9th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival From Hollywood to Bollywood Award-Winning Movies, Speakers, Receptions March 2-17, 2019

The 9th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring eight films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 2-17, 2019.

Carmel, CA, January 17, 2019 - The 9th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring eight films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 2-17, 2019. Film information, dates, venues and times can be found on the CJFF website (www.carmeljff.org). Tickets are available either through the website or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Festival highlights include:

— Opening Night (March 2): Carl Laemmle, a documentary about the man who began the Hollywood film studio industry, followed by a Q &A with Greg Laemmle, President of Laemmle Theaters in Los Angeles.

— The return to the CJFF of two notable film makers: Roberta Grossman and Dani Menkin.

Grossman (Hava Nagila: The Movie, Above & Beyond) will discuss her award-winning documentary Who Will Write Our History on Sunday afternoon, March 3. The film transports its viewers inside the Warsaw Ghetto, where a group of journalists, scholars, and community leaders secretly buried documents that are later discovered after WWII. She also will serve as Scholar-in-Residence at Congregation Beth Israel on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2.

Dani Menkin (Dolphin Boy, On the Map) returns with his film Picture of His Life, a documentary about renowned underwater wildlife photographer and Pacific Grove resident Amos Nachoum. Both Menkin and Nachoum will participate in a Q & A following the film on Saturday evening, March 9.

— The CJFF will partner with the Center for Spiritual Awakening, Pacific Grove, on March 6 to present Itzhak, the Grammy Award-nominated (Best Music Film) documentary that explores the life of renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman.

— Partnering with The Village Project, Inc., Seaside, on Sunday, March 10, the CJFF will screen the Dutch film, An Act of Defiance, a nail-biting political thriller that explores the dark period in South Africa’s recent history, when 10 political activists, including Nelson Mandela, face a possible death sentence after being arrested by the apartheid government.

— The CJFF’s Second Annual Night of Shorts will feature five short films on Tuesday, March 12. Israeli film director Keren Hantman will discuss her film, Masks On, about Israeli families living under the threat of biological warfare.

— A reception with Indian food and dancing precedes Shalom Bollywood, a film about the role of Jewish women in the early Bollywood industry, on Closing Night, March 17.

As the only Jewish film festival in Monterey County, we serve all residents in efforts to promote understanding, respect, and cooperation through education using the medium of film. While informed by a uniquely Jewish sensibility, our films communicate themes and messages with universal appeal to a wide audience drawn from the Monterey Peninsula and beyond. Our festival’s accompanying programs further engage mind and heart through discussion and social interaction. We hope that our Festival will help bridge cultural and religious differences and contribute to community solidarity and peace.

Additional information about all films and events, including ticket prices, can be found on the Carmel Jewish Film Festival website (www.carmeljff.org).

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

Monterey County: The Ideal Place to find a New You in the New Year

Monterey County embodies the perfect backdrop to uncover a new, relaxed and inspired you in 2019.

Monterey, CA, January 16, 2019 – Monterey County embodies the perfect backdrop to uncover a new, relaxed and inspired you in 2019. The natural beauty of California’s Central Coast redwood forests, verdant valleys and sweeping, towering cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean will erase stress and inspires a new state of being.

“With plentiful offerings that will rejuvenate mind, body and soul, Monterey County is the ultimate destination for travelers to disconnect and focus on themselves in the New Year,” says Rob O’Keefe, Chief Marketing Officer for the Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB). “From spas and meditation studios to hiking trails and literary sites, travelers will surely be relaxed and revitalizedafter a trip to Monterey County.”

Below are some ideas for the perfect new you escape to Monterey County:

The newest luxury resort in Marina, The Spa at Sanctuary Beach Resortleavesguests feeling refreshed and inspired with their range of custom treatments focusing on body care and total wellness. For ultimate pampering time, guests can indulge in the unique Salt Wood Spa RX treatment, a sea salt exfoliation using seasonally inspired salt blends to aid the body in releasing toxins while unveiling a healthy glow. For head to toe relaxation, The Spa at Sanctuary Beach Resort offersthe Pacific Ocean Body Treatment - a basalt stone face massage, mineral rich seaweed body mask and a full body massage.

To further cultivate and elevate well-being, consciousness and kindness, visit Monterey Bay Meditation Studio for a variety of movement, nature and relational meditation sessions, retreats and courses. Sessions are held on the beach, in the forest, by the river, and in meadows throughout Monterey County, as well as in their ocean-view studio in Pacific Grove. In 2019, the studio will be offering a Conscious Living Series, which includes several courses focusing on different aspects of incorporating mindfulness into daily life.

Among the rolling hills and sun-dappled vineyards of Carmel Valley, the Spa at Bernardus Lodge offers a variety of unique experiences for rejuvenation, inspiration and indulgence. With seasonal body treatments focusing on the solstices and equinoxes, the experiences integrate celestial reminders to take time for ourselves; reflect on the past, renew for the future and optimize balance.

Find inner peace at Refuge in Carmel – America’s first co-ed outdoor relaxation spa. This sanctuary is a wellness paradise offering the ultimate in relaxation through a three-step thermal cycle featuring a cedar sauna with Himalayan salt walls, eucalyptus infused steam rooms, cold plunges, and warm pools with thermal waterfalls. Repeated use of Refuge’s thermal cycle soothes aches and pains, speeds up metabolism, and enhances muscle recuperation– the perfect recipe for a new you.

More than 50 years ago, the Esalen Institute was founded as a retreat and educational center focused on creating a space where people could explore holistic approaches to wellness and personal transformation. Esalen attracts a worldwide network of teachers and seekers who look beyond dogma to explore deeper spiritual possibilities; forge new understandings of self and society; and pioneer new paths for change. Located in Big Sur, visitors can enjoy a plethora of experiences from moonlit baths in natural hot springs to unique forms of massage that focus on energy exchange and psychological well-being.

To expand the mind in the New Year, don't miss out on some of Monterey’s most notable literary sites including the National Steinbeck Center in downtown Salinas, Robinson Jeffers' Tor House in charming Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Henry Miller Library in majestic Big Sur.

Visitors looking to reconnect with nature will discover the exquisite beauty of Monterey County’s great outdoors. Take a stroll or bike ride along the 18-mile scenic stretchof the Monterey Bay Coastal Recreation Trail from Castroville (also known as the "Artichoke Capital of the World") in the North, to Pacific Grove in the South. Picnic on the white sands of Carmel Beach, hike through Fort Ord National Monumentor explore Pebble Beach’s gentle tide pools.

Learn how to unplug and discover mindfulness in beautiful Monterey Countyby uncoveringincredible, life changing, and enriching experiences. Additionally, Monterey County has become one of the country’s leaders in sustainable travel while offering unforgettable moments. Visitors are asked to practice responsible travel that will help minimize negative impacts to the environment, and preserve the cultural and natural resources of the destination. Visit responsibly and preserve the wonder of Monterey County on the beautiful California Central Coast in the New Year, and for years to come.

CONTACT:
Jessica Lessard, Monterey County CVB
(831) 657-6413; JLessard@SeeMonterey.com

ABOUT MONTEREY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is a 501c6 non-profit destination marketing organization that drives tourism for Monterey County as a premier destination to leisure and business travelers. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that drives business growth through compelling marketing and targeted sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.85 billion in 2017, representing a 3.5 percent increase from 2016. Visitor spending supported 24,990 jobs, contributed $255 million in total taxes and generated $127 million local tax dollars that directly benefited the community.

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

MPA Watch helps celebrate California Underwater Parks Day this January

STATEWIDE—California Underwater Parks Day arrives Saturday through Monday, January 19-21.

Salinas, CA, January 15, 2019 - STATEWIDE—California Underwater Parks Day arrives Saturday through Monday, January 19-21.

The annual event represents a special statewide celebration of a stunningly beautiful—and richly diverse—network of 124 marine protected areas (MPAs) that includes gems like Point Reyes State Marine Reserve, Elkhorn Slough State Marine Reserve and Swami’s State Marine Conservation Area.

MPAs have helped conserve and protect the ocean along the legendary West Coast—and that means defending fuzzy otters and spotted harbor seals, electric orange nudibranchs and garibaldi, regal egrets and gorgeous grey whales, as well as protecting the ecosystems that support them.

