County Government Center remains closed through Tuesday
SALINAS — Monterey County Government Center in Salinas will remain closed to the public and general staff through Tuesday, Sept. 8, following an extensive sewer line malfunction that primarily affected customer-facing departments on the first floor.
County Facilities teams and contractors are working to address the damage while county leadership reviews remediation progress and the results of an industrial hygiene assessment conducted over the weekend.
All Government Center staff have been asked to work remotely until further notice. Environmental assessments indicate the second and third floors remain safe to enter, although impacts may persist.
Employees who must briefly enter the second or third floors for critical operational needs are urged to minimize their time inside the building and avoid all cordoned-off remediation areas.
The county said additional updates will be provided once environmental inspection reports are finalized.
First Theatre Fest returns to Monterey’s historic stage
MONTEREY — The third annual First Theatre Fest will bring theater, poetry, live music, food and local artisans to California’s First Theatre from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Presented by the Monterey State Historic Park Association, the free event will feature performances on the historic stage, an artisan market, local food vendors and hands-on activities from California State Parks staff. The performance lineup includes Monterey Peninsula College Theatre Arts at 11 a.m., Poetry Friends of Monterey at 1 p.m., River Voices at 2 p.m. and Night Herons at 3 p.m.
Food vendors will include Café Guaraní, serving South American empanadas, and La Pizza Piccolo Mobile Pizza, offering Neapolitan-style pizzas. Seven local artisans also will sell handmade goods, including ceramics, jewelry, prints, candles, tintype portraits, bags and accessories.
California’s First Theatre, at Pacific and Scott streets, hosted some of California’s earliest paid theatrical performances in the 1840s. The building reopened in 2024 following a restoration after being closed for more than two decades.
Admission to the festival is free. More information is available at mshpa.org.
Hartnell football comes home for first campus game
SALINAS — Hartnell College will host its first home football game on campus Saturday, Sept. 5, when the Panthers take on Chabot College at 1 p.m. at the newly renovated Bill Elliott Football Field.
The game marks the first football game played at the Hartnell main campus, 411 Central Ave. in Salinas, and the first on the renovated field. The first 100 fans will receive a Hartnell athletics T-shirt.
The field is named for Salinas native and Hartnell alumnus Charles “Bill” Elliott, an All-American junior college center in 1957 and 1958 who later played at San Jose State University. Elliott and his wife, Barbara, were longtime supporters of Hartnell Athletics. The field and Gary Shaw Track underwent major renovations and held a grand reopening in December 2024.
Hartnell is inviting former players, coaches, alumni and supporters to return to campus for the game. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and park in the campus parking structure near the Central Avenue entrance.
Republican women to discuss upcoming ballot items
KING CITY — Southern Monterey County Republican Women Federated will hold its monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Cork and Plough Restaurant, 200 Broadway in King City.
Brian Higgins, political director of the Monterey County Republican Party, will be the guest speaker. Caroline Cota of the South Monterey County Joint Union High School District and Linda Benway, a former King City High School board member, also will speak about upcoming ballot items.
The meeting is open to the public. For reservations or more information, call 831-385-1333 or email ka************@***il.com.
