VETERANS OFFICE
KING CITY — Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez has opened his King City office at 1011 Broadway St., Suite C, to host the county’s Military and Veterans Affairs Office during their monthly office hours on the fourth Friday of every month, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The partnership helps ensure local veterans and their families can access the support and services they need in South Monterey County. Services available include VA claims assistance, veterans benefits support, mental health resources and VA healthcare guidance. For more information, call the Military and Veterans Affairs Office at 831-647-7613 or email 55******@**************ey.gov.
LIBRARY OPENING
GONZALES — Monterey County Free Libraries will celebrate the grand opening of its new Gonzales Branch Library on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Dennis and Janice Caprara Community Center, 630 Fifth St., in Gonzales. The new facility will offer expanded library services, technology and community space. The opening event will include 3-D printing demonstrations, hands-on activities, face painting and marine education activities presented by Save the Whales. The event is free and open to the public.
TEEN DRIVING PROGRAM
SALINAS — The free national teen defensive driving program B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe) will offer training Feb. 28 and March 1 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas. Three-hour sessions are scheduled Saturday at 8 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m., and Sunday at 8 a.m. and noon. Registration is available at putonthebrakes.org. Founded in 2008 by drag racing champion Doug Herbert, the program has trained more than 167,000 teens and parents nationwide. An independent study by the University of North Carolina at Charlotte found participants are 64% less likely to crash in their first three years of driving.