It also means preserving famous viewscapes, areas of cultural significance to indigenous communities, and boosting local economies with the power of the tourist dollar.

As outlets including the BBC and PBS reported in 2015, the recovery of over-taxed ecosystems like Monterey Bay has translated to billions in tourism.

BBC series producer Adam White called Monterey Bay's recovery “one of the greatest wildlife conservation success stories on the planet…and all of this is happening between San Francisco and Los Angeles—two of the largest cities in the world. If it can work here, it should inspire the rest of the world to take care of their ocean."

That would not have happened without MPA Watch, which helps defend 58 different MPAs statewide.

The MPA Watch story is one of community heroism and tons of data. Legion volunteers use standardized methods to collect endless information on California's beaches and bluffs inside and outside MPAs, recording all offshore and onshore coastal activities, from swimming and surfing to fishing and harvesting.

All data collected by volunteers undergo rigorous quality assurance before being accepted and shared with users like state coastal managers and environmental researchers.

Those authorities then use that information to target the most important places for enhanced education and outreach, signage, and law enforcement. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) leads the management and enforcement of MPA regulations.

All told MPA Watch heroes monitor 187,917 acres of marine protected areas. They submitted 3,164 surveys in 2018.

With warming oceans, oil companies hoping to drill in all sorts of places, poachers and other bad actors all threatening the health of California’s coast, continuing to protect the state’s ocean ecosystems now—and for generations to come—is a perpetual priority.

It also makes California Underwater Parks Day an important holiday and a major public benefit.

There are many ways for everyday people to get involved, including 1) completing simple surveys on the MPA Watch website, 2) volunteering to help monitor the coast’s MPAs, 3) donating to local MPA Watch organizations, and 4) visiting MPAs to enjoy their beauty!

More information awaits at www.mpawatch.org.

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

Third Night's A Charm

Book 3 nights and the 3rd is 1/3 off. A getaway is always a wonderful break…

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, January 14, 2019 - Book 3 nights and the 3rd is 1/3 off. A getaway is always a wonderful break…they just don’t last long enough. At Hofsas House we know the 3rd nights a charm!

Subject to availability. Minimum of three (3)-night stay required. Savings reflected in rate at time of booking. If modifications to reservation are made during your hotel stay (e.g. early departure), the promotion is void and your rate will be adjusted to the rate of the day. Taxes and gratuities not included. Offer not applicable to groups, negotiated or third-party rates. Not combinable with any other offers. Not applicable to existing reservations. Blackout dates apply. Offer valid from February and March 2019 excluding holidays and AT&T golf week. Mention Code HHCHARM when booking.

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

Yeast of Eden’s Grand Opening on January 17th to Benefit Monterey County Food Bank

Yeast of Eden, the newly renovated restaurant & brewery that occupies the south end of the Carmel Plaza is announcing its grand opening on Thursday, January 17th.

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, January 14, 2019 - Yeast of Eden, the newly renovated restaurant & brewery that occupies the south end of the Carmel Plaza is announcing its grand opening on Thursday, January 17th. After opening quietly last month, the hip, contemporary designed 120 seat restaurant (plus40 outdoor patio seats) is partnering with the Monterey County Food Bank by donating 100% of the proceeds from the evening’s sales.

“It’s a priority for us to align with a local, charitable cause in conjunction with announcing our opening to the community,” said J.C. Hill, Co-Owner. “We’re here not only as a community gathering place, but as a community partner,” he said. Hill and his father, John, are also the owners of Alvarado Street Brewery in Monterey and Salinas. It was a “no brainer” for them to align with the Monterey County Food Bank, as the holiday season tends to place a strain on the organization’s resources as they head into the new year.

Yeast of Eden began as a side project of Alvarado Street Brewery starting in 2015, as Hill and (now) Head Brewer Andrew Rose were barrel aging beers with some of Rose’s experimental “mixed” cultures. “Mixed fermentation just refers to the variety of organisms used to metabolize sugars produced during the brewing process,” said Rose. “Our cultures contain multiple varieties of brewer’s yeast, but also native yeasts & lactic acid producing microflora, creating a sense of terroir in each of our beers.”

A common thread among all the Yeast of Eden beers is a crisp, dry profile that sets the stage for fruit forward, fermentation-derived flavors and assertive effervescence that creates an almost champagne-like finish. Each has a varying level of acidity, almost to the same degree as wine, which presented a food pairing opportunity that Hill was eager to pursue.

“We wanted bright, bold flavors to align with the soft acidity and layered flavors of Andrew’s beers. Sweet, spicy, savory & umami – combined with the beer, we wanted your entire palate to dance over the course the meal,” said Hill. The result was a global, street food-inspired menu with Southeast Asian & Latin American influence. Hill says he was lucky enough to bring on Chef Stephen Paulson, formerly of Ba Bar & Elysian Fields in Seattle, to curate a menu specifically designed to pair with mixed fermentation beers.

Some of the quickly adopted fan favorites in their short four weeks of existence are the crispy battered Saigon wings tossed in a spicy fish sauce caramel, as well as the miso creamed kale that features a mix of foraged & domestic mushrooms. The menu offers street tacos with hand made corn tortillas for both lunch and dinner, but also offers a range of share plates and large entrees. Customers so far have been emphatic about the Red Curry Duck, which is hot smoked & dry aged Peking duck breast served in a spicy red curry sauce with grilled pineapple. Burger lovers will find satisfaction in their kobe grind “Publican” burger with rosemary & sage frites.

Beyond the 26 beer taps and eclectic eats, Yeast of Eden offers a full bar where Assistant General Manager Adam Ono is slowly building out a promising cocktail program, and one that will eventually feature four on draft. Ono, formerly of Future Bars (SF), 1833, and most recently California Market at Pacific’s Edge, has created several promising libations already. “Thou Mayest” is another Steinbeck reference and an egg white cocktail with rye, Campari, fernet branca, amaro & lime.

Yeast of Eden is currently open from 11 am until 10 pm (kitchen until 9 pm), but after their Grand Opening on the 17th,hours will change. The restaurant brewery will be open from 11:30 am to 10 pm, Sunday through Wednesday, with kitchen hours extended until 11 pm Thursday through Saturday. The bar will stay open until midnight on those days. Reservations and more information is available online at yoebeer.com.

Yeast of Eden
Carmel Plaza Suite 112
Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
Contact: J.C. Hill, 831-747-0841
jc@alvaradostreetbrewery.com

Contact Co-Owner J.C. Hill for all press related inquiries.
Cell – 831-747-0841
Email – jc@alvaradostreetbrewery.com

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

Nicole Hollingsworth of Marina Appointed to Monterey County Fair Board of Directors

The Monterey County Fair & Event Center has announced that Nicole Hollingsworth, 32, of Marina, has been appointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board of Directors.

Monterey, CA, January 13, 2019 — The Monterey County Fair & Event Center has announced that Nicole Hollingsworth, 32, of Marina, has been appointed to the 7th District Agricultural Association, Monterey County Fair Board of Directors.

Hollingsworth has been district director for state Senate Majority Leader Bill Monning since 2013. She was field representative for then-state Assemblymember Monning from 2010 to 2013 and an administrative assistant for special projects at the Monterey Bay Aquarium from 2009 to 2010.

Hollingsworth, a Democrat, is a member of the Democratic Women of Monterey County, California State University Monterey Bay Foundation Board of Directors and the California State University Monterey Bay Alumni Association.

She earned a Master of Public Administration degree from Golden Gate University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation.

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

Sponsorships Now Available for Gala Event Celebrating Gavilan College’s Centennial, ‘Gavilan through the Decades,’ Set for Sept. 7, 2019

Sponsorships are now available for a gala event celebrating Gavilan College’s centennial, set for Sept. 7, 2019, on the college campus.

Gilroy, CA, January 13, 2019 — Sponsorships are now available for a gala event celebrating Gavilan College’s centennial, set for Sept. 7, 2019, on the college campus.

“Gavilan Through The Decades,” which looks back at the college’s 100-year history, will be held from 5:30–9:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the college at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. in Gilroy. Tickets are now available as are sponsorships, ranging from $500 to $50,000.

