COFFEE WITH A COP
GONZALES — Gonzales Police Department will host Coffee with a Cop on Monday, Nov. 24, from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at Amor de Cafe, 144 Alta St. in Gonzales. This is an opportunity for residents to join officers for free coffee and good vibes while discussing any needs in the community.
TURKEY TROT
SALINAS — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca will open its road course for the 10th annual Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot on Thursday, Nov. 27. The event, which benefits the Food Bank for Monterey County, encourages community members to enjoy a scenic walk, run or family stroll around the 2.238-mile circuit. In exchange for donations of $10 or non-perishable food items, participants can enjoy as many laps as they’d like around the road course between 7 and 11 a.m. On-leash dogs are also welcome to join the fun. Reservations are not required, and donations will only be accepted onsite. The Food Bank for Monterey County is the area’s largest provider of emergency supplemental food. For every $1 received, it can purchase $5 worth of food for neighbors in need. For more information about the Turkey Trot, visit weathertechraceway.com.
WOOD STOVE PROGRAM
CENTRAL COAST — Monterey Bay Air Resources District (MBARD) has launched its 2025–26 Wood Stove Change Out Program (WSCOP), giving residents in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties the opportunity to improve home comfort, protect neighborhood air quality and receive cash incentives by replacing old wood-burning heating devices with cleaner alternatives. Through the program, homeowners can replace non-EPA-certified wood stoves, fireplace inserts or open-hearth fireplaces with MBARD-approved, EPA-certified devices, such as: low-emission wood or pellet stoves/inserts; electric stoves/inserts; and ductless mini-split heat pumps. Propane and natural gas units are not eligible. To qualify, applicants must use a non-EPA-certified wood stove, insert or open-hearth fireplace as a primary heat source and reside in a low-income or disadvantaged community. Households outside of these areas may also be eligible if they meet Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) criteria. Incentives available are $2,500 for wood, pellet or electric stoves and $5,000 for ductless mini-split heat pumps. MBARD has allocated $200,000 for the 2025-26 program. Funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until fully distributed. For eligibility details or to apply, visit mbard.org/wscop.
BONUS BRIEF: HEALTH RECOGNITION
SALINAS — Salinas Valley Health has once again been recognized among the nation’s top hospitals, earning “High Performing” ratings in eight procedures and conditions in the 2025-26 Best Hospitals rankings from U.S. News & World Report. In the latest evaluation, Salinas Valley Health achieved high-performing status in: Diabetes, Heart Arrhythmia, Heart Attack, Kidney Failure, Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma, Maternity Care, Pacemaker Implantation and Pneumonia. According to U.S. News & World Report, more than 4,400 hospitals were evaluated nationwide, with less than half (38%) achieving a high performance ranking in any one category. In the case of Salinas Valley Health, the high performing evaluation was achieved in eight categories. The Best Hospitals rankings assess objective quality measures to identify hospitals that excel at handling the most complex and difficult cases.
