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By Eric Johnson
Published Feb 03, 2025

Image credit: Eric Johnson

A Midwinter Check-In

Midwinter greetings from the gray and rainy capital of the greening Golden State. According to the Farmers' Almanac, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, marks the exact halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox—this day is celebrated in snowy cultures as Midwinter.

There are two ways we might use this obscure holiday to inform our discussion in this episode of The Newsletter. 1) Grimly contemplate the dark, cold months we have traversed since the happy holiday season ended, while gravely considering the darker events of those months (or last week). 2) Look forward hopefully to the warmth and brightness of spring, and find something within our remit to celebrate. 

Okay, you win. This week, in our endless quest to present a fresh perspective on the news: While goverment workers are being virtually massacred back east, we offer an appreciative look at the people we like to call "public servants."

Also, below: Maybe you don't need me to tell you that you can find (right here!) local news you need; an inspiring hook-up with a heroic non-profit organization; and (what?) a recipe for a dish that might make everythng feel better.


What is Government Work Worth?

As you have probably heard, some of our California technology brothers (love 'em, hate 'em, or both) have achieved positions of power in DC, and are cleaning house—relieving longtime government workers of their jobs. This is being seen as either a much-needed move toward government efficiency or an attack on democracy. (If the tech bros had any demonstrated understanding of civics or government policy, I'd say that's an open question.)

Coincidentally, local elected officials here at home are being vilified for giving themselves raises—often for the first time in decades. Chris Neklason presents some context.


Most Local Elected Officials Work Hard for Low Pay

Yeah, it might feel like that but it (probably, mostly) isn't true.
Recent votes to give California's mayors and council members pay raises have led to criticism. Is it justified?


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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.


Gingery carrot soup packs in nutrition and comfort

Garnished with orange juice and an optional dollop of orange-zest-infused yogurt, this gingery carrot juice is a guaranteed warmer on a winter day.
New! Vegan soup is loaded with vegetables and spices


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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The Pajaronian logo Protesters Block Businesses, Streets as Event Stretches Into Evening

A huge, boisterous crowd of people protesting recent arrests of immigrants around the country took their message to the streets Monday following a rally in Watsonville Plaza.

The Pajaronian logo Day Without Immigrants Draws Thousands

Thousands of people filled the streets in downtown Watsonville Monday afternoon, waving Mexican flags, carrying signs and chanting, all in observance of a Day Without Immigrants, one of numerous protests nationwide against the hardline immigration policies enacted by the new …

Monterey County Weekly logo Monterey County Protesters Join a Nationwide Movement to Show the Power of Immigrants.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about the importance of immigrants in Monterey County and beyond.

KSQD logo Downtown Plan Expansion – Frank Barron and Rick Longinotti

Host, Mathilde Rand is in conversation with Frank Barron and Rick Longinotti about the Santa Cruz Downtown Expansion.

KSQD logo Engineer and Fire Captain Patrick Durham on Battery Safety and the Moss Landing Fire

Lithium-ion batteries power everything from our smartphones to electric vehicles, but they also come with risks. In this episode of Talk of the Bay, Meilin Obinata sits down with Patrick Durham, a mechanical engineer and firefighter, to dive deep into …

KSQD logo Meet the Workers Who Are Unionizing the Monterey Bay Aquarium – Talk of the Bay

On this Talk of the Bay, Meilin Obinata interviewed two members of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Workers United to find out what is motivating workers to form a union for the first time in the history of the aquarium.

The Pajaronian logo PVUSD Trustees Appoint New Member

During a special meeting Friday afternoon, the Pajaro Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees appointed a new member to fill the seat left vacant when Kim De Serpa resigned to begin her role as a county supervisor.

Monterey County Weekly logo Carmel's Iconic Forge in the Forest Restaurant Is Closing: 'We're Devastated,' Says Owner.