Sponsorships, which offer a number of benefits depending on level of sponsorship, including gala tickets, signage, promotion and advertising, social media and website promotion, and more, will go a long way in helping Gavilan students reach their career goals.

Go to https://www.gavilan.edu to find out more about sponsorship opportunities. To become a sponsor, contact 'Bobbi Jo Palmer' at bpalmer@gavilan.edu. Here are the sponsorship opportunities available now:

Sponsorship Opportunities:

Platinum Sponsor - $50,000

•Title Sponsor of all centennial events from September 2019 – August 2020. This includes the kick off Gala on September 7th, 2019

The college anticipates 10 – 15 additional smaller events throughout the centennial year

•Logo on all event title on all advertising, correspondence & promotional materials

•Major event signage

•Introduction of representatives at podium at event

•Website promotion

•Full-page ad in Centennial Celebration Gala September 7th souvenir program

•Centennial Celebration Gala 20 event tickets ($2,500 Value)

•Two (2) VIP Presidential Reception tickets

•$5000 scholarship for centennial year in your name

•Enewsletter donor spotlight

•Featured in all public relations outreach

•Monthly spotlight on Gavilan College Social Media Channels for the entire year

•30 season passes to all athletic events

Diamond Sponsor - $25,000

•Co-Sponsor at Gala (featured under all title sponsors name)

•Logo on all event title on all advertising, correspondence & promotional materials

•Major event signage

•Introduction of representatives at podium at event

•Website promotion

•Full-page ad in Centennial Celebration Gala souvenir program

•10 event tickets ($1250 Value)

•Two (2) VIP Presidential Reception tickets

•$2,500 scholarship for centennial year in your name

•Mentioned in all public relations outreach

•Six spotlights on Gavilan College Social Media Channels for the entire year

•20 season passes to all athletic events

Gold Sponsor - $10,000

•Logo on all event advertising, correspondence & promotional materials

•Logo on event signage

•Introduction of representatives at podium at event

•Website promotion

•Half-page ad in Centennial Celebration Gala souvenir program

•10 event tickets ($1250 Value)

•Two (2) VIP Presidential Reception tickets

•Choice of $1,000 scholarship for centennial year in your name or 10 season passes to all athletic events

•Mentioned in all public relations

•Promoted on social media

Bronze Benefactor - $5,000

•Logo on all event advertising

•Website Promotion

•Half-page ad in Centennial Celebration Gala souvenir program

•6 event tickets ($750 value)

•Choice of $500 scholarship for centennial year in your name or 5 season passes to all athletic events

•Mentioned in all public relations

•Promoted on social media

Silver Sponsor - $2,500

•Sponsor signage

•Website promotion

•Half-page ad in Centennial Celebration Gala souvenir program

•$250 scholarship for centennial year in your name

•4 event tickets ($625)

•4 season passes to all athletic events

•Mentioned in all public relations

•Promoted on social media

Pewter Sponsor - $1,250

•Sponsor signage

•Website promotion

•1/4-page ad in Centennial Celebration Gala souvenir program

•2 event tickets ($625)

Chrome- $500

•Recognition in Centennial Celebration Gala souvenir program

•2 event tickets ($250)

Gala Celebration

Guests at the gala will take a nostalgic and informative stroll through the decades of Gavilan’s history from the 1920s to today. Each decade will feature areas of academia highlighted with education tables, as well as food stations with themed food from each decade, wine stations, live music, photo booths, students in period costume, formal portraits, live auction, silent auction, strolling card magician in a tuxedo, and a string quartet.

When guests check in, they will be given a commemorative wine glass and a program for the evening that contains a map that highlights where each decade is located and what is taking place in each decade’s area.

“We are really looking forward to this celebration, and look forward to welcoming the community to campus for the party of the century!” said Dr. Kathleen Rose, Superintendent / President of Gavilan College.

From 5:30-7:15 p.m., guests will stroll Sycamore Lane on campus to take in the Roaring ’20s through the Jazzy ’40s, which will be highlighted by three wine station, three themed food stations, three areas of academia, a student jazz band, and students in period costumes strolling and speaking to guests.

As guests continue to stroll through the ages on Sycamore Lane, they will enter the Rockin’ ’50s area, where they will be greeted by a fourth winery, adult milkshake bar, food station from the ’50s, and performers in poodle skirts and ducktail haircuts dancing away to the music of the ’50s.

At the end of Sycamore Lane, guests will enter the Student Center Courtyard, where they will savor the sights, sounds and flavors of the decades from the 1960s through the 1990s. There they will be greeted by four more winery stations and food stations with themed food from each decade, two areas of academia, a strolling card magician in a tuxedo, a photo booth with costumes and props from the ’60s to the ’90s. Guests will be able to take home a strip of photos from their photo shoot.

At 7:15 p.m. the outdoor reception areas close and the doors open to the Student Center, where the 2000s to the present will be highlighted and where the elegant evening gala takes place. Guests will be greeted by a string quartet and can get their formal portraits taken. Photos in a keepsake folder will be ready one hour after being taken. Guests will enjoy passed appetizers as well as gourmet themed food stations featuring the region’s bounty. They can bid on more than 70 items at the silent auction area, as well as an opportunity drawing with five prizes. There will also be a handful of live auction items.

At 7:50 p.m., the program will begin with a welcome from Superintendent/President Dr. Kathleen A. Rose, who will share the history of the college, acknowledge all sponsors and dignitaries, introduce all honorees from each decade and present them or their family representatives with a plaque, draw winners of opportunity drawing, conduct a live auction, and close the silent auction at 8:30 p.m.

At 8:45 p.m., guests can check out and pick up their formal portrait. The event will end at 9:00 p.m.

Gavilan College was established in 1919 as the San Benito County Junior College, operating under that name until 1963, when a new community college district was drawn that included both San Benito County and southern Santa Clara County. The college moved to its present main campus in 1968.

In 1997, satellite sites were added in Hollister and Morgan Hill to augment offerings on the main campus. In 2008, land was purchased in Coyote Valley and San Benito County for the development of additional campuses. In 2017, Phase 1 of the Coyote Valley Center was completed, becoming Gavilan's newest instructional site and the home for South Bay Public Safety Training Consortium police and fire academies.

Gavilan College is one of 114 California community colleges, a part of the largest system of higher education in the world.

To purchase tickets to the gala, go to https://www.gavilan.edu.

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

2019 marks the Golden Anniversary of 1969, the single most amazing year of the 20th century

From the moonwalk to Woodstock, major cultural, political and musical turning points abounded. CELEBRATION ’69 is a multimedia presentation that tries to capture the essence of that crazy year through a combination of images, a live band, and storytelling.

Salinas, CA, January 13, 2019 - From the moonwalk to Woodstock, major cultural, political and musical turning points abounded. CELEBRATION ’69 is a multimedia presentation that tries to capture the essence of that crazy year through a combination of images, a live band, and storytelling. The show will open Hartnell’s annual SpringFEST, playing February 8th and 9th in the Studio Theater on the Hartnell campus in Salinas. The show starts at 7:30 with live pre-show music from the era starting at 7:00. Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.

CELEBRATION ’69 focuses on six iconic events from 1969: Nixon becomes president, man walks on the moon, Charles Manson masterminds a series of gruesome murders, The Woodstock Music Festival plays to half a million blissful hipsters, the Beatles record Abbey Road, their final album, and the peace and love sixties die a miserable death at a Rolling Stones concert outside the Altamont Speedway in northern California. Each event is explained with images and narration while a live band onstage plays medleys of songs released in 1969 as transitional links. And the audience is encouraged to join in, singing along with those classic tunes that remain popular fifty years later. There’s even a Beatles trivia contest!

In addition to the six iconic events, audiences will learn about countless other major happenings that made 1969 such a unique year: Edward Kennedy severely damages his political fortunes by driving off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island; a giant oil spill fouls the beaches of Santa Barbara and a polluted river in Cleveland literally catches fire, giving birth to the environmental activism movement; the largest anti-war protests in American history take place in November and December; police raid a gay bar in New York City - The Stonewall Inn - and for the first time meet fierce resistance, giving birth to the gay rights movement; Star Trek airs its final episode and Sesame Street its first, and on and on and on. Quite a year.

