Jeremy T. Ringfield's Blog, page 430

Monterey County Sheriff’s Office responds to Sheriff’s Office responds to civil grand jury recommendations

SALINAS – A Monterey County Civil Grand Jury report citing findings that were often critical of the way the county Sheriff’s Office engages with or prepares to engage with individuals suffering a mental health crisis has been returned to the jury with responses from the Sheriff’s leadership.

Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto in a June 14 memo to Monterey County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Hulsey, a civil grand jury adviser, cited five specific grand jury findings and the resulting jury recommendations. Four out of the five findings Nieto agreed with and most of the resulting recommendation, but not all.

In places, the grand jury report was flawed, Nieto said.

“While the report is informative, and identified some areas for improvement, I believe that the report falls short of identifying the actual scope of the problem facing law enforcement in Monterey County, and the actions that are actually being taken to support our community members who are suffering from mental health issues, while at the same time protecting the communities that we serve,” Nieto wrote to Hulsey.

But she also found inaccuracies in the report that framed mental health training for Sheriff’s deputies incorrectly, according to her response. The jury’s first of four findings indicated there were too few deputies who received 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training, or CIT. The subsequent jury recommendation was for the Monterey County Health Department to develop “abbreviated” trainings in addition to formal CIT classes.

“While the (Behavioral Health Bureau) is a valuable partner in helping to provide training and can help to develop law-enforcement based classes, I believe the (Sheriff’s Office) is in a better position to develop, update and maintain these classes,” Nieto wrote in her response.

The Sheriff’s Office is in the process of developing and eight-hour Crisis Intervention course that will likely be ready to roll out at the end of this year. These courses could provide the “abbreviated” training the jury recommended. The Sheriff’s Office is waiting for the Peace Officers Standards and Training organization, or POST, to certify the course. POST is the state commission charged with overseeing law enforcement training.

Nieto did acknowledge that the percent of sworn personnel who have taken the Crisis Intervention Training is “far too low,” but ventured that the grand jury statement that “only 35-40 participants are accepted in crisis intervention training once or twice a year” may be flawed.

“It would be more accurate if the (Behavioral Health) course was the only course offered that law enforcement could attend to get this training, but it is not,” Nieto wrote in a footnote of her response.

She cited numerous POST-approved trainings offered in Santa Clara, Fresno, San Luis Obispo and Kern counties, in addition to online classes, all focusing on de-escalating volatile situations.

Another finding charged that the Salinas Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office “have not prepared annual training needs and assessments.”

“Consequently, their training plans are out of date, leaving officers and deputies less equipped or prepared to respond to crisis calls for service and putting themselves and the public at risk,” the April jury report reads.

Nieto unequivocally disagreed with the finding. She said that when she took office in January 2023, she and her team identified several areas that needed improvements that have been incorporated into a document called an Annual Training Plan. The jury recommended that the Salinas Police and the Sheriff’s Office complete training assessments no later than the end of this month. But the Sheriff’s Office had already completed the assessment the summer before the jury even released its report.

Nieto also noted that too often law enforcement is tasked with dealing with the mentally ill, at a cost to taxpayers, because of the lack of other resources.

“On any given day, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has 894 inmates in custody who have either been convicted of crimes or are awaiting trial,” Nieto wrote. “On a monthly average, 488 (inmates) are treated for chronic mental health issues while in custody, 292 of whom are on psychiatric medications, costing an average of $16,300 a month in psychiatric medications alone.”

Easing the burden on law enforcement will require multiple agencies, including the Behavioral Health Bureau, nonprofits and Social Services, to coordinate efforts to treat those suffering from mental illness and away from incarceration. In 2019 the county Board of Supervisors passed what’s called a “Stepping Up” resolution that aims to reduce the number of bookings, reduce lengths of stay, increase connections to care and treatment, and reduce recidivism of individuals suffering from mental health issues.

All of these efforts have the backdrop of shrinking finances and in the case of Behavioral Health, reduced financial assistance following the narrow passage of Proposition 1 in March that effectively redirects certain funding away from counties to build more beds for the mentally ill and homeless.

