As a new year begins, the staff at Salinas Valley Tribune compiled a few of the top stories that defined the South Monterey County community over the past year. Here’s a brief look at the Year In Review for 2023:
JANUARY 2023
Storms cause havoc
Severe winter storms resulted in road closures, evacuation orders and water rescues in early January due to major flooding throughout the Salinas Valley region. The latest storm, an atmospheric river, followed a “bomb cyclone” that lashed coastal California with heavy rains and hurricane-force winds. Estimated damages exceeded the billion-dollar threshold statewide. Another series of devastating storms also hit the area in March.
Medical center opens
Gonzales city officials, health professionals and guests celebrated the grand opening of the Gonzales Medical Center with a ribbon cutting on Jan. 14. The new healthcare facility, located at 133 Fourth St., offers a full list of services that include wellness exams and preventive medicine for all ages, OBGYN and prenatal services, urgent care, ultrasounds, geriatric care, sports physicals, and care for diabetes, hypertension, asthma and weight loss. The clinic also helps train new clinicians and students interested in the medical field.
Farm Day returns
Hundreds of third-graders roamed the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City to learn all about agriculture during the annual South County Farm Day on Jan. 26. Students from Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City schools attended the free educational enrichment program taught by members of the local agricultural industry. Presented by the nonprofit Monterey County Agricultural Education, Farm Day gives an opportunity for youth to become familiar with food production and farming.
FEBRUARY 2023
Resident becomes centenarian
Students at Jack Franscioni Elementary School in Soledad celebrated the 100th birthday of Jack Franscioni himself. The well-known resident turned 100 years old on Feb. 1, becoming the city’s latest centenarian. The historic moment was marked with a birthday celebration organized by school staff with assistance from the Soledad Rotary Club.
Recycled water project moves forward
City of Soledad received nearly $17 million in grant funding to build a pipe system that will deliver recycled water from the treatment plant to parks and school fields. Soledad’s Recycled Water Conveyance Project will replace 180 acre-feet — 59 million gallons — of groundwater pumping per year with recycled water. The objective is to offset the use of potable water to irrigate sports fields as a “commonsense way to reduce groundwater use,” according to the City.
MARCH 2023
Art project promotes healing
Salinas Valley Health and Healing Together hosted the Monterey County dedication of the Rose River Memorial art project to recognize the impact of Covid-19 and promote community healing. The renowned Los Angeles artist who co-founded the national effort was one of the ceremony speakers. The March 6 dedication ceremony showcased a wall of more than 2,500 handmade red felt roses created by community members, including hundreds from residents in Soledad and Greenfield, and adhered to nets donated by the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Science Workshop receives acclaim
Greenfield Community Science Workshop was honored with the “Excellence in Education” award by the Monterey County School Boards Association on March 30. The Workshop was selected from a list of 27 nominees, established by Monterey County school districts, to be this year’s “Excellence in Education” award winner for having a transformative and significant impact on students’ lives.
APRIL 2023
Produce plant reopens
One year after a devastating fire destroyed Taylor Farms’ food processing plant in Salinas, the agriculture company reopened the facility in time for the start of the Salinas Valley planting season. Following months of construction, the foodservice location on Abbott Street was in full operation at the end of April. The Salinas facility is particularly meaningful to the family-owned company because it is where the business began in California nearly 30 years ago and is the foundation that provided the momentum for the rest of the country.
Officer awarded for service
Gonzales Police Officer Nathan Cordoba was selected as the Monterey County Peace Officers Association’s 2022 Peace Officer of the Year. On April 27, the MCPOA hosted its annual awards banquet to recognize professional and uniformed staff members for their outstanding efforts and contributions to public safety in 2022. Cordoba, who also was Gonzales Police Department’s 2022 Officer of the Year, was nominated for consideration for the MCPOA award in the Small Agency category by Gonzales Police Chief Keith Wise.
MAY 2023
Storm damage soars
This year’s onslaught of winter storms have cumulatively impacted a total of 20,073 acres and created $600 million of damage to the Monterey County agricultural industry, officials announced. On May 12, the County of Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s Office released the results of a second survey of flood and storm damage impacting local agriculture in March. This followed the first survey that captured storm impacts from January, which totaled $336 million. The second survey shows damages, current loss estimates and projected future losses totaling an additional $264 million from the March storms.
Fair brings ‘Barnyard May-Ham’
Once again the Salinas Valley Fair drew thousands of people to King City for a long weekend of family-friendly activities and entertainment, including its first-ever huge concert headlined by multiplatinum country singer Dylan Scott. The 79th annual celebration featured the theme, “Barnyard May-Ham,” and brought all the classic fun that fairgoers have come to expect over its four days of amusement, May 18-21, at the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City.
JUNE 2023
Gonzales wins national award
Gonzales was named one of 10 All-America City award winners, presented by the National Civic League in recognition of the city’s work to improve the health and well-being of young people and, by extension, all residents in the Salinas Valley community. National Civic League’s prestigious award has recognized and celebrated the best in American civic innovation since 1949. As a 2023 All-America City, Gonzales showed the power of involving youth and other residents in identifying and addressing community challenges.
Hartnell receives massive funding
Hartnell College was awarded a $9.5 million grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s inaugural NEXTGEN program, which was announced on June 20. The grant will fund the project titled, “Hartnell College Learning to Lead: Career Pathways Supporting US Leafy Green Production,” which aims to advance equity in high-skill agriculture occupations for educationally disadvantaged, low-income and Latinx residents. The college and its partners will focus on building and sustaining the future food and agricultural sciences workforce.
JULY 2023
Superintendent joins Google cohort
Global Silicon Valley and Google for Education joined forces to launch the pilot year of their Google GSV Education Innovation Fellowship, of which Greenfield Union School District Super-intendent Zandra Jo Galvan was selected as one of the 25 members of the 2023-24 inaugural cohort. The groundbreaking fellowship program fosters collaboration and innovation in education, providing a platform for engaging in critical discussions and addressing the most pressing issues at the intersection of technology and instructional impact to inform the future of education.
Rodeo attendance rises
Ticket sales for the 113th California Rodeo Salinas’ four performances, July 20-23, totaled 61,771 — up 7.5% from 2022. The 2023 Rodeo’s first performance drew 12,285 people to the Salinas Sports Complex — up 16% over Thursday ticket sales in 2022. The final performance Sunday entertained 16,846 fans at the Complex, where attendance was up 8% over the same performance last year.
AUGUST 2023
Crop report shows upturn
Monterey County’s crop production increased in value last year by more than $500 million despite decreases in both wine grapes and cannabis, according to the county’s 2022 Crop and Livestock Report. Overall gross crop and livestock production was over $4.6 billion in 2022, up from about $4.1 billion in 2021, a 13% increase. That includes over $1 billion in organic crop production.
New park welcomes everyone
A beautiful warm morning welcomed the Salinas Valley community to the grand opening of Soledad’s Orchard Lane Park on Aug. 19. The 3.5-acre park was filled with excited children and happy parents, along with the Soledad City Council and members of the Project Team that were on hand for the opening ceremony and ribbon cutting. The area’s first inclusive park, located at 300 Orchard Lane in Soledad, was funded by Prop 68 dollars from the State of California.
Alliance on Aging develops action plan
Alliance on Aging received a $200,000 grant from the California Department of Aging to develop a local age-friendly action plan for Monterey County, focusing on the Salinas Valley. The 21-month-long grant — one of 15 awarded across the state — enables AOA, in collaboration with other agencies and organizations, to create a consumer driven blueprint for an action plan addressing the social, medical, transportation, housing and financial needs unique to the Hispanic senior and disabled populations living in the agricultural areas of Monterey County.