As well as a live band playing tunes from the year on stage, CELEBRATION ’69 also looks at the explosion of music that occurred that year - debut albums from Led Zeppelin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Allman Brothers, Janis Joplin, Elton John, Chicago, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, and, believe it or not, that’s just a partial list!

CELEBRATION ’69 was created by Mark Shilstone-Laurent who acts as narrator and plays with the band. In addition to Shilstone-Laurent, the band is made up of talented local musicians, some of whom weren’t even alive in 1969, but, who love to play the songs from that era - just like many people still love hearing them. Special guest star Randall Thayer also makes an appearance.

The show features photos, many of which will be shown for the first time, from the collection of rock photographer/journalist Stephen Robert Caraway who passed away in 2015 but left a treasure chest of iconic images from rock and roll’s biggest stars that starts all the way back in 1967. The show is a memorial to Mr. Caraway’s photos as well as his spirit that never really lost track of what the 60’s tried to be all about - peace and love.

Although CELEBRATION ’69 plays right into the wheelhouse of the Boomers who lived it, it’s a show for anyone who may be curious as to why the 60’s and its music are considered such a big deal - or for history buffs that understand just how unique 1969 was.

Mark Shilstone
831-915-4550
mark@medialine.com

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

Superintendent Burns praises new ROP mission statement, says District is committed to expanding Career Education Opportunities

After about 18 months on the job, Salinas Union High School District Superintendent Dan Burns believes that his vision for the district is still strong and on track and aligns with the Mission Trails ROP/CTE new mission statement.

Salinas, CA, January 8, 2019 — After about 18 months on the job, Salinas Union High School District Superintendent Dan Burns believes that his vision for the district is still strong and on track and aligns with the Mission Trails ROP/CTE new mission statement.

“The district’s mission aligns exactly with Mission Trails ROP/CTE’s mission statement, that all students will graduate college-ready and career-ready,” he said. “ROP has been doing a good job of aligning with the mission of the district, which is that the district develops educated learners to the highest standards, preparing them to achieve their life's aspirations and to be productive citizens in a global society.”

The new ROP mission statement is simple and to the point: “Mission Trails ROP/CTE prepares students to be career-ready by providing them with relevant skills.”

Part of fulfilling those missions is to improve and expand the district’s facilities. Currently, the district has begun construction on expanding its Continuation High School, adding a multi-purpose room and cafeteria; the new 6,240 square-foot CTE and Health & Public Service Laboratory is under construction; and the new Rancho San Juan High School, the fifth high school in the district, scheduled to open in August 2019.

Burns said the facilities expansion not only allows the district to expand its existing programs, but to introduce new programs.

“The board is committed to expand career education programs,” he said. “We’ve set the bar high to be an exemplary learning environment for both students and staff.”

Burns said one of the goals of the district now is “How do we refine and get better at what we do?”

“It’s a big school district, but we believe we’re a district on the move,” he says, pointing out the new high school and $50 million in bond funding for modernizing at all the district’s high school. “There’s a lot of positive energy to improving the learning conditions for students here in Salinas.”

The Board of Trustees of the Salinas Union High School District unanimously appointed Burns as the District’s new Superintendent, effective July 1, 2017.

Burns is entering his 27th year in the school district. He started in the district as a classified employee as a Guidance Technician at El Sausal Middle School. He was also a dropout prevention counselor, a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, and an Associate Superintendent for Instructional Services. After one year as superintendent of the Jefferson Union High School District in 2016, Burns returned to the Salinas district.

Burns has been recognized for his contributions and leadership. He was recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) as the High School Principal of the Year in 2011 and as the Curriculum and Instruction Superintendent of the Year in 2016. Additionally, Burns has been a presenter for WestEd, the Central Coast Section (CCS) Sportsmanship Committee, and ACSA. He also has been a principal mentor for new principals through ACSA. Beyond his professional duties, he has been active in his community as well.

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

Austin Based Singer Songwriter Ferera Swan Announces Emotional Debut Single “Second Time” for Release on February 1, 2019!

Emerging singer- songwriter, Ferera Swan packs a compelling vocal laced with a ton of emotion. Swan is ready to introduce her artistry and heap of talent withherbrand new single “Second Time,” slated for debut on February 1, 2019.

Austin, TX, January 08, 2019 - Emerging singer- songwriter, Ferera Swan packs a compelling vocal laced with a ton of emotion. Swan is ready to introduce her artistry and heap of talent withherbrand new single “Second Time,” slated for debut on February 1, 2019.

Ferera describes the complexities to adoption in her deeply moving pop ballad. “Second Time” is a song intensely rooted from loss, grief, and love. The track was written for Ferera’s own birth mother after their reunion, where they experienced the loss for each other all over again. The song gently builds with delicate piano melodies that follow Ferera’s impassioned vocals. Swan sings: “how can you say you love someone, you don’t even want to know?” Her voice is layered with such range and texture that embraces this confusion, despair, and tenderness behind the song.

As Ferera discovers her own internal conflicts she anticipates for listeners to do the same, so they can uncover this ongoing journey of healing together. By opening up, she connects with others to encourage their own resolutions.

“By allowing ourselves to be vulnerable, we inspire others to be curious about their own pain, Ferera Swan notes. Together, we spread the kind of love & healing this world needs.”

“Second Time” was produced by former Seal drummer Ramy Antoun (A&F Drum Co.); the work of Jacob Hildebrand (Miranda Lambert), Jake Riley (The Spazmatics), Sergio Andrade (Lifehouse); and mixes/masters by the notable, multi GRAMMY award-winning Reid Shippen.

“Second Time” is the debut single from Ferera Swan’s planned upcoming EP.

About Ferera Swan:
Growing up in Houston, Texas, began piano lessons with music theory and ear training at age 3. Three years later she started violin lessons. After learning that she was adopted at age 10, Ferera poured unanswered questions into music, writing her first song at age 12, followed by her first cinematic score at age 14 titled 'Serenity', which was premiered by four orchestras for a turnout of over 2,ooo during her senior year of high school. Her original piece, 'Lighthouse', was featured as a soundtrack in the film documentary, Swim For The Reef, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in France, 2016. Ferera has also played at notable venues in the South and West Coast including: Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara. Ferera plans to continue touring in support of her upcoming EP, set for a 2019 release.

Her upcoming record gives fans a brand-new perspective on this artist from the inside out: revealing an intimate collection of messages relevant to all of us, reaching the hearts of all listeners.By inspiring others with her story through music as an artist, adoptee, and a voice for adoptees, Ferera is passionate advocate for raising awareness in the areas of mental/emotional health, trauma education & research, victim abuse, and foster care & adoption.

Contact:
Chip Schutzman
Miles High Productions
PO Box 93157
Hollywood CA 90093
323-806-0400
Chip@mileshighproductions.com
http://www.mileshighproductions.com

Monterey Symphony Launches Search for New Music Director

The Monterey Symphony has launched a search for a new music director. The new position will commence June 2021.

Monterey, CA, January 04, 2019 — The Monterey Symphony has launched a search for a new music director. The new position will commence June 2021.

The two-year search will be conducted by a committee, established in the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Musician's Union, and stipulates a committee of nine — five members representing management, and four representing musicians.

The symphony hopes to announce a new music director in April 2021, with the first concert with the new music director in October 2021. Candidates for the post will be invited for interviews in May 2019, and will be invited to conduct during the 2020-2021 season.

The music director, among other things, will select music to be performed at classical and other symphonic programs, select soloists, serve as the principal conductor, and work within the limits established by the organization's budget, its bylaws and its internal policies.

The Music Director reports to the Board of Directors and works closely and cooperatively with them and the Executive Director in pursuing the organization's objectives.

“Monterey Symphony is seeking an exceptional conductor with significant experience leading professional ensembles at a high level, who has wide-ranging intellectual and cultural interests and excellent communication skills,” according to the symphony’s website. “They will be able to demonstrate the ability to inspire musicians, board members and staff and cultivate effective relationships with guest artists, composers and other artistic partners.”