Warriors agree to sign-and-trade for Hield: reports

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Warriors and 76ers agreed to a sign-and-trade that will send Buddy Hield to Golden State.

Per Charania, the Warriors are exchanging a 2031 second-round pick from Dallas for Hield, one of the best 3-point shooters in the league.

Golden State is expected to sign Hield for $18 million over two years, plus a $3 million partial guarantee in third year and a player option on a non-guaranteed fourth year, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

Hield, 31, is a career 40% shooter from behind the arc and averaged 12.1 points per game last season in 84 games for the Pacers and Sixers.

A high-volume shooter, Hield has been in the NBA’s top 10 in 3-point attempt rate since 2017-18. After four straight seasons in the top five, he dropped to seventh last year, attempting 12.6 treys per 48 minutes played.

Although Hield hit 38.6% of his 3-pointers last year, he lost the trust of Philadelphia’s coaching staff and fell out of the playoff rotation — even when the 76ers desperately needed spacing.

Hield is regarded as a poor defender and doesn’t add much, if anything, off the dribble. He projects as a wing depth piece for Golden State, which needs more perimeter shooting after the departure of Klay Thompson.

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The wing depth chart for the Warriors, after adding Hield, is crowded. Before any possible further transactions, the Warriors have Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Andrew Wiggins, Moses Moody, De’Anthony Melton, Kyle Anderson, Gary Payton II, Lindy Waters III and Hield.

If Hield makes $9 million in 2024-25, the Warriors will be over the luxury cap but below the first apron — where they are hard-capped. His salary provides optionality in that it wouldn’t prohibit Golden State from packaging players in an additional trade.

The Warriors will be Hield’s fifth team in nine seasons.

High School softball: Coach steps down at Monterey

MONTEREY – Having seen just two softball coaches guide the program over the past 30 years, Michael Royster knew it was a coveted position when he applied for the opening eight years ago.

Taking Monterey High to assorted championships the past three years was something to be proud of. But another memorable moment was the initial meeting Royster had when he applied for the job as softball coach.

“I had two panels of eight people,” Royster said. “I thought I was running for mayor of Monterey. I was already a teacher on campus. But it was a challenge I wanted, a bucket list type of job.”

While there were initial growing pains in building the program back up, Royster laid a foundation and left a legacy for others to follow after announcing his retirement earlier this week.

“When I took the job, it was like a tumbleweed going across a ghost town,” Royster said. “We had a bucket of balls with little money. There was no connection with the JV program.”

Losing a year to COVID in 2020 delayed Royster’s vision of establishing a program that opponents would respect.

“The darkest of the years was the COVID year,” Royster said.

While the turnaround was delayed by a pandemic, Royster had a foundation in place, where he felt it would change the course of direction for the program.

“I remember being told by an administrator that you have done so well outside the lines,” Royster said. “Now it’s time to do something inside the lines.”

Two Central Coast Section Division II softball titles – the first at Monterey in girls’ sports – and one Northern California crown over the past three years squashed the noise.

The three straight CCS finals appearances by the Toreadores is tied for the second most in county history, behind only Notre Dame’s run of nine straight softball appearances.

“I’ve kind of fulfilled my bucket list,” said Royster, who will remain a special education teacher at Monterey. “I wanted to win a playoff game and wanted to beat a team the caliber of Hollister.”

The Toreadores averaged 20 wins a season over the past four years. They rattled off nine straight playoff wins and went 11-2 in the postseason over the past three years.

“I wanted to go out on top,” Royster said. “I wish I could have won the last game. The law of averages caught up with us. It’s hard to beat a team twice, let alone six straight times.”

Royster was referring to the Toreadores’ 7-5 loss to Salinas in the CCS Division I finals – a team it had beaten twice during the regular season and in the 2023 CCS title game.

“The law of averages caught up to us,” Royster said. “There is no shame in falling to a well-coached team.”

Before Monterey’s run of three straight CCS finals appearances, it had made just one run at a title in 1996, falling 5-4 to Capuchino of San Bruno.

It only seemed fitting to Royster that the Toreadores first CCS title in 2022 came against that same program 26 years later.

