This Week on the Central Coast…
More whale sightings, addresses for Carmel, kids soccer camp, and plenty of support for children
Monterey
This week, two blue whales were spotted in the Monterey Bay. The Monterey Bay Whale Watch company spotted the massive animals while out on a tour.
Blue whales are the largest creatures on Earth, weighing up to 330,000 pounds and growing up to 110 feet long.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch mentioned that the sighting of the whales is a good sign of krill in the bay. “We are hoping the sighting of these two gentle giants yesterday means there is plenty of krill in the bay to attract more individuals into the area!” The blue whales are obviously great for the local economy, providing a boom for the touring companies. But they are more than just an attraction.
Blue whales play a crucial role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems. Their feeding habits help regulate the population of krill, which in turn affects the entire food web. The presence of blue whales also means a healthy and productive marine environment able to produce the amount of krill necessary for feeding.
Carmel Will Finally Have Addresses
Carmel-by-the-Sea has never known a time with street addresses. For over a century, the village has relied on unique building names and landmarks for identification, arguing that it’s all a part of Carmel’s charm. A historic 3-2 city council vote is set to change tradition. Street addresses will be introduced to Carmel, assuming there aren’t any appeals.
The decision was made with concerns raised by local fire and emergency medical personnel, who both made arguments that the addresses would improve emergency response times.
State fire code requires buildings to be numbered. Adding addresses would ensure that the city is complying with these regulations. Additionally, residents often find it hard to set up utilities and banking accounts due to the lack of addresses. The rise of online shopping in recent years has added to their struggles. Some residents emphasized that the lack of addresses could be life-threatening, as delays in delivering medical equipment or prescriptions could be deadly. “Do we need to wait for someone to die in order to decide that this is the right thing to do? It is the law”.
Still, even with these arguments made, the prevailing arguments against having street addresses remain the same. Not having addresses is a unique part of the city, creating its charm. Without home delivery, residents are encouraged to venture out to the post office where they can interact with their neighbors and local business owners. They argue that the local emergency services are familiar with the town already and have managed without addresses just fine. “(Let’s) keep the sweetness of this little town because people know Carmel for a reason and we come here for a reason. … I just feel that putting addresses will just make us another town along the coast.”
Salinas
Soccer Clinic Pairs Pros with Youth Players
Last Saturday, kids 9 to 15 years old played in a clinic sponsored by Chevron and Alianza de Futbol at the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex. “We know soccer is important in this community, and it is important to us as well, and we want to make sure that we are providing access to the sport. This is a free event and a lot of times, high-level training is not free,” said a representative from Chevron.
Kids played and learned with pros from the San Jose Earthquakes and the U.S. Men’s National team. Scouts from various professional teams were in attendance, including the Earthquakes and teams from Mexico. "We think it is a unique opportunity to be able to have this many professional and collegiate scouts in one area in a free program that provides again player pathways and career opportunities," said Heath Pearce, a former U.S. Men’s National player.
Hartnell Offering Free College Savings Accounts
Hartnell is offering up to $1,500 to start a children’s savings account for college. The program is part of the CalKIDS initiative, which hopes to encourage more kids in Monterey County to save for college. The savings amount accrues interest over time and the kids can access the funds when they turn 17.
The boost in savings is also meant to close the equity gap for families who might otherwise struggle to afford college. “We want to encourage our kiddos to think about a college pathway, let them know that there is a way to get there with support from the state, from families, and from the community.”
Children must meet certain criteria to qualify for the savings account. Those from families with limited financial resources or who face significant barriers to higher education, such as homeless or foster care children, are qualified. Children from migrant families who move frequently due to agricultural work also qualify.
Families can apply for the savings account throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
Santa Cruz
First Dedicated Children’s Crisis Center Opens in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz has opened its first Children’s Crisis Center in the county. Located on Soquel Avenue in Live Oak near the County Sheriff’s Office, the new center will provide crucial mental health support for youth in crisis. Santa Cruz “Behavioral Health says they are seeing approximately one youth experiencing a mental health crisis and needing a psychiatric hold almost every other day.”
Two main programs will be available at the Crisis Center. On the first floor, the Crisis Stabilization Program will be a short-term support program that will help children manage acute mental health issues and stabilize their condition. This program will have eight beds available. On the second floor, the Crisis Residential Program will be a long-term treatment that provides a home-like setting with intensive care services. This program’s goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment for youth to receive their treatment during a mental health crisis. There will be sixteen beds available for this program and a maximum stay of 14 days will be offered.
Santa Cruz County has seen a significant increase in mental health crises among youth, a trend that was happening even before the pandemic. There are currently no mental health centers like this in Santa Cruz. Children would have to be transferred to facilities outside the county, sometimes as far as San Luis Obispo, for similar services. Having a local resource will give children continued support and ensure a smoother transition and better long-term outcomes for their mental health.