The application procedure and more information on the duties and requirements of the position are available at: https://www.montereysymphony.org/employment.htm.

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

Pin It To Win It

Pin It To Win It! The beginning of the year is a great time to start planning the details of your #weddingday, and Pinterest is the perfect place to check out the latest trends

Monterey, CA, January 02, 2019 - Pin It To Win It! The beginning of the year is a great time to start planning the details of your #weddingday, and Pinterest is the perfect place to check out the latest trends — from wedding activities to finding your something blue!

The team at Hyatt Regency Monterey is here to make your dreams come true ... so pin your favorites for a chance to win! Happy posting

Enter Today

Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/montereyhyatt
Create a board titled: Dream Wedding

Add a minimum of 5 pins with your favorite wedding inspo! From reception decor to bridesmaid pics there is no shortage of awesome wedding ideas on pinterest! Be sure to use the hashtag #WeddingsInAHyattWorld

Email a link your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey as well as a romantic dinner at #TusCA! Winner will be announced February 5th.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/

Hofsas House Hotel Facebook Contest!

This month we are giving you the chance to win a two-night stay at Hofsas House by sharing your own sign!

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA, January 01, 2019 - This month we are giving you the chance to win a two-night stay at Hofsas House by sharing your own sign! Simply create your sign telling us why you'd love to win, and our favorite post will win a two-night stay. We will also choose two other winners to receive a Hofsas House logo tote bag and water bottle, or our dog amenity package. Happy Posting!

It's simple:

1. Create your sign
2. Post it on our Facebook page using thehashtag #WinWithHofsasHouse
3. Don't do Facebook? Email your entry to marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com
4. One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at our beautiful hotel in Carmel, and two other winners will receive a Hofsas House logo tote bag and water bottle, or our dog amenity package (water bowl, frisbee, dog shampoo and towel).
5. Contest runs January 1-30, 2019.

Winner announced February 5th.

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

Salinas-Based Beefy Boys Beef Jerky Co. contest to gift up to 20 Pounds of Locally Crafted Jerky to its Monterey County, California customers to celebrate the BEEFY BOYS® brand’s 20th Anniversary!

If you live in Monterey County, California, keep your eyes peeled for those “Golden Tickets” in 2019.

Salinas, CA, December 31, 2018 — If you live in Monterey County, California, keep your eyes peeled for those “Golden Tickets” in 2019. If you see a “Gold” Ingredient label on Beefy Boys Jerky in the year 2019, you just might be Gifted a pound of Beefy Boys Beef jerky!

The gifting of jerky is meant to celebrate Salinas-based Beefy Boys Beef Jerky’s 20th Anniversary in 2019. There will be 2,000 Golden Tickets (bags with a gold colored ingredient label and a unique lot number of 1 to 2000). For every 100 Golden Tickets, one lot number will be selected for its finder to be gifted a pound of Jerky, with the selected number being listed on the Beefy Boys jerky Facebook page BEFORE it is delivered to a local Monterey County, California store, subject to all Facebook Contest Rules. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Numbers listed in advance at: https://www.facebook.com/LocaleJerky. One winner per ticket, with the FIRST person to name the 1) Store Name 2) Store Location and 3) Time and Date that they discovered the winning ticket to be gifted the pound of jerky. Call the number on the bag or post this information to our Facebook page, under the photo of the winning bag.

Beefy Boys jerky uses local ingredients, is locally owned, locally made, and locally distributed in Monterey County, California. Look for Beefy Boys Jerky in all Monterey County Safeway Stores, and nearly 200 other grocery stores, wineries, brewing companies & retails shops throughout Monterey County, CA.Questions should be emailed to info@Top10Produce.com.

No purchase is required, and the bags bearing the Golden Tickets can be discovered only in Monterey County retail stores that currently supply Beefy Boys brand beef jerky. One golden ticket number per 100 tickets (20 total potential winners) will be selected in advance of placement in the store. The tickets have no cash value and there will only be one winner per ticket.

Beefy Boys Beef Jerky Co.
https://www.ourlocale.org
Phone: 888-669-2010
Fax: 831-422-0180
1319 Burton Avenue - Suite C
Salinas, CA 93901

This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. You understand if you choose to post on the Facebook page for Beefy Boys Jerky Co. that you are providing your information to the owner of this Facebook page and not to Facebook.

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

Dream Team of Local Community Leaders Help Tenants Acquire Their Deteriorating Building From Absentee Owners

The story of the 665 LLC building and how it became owned and operated by the doctors and practitioners who worked within its walls is one of perseverance, frustration and teamwork. And a lot of “wrestling.”

Monterey, CA, December 31, 2018 — The story of the 665 LLC building and how it became owned and operated by the doctors and practitioners who worked within its walls is one of perseverance, frustration and teamwork. And a lot of “wrestling.”

“We started a wrestling match. We had to wrestle with them. And kick and scratch and fight,” says Dr. David Morwood, one of the tenants, and now one of the owner-occupants of 665 Munras Ave., about the epic battle with a Florida-based equity fund that owned the building.

The story goes back at least a decade, maybe more. The property, owned by Paul Verga at the time, had been a car dealership, bank and, currently, a suite of medical offices, including Morwood’s, a plastic surgeon. Morwood, in fact, at 13 years, was the longest-running tenant in the building, which houses medical offices, including a surgery center, allergist, radiology suites, hearing aid center, among others.

But since Verga’s death in 2002 and the 2008 real estate crash, when the building went into foreclosure and eventually ended up in the hands of the Florida equity fund, the building had fallen into serious disrepair. Morwood’s office experienced leaks and a partially collapsed ceiling. His entreaties to the absentee landlords went unheeded.

“I was sick of the out-of-state landlords ignoring us, so the only solution was to get ownership from the equity fund,” says Morwood. “We had to figure out how to get control of this amazing building and not allow this gem to be tarnished.”

Unfortunately, the building wasn’t on the market and the owners didn’t want to sell. So Morwood had to come up with a strategy to gain ownership. And since he wasn’t an expert in real estate, he consulted several friends and acquaintances who were. Folks like former City Councilman and developer Carl Outzen, renowned property owner Mike Marotta, commercial real estate professionals John Mahoney and Patrick Stafford, attorneys Andy Swartz and Mark Myers, bankers Clay Larson and Steve Keller. Morwood recalled it takes a team to win the Super Bowl.

With this Dream Team of experts and community leaders, Morwood set out to form a coalition of other tenants, business leaders, bankers and local businesses in the neighborhood to join in the effort. He called his long-term associate Dr. David Awerbuck, ENT surgeon, to add some "heavyweight expertise" and experience to the group. Not only is Dr. Awerbuck an expert ENT surgeon, he has an MBA from the University of Southern California.

“We started to get a lot of support, everybody was rooting for us,” he says. “It’s a great neighborhood and we got support from everybody.”

So this coalition made an unsolicited offer to the equity fund, which is when all the “kicking, scratching, maneuvering, negotiating” and yes, wrestling, began. It was a long, arduous process, but the equity fund relented and agreed to sell the building to the coalition. “I think they started to feel the pressure,” he says.

The deal closed in July, with most of the tenants on board as owner-operators and the whole effort was named 665 LLC, although Morwood said it would be renamed something along the lines of the Munras Medical Complex.

“The greatest feeling in the world is walking into the building knowing that we own it!” says Morwood, “it’s not a disinterested party from 2,400 miles away. We are the landlords. We did it, with a lot of help from some very hard-working pros.”

The building only has one space open now, the allergist has expanded operations and the Revitalessence Medical Spa & Laser Center has opened a branch.

And Morwood accomplished one other goal: “We fixed the roof! Now when it rains we don't have to worry and wonder if the ceiling will cave in on us!"

The Monterey Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception to celebrate local ownership of the 665 Munras building on Thursday, 17 Jan. 17, 2019, at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.

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

Schipper Design Grant Program Now Open to Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County Nonprofit Agencies

San Juan Bautista-based Schipper Design is inviting nonprofit agencies in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to apply for Creatives for Community grants.

San Juan Bautista, CA, December 25, 2018 — San Juan Bautista-based Schipper Design is inviting nonprofit agencies in Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties to apply for Creatives for Community grants.