“I never told the kids, ‘hey were playing the team that beat us in 1996,’” Royster said.

Royster’s accomplishments go beyond the softball field. He went outside the box when he had a beach cleanup as a fundraiser, while starting the Monterey Peninsula softball tournament.

“Give Catherine Elder credit with the beach cleanup,” Royster said. “A car wash didn’t make sense with a drought. Plus people are more willing to donate to keep a beach clean.”

Royster also brought life back into Toreadores home games, with music between innings, having a public address sound system, making sure the scoreboard worked.

“These kids get what eight, nine home games?” Royster said. “I wanted to produce a show for home games. I wanted it to be a big event.”

The respect of the program became evident this past season when national power St. Francis agreed to play Monterey in a non-league game.

“That does not happen two years ago,” Royster said. “The fact that they considered playing us was huge. So was beating Los Gatos, which went into the Open Division. You either win or you learn. You don’t lose.”

The time that goes into building a program, the endless hours over the course of a four-month season was starting to wear on the 55-year-old Royster.

“There is a lot of time that goes into it,” said Royster, an avid surfer. “I will be a fan and consultant if the next coach wants me.”

It’s unsure if assistant coaches Brian Wedderburn or Elder will have interest in the position, both of whom have been by Royster’s side during this historic run.

“I tried to set the program to where it should be a pretty turnkey,” Royster said. “I think the program is in great shape. The next coach will be in a good spot.”

Coast is full: Monterey welcomes visitors fleeing heatwave

A heat bomb blasting the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley has sent residents fleeing to cooler coastal climates for the Fourth of July weekend, packing hotels, roads and beaches from Monterey to Pacifica.

“This heat wave, everybody’s trying to get away,” said Kevin Scanlon, a manager at the Beach House hotel in Half Moon Bay, booked solid through Saturday night. “We’re getting a lot of calls from the inland areas where people are really suffering.”

Guests from hot zones “come in and say, ‘Oh my god, it’s so much nicer here, I can breathe,’” Scanlon said.

In Santa Cruz, visitors escaping scorched earth to the east were arriving at the Mission Inn & Suites this week “shell shocked” from the heat, said general manager Rebecca Issa.

For many residents of the Bay Area and beyond, navigating the twists and turns of Highway 17 in the morning and again in the evening was a small price to pay to get out of the blazing-hot weather. San Jose mental health therapist Ilene Gilmore fled the city for Santa Cruz around 10 a.m. Wednesday with her mother Blanche Meeks, 80, her daughter and a cousin. “It was already getting hot,” said Gilmore, 54. “I took the day off from work because of the heat, just to cool off.”

Gabby Diaz enjoys a sippy cup refreshment offered by her aunt Sarah Diaz during a family beach outing, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, in Santa Cruz, Calif. Gabby’s parents, Daniel and Vanessa Diaz (back) also brought her 10-week old sister, Lily, to the beach to escape the triple digit temperatures at their home in Sunnyvale. (Karl Mondon/ Bay Area News Group)

Scorching days in Sunnyvale early this week drove Vanessa and Daniel Diaz, with their two daughters Gabby, 2, and Lily, 10 weeks, and the kids’ aunt Sarah Diaz to the beach at Twin Lakes in Santa Cruz on Wednesday. They planned to stay just a few hours before returning home. “Why not avoid the heat, get some ocean breeze?” said Vanessa, 32, a registered nurse. “What a beautiful day it is.”

Temperatures in much of the Bay Area this week neared or blew past triple digits. In the Central Valley, the mercury skyrocketed beyond 105 degrees. Much cooler weather prevailed along the coast, with Pebble Beach and Pacific Grove just in the 60s.

“It’s so nice,” said John Sanchez of Modesto, walking along Main Beach in Santa Cruz on Wednesday with his wife Eileen after driving out for the day with their daughter and her two friends. “We’re thinking of coming back tomorrow.” In the middle of a lengthy heat wave, the 115-mile drive, with strolls on the sand beside the ocean as a reward, is “not that bad,” Eileen said.

