Central Coast YMCA Makes Wellness Calls & Meal Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

Central Coast YMCA Makes Wellness Calls & Essential Deliveries to Homebound Seniors

Salinas, CA, April 06, 2020 - Central Coast YMCA staff members have been making calls to homebound senior members as well as delivery of groceries and other essential items during this statewide shelter-in-place order.

During these unprecedented times, CCYMCA remains committed to those with the most pressing needs, including calling all members aged 60 or older to assess any unmet needs they may have during the shelter-in-place order. Many seniors responded that they were happy to have someone call them for a quick conversation and expression of care and support.

Through partnerships with Blue Zones, SVMHS, Meals on Wheels, the Salvation Army, Food Bank and Community Housing Improvement Systems and Planning Association (CHISPA), CCYMCA is making daily food deliveries, along with books from our lending library and special custom artwork from the children attending our Y Essential Childcare Camps. We are also offering pick up of groceries, pharmacy and other essential needs. During the shelter-in-place order, CCYMCA will continue to make lend employee capacity to our community partners.

For more information, call (831) 757-4633 or go to the Central Coast YMCA website at: centralcoastymca.org.

About the Central Coast YMCA
Formed in 1989, the Central Coast YMCA began with the merger of two independent YMCAs; the Salinas Community YMCA (founded in 1921) and the Watsonville Family YMCA (founded in 1898). Originally a USO built in 1941, with the purpose of supporting American troops during World War II, the YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula joined the association in 1990. In 1998 the South County YMCA became the fourth branch in the association, extending its service area to the residents of south Monterey County. The YMCA of San Benito County became the fifth and most recent addition to the association in 1999.

CCYMCA is an independent, private, nonprofit corporation, a part of the YMCA of the USA, but responsible for its own policies, programs, and budgets. It employs 27 full-time employees, about 225 part-time employees, and 120 volunteers who impact approximately 40,000 people in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.

CCYMCA is located at 500 Lincoln Ave. in Salinas.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.centralcoastymca.org/

Central Coast YMCA Providing Childcare for Children of Essential Workers to Address Pressing Needs

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide shelter-in-place order, Central Coast YMCA immediately pivoted to emergency programming aimed at supporting its communities, including providing childcare for children of essential workers.

Salinas, CA, April 06, 2020 - When California Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a statewide shelter-in-place order, Central Coast YMCA immediately pivoted to emergency programming aimed at supporting its communities, including providing childcare for children of essential workers.

With area schools closed, workers with children need reliable, affordable childcare. YMCA is devoting its facilities and resources to providing childcare, particularly to first responders, health-care staff and agricultural workers, but also to grocery store employees, delivery drivers and anyone else required to work during the pandemic.

At all CCYMCA locations, childcare from qualified staff costs just $35 per day (per child), weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. An extended-hours pop-up camp — designed for the children of healthcare workers — takes place from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., at a rate of $50 per day (per child). YMCA childcare staff has received training on how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, as per CDC guidelines, kids in emergency childcare are being kept in groups no larger than 10, instructed on correct prevention techniques such as handwashing and sanitation and practice social distancing.

Youth in the Essential Childcare Camps participate in curriculum-based programs; including enrichment activities such as arts & crafts, STEM projects and daily fitness exercises. Homework time is an important part of these planned activities, allowing students to work on distance learning and school assignments. In addition, the Y is providing weekly education packets, ensuring all youth keep their academic skills current and do not fall behind in school. Children also participate daily in our Youth Fit 4 Life, the YMCA’s youth fitness program.

During these unprecedented times, the Central Coast YMCA is committed to serving our communities and those with the most pressing needs.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.centralcoastymca.org/

Journey Tribute Band One of Headline Acts to Perform at 2020 Monterey County Fair, Sept. 3-7

Journey Revisited, a band celebrating the music of San Francisco’s iconic Journey, will be one of the headliners at the 84th annual Monterey County Fair.

Monterey, CA, April 05, 2020 — Journey Revisited, a band celebrating the music of San Francisco’s iconic Journey, will be one of the headliners at the 84th annual Monterey County Fair, which will be held Sept. 3-7, 2020, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Journey Revisited will 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, on the Payton Stage at the Fair. All live music is free with fair admission. A full schedule of entertainment will be released early this summer.