“As we approach our third year of Creatives for Community, we are excited by the response we have had in the past and the overall success of the program,” said Kathy Schipper, Creative Director of Schipper Design. “We want to encourage any and all non-profits to bring us your marketing or design opportunity for 2019. We look forward to the engagement year after year.”

Creatives for Community is the brainchild of Schipper and stems from years of collaboration with nonprofits and her firm belief that nonprofits are an essential part of a healthy community, and deserve to have marketing materials equal to their for-profit counterparts.

“Here at Schipper Design, when we set out to give back to the community, we play to our strengths,” said Schipper. “The Creatives for Community grant program is one way of helping our local communities by doing what we do best — design. I want to invite other creative agencies around the county to participate and offer grants as well.”

Over the past two years, 20+ nonprofits from Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and San Benito County applied for the grant. One nonprofit from each county was chosen — Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade, Homeless Services Center, and R.E.A.C.H. San Benito Parks Foundation were among some of the organizations selected.

In this yearly program, each nonprofit receives 30 hours of graphic design time and personalized attention from the design and account management staffs. Schipper takes the lead in creative direction, but otherwise steps aside, thus promoting leadership-building among the account managers and allowing for unique relationships to form between designers and the clients.

To apply for the Creatives for Community grant, applications open on Jan. 1, 2019, and closes Feb. 28. Send an email to info@schipperdesign.com to receive an application.

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

Monterey County Nonprofit Max’s Helping Paws Gives Holiday Hope to Families Who Can’t Afford Treatment for Pets Who Become Ill

To Heather, her dog Trigger is more than a companion, he’s her “gift from God” and a certified Emotional Support Animal (E.S.A). But even more than that, he’s a member of her family along with her husband and three kids.

Del Rey Oaks, CA, December 23, 2018 — To Heather, her dog Trigger is more than a companion, he’s her “gift from God” and a certified Emotional Support Animal (E.S.A). But even more than that, he’s a member of her family along with her husband and three kids.

Heather is a U.S. Navy veteran, a former mineman used to dealing with high explosives, and suffers from PTSD. Trigger helps her deal with everyday life as a PTSD sufferer. So when Trigger fell ill, with blood and vomiting, he was diagnosed with a multitude of conditions that needed to be addressed right away, Heather’s heart sank.

Heather and her family were faced with a very difficult decision. The family was not able to afford the necessary medical treatment for Trigger. Without treatment and surgery, he would surely die.

“It’s hard to imagine that you could lose a member of your family over not being able to afford a simple test that we as humans take for granted,” said Heather. “I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t have him in my life.”

Luckily, Pet Specialists of Monterey, one of 20 partners, graciously arranged to have Trigger receive assistance from Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF). Max's Helping Paws Foundation is a Monterey County-based animal welfare organization that has actively given back to the community by helping more than 100 senior, low-income, veteran, disabled, disadvantaged and in-need responsible pet owners in the past 18 months.

Since its inception in mid-2017 it has awarded $75,000 in financial assistance to those needing it. Max’s Helping Paws is a financial lifeline for those desperate to save their dogs and cats from unexpected circumstance.

“We cannot express how much we appreciate all those that chipped in and came together to help him and us,” said Heather about Trigger’s last-minute reprieve. “I am so grateful for all the help we received. There was a point where I really felt we may have to say goodbye to Trigger. When I count my blessings at night, Max’s is at the top of the list.”

Today, Trigger is continuing a smooth and steady recovery. His gastro-intestinal complications have almost completely resolved and his skin improved just in a few days of medication. Trigger is also back to climbing up on his owners bed to snuggle with his best friend, the family’s 8-month-old son Wesley and even getting back into the habit of begging for a ride in the car when he hears anyone grab the car keys.”

But other dogs and cats may not be so lucky, their owners are constantly faced with decisions that no pet owner wants to face.

“These are my babies, I don’t have kids. I think about their own happiness before my own. I'd go homeless before I'd get rid of her,” said one, Sarah. “We wouldn’t amputate his arm — he’s so young. I considered putting him up for adoption,” said another.

“To see pets suffer, or to see pet owners consider euthanasia or surrender because of financial circumstance is heartbreaking,” said Dyana Klein, executive director and co-founder of Max’s Helping Paws Foundation with her husband, a veterinary internist. “With your help, we can keep families together and keep giving deserving Monterey County pets an incredible gift."

This year, Max’s is also part of Monterey County Gives fundraising campaign.

For every dollar given to Max’s Helping Paws through MC Gives!, a prorated match is applied to the first $75,000 the organization raises during the MC Gives! campaign, which runs through Dec. 31. And every dollar counts:

>$100 can provide medications for a pet in need.

>$300 can pay for critical blood/lab work.

>$500 can pay for biopsies and diagnostics to determine if a pet has a chance.

>$1,000 can provide initial treatment of chronic illnesses, including diabetes, Cushing’s, Addison’s, asthma and some cancers.

>$2,000 can provide a life-saving amputation or surgery.

A generous donation to Max’s through MC Gives! allows Max’s to continue to help families from having to make difficult decisions and save their pets from an awful fate.

To donate, go to the MC Gives! website at www.montereycountygives.com/PAWS. To be accepted as part of Monterey County Gives!, all checks from donors must be made payable to CFMC/MCGives!, and include instructions that it is a donation for Max’s Helping Paws Foundation, either in the memo line or on a separate piece of paper.

About Max’s Helping Paws Foundation
Maximillian was co-founder Dyana Klein's 14-year old Miniature Pinscher, who passed away on May 27, 2016, from a rare kidney cancer. While grieving the loss, she and her husband found comfort in knowing they did everything medically possible to try to save Max's life, though ultimately the war was lost. What they realized was just how important it was to know that no stone was left unturned, and they imagined the guilt and heartbreak for those who might have to allow their pets to suffer, or may need to euthanize or surrender them because of financial circumstances. Wanting to do something meaningful, and honor Max's memory in a way that would help them heal while helping others, Max's Helping Paws was born. Max's Helping Paws provides a financial lifeline for responsible Monterey County pet owners with a pet in a health crisis.ll

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

Hofsas House Hotel family celebrates spring with its Ninth Annual Fundraiser for the Food Bank For Monterey County on Thursday, March 28th, 2019

Savor appetizers from local chefs including La Balena/Il Grillo, Chef Annie Hobbs from A Taste of Elegance, Chef Soerke Peters from Etats-Unis, and Terry Teplitzky from Michael’s Catering/Wild Thyme Deli & Cafe!

Carmel, CA, December 21, 2018 - Savor appetizers from local chefs including La Balena/Il Grillo, Chef Annie Hobbs from A Taste of Elegance, Chef Soerke Peters from Etats-Unis, and Terry Teplitzky from Michael’s Catering/Wild Thyme Deli & Cafe! Enjoy a sweet treat from Lula’s Chocolates and Sweet Elena’s. Sip a glass of award winning wine from Scheid Vineyards, or some of Carmel Craft Brewing Company’s signature beer. Listen to the sounds of stringed instruments of Terrence Farrell. Support the Food Bank For Monterey County!

Where: Hofsas House at San Carlos & 4th Ave.,Carmel-by-the-Sea poolside!

When: Thursday, March 28th, 2019 Time:5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cost:$55 per person,

100% of the money raised will go to the Food Bank For Monterey County. Reservations: Limited reservations available. Call Carrie at the Hofsas House (831) 624-2745 to make a reservation.

All proceeds benefit the Food Bank For Monterey County. Donations allowed without your presence. The Food Bank for Monterey County, a certified Feeding America food bank, is the largest supplier of emergency food in Monterey County. We distribute 6 million pounds of food annually. The national image of our area is one of wealth and beauty. Yet poverty and food insecurity exist in the "Salad Bowl of the World." The challenge is great and we strive to meet it on a daily basis.

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

The Monterey Peninsula's Biggest and Best Super Bowl Party will be Held at Knuckles Sports Bar at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa

The biggest and best Super Bowl party will take place Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, at Knuckles Sports Bar at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa.

