Nearly six years ago, a novel virus called COVID-19 plunged the world into chaos, spreading fear and uncertainty as leaders and health officials grappled with a pandemic that would kill millions worldwide.
In California, shutdowns emptied streets, toilet paper became a prized commodity, and school closures forced teachers, students and parents into remote learning.
In Monterey County, 940 people died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Feb. 3, a memorial garden to honor the lives lost and recognize the dedication of the first responders, frontline workers, health care professionals and families who supported one another during those fraught times will be unveiled at the Government Center Plaza in Salinas.
Three years in the making, the memorial garden will offer a space for people to sit and reflect on the lives lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. The five sections of the memorial represent the five districts of Monterey County, and each material used in its construction was chosen by design.
The use of glass represents the fragility of life, while the use of color aims to honor the diversity of the region while bringing positive energy and a sense of warmth and fulfillment. The use of metal represents the strong connection between family and community and “together they hold the balance between love, loss and the human instinct to survive,” according to a description of the project.
The memorial garden was created by Shelby Hawthorne, a Sand City–based glass artist selected in partnership with the Arts Council and the project’s architectural consultant to spotlight local talent. Hawthorne grew up in a family of artists and earned her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from the California College of the Arts. Other collaborators include contractor R.F. Koeber Inc, Paul David Partnership and BFS Landscape Architects.
The memorial garden cost about $350,000 and was funded through donations and managed by the Community Foundation for Monterey County. A portion of the funding came from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors discretionary fund.
The COVID-19 memorial garden unveiling will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at County of Monterey Board of Supervisors Chambers. Those who cannot make the ceremony can listen on Zoom or the county’s Youtube channel.
Here’s a look at other news across Monterey County this week.
Spreckels 8th graders see government in action at state capitol
Eighth graders at Buena Vista Middle School in the Spreckels Union School District embarked on a memorable two-day trip to Sacramento, where they saw government in action during a tour of the California State Capitol. The roughly 100 students also visited the Vietnam War Memorial, Sutter’s Fort and the California State Railroad Museum.
The trip also included a special viewing of “The Lion King” at Broadway Sacramento.
This is the second year the district’s eighth graders took the educational trip, which coincides with their curriculum on civics and the branches of government.
Superintendent Eric Tarallo said the annual field trip was “student initiated and driven and now has become a rite of passage.” The idea was first raised by a student at a school board meeting, who said they and their classmates were “COVID robbed” when pandemic shutdowns wiped out field trips and other opportunities.
Parents and fundraising efforts financed the trip, and scholarships were made available to those who needed it.
At-risk students in Greenfield to benefit from $500,000 grant
Sun Street Centers’ Road to Success program has received a $500,000 grant from the city of Greenfield to expand services for at-risk youth and families. The funding will allow the program to reach more local students through counseling, mentorship and life-skills support aimed at keeping young people engaged in school and out of the juvenile justice system.
Over the life of the grant, the program aims to serve 240 families, according to city officials.
Scholarship opportunities for Salinas youth
Families who are members of Golden 1 Credit Union and have college-bound students in the home, take note.
Through Jan. 31, all eligible California students can apply for a higher education scholarship valued at up to $20,000. To qualify, students must be a Golden 1 Credit Union member, have a minimum 3.0 GPA and have completed at least 24 hours of community service in the past 12 months. For more information, and to apply go to the credit union website.
The Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) is accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. The program is open to students pursuing careers in hospitality, including hotel management, culinary and restaurant, tourism and destination management, event planning, business administration and wine hospitality. Priority will be given to current residents or students in Monterey County.
Students can apply for scholarships for the 2026–2027 academic year through an online scholarship portal. Deadline is March 16.
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: COVID memorial unveiling ahead and more Monterey County news
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