By Wednesday afternoon, traffic on Highway 17 and other routes to the coast was starting to back up heavily in spots, while the density of colorful umbrellas and beach tents by the ocean continued to grow. Available rooms were few and far between at hotels, motels and short-term rentals in coastal hotspots.

Escaping triple-digit heat at their home in Fairfield, Rhea Banks watches as her husband Jim pours cool ocean water on their children Elaina and Ethan, buried in the sand, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at the Boardwalk beach in Santa Cruz, Calif. The couple wanted to stay an extra night but couldn’t find a room in town. (Karl Mondon/ Bay Area News Group)

The Banks family from Fairfield was playing in the sand in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Wednesday afternoon, with a hotel booked for that night. They had hoped to spend the night of the Fourth in Santa Cruz, said Jim Banks, 62, a retired teacher, “but everything’s filled up.”

For California State Parks, which manages popular beaches along the coast, it will be “all hands on deck” through Sunday, said Gabe McKenna, public safety superintendent for the agency’s Santa Cruz district.

A fairly large swell of four to six feet was forecasted to keep rolling into the coast until Sunday, posing risks including strong rip currents, McKenna said. He urged beachgoers to keep their eyes on kids — and the ocean, as big waves can hit by surprise. “We are anticipating making rescues,” McKenna said.

Lifeguards will advise beachgoers about risks, but visitors should not hesitate to ask guards about conditions, McKenna said.

Anticipated crowds prompted State Parks’ Santa Cruz district officials to bring in additional peace officers from around the region to help ensure order, McKenna said, adding that alcohol, glass and fireworks are prohibited at all State Parks beaches.

Bay Area dwellers and Central Valley Californians have also been bolting from their furnace-like environs for the mountains. “This has turned into Fourth of July week rather than Fourth of July weekend,” said Rob Griffith, district superintendent for State Parks’ Sierra district.

On Monday at Kings Beach in Lake Tahoe, parking filled up before noon and so many people set up beside the cool waters that “there was hardly and inch of sand left free on the beach,” Griffith said.

Visitors faced with traffic resembling a “Los Angeles rush-hour experience” should show patience, he said. “Stay cool in more ways than one,” Griffith said. “This is going to be a very jam-packed weekend.”

The mountains will provide some respite from scorching temperatures, but the Tahoe area is expected to hit the 80s and 90s, and attention to the heat and need for hydration is vital, Griffith said. “At some points the kids riding bikes around and around the campground loop probably need to sit in the shade and have some cold water before their next drag race,” Griffith said.

Marco Lucido, Workplace Law: Workplace violence prevention training

Question: My company prepared a written workplace violence prevention plan to comply with the new law on workplace violence.  Is our written plan all we need to comply with the new law?

Answer: To fully comply with the new law regarding workplace violence prevention, covered employers must complete three essential tasks: (1) establish the written workplace violence prevention plan; (2) train employees on workplace violence; and (3) start maintaining a log of all workplace violence incidents.  Cal/OSHA is not allowing a grace period, so all three of these items must be accomplished beginning July 1, 2024.

Common questions surrounding the training include when the training should be provided, what it should cover, and how it should be conducted.  Workplace violence training must be provided to all employees (including managers and supervisors) when the plan is first established and annually thereafter.  At a minimum, the initial and annual training should cover:

· Familiarizing employees with the plan (such as how to obtain a copy, how to participate in its development/implementation);

· The definitions of key terms and the requirements of the new law;

· How to report workplace violence incidents without fear of retaliation;

· Understanding the job-specific violence hazards and the preventative and corrective measures in place.  For example, a review of emergency exit locations and a discussion of the systems in place at the worksite to notify employees of emergencies.

· The purpose of the violent incident log; and

· Opportunities for interactive discussions with someone knowledgeable about the written plan.  This includes employee questions and feedback.

Training sessions do not need to be overly formal, and employers do not need to hire a vendor to conduct the training.  The training can be conducted by anyone with knowledge of the employer’s written plan, such as the plan administrator or a member of Human Resources.  Most of the information in the training is essentially reviewing the plan itself, with opportunities for questions and feedback.  There is no requirement regarding how long the training must be, so employers may record a training where you review the plan document (which will include most of the information required for the training) and discuss specific risks to the employees and how to respond.  The training documents that you maintain can be the plan, the emails confirming the training session, and the sign in sheets for the training.