Monterey, CA, December 20, 2018 — The biggest and best Super Bowl party will take place Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, at Knuckles Sports Bar at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa. Voted the number-one sports bar on the Monterey Peninsula for 15 years in a row, Knuckles goes all-out for the biggest game of the year, in addition to its own 24 flat-screen TVs and two giant 8-foot TV screens, the adjacent viewing room, known as “The Vault,” will be opened up for even more fans, who will enjoy the game on two large-screen televisions and theater-style seating.

Knuckles Executive Chef Dan Elinan will create a variety of team-themed food and beverage specials throughout game day. Knuckles' regular menu and its wide array of craft beers and cocktails will also be available all day.

Not only that, there will be a charity raffle for The Food Bank of Monterey County with some great prizes, including gift certificates to Haute Enchilada, Portobello’s Salinas, Tarpy’s Roadhouse, vodka-themed gift baskets, one-night stays at the Hyatt, dinner for two at TusCA, team jerseys, and much more.

Raffle tickets are two for $5 and five for $10, and if you bring a non-perishable food item, that will score you one raffle ticket per item.

Power Talk AM 1460 and FM 101.1 will be broadcasting live from Knuckles!

Knuckles Sports Bar will open at 11:30 a.m., while The Vault opens its doors at 2 p.m. Advance reservations for seats in The Vault will be accepted for groups of eight or more. Reservations are limited and must be made through a Hyatt Food & Beverage Manager for parties of 8 people or more by calling (831) 657-4730.

All large parties must be there in person to be seated and there will be a 15-minute grace period for arrival, after which the table will be given to another party.

Reservations will not be taken for Knuckles, which is first-come, first-served.

Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m., however, pre-game coverage will start earlier in the day.

So if you want to make this Super Bowl game a fun and memorable one, Knuckles Sports Bar has to be your first choice.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://monterey.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Kevin D. Ellis Named General Manager of Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Kevin D. Ellis as its new General Manager.

Monterey, CA, December 19, 2018 — The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Kevin D. Ellis as its new General Manager.

Ellis joined the Hyatt Monterey team as Director of Operations in July 2015, then promoted to Hotel Manager in November 2017, before being named General Manager.

Ellis has had a long tenure with Hyatt Hotels, spanning over 18 years and eight different Hyatt properties across the United States and Canada.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Nestled on 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s House, TusCA Restaurant, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

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

Explore the Towns of Marina, Salinas and Seaside, California Outdoor Adventure, Foodie Finds and Undiscovered Gems Await!

Outdoor adventures. Diverse dining. Rich cultural history. Monterey County is home to all of these unforgettable experiences — and you can discover these in the towns of Marina, Salinas and Seaside along California's Central Coast.

Monterey, CA, December 19, 2018 – Outdoor adventures. Diverse dining. Rich cultural history. Monterey County is home to all of these unforgettable experiences — and you can discover these in the towns of Marina, Salinas and Seaside along California's Central Coast. Though these three towns occasionally stand in the shadow of their more popular neighbors like Carmel, Monterey and Big Sur, they're still can't-miss hubs for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies and history buffs alike. Explore these undiscovered gems for a unique experience you'll remember for years to come.

Marina: The Height of Beachside Tranquility

Do you enjoy a nice day (... or two or three) on the beach? Then you must visit Marina, located right on the water in Monterey County. Marina State Beach offers plenty of great waves for avid surfers, as well as sand dunes that provide a home for all sorts of exotic birds and animals. The well-marked Dune Nature Trail gives you a full rundown of the creatures located among the dunes, making this a truly unique beach experience.

And after a long day on the beach, Marina offers plenty of intriguing dining options. Head to English Ales Brewery for locally brewed beer paired with a comprehensive menu of pub grub. Or if you're looking to try one of Monterey County's newest and most buzzed-about restaurants, Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette offers delicious raw, cured or wood-fired takes on your favorite dishes.

Salinas: A Unique Combination of Culture and Agriculture

Salinas isn't just the home of Nobel Prize laureate John Steinbeck. It's also a notable agricultural hub, lovingly called "America's Salad Bowl" as a nod to the many crops grown in the Salinas Valley. You can learn more about the farming techniques being put to work in Salinas at Ag Venture Tours, which gives you a full sensory experience of the many greens grown in this region. But that's not the only sensory experience in the area. The River Road Wine Trail offers wine lovers the chance to trek along River Road and visit nearly a dozen award-winning wineries.

After exploring all that grows in Salinas, learn more about the favorite son of Salinas, John Steinbeck, at the National Steinbeck Center. Full of interactive exhibits and fascinating artifacts from his life, this museum gives you a personal, one-of-a-kind look at the life of a great American. Then, if you are hungry for more, stop by The Steinbeck House to see his childhood home and enjoy a delicious lunch. Once you've had your fill of all things Steinbeck, get your fill of locally

grown cuisine at 201 Main in Oldtown Salinas. With an extensive wine list and an eclectic menu of fresh food, 201 Main has something for everyone.

Seaside: Monterey's Coastal Neighbor

Located just to the north of Monterey, Seaside is sometimes overlooked by visitors who tend to head toward its more popular neighbor. In Seaside, you can fill your day with a diverse range of outdoor activities and delicious dining options. Seaside is home to Fort Ord National Monument, a beautiful stretch of rolling hills and over 83 miles of trails. It's a favorite for mountain bikers, but it's also perfect for a relaxing stroll.

For a full day of outdoor fun, hit the links at Bayonet and Black Horse, two challenging golf courses that offer stunning bay views. Ready for a relaxing meal after a day outdoors? Then get ready for a big authentic Italian meal at Gusto, some of the most delicious Italian food on the peninsula.

While in Seaside, make sure to explore recently revitalized Broadway Avenue. The downtown artery was updated with expanded sidewalks, newly planted trees and designated bike lanes. On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the street plays host to a year-round certified farmers market with a bounty of local produce and products.

The fact that Monterey County's lesser-known towns are so packed with culture and activities proves something the locals know to be true: Monterey County has endless activities to explore and places to discover. It's a place to go on adventures, enjoy delicious food and learn about California history. Plan your trip and find out more today at SeeMonterey.com.

ABOUT MONTEREY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is a 501c6 organization that drives tourism for Monterey County. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to drive business growth through compelling marketing and targeted sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.85 billion in 2017, representing a 3.5 percent increase from 2016. This $2.85 billion in visitor spending supported 24,990 jobs, contributed $255 million in total taxes and generated $127 million local tax dollars that directly benefited the community.

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

Monterey County Tourism Makes Significant Strides Towards Destination Sustainability

Addressing plastics and measuring sustainability progress are critical steps in the path

Monterey County, CA, December 18, 2018 – The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) has joined two initiatives that will further its goal of ensuring Monterey County is one of the world’s leading sustainable destinations by both setting ambitious goals and measuring long term impacts.

The first is with Positive Impact, a global not for profit which exists to provide education and collaboration opportunities to create a sustainable event industry – and a vision to address the role of plastics in this industry. MCCVB is the exclusive destination partner for Positive Impact on this project which has already included collaboration with a number of United Nations bodies and in Spring 2019 will see the launch of materials to help the global industry measure and understand the role of plastics.

“MCCVB is already resetting boundaries for responsible tourism and by partnering with our organization they are taking a leadership position for the entire meetings industry,” said Fiona Pelham, CEO for Positive Impacts. She added, “Certainly understanding the role of plastics which will lead to its elimination from the future meetings and conference landscape is a considerable goal, but it is critically important and partnerships such as this with Monterey County are the building blocks of collaboration necessary to achieve it.”

Meetings and events are big business in Monterey County, which is a destination known for inspiration and innovation. “This partnership is completely in line with that legacy,” says Tammy Blount-Canavan, President and CEO of MCCVB. “Our tourism economy owes everything to our ecosystem, and so taking this bold step ensures further protection of our environment and further demonstrates the innovation of our region.”

Measuring success is also critical to MCCVB’s mission. The organization joined the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) initiative, an alliance focused on helping destinations, convention bureaus, and businesses promote sustainable practices. The GDS-Index does this by measuring and comparing sustainability strategies, policies and performance of participating destinations and by sharing best practices from around the world.

