SCHOOL TOURS
MONTEREY COUNTY — Monterey County Office of Education (MCOE) is hosting its “Inside Education Monterey County” tours for the 2024-25 school year, inviting the public to explore local classrooms and programs. Starting in September and running through March, participants can attend one or all of the five scheduled half-day tours. These tours provide a unique opportunity to experience the challenges and successes of public education in the county. Topics include Special Education, Language and Literacy, Universal Pre-Kindergarten, Career Technical Education/Project-Based Learning, and Science and the Arts. Tours begin at 7:30 a.m. at MCOE’s Board Room in Salinas. For more details and registration, visit montereycoe.org/inside-education.
BLUE ZONES COMMUNITY
SALINAS — Salinas has been recognized as a Certified Blue Zones Community, a milestone in the city’s well-being transformation through the Blue Zones Project by Sharecare. This initiative, brought to Salinas in 2018 by Salinas Valley Health, Taylor Farms and Montage Health, focuses on making healthy choices easier and helping residents live longer, healthier lives. To celebrate this achievement, Blue Zones Project Monterey County will host a free community event on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Park in Salinas. The celebration will feature entertainment, activities and nutritious offerings from local food trucks. For more details and registration, visit bit.ly/BZPCertification.
MEASURE T INFO
KING CITY — Voters in the city limits of King City are being asked this November if they approve of a sales tax increase that is designated to improve streets, bolster public safety and provide funds to repair recreation facilities and parks. Measure T on the Nov. 5 ballot during the presidential election is an effort by King City officials to raise funds for the next 12 years estimated to be $1.2 million per year. This would be achieved through a 1/2-cent increase, raising the rate of sales tax from 8.75% to 9.25% starting April 1, 2025. In putting the measure to the voters, city council members acknowledged that the King City sales tax rate was among the lowest in Monterey County. A large percentage of income from sales tax is generated by travelers passing through the town on Highway 101. Details of what the money could be used for is found in a document titled “Unfunded Priority Needs Plan” adopted by the city council earlier this year. Copies are available at City Hall at 212 South Vanderhurst Ave. or on the city website kingcity.com.