SEPTEMBER 2023
SCHCD marks 75 years
Soledad Community Health Care District celebrated 75 years of healthcare in Soledad and the surrounding areas. With the theme “An Evening Under the Stars,” SCHCD hosted a gala on Sept. 9 in Rosie’s Garden at Eden Valley Care Center featuring a night of fun, music, dinner, dance, silent auction and more. The special event marked the 75-year milestone for the District.
Board honors Bracero workers
Monterey County Supervisors Luis Alejo and Chris Lopez conducted a special honoring of living Bracero workers who reside in Monterey County at the Sept. 12 Board of Supervisors meeting in Salinas as part of the first-ever “Bracero History Recognition Week” in Monterey County. The Bracero Program operated between 1942 and 1964 that brought millions of Mexican workers to provide labor in the agriculture and railroad industries, many of whom came to the Salinas and Pajaro valleys. Today, those original Bracero workers laid the foundation for thousands of Latino families in Monterey County.
Center provides family resources
A little bit of old was transformed on the inside as Soledad Unified School District’s former Main Street Middle School Library reopened its doors as the Soledad Family Resource Center, following a ribbon cutting and celebration Sept. 23. The project fulfills the vision of the school district and its Board of Trustees to provide a one-stop location for parents and families to access the support services they need to ensure the academic success and well-being of students.
OCTOBER 2023
Club restores park sign
Greenfield Rotary Club announced the completion of its latest community service project, which involved the restoration of the “You’re In Greenfield” sign at Jim Maggini Memorial Park, located just north of Greenfield Memorial Hall at 615 El Camino Real. The project was spearheaded by Rotary Club member Paul Martin, who restored the sign with fellow club members, bringing it back to life and up to date with new community organization signs and paint.
Senator secures funding
Sen. Anna Caballero stopped by Greenfield and Soledad on Oct. 9 to present checks for $1 million and $400,000 in state funding, respectively. City of Greenfield will use the funds for radio transmission and reception upgrades, while Soledad-Mission Recreation District is planning improvements and maintenance at the swimming pool.
NOVEMBER 2023
Soledad celebrates Day of the Dead
More than 300 community members attended the City of Soledad’s first-ever General Plan Kickoff and Dia de los Muertos Celebration at the Soledad Community Center. The Nov. 2 gathering was designed to engage the community in shaping the future through the General Plan process, while celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
Youth graduate from mentoring class
Partners For Peace celebrated the graduation of 27 Soledad seventh and eighth graders for its inaugural Step-Up Mentoring class on Nov. 8 at the Soledad Community Center. The Step-Up Mentoring program, held weekly from May to October 2023, made a profound impact on Soledad’s youth, equipping them with the tools and guidance needed to overcome challenges and pursue success.
Grant enhances water tests, monitoring
California Department of Water Resources awarded more than $10 million in funding to the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency through the Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program to support implementation of SVBGSA’s state-mandated groundwater sustainability plans in four subbasins in the region. The grant will fund various regulatory activities, such as groundwater data collection, groundwater model enhancement and community engagement and outreach within four of the six subbasins the SVBGSA manages.
DECEMBER 2023
Pinnacles celebrates 10th anniversary
A public celebration took place Dec. 9 at the Soledad Historical Society for the 10th anniversary of the Pinnacles becoming a national park and the 20 years of the Condor Recovery Program. The Pinnacles was established as a national monument in 1908 and became a national park in 2013. California condors are the largest land birds in North America with wingspans that can reach 9.5 feet and can weigh as much as 20 pounds. In 2003, the Pinnacles joined the recovery program and released two captive-bred birds on Dec. 20 that year.
Soledad receives Hometown Grant
City of Soledad was awarded a $50,000 T-Mobile Hometown Grant to upgrade the stage at the Soledad Community Center on Dec. 16. Soledad was selected as one of T-Mobile’s latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients nationwide, and was one of only three California cities to receive the award this quarter. In addition, the City launched a capital campaign for the Community Center. This initiative aims to raise $2.4 million to renovate and upgrade the 23,000-square-foot building.