GDS-Index recently released its yearly survey of global destinations at the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) annual meeting in Dubai in November. Monterey County scored 52% on the sustainability index just behind Geneva and ahead of U.S. cities like Washington, D.C. and Houston. The scoring allows MCCVB to set a benchmark and improve in the coming years.

“Ultimately, protecting our destination is every bit as important as promoting it,” said Rob O’Keefe, Chief Marketing Officer for MCCVB. “These initiatives contribute to our long term viability as a top tourism destination plus they are essential to the balance we seek to foster between visiting travelers and the residents who call our beautiful region home.”

These latest partnerships align with the MCCVB’s Sustainable Moments Collective. The purpose of the collective is to share best practices from concurrent sustainability initiatives and use the group’s collective influence to reach visitors and residents alike. More information on MCCVB’s Sustainable Moments initiative and collective can be found at SeeMonterey.com/Sustainable. For more information on Positive Impact, go to PositiveImpactEvents.com. For more on the GDS-Index, go to GDS-Index.com.

About Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is a 501c6 organization that drives tourism for Monterey County. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to drive business growth through compelling marketing and targeted sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.85 billion in 2017, representing a 3.5 percent increase from 2016. This $2.85 billion in visitor spending supported 24,990 jobs, contributed $255 million in total taxes and generated $127 million local tax dollars that directly benefited the community.

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

New Sisters-Founded and Run Business, Pests Out Now, Offers Unique Non-Toxic, Non-Invasive, Compassionate Approach to Pest Control

Pest extermination — everything from ants and cockroaches to rats and raccoons — is a tricky business.

Watsonville, CA, December 2018 — Pest extermination — everything from ants and cockroaches to rats and raccoons — is a tricky business. You want to get rid of them, but you don’t want to use harsh chemicals, poisons or traps. Well, two sisters with extensive experience and training in the healing fields, have a non-toxic and compassionate solution.

Pests Out Now, which was founded in 2017 by sisters Marilyn and Patricia Smith, is a unique non-toxic, non-invasive and compassionate approach to pest control that doesn’t use toxic aerosol sprays, chemicals, poisonous pellets or traps. The sisters, who both have extensive experience and knowledge in various wellness practices with people, use elevated frequencies of Universal Light to treat significant, life challenges in health and well-being, and now with pest control.

Using techniques developed over many years of experience and instruction, Pests Out Now relocates pests to a neutral area away from your living, work or backyard seating areas. These critters, no longer pests, live independently in harmony with nature in a location that doesn’t interfere with your daily activities, never to return to your home or office.

“We enjoy and have fun with our work. It makes the little irritations in life what they truly are — little. However, when it comes to our commitment to you, we are serious,” says Patricia and Marilyn. “Our intent is to provide a service that will make you want to tell everyone about us — because you were treated with such respect. We relocated your pests with little effort and no pain to you. Everybody wins and your life is now a little more pleasant because of us. The bottom line is: You are the reason we are in business, and we want you to be happy.”

The business came about when the sisters were commiserating about their mutual ant problems, Marilyn in her bathroom, Patricia in her kitchen. Neither of them wanted to use harmful chemicals or other drastic measures to solve their ant problems. They both had more than 15 years experience using universal energy to help people heal life challenges and decided to use this to relocate the pests.

As master teachers, healers and communicators, they realized that they could use the techniques and methods they had trained for and practiced for more than 15 years to relocate pests. They are both trained and certified through Soul Power Institute as taught by Master Zhi Gang Sha.

They experimented on their own ant infestations using Universal Light and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the ants were gone within two days — and never came back! They tried experiments on other pests and again discovered that their method worked just as effectively for removing small animals as well as bugs, all without harming them or the environment.

That’s when the idea for a business was born. “This could be a great business — A compassionate approach to pest control!” they said to each other. The result was Pests Out Now.

How the service works
Modern science has verified that elevated frequencies of light have a strong effect upon the material world. They use the term “Universal Light” to represent the high frequencies of energy used in their pest-relocation services. Universal Light resonates with all of life, and has a nurturing quality that is very attractive. Humans, plants, animals — even pests — are drawn to the light’s nourishing properties.

When Universal Light is directed to an area, pests move to this area and make it their abode. The healing quality of Universal Light draws them in, and welcomes them to their new home. Their home is pleasant, and they are quite content to remain there — except under conditions that may disrupt their home, such as flooding, digging up the ground, or changing the landscape, etc.

And, you don’t have to be at home for the service since everything is done remotely.

The initial service is customized just for you to create a pest-free environment using Universal Light. This approach to pest control is compassionate, non-toxic, and non-invasive. Without harm, pests are relocated to a neutral area which is a more suitable location for both the client and the pests.

The initial service is only $125 per infestation, after completing a brief survey. Pests Out Now follows up by email after 3 days to monitor the success of the service, with another follow-up 30 days later.

How the survey works
The survey provides Pests Out Now with necessary information to assess the nature of the pest infestation. This includes

•The type and severity of pest infestation

How severe are the infestations

•The duration, and seasonal or other characteristics of your infestation

•Affected living areas of your property

•The home’s location

Specific requests to resolve the infestation.
Upon receiving the completed survey PON requests Guidance about the type of Universal Light required , and the number of session needed to completely resolve the infestation. (delete next sentence)

WHAT TYPES OF PESTS CAN BE RELOCATED?

•Ants

•Spiders

•Cockroaches

•Silverfish

•Moths

•Centipedes

•Termites

• Mice and rats

• Squirrels

• Racoons

Other pests will be considered, depending on the type of pests, infestation and severity. Contact Pests Out Now if the survey does not cover the issues outlined above.

About Marilyn and Patricia Smith
Sisters Marilyn and Patricia Smith were born and raised in Watsonville, California. After high school their paths diverged, Patricia attended the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland Oregon, while Marilyn attended the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, as well as St. Mary’s in Moraga, both in California.

Marilyn became an educator, including as a Resource Specialist Program teacher and school administrator. Patricia worked as a registered nurse and hospital administrator, as well as stints with Amnesty International and as a healer in India for four years.

About 17 years ago both discovered the teachings and methods of Master Zhi Gang Sha, both becoming, after intensive training and instruction, Master Teachers. Marilyn is working full-time as a Master Teacher, traveling to other states and countries to do consultations, teach and train. She is also the author of the book “Gratitude: A Key to Happiness,” and narrated Master Sha’s audiobooks “Soul Communication.” and “ Soul Wisdom”

Patricia, after years in nursing and the medical profession, met Master Sha in 2001, training intensively with him, also becoming a Master Teacher as well as opening her own chronic pain and healing consulting service, Patricia Smith Consulting. One of the catalysts for this, prior to meeting Master Sha, was healing from a server injury using Qigong a holistic system of coordinated body posture, movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, healing and spirituality.

Their career paths converged with Master Sha and now with Pests Out Now, which follows the precepts of Master Sha’s teachings including helping people, reconnecting people with their souls and aligning of the soul, heart, mind and body, to uplift every aspect of life.

CONTACT PESTS OUT NOW:
Email only: Contact@PestsOutNow.com

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

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa Announces Hiring of Daniel Elinan as New Executive Chef

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Daniel Elinan of Virginia Beach, Virginia, as its new Executive Chef.

Monterey, CA, December 14, 2018 — The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Daniel Elinan of Virginia Beach, Virginia, as its new Executive Chef.

As Executive Chef, Elinan successfully opened The Cavalier Hotel, a luxury Autograph by Marriott property with three outlets — Becca, Hunt Room, and The Raleigh Room — in early 2018. Shortly after opening, Elinan and his brigade earned an immediate 4-diamond rating for the Hotel’s prized dining venue Becca.

Prior stints included executive chef positions at the Hilton Virginia Beach, Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington D.C., Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa and Grand Hyatt San Francisco. Elinan was also Executive Chef at Primetime Restaurants in Budapest Hungary, Executive Chef at Carlo IV & New York Palace, Boscolo Hotels in Prague and Budapest as well as the Chef de Cuisine for Shangri-La Hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Throughout his esteemed career Chef Elinan has worked under three Michelin Star-rated chefs and has been a guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. He attended the Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, New York.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Nestled on 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s House, TusCA Restaurant, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

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