Forge in the Forest owners Greg and Carolyne Profeta were fielding dozens of calls and visits from friends and loyal patrons all day Friday, Jan. 31, after the news broke the night before that the historic restaurant will be closing …

Monterey County Weekly logo MPUSD Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh Will Step Down at the End of the School Year.

On Jan. 30, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh announced he will step down from his position by the end of the 2024-2025 school year.

Folsom Times logo Snowpack Dips Well Below Average in 2nd Snow Survey of the Season

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 22.5 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of …

The Pajaronian logo Supervisors Demand Investigation Into Vistra Fire

The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday joined several other local elected officials and residents demanding answers into the causes of the Jan. 16 fire at the Vistra battery storage facility in Moss Landing.

KSQD logo Esselen Tribe Gets Land Back on Little Sur River

Tom Little Bear is President and Chairman of the Esselen tribe of Monterey County. He discusses the land back movement to return stolen lands from native tribes, and a recent 327 -acre land acquisition on the Little Sur River in …

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Greenfield Firefighters Assist With Palisades Fire Response

Firefighters from Greenfield Fire Department patrolled and extinguished hot spots off Topanga Canyon in Los Angeles County last week.

Monterey County Weekly logo Vistra Donates $450K in Gift Cards for Residents Impacted by Moss Landing Fire Evacuations.

People who were forced to evacuate due to the Vistra battery plant fire in Moss Landing can now apply for $750 gift cards to help with expenses.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Monterey-Salinas Transit Receives $450K for Customer Experience Research

U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced that Monterey-Salinas Transit (MST) will receive approximately $450,000 in federal support for research into new tools and approaches to improve the transit rider experience.

Monterey County Weekly logo Carmel’s Historic Library Is Due for Its First Major Interior Renovation Since 1928.

After 97 years, Carmel’s historic Harrison Memorial Library, designed by famed architect Bernard Maybeck and constructed by master builder Michael J. Murphy, is on track for a major interior renovation to bring it into the 21st century.

Monterey County Weekly logo Pilot Program to Guide People Into Drug Treatment Gets Underway With Opioid Settlement Funds.

Since 2022, the County of Monterey has received nearly $3 million in funds stemming from several opioid settlement lawsuits, with a total of $13 million expected over the next 20 years. After a slow start in distributing funds to agencies …

Monterey County Weekly logo Two Weeks After Vistra Battery Plant Fire in Moss Landing, Residents Are Still Seeking Answers.

While the lithium ion battery-induced fire at the Vistra power plant in Moss Landing is no longer burning, nearby residents still have burning questions about what kind of pollution they may have been exposed to, particularly those who experienced symptoms …

Salinas Valley Tribune logo Documentary Short Film Shines Light on Salinas Valley

A documentary short film set in the Salinas Valley has been officially selected for the prestigious 2025 Sundance Film Festival, and will have its world premiere during the festival’s celebrated Short Film Program.

Monterey County Weekly logo Back to Beckett: Two Actors Bring the Great Absurdist Playwright's Work to the Stage.

An hour-long performance that consisted of two one-act plays by Samuel Beckett took place at Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel and at Henry Miller Memorial Library in Big Sur over the weekend from Jan. 23-26.

The Pajaronian logo Study Shows ‘Heavy Concentrations’ of Heavy Metals in Soil After Moss Landing Fire

One day after a group of Santa Cruz County residents collected soil samples from the areas impacted by the Jan. 16 battery storage facility fire at the Moss Landing Power Plant to test for heavy metals, a San Jose State …

Sacramento News and Review logo Delta Communities, Regional Fishing Groups, Startled by New Presidential Executive Orders

On January 24, President Donald Trump issued executive orders that will have “devastating consequences” for California’s water future, public health and environmental protections – threatening a federal takeover of the state’s right to manage its land and resources – according …

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Recent Local News

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FORTAG Work Progresses

Read on for more information about the latest progress in the ongoing Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway project in Del Rey Oaks and Seaside.