The main thing to remember about the training is that it must be interactive and provide opportunities for meaningful questions, answers, and feedback relating to the written plan and the employer’s procedures.  Employers should also have a procedure in place to consider the concerns and feedback of their staff.  The training is not required to be in person or live.  However, employees must still be given an opportunity to submit interactive questions which should be answered by the employer as soon as feasible.

Employers must also provide further training when a new or previously unrecognized workplace violence hazard has been identified and when changes are made to the written plan.  Unlike the initial and annual training, this additional training can be limited to the new hazard or change to the plan.

Records related to employee training must be kept for at least five years and provided to employees for free upon request.  Employers with questions regarding workplace violence training or other requirements are encouraged to contact their labor counsel.

Marco Lucido is a lawyer with Fenton & Keller in Monterey. This column is intended to answer questions of general interest and should not be construed as legal advice. Email queries to email@fentonkeller.com.

 

Grab your poles: It’s Free Fishing Day in California on Saturday

If you have an old rod in your closet that’s been gathering dust, because you don’t have a fishing license, now’s the time to whip it out. It’s Free Fishing Day this Saturday in all of California — meaning you don’t need a license, just the will to go find a hole to toss a bobber in.

This is the first of California’s two free fishing days in 2024, with the other arriving on Aug. 31.

“For those new to fishing, this is an opportunity to explore a rewarding and exciting new hobby,” writes the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “For licensed anglers, this is an opportunity to introduce or reintroduce someone else to the joys of becoming an angler. Free fishing days are also a perfect time for former anglers to return and reconnect to the activity.”

That doesn’t mean that Saturday will be the Wild West out there, with people gathering armloads of flapping fish. All regulations remain in effect regarding fishing hours, bag and size limits, report-card requirements, stream closures and gear restrictions. You can find more about the rules of California fishing at the wildlife department’s website (wildlife.ca.gov/regulations).

Not sure where to head? The department has several useful guides — especially for those who live in urban areas — on where to find fish. Here are a few to start with:

•  Interactive map showing historically good places to fish, as well as locations that have recently had fish planting (restocking): apps.wildlife.ca.gov/fishing

•  A guide on California’s Fishing in the City Program, which has learn-to-fish videos and also fishing locations broken down by counties: (wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing-in-the-City/SF)

•  A list and zoomable map of California’s public piers, jetties and breakwaters: wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Ocean/Beach-Fishing

•  Species of fish you might want to look for in California: wildlife.ca.gov/Fishing/Inland

•  And if you decide you’d like to do more fishing in the future, here’s where to get your annual license: ca.wildlifelicense.com/internetsales

175 athletes to watch over 50 days

Nate Olivas, MPC: A returning offensive lineman, the 251-pound Olivas will look to provide depth in the trenches for the Lobos.

Having prepped at Greenfield, the 6-foot-1 Olivas is explosive off the ball, with the ability to get out on traps or provide pass protection for the Lobos.

Carson Anderson, Trinity: Having grown into the program, the 5-foot-10 senior is a lockdown cornerback for the Warriors in one-on-one coverage.

Anderson provides leadership in the secondary, turning to instincts and awareness in breaking up passes, or coming up and making tackles on runs.

Nikki Iniakov, Stevenson: One of the more decorated golfers in the section, Iniakov has been to the state golf championships three straight years for the Pirates.

The runner-up at last year’s Central Coast Section finals and the Gabilan Division medalist, Iniakov etched her name at Spyglass Hill last year after shooting a record 8-under over nine holes.

Lifeguards, cameras, all that water: 6 things to know about Idaho’s Roaring Springs Waterpark

Elena Gastaldo | (TNS) The Idaho Statesman

A giant tipping potato bucket called Tippin’ Tater that contains 750 gallons of water. A grumpy ram lifeguard keeping an eye on everyone. Two baby bears sliding down a log. Blue birds on a diving board.

Camp IdaH2O, the latest expansion of Roaring Springs Waterpark, is a celebration of life in the Pacific Northwest, says Tiffany Quilici, the water park’s chief marketing officer.

Meridian is the home of the Northwest’s largest water park. And it just turned 25 years old.

Here are six things to know about the park:

1. It employs hundreds of teens.

The Treasure Valley’s largest employer of young adults, Roaring Springs has 700 employees. About 200 of those are lifeguards, who rotate from one attraction to the next every 20 to 30 minutes. ‘‘That really helps to keep them alert and vigilant,’’ Quilici said.

Lifeguards show up around 9:30 a.m. and ride test every attraction to make sure they are all safe for visitors to go on.

Only 10 employees work full time year round.

Quilici said it’s a privilege for the park to be the first workplace for many teens in the Valley. ‘‘We get to teach them and mentor them in all the qualities they need to launch their future dreams,’’ Quilici said.

The water park is open mid May through mid September and has welcomed 6 million visitors in the past 25 years of operation.

Roaring Springs Waterpark in Meridian, Idaho, is the Northwest’s biggest water park. It requires 700 employees to operate. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman/TNS)2. It uses a lot of water that it must keep clean.

On a typical day, the park’s operations team starts working at 6 a.m. and includes a crew of pressure washers cleaning the concrete.

Roaring Springs uses 1.5 million gallons of Meridian city water that circulates through the water park all season long. That’s enough to cover a football field 3½ feet deep. Like all Meridian city water, it comes from the water-bearing soil and rock of the Snake River Plain aquifer that underlies Ada County.

A certain amount of water gets lost to evaporation and when people walk out of pools and rides, so additional water is used every day. Aaron Forsythe, the water park’s operations manager, said the park takes in 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of water every day but ‘‘it’s hard to measure’’ exactly how much gets lost.

Quilici said the staff is ‘‘extremely vigilant about any leaks from pools and from slides.’’

The water goes through massive sand filter tanks and a chemistry process to keep it clean. Quilici said that the park also has ultraviolet lights that ‘‘kill every bug’’ in the water.

When asked about the park’s efforts to promote sustainability, Quilici said that they ‘‘certainly have some advanced energy efficiency devices in place to operate the pumps and motors at their optimal rate.’’ Deck drains at the end of the slides collect and recirculate water too, Forsythe said.

3. It uses a network of security cameras.

Roaring Springs was the first outdoor water park nationwide to install the Ellis Aquatic Vigilance System, which is supported by artificial intelligence and video analytics, a technology that uses a special algorithm to analyze digital videos and provide security-related services.

Cameras are installed throughout the park. They can see under water. Roaring Springs has two command centers with operators who are alerted through radios when a danger is perceived by one of the cameras.

Forsythe said Roaring Springs uses the cameras as an ‘‘extra layer of security’’ on top of the lifeguards.

4. Those teen employees get free passes and parties.

Employees get a free season pass, numerous half-off tickets for friends and family, and get to attend work-related parties ‘‘to make it a really fun social experience,’’ Quilici said.

Roaring Springs also has a scholarship program for employees in college. Quilici said that about $30,000 in scholarships was awarded last year.

A seagull perches on top of a cameras from Ellis Aquatic Vigilance System at Roaring Springs Waterpark in Meridian, Idaho. The system uses artificial intelligence to help identify dangers in the park. The camera can see under water. (Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman/TNS)5. Missing your dentures or wedding ring?

The park employees find lost items daily. Some of the more unique findings include a hammer, dentures, and a wedding ring. To get their belongings back, guests fill out a form and have one week to collect them. The park donates unclaimed items, Quilici said.

6. New attractions are planned.

Roaring Springs recently opened Class 5 Canyon, the Northwest’s first wave action river, which simulates a whitewater experience.

Quilici and the CEO Pat Morandi travel around the country, and sometimes the world, to try out new rides, get inspired by other water parks and bring back new attractions’ ideas for Idaho.

Camp IdaH2O is just the first of seven phases of Roaring Springs’ plan to expand. A major new water attraction will be added every two to three years for the next 10 years, Quilici said.

________

©2024 The Idaho Statesman. Visit idahostatesman.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Spanish label handling extensive Motown vinyl reissue campaign

Motown was truly a sound that called out around the world.

So it’s perhaps appropriate that the most extensive vinyl reissue campaign of the legendary label’s catalog is coming from across the pond.

In May, Barcelona-based Elemental Music began rolling out new vinyl editions of Motown titles, with new albums coming each month for a total of 30 through March 2025. The series includes some of the label’s biggest names — the Supremes, the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Jackson 5, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson and more — many in mono and some on colored vinyl.

And for many, it will be their first vinyl edition since the albums were originally released more than 50 years ago.

“As a rule of thumb, we always try to reissue the music that we love. That’s our priority,” explains Elemental’s Kevin Keeley. “With the Motown series, we wanted to take a deep dive into the label’s history and to reissue some more obscure titles. For a lot of the albums that we’ll be putting out, it will be their first reissue since their original release. It’s our way of showing some love to Motown’s legacy.”

Keeley adds that surging vinyl sales, especially among young music buyers, has also fueled Elemental’s sense of mission.

“When you’re reissuing vinyl, especially from a label as iconic as Motown, there’s a lot of considerations to make,” he says. “Ultimately, we want to respect Motown’s legacy. In doing so, it’s important that this series is accessible for all music/Motown fans and vinyl enthusiasts. We wanted to contextualize Motown for a contemporary audience.”

Elemental’s relationship with Motown began in May 2022, when the label reissued Rare Earth’s 1969 album “Get Ready,” which Keeley calls “an interesting nugget of Motown history that was deserving of a reissue.” Elemental primarily specializes in jazz titles, but the company felt Motown complemented that aspect of its catalog.

“It’s difficult to ignore the historical connection jazz and Motown have within popular music history,” Keeley notes. “Jazz and blues set the stage for Motown’s distinctive sound, and Motown, in turn, drew inspiration from jazz,” including members of the label’s famed session band, the Funk Brothers, who were recruited from the Detroit jazz clubs.

The “Get Ready” re-release went well, which led to a desire to more — and, as Keeley noted, get into some of the deeper catalog titles that had not been touched yet. Elemental negotiated with the Universal Music Group to select the titles it would re-release, making use of remasters commissioned during the late ’80s that are considered gold standard by Motown aficionados. Elemental also set a certain standard for the packaging of the new editions.

“We decided to leave each title as untouched/unmolested as possible,” Keeley says. “Each is presented in a reproduction of its original sleeve, including its original liner notes, on 140-gram vinyl — as close to how it would have been when you originally bought the album. All we’ve done is include a sticker outlining some more historical context and background to each album.”

Elemental’s next three Motown titles are due out July 12, including a mono edition of Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells’ “Together” (1964), the Temptations’ “Cloud Nine” (1969) and a green vinyl version of the Supremes’ “I Hear a Symphony” (1966). The latter is among Keeley’s personal favorites, an album he feels “embodies what the Motown sound was, and still is — never replicated.”

“Cloud Nine” by The Temptations is one of the Motown vinyls being reissued by Elemental Music. (Photo courtesy of Elemental Music)

“I Hear a Symphony” by The Supremes is one of the Motown vinyls being reissued by Elemental Music. (Photo courtesy of Elemental Music)

“Together” by Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells is one of the Motown vinyls being reissued by Elemental Music. (Photo courtesy of Elemental Music)

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He’s also partial to Gaye’s 1968 set “In the Groove,” which featured his version of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and to former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks’ “People … Hold On” (1972). “There’s some great tracks on that album that predicted the disco genre,” Keeley notes, “and the drama of Kendricks’ life and departure from the Temptations is all part of Motown’s history.”

Listening sessions at Elemental’s headquarters, meanwhile, have been nothing but pleasurable, he reports, and validated the label’s decision to create the series — as if that were even necessary.