Journey Revisited is a professional group of musicians who are inspired by the music of Journey and bring "national act" experience to every stage. The band will play all the top hits, with no rare B-sides or fillers. Each song is recreated note for note and performed in the original keys without pre-recorded backing tracks. What Journey fans remember hearing on the radio or albums is what they will get from Journey Revisited.

Fans should expect to hear chart-topping hits such as Lights, Don't Stop Believing, Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin', Anyway You Want It, Feeling That Way, Who's Crying Now, Only the Young, and Oh Sherrie.

The band has booked 30-plus shows a year consistently since 2011 throughout the west coast, playing fairs, casinos, festivals, corporate events, and private parties. Journey Revisited is a concert experience, not your typical bar cover band.

The Monterey County Fair will run from Thursday, Sept. 3-Monday, Sept. 7, 2020, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey. The theme of the 2019 fair is “Fiesta.”

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center
The Monterey County Fair & Event Center is a premier event center set on 22 oak-studded acres with ample parking. It is a state-owned multi-use facility that features four large banquet rooms, two outdoor concert venues, and a variety of outdoor and indoor cost-effective sites ideal for all types of events. It is home of the annual award-winning Monterey County Fair, host to many major and private events on the Central Coast, and the site of the Monterey Bay Race Place, a Satellite Wagering Facility.

For more information, contact the Fair Administration Office, at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey, by calling (831) 372-5863 or go to www.montereycountyfair.com for more information.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.montereycountyfair.com

Kata Cabrera’s Determination Helps her Overcome Obstacles

No matter the obstacle, Katarina Cabrera is hard-wired to persevere — always refusing to give up.

Salinas, CA, April 05, 2020 - The Alisal High School senior can certainly thank her parents for that trait, but the game of basketball also helped her develop her signature spunk and stamina.

“I have been playing basketball my whole life, and fell in love with it,” said Katarina, whose friends call her Kata for short.

When Gil Basketball Academy began 11 years ago, Kata couldn’t wait to sign up.

“It was so exciting because it was a big group of kids, and we did drills, we scrimmaged, it was great,” she said. A coach told her about GBA’s select travel teams and she joined — “no questions asked.”

“My dad took me to the next practice, and to my surprise it was all boys, no girls in sight,” she said. “At first I was a little overwhelmed and nervous, but once we got into practice all the nerves sorta just went away.”

Kata competed against boys for two years, “and today those boys on my team are some of my closest friends,” she said. “I was like one of the guys with them. I feel like it pushed me to feel more comfortable on the court, and just play the way I knew how.”

The 5-foot, 3-inch shooting guard played all four years at Alisal. Her senior season the girls team won the league championship and advanced to the Central Coast Section playoffs. She was awarded the most improved player on the team.

Born and raised in Salinas, Kata grew up in a family of six. All three of her siblings were girls.

A scholar athlete, the top student plans to choose among the UC San Diego, University of California, Davis, or University of California, Santa Barbara. Her goal is to obtain a degree in biology, and ultimately become a pediatrician.

“Education is a big thing for me,” she said. “I have big future plans for myself, which is why I push myself to work hard in school.”

Through GBA, Kata was able to travel (she played basketball and experienced different cultures in Mexico, Italy, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica). She also toured college campuses through GBA’s visitation program.

“Not only did GBA help to develop me as a player and create a deeper love for basketball, but they helped to create the work ethic for school I have today, and I thank them for that.”

Kata has also volunteered to coach young GBA players.

“It feels so good because you are someone they look up to and you get to see them develop as a player first hand,” she said. “It’s amazing.”

Coaching also gives her an opportunity to help kids find in themselves the work ethic and ability to overcome obstacles that Kata found in herself.

The future pediatrician simply never took “no” for an answer.

Kata vividly remembers a doctor’s appointment she had as a child. Her pediatrician walked into the exam room to give her a clean bill of health. Looking at Kata’s height on a chart, the doctor told the young girl that basketball certainly wasn’t in her future.

“That broke my heart for some reason,” she said. “After we left I cried. I have had many encounters where someone told me I was too short. But really that was just talk because I showed height didn’t really matter. I learned to block out the negativity and just play my game, the one I enjoy doing and pushed to better myself.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/