(02/03/2025) Monterey Herald
Spotlight on the Fort Ord Reuse Authority

Read on for more information about the Fort Ord Reuse Authority and the birth of Cal State Monterey Bay.

(02/03/2025) The Lutrinae
Monterey County Climate Action Draft Ready for Release

Following a three-year process of community and stakeholder input, Monterey County is ready to release the draft Climate Action Plan. Read on for more information about the plan and the planning process.

(02/01/2025) Monterey Herald
MPUSD Superintendent to Resign

Appointed in June of 2014, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District Superintendent PK Diffenbaugh announced he will be resigning the position at the end of the school year. Read on to learn more.

(01/31/2025) Monterey Herald
Campus Town Development Project Advances in Seaside

With the acceptance of sealed bids by the City of Seaside for the demolition and disposal of structures and parking lots remaining from Fort Ord, work on the Campus Town Development is advancing. Read on to learn more.

(01/28/2025) Monterey Herald
After Vistra Battery Fire, Residents Report Illness, Scientists Confirm Contaminated Soil

HUGE FLAMES BLAZED through the roof of the industrial building. Billowing smoke rose slowly to a plume and moved inland. Teresa Villaruz and her family watched from their car on Highway 1.

(01/28/2025) Local News Matters
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Recent Statewide News

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Spotlight on Black History Month

A look at 14 places in California where Black businesses and culture thrived.

(02/04/2025) The Sacramento Observer
CA Lawmakers Propose $175 Million Increase for Cal Fire Staffing

Roughly a month after deadly wildfires erupted in Los Angeles County, killing at least 29 people, lawmakers in the state Senate have introduced a proposal to bolster Cal Fire staffing, and Gov. Gavin Newsom is meeting with President Donald Trump over disaster aid.

(02/04/2025) CalMatters
State Farm Asks for More Insurance Rate Increases After LA Fires

State Farm, which already has rate increase requests pending, asked state officials to approve more insurance price increases.

(02/04/2025) CalMatters
Donate to the LA Wildfire Recovery Fund

The California Community Foundation is accepting donations to help the folks impacted by the fires in Southern California. Consider donating today.

(02/03/2025) California Community Foundation
Monarch Butterfly Numbers Plummet

The statewide count of overwintering monarch butterflies shows a sharp drop in number. Read on to learn more.

(02/03/2025) The Sacramento Bee
CA Monarch Butterfly Count Yields Worrisome Finding

For the past three years, more than 200,000 western monarch butterflies spent their winters along the California coast — huddling together in tall tree groves, finding respite from the wind from November to February.

(02/03/2025) CalMatters
Should ‘Aiding’ or ‘Abetting’ a Homeless Camp Be Illegal? It Might Soon Be a Reality in This Bay Area City

The unusual move is alarming activists who worry they could be in the ordinance’s crosshairs.

(02/03/2025) CalMatters
Sierra Snowpack Drastically Below Normal — And No One’s Turning on the Pumps, DWR Says

Snowpack in the Sierra Nevada, which supplies about one-third of California’s water needs, was far lower than average for the end of January at one of the state’s measurement points on January 31.

(02/03/2025) Local News Matters
About That Trump-Ordered San Joaquin Valley Water Release...

Read on to learn more about the Trump-ordered "emergency" release of water from two San Joaquin Valley reservoirs and how it is literally going down the drain (and not to preserve LA from fires as claimed).

(02/01/2025) Stocktonia
Federal Judge Dismisses Case Claiming Community College Diversity Policies Infringe on Academic Freedom

Plaintiffs claimed that being evaluated on their commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility principles is unconstitutional and has a chilling effect on their free speech rights.

(01/31/2025) EdSource
Charging Forward: ‘Lithium Valley’ Could Offer Prosperity for Marginalized Area of California

CHRIS BENNER AND MANUEL PASTOR have had front row seats to the changes taking place in the so-called Lithium Valley, the region around the Salton Sea, where a network of companies have hatched a plan for local and state government entities to mine vast quantities of lithium to use in the batteries that power electric vehicles.