“When we started researching for this series and listening to the Motown catalog in the office, everyone knew at least one song or artist, everyone was tapping their foot and in the end, I think we realized just how universally loved Motown is,” Keeley says. “I don’t think ourselves here at Elemental, or anyone, really needs a personal connection to Detroit, the U.S.A, funk, soul, R&B or anything to do with Motown in order to enjoy it.

“I think that’s why Motown has had such an enduring legacy. When you hear the tambourine, the reverb, James Jamerson’s bass and the infectious vibe that Motown brings, I don’t think it matters where you’re from or who you are. Motown is like the Beatles or Coca-Cola — iconic.”

Horoscopes July 4, 2024: Andrew Zimmern, you’ll hit your mark

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Melanie Fiona, 41; Becki Newton, 46; Andrew Zimmern, 63; Geraldo Rivera, 81.

Happy Birthday: Go above and beyond the call of duty; the rewards will be yours. Let your uniqueness shine through, but don’t let unrealistic expectations cost you. Budget wisely, and you’ll have a winning combination for yourself. Change requires action, energy and common sense. Do your best, and you’ll hit your mark and prosper. Charm will win favors and respect. Love and romance are favored. Your numbers are 3, 7, 23, 25, 33, 37, 42.

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Take better care of yourself and your possessions. Refuse to let anyone take advantage of your generosity or kind heart. Put your energy into projects or pastimes that you find exhilarating. It’s up to you to make opportunities, not wait for them to come to you. 4 stars

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Change what’s necessary. Pay more attention to how you look and feel and what you can do to make your life less stressful. Focus on what’s happening around you, and participate in events, activities or negotiations that will help you prosper. 3 stars

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Put your energy behind your skills, experience and knowledge, and you’ll gain acceptance and momentum in achieving your goals. Refuse to let anyone interfere with your plans or lead you astray with false information. Change depends on truth. 3 stars

CANCER (June 21-July 22): Do what you love to do, and you’ll do well. Don’t let your dreams fall by the wayside. Take the initiative and share what you have to offer. Start small and use your passion to work toward a goal. Trust and believe in yourself. 3 stars

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Be open about how you feel and your intentions, and you’ll change the dynamics of a relationship. Showing strength and courage will grab attention and get results. Pay attention, and you’ll understand how someone feels about you or your situation. An explicit dialogue will be enlightening. 4 stars

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Put your emotions aside, focus on facts and use common sense to sort through difficulties you encounter. Participate in an event that offers insight into a concern you have or stimulates your creative ideas, and it will help you sort through differences. 2 stars

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): An open mind will gather information and insight into how to proceed. Please don’t rely on someone else to do the work, or you’ll be left out when it counts the most. Consider what you enjoy doing most, and turn your attention and energy toward making it happen. 5 stars

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Satisfy your imagination and put your skills to good use. What you discover will help you adjust your life to satisfy your needs. Leave nothing to chance when dealing with matters that allow you to make money doing something that makes you feel passionate about. 3 stars

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Invest time and money in yourself. Explore the possibilities, and expand your options through networking and surrounding yourself with like-minded people. Do whatever it takes to discover your true potential. Talks will lead to opportunities; collect data and follow up. 3 stars

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Nurture essential relationships. Find out where you stand and adjust your intentions accordingly. Don’t waste time on people or situations that cannot deliver. A change at home should make your space functional and ease stress. An unusual or unexpected visit will spark your imagination. 3 stars

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Refrain from laboring over things you cannot change. Focus on what’s doable and will promote comfort and joy. Put your energy where it counts, and apply pressure to people who can help you reach your goal. Being direct will save you time and money and gain you respect. 3 stars

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Nothing can stop you once you start. Put your head down and drive forward with confidence, willpower and a winner’s mindset. Don’t feel that you must stick to the norm when your uniqueness separates you from the competition you encounter. Romance is on the rise. 5 stars

Birthday Baby: You are entertaining, creative and passionate. You are proactive and influential.

1 star: Avoid conflicts; work behind the scenes. 2 stars: You can accomplish, but don’t rely on others. 3 stars: Focus and you’ll reach your goals. 4 stars: Aim high; start new projects. 5 stars: Nothing can stop you; go for gold.

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