program Combats Fentanyl Crisis in Monterey County Schools |
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Montage Health’s Prescribe Safe program has announced a collaboration with the Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) aimed at raising awareness and preventing fentanyl-related overdoses among youth in Monterey County. |
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As Donald Trump Pledges to Eliminate the Department of Ed, Local Educators Brace for Impact. |
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The U.S. Department of Education has been around since the mid-1800s, but it’s relatively new in the modern era as a cabinet-level agency. In 1980, Congress split the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare into two: Education, and the U.S. … |
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County Supervisors Will Discuss Updates to a Strategic Plan for the Cannabis Industry. |
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The County Board of Supervisors will meet Tuesday, Jan. 7 and will consider adopting the 2024 Cannabis Program Strategic Plan, which updates management strategies to reflect the county’s evolving cannabis industry. |
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A Company That Uses Tech to Absorb Carbon Lands Its First Commercial Project. |
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For more than a year, Soledad-based Sitos Group has operated a pilot program at ReGen Monterey’s waste management facility in Marina, transforming wood waste and other organic materials into a usable product while removing carbon that would otherwise end up … |
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Natividad’s Trauma Center Marks a Decade of Service and Thousands of Lives Saved. |
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The first weekend after Natividad hospital’s Level II trauma center in Salinas opened on Jan. 5, 2015, patients with major injuries were showing up for care, so much so, the radiologist on duty was astonished. |
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Here Are Some of the Laws Our Local Legislators Authored Last Year. As for Their Impact, Time Will Tell. |
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On Dec. 2, California Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, D-Hollister, addressed his fellow Assembly members, informing them of a new rule he was implementing for the 2025-26 legislative session: The number of bills each member will be allowed to introduce will … |
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Recent Local News |
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• Imjin Parkway Upgrades Update
Work on the first phase of the Imjin Parkway Widening and Roundabout Project in Marina is almost complete. Read on to learn about the next phase to come.
(01/07/2025) → Monterey Herald• Marina MLK Day Celebration Set for January 20
Read on for details about the January 20 celebration of Martin Luther King Day in Marina.
(01/06/2025) → Monterey HeraldAn update on the progress in building the Del Rey Oaks segment of the Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway.
(01/02/2025) → Monterey Herald• Lake San Antonio Hopes to Lure Anglers Back With Freshly Stocked Crop of Rainbow Trout
People who like to fish in Monterey County are invited by state officials to grab their licenses and fishing gear and visit Lake San Antonio.
(01/01/2025) → Local News Matters• Search and Rescue Teams Hunker Down in Ventana Wilderness
Read about the rescue of a stranded hiker in which teams were stalled by river waters and weather in the Ventana Wilderness before they were able to complete their mission.
(12/31/2024) → Monterey Herald|
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Recent Statewide News |
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• Too Wet and Too Dry: The Crazy North-South Gap in California’s Rain
Some Northern California cities have been soaked with almost twice their average rainfall, while southern cities are bone-dry. This season’s huge — possibly unprecedented — disparity works in favor of the state’s water supplies.
(01/07/2025) → CalMatters• California’s $20 Billion Unemployment Debt Is Looking Like a Political Hot Potato
The legislative analyst has a plan to fix the “structural insolvency” of the unemployment benefits fund — but businesses aren’t happy and it’s unclear if lawmakers will get on board.
(01/07/2025) → CalMatters• California Study Finds Climate of Fear Driving Local Officials to Quit Amid Harassment, Abuse
THREATS AND HARASSMENT are pushing some politicians out of office, scaring off some would-be candidates and even compelling some elected officials to change their vote.
(01/04/2025) → Local News Matters• 4 New Laws Strengthen Cities’ Abilities to Impound Vehicles Involved in Sideshows
While cities in California continue to pass ordinances to combat illegal sideshows, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed several laws that go into effect this year statewide to give municipalities more legal tools to address them.
(01/03/2025) → Local News Matters• California to Launch Amsterdam-Style Cannabis Cafés, Blending Weed and Coffee Culture
Those in California who’d like a latte with a side of weed have gotten their wish now that a new law goes into effect that permits licensed cannabis dispensaries to add sit-in cafes to their sites.
(01/03/2025) → Local News Matters• Can California Keep ICE Away From Schools? Lawmakers Want to Try as Crackdowns Loom
California legislators want to limit deportation actions at schools, but they can’t ban immigration officials.
(01/02/2025) → CalMatters• As California Tribes Sue Their Gambling Rivals, Cities Could Be the Losers
After winning a costly legislative battle last year, California’s casino-owning tribes have sued their rivals in the gambling business. Cities could lose money if the tribes prevail in court.
(01/02/2025) → CalMatters• Two New California National Monuments To Be Declared
Read on to learn about the two new California National Monuments to be declared by outgoing President Biden.
(01/02/2025) → Los Angeles Times|
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Government Announcements |
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City of Monterey (01/07/2025) Attempted Homicide Arrest |
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United States (01/05/2025) FSIS Issues Public Health Alert for Frozen, Raw Ground Beef Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination |
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 2025 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing a public health alert due to concerns of frozen, raw ground beef...
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City of Marina (01/03/2025) GP2045 Preferred Land Use Alternatives Discussion |
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Help us plan for Marina's future!
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United States (01/03/2025) Dierbregs Markets Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Wheat in Product |
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Dierbergs is recalling all 16oz Premium Home-Style Mashed Potatoes with a Sell By Date of January 09, 2025. The product carries an undeclared allergen of Wheat. The affected product is identifiable by a label ID number of 92 in the lower left-hand corner above the UPC code.
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United States (01/03/2025) Abbey Specialty Foods Recalls Wicklow Gold Cheddar Nettle & Chive 5.2 oz and Wicklow Gold Cheddar Tomato & Herb 5.2 oz Because of Possible Health Risk |
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Abbey Specialty Foods of Fairfield, NJ is recalling Wicklow Gold Cheddar Nettle & Chive 5.2 oz product and Wicklow Gold Cheddar Tomato & Herb 5.2 oz product because they have the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infecti
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City of Del Rey Oaks (01/02/2025) Rosita Road Closed from Angelus Wy to Paloma Rd 1/6/25 - 2/7/25 - Detour Signage is Posted |
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City of Pacific Grove (12/30/2024) Get Involved in City Council District Transition Process |
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United States (12/27/2024) Braga Fresh Issues Voluntary and Precautionary Advisory Due to Possible Health Risk |
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Soledad, Calif. - Dec. 27, 2024 - Braga Fresh is voluntarily issuing a precautionary advisory of a single production lot of washed and ready-to-eat 12oz Marketside Broccoli Florets with best if used by date.
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United States (12/27/2024) Gardners Candies Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Tree Nuts in Cappuccino Meltaway® Bars and Gardners Meltaway Treat Boxes Containing Cappuccino Meltaway Bars |
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Gardners Candies of Tyrone, PA is recalling its 1.25 ounce packages of Gardners Candies brand Cappuccino Meltaway Bars because they may contain undeclared tree nuts (cashews). People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to tree nuts run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction
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City of Monterey (12/27/2024) Fatal Collision |