(01/31/2025) Local News Matters
Over $4 Billion in LA Fire Claims Distributed, More to Come

Insurance companies have paid out $4.2 billion in claims so far to survivors of the Los Angeles County fires, the state Insurance Department said Thursday.

(01/30/2025) CalMatters
California Monarchs See Steep Decline

The number of monarch butterflies overwintering in California are at a near-record low, and the wiping out of the Topanga butterfly habitat by the LA fires has made matters worse. Read on to learn more.

(01/30/2025) Los Angeles Times
Artificial Intelligence Is Bringing Nuclear Power Back From the Dead — Maybe Even in California

Energy demands from big tech, including for AI, has elected officials giving an old power source a second look.

(01/29/2025) CalMatters
More CSU Budget Cuts Proposed

Struggling with prior cuts, California State University calls latest proposed budget cuts unacceptable. Read on to learn more.

(01/29/2025) Los Angeles Times
New Regulations Proposed for Battery Energy Storage Facilities Following Moss Landing Fire

In the wake of the fire earlier this month at Vistra Corporation’s Moss Landing Power Plant and Energy Storage Facility, the California Public Utilities Commission has proposed new standards for battery energy storage facilities.

(01/29/2025) Local News Matters
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Government Announcements

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Image of City of Soledad seal. Parks and Recreation Department Year in Review Report
The post Parks and Recreation Department Year in Review Report appeared first on City of Soledad.
City of Soledad   (02/03/2025)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. UPDATE: Rosita Road Closure for Emergency Repair from Angelus Wy to Paloma Rd Extended to 2/18/25 Due to Inclement Weather
Emergency Repairs for Rosita Road continue, with projected completion and reopening updated to Tuesday, February 18, 2025 due to upcoming rain in the forecast. The City of Del Rey Oaks strives to provide safe and well-maintained infrastructure for our residents, and thanks you for your sust
City of Del Rey Oaks   (02/03/2025)
Image of City of Monterey seal. Winter 2025 Issue of City Focus
City of Monterey   (02/01/2025)
Image of United States seal. Gerber Products Company Announces Recall and Discontinuation of All Batches of Gerber® Soothe N Chew® Teething Sticks Due To Choking Hazard
January 31, 2025 - Gerber Products Company is initiating a recall and discontinuation of all batches of GERBER SOOTHE N CHEW TEETHING STICKS due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children
United States   (01/31/2025)
Image of United States seal. Blue Ridge Beef Issues a Recall of Blue Ridge Beef Natural Mix Due to Salmonella Contamination
January 31, 2025- Blue Ridge Beef is recalling 5,700 lbs. of their 2 lb log Natural Mix due to a contamination of Salmonella. Lot # N25/12/31 (Lot numbers are stamped in the clips on the end of the chubs/bags) UPC# 854298001054.
United States   (01/31/2025)
Image of United States seal. DJ's Boudain LLC Recalls Sausage Link Products Due to Possible Foreign Matter Contamination
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2025 - D.J.'s Boudain, LLC, a Beaumont, Texas, establishment, is recalling approximately 17,720 pounds of boudain sausage link products that may be contaminated with foreign materials, specifically...
United States   (01/31/2025)
Image of City of Del Rey Oaks seal. FORTAG Construction Update - Week of February 3, 2025
Please find below links to weekly updates to construction activities for the TAMC Fort Ord Regional Trail and Greenway Project (FORTAG).For more information on this project, click HERE.
City of Del Rey Oaks   (01/31/2025)
Image of City of Monterey seal. Narcotics Arrest
City of Monterey   (01/31/2025)
Image of City of Monterey seal. DUI Causing Injury Traffic Collisions
City of Monterey   (01/31/2025)
Image of City of Pacific Grove seal. Monterey Navy Base to Conduct Force Protection Exercise
City of Pacific Grove   (01/31/2025)
Pay to Park (funds stay local) ad from Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks.