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 2024 Year In Review:
JANUARY 2024
Staying healthy
The state of California recognized Salinas Valley Health’s rural health clinic in Gonzales for exceptional efforts in keeping pediatric patients healthy with outstanding immunization rates. California Public Health Department issued a Certificate of Achievement to Taylor Farms Family Health and Wellness Center for successfully vaccinating more than 76% of infant and toddler patients against preventable and dangerous illness.
Misconduct derails housing
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Shangri-La Industries, the developer of Salinas’ troubled Step Up Project Homekey motel conversions, and the City of Salinas was named as a defendant. The projects at the 45-unit former Sanborn Inn at 180 S. Sanborn Road, the 59-unit former Salinas Inn at 1030 Fairview Ave. and the 101-unit former Good Nite Inn at 545 Work St. in Salinas were intended to create more than 200 living units for the city’s unhoused. Lawsuits claimed the company borrowed funds and accepted public monies but didn’t pay its vendors or complete the work.
FEBRUARY 2024
Poetry winner
Gonzales High School senior Anixia Davila was named the champion of the 2024 Monterey County Poetry Out Loud competition. Students from seven local high schools competed in this year’s event, which took place Feb. 3 at CSUMB. Arts Council for Monterey County hosted the annual contest, during which students recited selected poems.
Dream team
Greenfield High School took first place in the local Academic World Quest competition Feb. 24, hosted by the World Affairs Council of Monterey Bay Area with the help of the Monterey County Office of Education. The contest featured high school teams from around Monterey County participating in the Academic World Quest, a team game testing students’ knowledge of international affairs.
MARCH 2024
Giving back
About 77 members of the Gonzales High School FFA held a door-to-door food drive to collect food for the Food Bank for Monterey County’s Gonzales Program. The large group of students collected a total of 988 pounds of food for the Food Bank. “The last time that Gonzales FFA food drive took place was in 2019, and the current officers wanted to bring it back,” organizers said.
Cadet heads to Vermont
Soledad High School senior Evelyn Camacho, a four-year Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) cadet, was awarded a full scholarship to attend Norwich University in Vermont. The 17-year-old Camacho, daughter of Apolonio and Patricia Camacho of Soledad, is completing her fourth year of NJROTC and has maintained a 4.5 GPA. Six NJROTC cadets applied for the $250,000 ROTC Scholarship this school year.
Animal hospital closes
After serving the Salinas Valley community for the past 90 years, Los Coches Animal Hospital announced that it will be closing its Soledad location effective April 1. Los Coches, a full-service animal hospital at 311 Nestles Road in Soledad, plans to merge with its sister pet hospital, Romie Lane, located in south Salinas.
APRIL 2024
Land for affordable housing
Soledad City Council authorized the purchase of 4.61 acres of property located at 540 Gabilan Drive to facilitate the construction of about 100 affordable rental units. At a cost of $1.728 million, the purchase was funded by the Successor Housing Agency ($1.3 million) and the American Rescue Plan Act ($428,000).
Funding addresses homeless camps
The County of Monterey was awarded two significant grants under California’s Encampment Resolution Funding program, allocating more than $11 million to address homelessness in King City and Soledad. These grants, totaling more than $6.4 million for King City and $4.7 million for Soledad, will support comprehensive strategies aimed at transitioning individuals experiencing homelessness into stable and secure housing.
City receives award
City of Gonzales was honored by the Monterey County Business Council at the 28th Annual Gala and Community Builder Awards. At this year’s gala, the MCBC honored and highlighted “Community Builders” who have played a pivotal role in making a positive impact through housing initiatives. Gonzales was the recipient of the government category award and was recognized for the leadership shown by the city toward developing a housing plan to address the evolving needs of the community, while fostering responsible growth.
MAY 2024
Youth Summit triumphs
The Youth Councils of Gonzales, Soledad and Greenfield recently hosted their first South County Youth Summit at Main Street Middle School in Soledad. The theme of the May 11 event was “Lighting the Torch,” and about 90 students attended the summit, plus adult allies from different organizations.
Fair time thrills
Nearly 40,000 people attended the 80th Annual Salinas Valley Fair over the course of its four-day celebration in South Monterey County. Under the theme, “Golden Hills & Fair Time Thrills,” the 2024 Fair once again provided family-friendly activities and entertainment May 16-19 across the Salinas Valley Fairgrounds in King City.
Science Fair returns
Following a half-decade hiatus, students at Vista Verde Middle School once again enjoyed the Science Fair, which occurred May 22 thanks to a resurrection coordinated by their teachers and the Greenfield Community Science Workshop. Posters showcasing students’ projects filled the school’s gym, while the Greenfield CSW Science Mobile treated visitors to hands-on science exhibits. Wanting to curate a space for students where their scientific exploration was bolstered and valued, the dedicated science teachers at VVMS collaborated with the Greenfield CSW to reestablish the Science Fair.
JUNE 2024
Soccer standout receives acclaim
Soledad native Vanessa Aguilar was among those recognized during the 22nd Annual Latino Spirit Awards hosted by the California Latino Legislative Caucus at the State Capitol in Sacramento. Aguilar was nominated by Sen. Anna Caballero, who represents the 14th State Senate District, to recognize her achievement in youth athletics. Since age 8, Aguilar has been playing soccer, including for the Bay Area Surf and San Francisco Glens, and last year was called to play in the U-17 division of the Mexican National Soccer Team as midfielder.
Funds boost traffic safety
U.S. Department of Transportation will distribute $793,856 to the City of Greenfield to make roads safer and improve community connectivity. “As cities in the Salinas Valley become more sought-out places to live, work and do business, road safety, connectivity and congestion reduction are increasingly important,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “In Greenfield, specifically, bridges received ‘D’ service ratings and are worsening, so a cash infusion to plan and make improvements is desperately needed.”
Rancho Cielo’s biggest class yet
Rancho Cielo Youth Campus, along with educational partner John Muir Charter Schools, celebrated a significant milestone when 73 students received their high school diplomas, which makes it the largest graduating class — spanning all vocational programs — in its 24-year history. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Rancho Cielo is dedicated to transforming the lives of at-promise youth through education, vocational training and mentorship.
JULY 2024
Hot summer days
Despite soaring temperatures, the City of Soledad successfully hosted the third annual Soledad Hot Summer Days Car Show and Fundraiser. Held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. along Front Street, the July 6 event attracted hundreds of car enthusiasts from across Monterey County, undeterred by the intense heat wave.
A grand time
Greenfield’s Kelly Mata Navarro, a 12-year-old cancer survivor, was the grand marshal for the California Rodeo Salinas’ Kiddie Kapers Parade on July 14. Navarro waved to the thousands of people lining the sides of South Main Street from the back of a 1966 Ford Mustang, near the front of the parade lineup. Navarro’s parents rode in the Mustang with her, while her brother, Juan Mata, walked with other children in cowboy hats holding a Golden Circle of Champions banner, directly behind the car.
AUGUST 2024
Business of the Year
Lavender Creek, a family-owned lavender farm and wellness brand located near Greenfield, was awarded the 2024 Central Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Business of the Year for the Monterey Bay region. The Central Coast SBDC’s recognition highlights Lavender Creek’s commitment to innovative business growth, community wellness and sustainable farming practices. Lavender Creek Co. was founded by husband-and-wife team Ryan and Myriah Hopkins.
District joins learning program
Greenfield Union School District celebrated its entry into the Verizon Innovative Learning program, a prestigious national initiative designed to break down digital barriers and promote educational equity. The Aug. 15 kickoff event, held at Vista Verde Middle School, marked a significant milestone as students received their own internet-connected devices. As part of the initiative, the middle school received 769 devices with data plans, representing a market value investment of about $2.3 million.
Crops fall in value
Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner Juan Hidalgo announced the release of the 2023 Annual Crop and Livestock Report, which recorded a production gross value of just over $4.35 billion, reflecting a 6.1% decrease from 2022. The report highlights the impact of various factors on the county’s diverse range of commodities, including market demand, production challenges, labor availability and weather conditions.
SEPTEMBER 2024
Grants boost fire safety
In a significant boost to wildfire prevention efforts, the City of Greenfield was awarded $189,263 in grant funding through Cal Fire’s Wildfire Prevention Grants Program as part of a larger initiative aimed at enhancing wildfire resilience across the Central Coast. The funding will support Greenfield’s wildfire prevention projects.
School leader departs
Zandra Jo Galvan, who has served as superintendent of the Greenfield Union School District (GUSD) since 2017, was selected to become the next superintendent of the Salinas Union High School District. Galvan has been in education for 31 years, beginning her career in 1993 in Greenfield, where she also grew up. Over the past eight years, she has led the GUSD with a focus on innovation and student success. During her tenure, Galvan oversaw a series of achievements that earned the district national recognition. GUSD appointed Laura Cortez as interim superintendent following Galvan’s departure.
Record giving
California Rodeo Salinas contributed $796,337 to local nonprofits, Western industry groups and community organizations in 2024, representing a 3.28% increase from last year’s donations, which had previously set the record for the highest contribution. Key factors driving this increase include the addition of more events during Big Week, contributions to VetTix, expanded scholarship funds and the creation of additional volunteer opportunities for local organizations.
OCTOBER 2024
Detective earns award
Detective Sgt. Justin Mattke of the Greenfield Police Department was awarded the prestigious 40 Under 40 Award by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), recognizing his exemplary leadership and dedication to law enforcement. Mattke’s journey in policing began at the age of 14 as a police explorer, igniting a passion for helping people and engaging with his community. His commitment to fostering a culture of learning and empowerment has been evident throughout his career. Mattke joined Greenfield PD in 2017.
Topping out
City of Gonzales celebrated the “topping out” of the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center Complex with a ceremony Oct. 11, marking the milestone of lifting the final structural beam into place. Local officials gathered at the construction site, located off Fifth Street and Gabilan Court, where they signed the final piece of lumber and watched as it was lifted into place, signaling the beginning of the next phase of construction. The complex’s Phase 1, which includes the library, Teen Innovation Center, restrooms, staff office, courtyard with amphitheater and parking lot with landscaping, is scheduled to be completed late next year
Earthquakes, Chevron unveil futsal court
The San Jose Earthquakes and Chevron unveiled a new futsal court for the Central Coast community and hosted a free youth soccer clinic at Patriot Park in Greenfield. In addition, Chevron announced a $5,000 donation to the Greenfield Recreation Center to help support equipment needs and futsal activities on the court.
NOVEMBER 2024
Election shows mixed results
Voters in South Monterey County shaped the future of both local schools and city infrastructure in the Nov. 5 Presidential General Election, with mixed results across the measures. All school district bond measures passed, enabling various districts to address critical facility upgrades and safety improvements. While education funding measures saw broad support, residents in Gonzales and King City shot down two local tax measures intended to support city services. Voters also selected various candidates for city councils, school boards and other elected positions.
Honoring heroes
In a heartfelt tribute, the City of Gonzales honored 28 local veterans and active-duty service members during a special Hometown Heroes ceremony at Central Park. The Nov. 6 event, held in partnership with the American Legion Post 81 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 81, included a brief program and the unveiling of “Hometown Heroes” signs featuring each service member’s photo, name and branch of service.
Murals unveiled
City of Soledad and the Arts Council for Monterey County hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for three new murals in downtown Soledad. This initiative is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the downtown area and create a space where residents could feel a sense of place and ownership. In addition to the murals, the City has been making significant improvements to Front Street, including sidewalk repairs and ADA-compliant enhancements, aimed at improving walkability.
DECEMBER 2024
Rural leaders raise funds
Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) presented $84,750 to five Monterey County nonprofits at the Monterey County Board of Supervisors meeting Dec. 3. Rural community and business leaders from across the state raised the funds during the Basket Drawing and Auction at RCRC’s 2024 Annual Meeting in late September for the benefit of nonprofits serving the Monterey County community.
Veteran tribute
Soledad Cemetery joined more than 4,500 other locations across the country to host a wreath-laying ceremony honoring local veterans for National Wreaths Across America Day. Sponsored wreaths were spread at the cemetery’s veterans’ area, and each honored veteran had their names read and received a moment of individual recognition by families or volunteers. The Dec. 14 event was organized by Soledad Girl Scout Troop 35331 as a Bronze Award Project.
