All posts by straightlinepr

Twisted Roots Winery Makes Holiday Shopping Easy with wine discounts, Free shipping, Gift packs

When it comes to spreading Christmas cheer this holiday season, nothing brings more joy than the gift of wine.

Carmel Valley, CA, November 08, 2019 – When it comes to spreading Christmas cheer this holiday season, nothing brings more joy than the gift of wine.

Let Twisted Roots Winery be your holiday headquarters for unique gifts that will surely bring smiles to any adult friend or family member.

It all starts with Black Friday, widely regarded as the first official day of the Christmas shopping season. Always celebrated on the day after Thanksgiving, this year’s Black Friday madness occurs on Nov. 29.

Avoid the chaotic shopping malls and head to sunny, tranquil Carmel Valley. Twisted Roots will offer a 30 percent discount on cases (including mixed varietals) purchased from the tasting room at 12 Del Fino Place. The discount extends to the online store (coupon code is CYBER) at www.twistedrootsvineyard.com/online-store, and includes free shipping.

What follows Black Friday? Cyber Monday, of course. Twisted Roots has you covered, offering free shipping from its online store, along with 40 percent off select varietals.

Interested in holiday gift packs? The Twisted Roots tasting room makes it easy to “grab-and-go with a pretty bow!” Pair an Old Vine Zin with a Chardonnay, or a Petite Sirah with a Sparkling Brut Rosé — all with savings of 30 percent off (tasting room only).

Finally, Twisted Roots offers gift certificates. Available on the bar in the tasting room, they allow the recipient to shop for what they want, when they want!

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

Carmel Jewish Film Festival Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Award-Winning Movies, Speakers, Receptions March 7 – 22, 2020

The 10th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring 10 films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22, 2020.

Carmel, CA, November 07, 2019 – The 10th Annual Carmel Jewish Film Festival (CJFF), featuring 10 films from six countries, noted speakers, and panel discussions, will be held March 7-22, 2020. Starting in December, film and venue information, dates, and times can be found on the CJFF website (www.carmeljff.org). Tickets will be available either through the website or by calling (800) 838-3006 starting at the beginning of January.

Festival highlights include:

OPENING NIGHT (MARCH 7)

“Fiddler: Miracle of Miracles”

When “Fiddler on the Roof” opened on Broadway in 1964, it explored themes of tradition, religion, and anti-Semitism against a modern backdrop of radical social change that addressed gender roles, sexuality, and race. Rare archival footage and interviews with musical luminaries explore the legacy of this long-running, award-winning musical. London and Broadway theater star Alexandra Silber will entertain following the film and talk about her book, After Anatevka. A reception will precede the film.

“VIOLINS OF HOPE” (MARCH 8)

Marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Violins of Hope will visit Northern California and make an appearance at the Carmel Jewish Film Festival. Some of these violins were played in concentration camps to entertain Nazis and lift the spirits of fellow prisoners; others were played in ghettos and labor camps to earn money for food. These instruments were restored in Israel and are a testament to the remarkable resilience of the human spirit. The CJFF is partnering with the Monterey County Symphony and Chamber Music Monterey for this event.

Following a film about the Violins of Hope, renowned violinist Cookie Segelstein of Berkeley, CA, will play some the actual instruments, tell their stories, and talk about the cultural significance of music in Jewish communities in Eastern Europe. This program is part of Violins of Hope San Francisco Bay Area, presented in association with Music at Kohl Mansion, Burlingame, CA. A reception will precede the film, and a private reception with Cookie Segelstein at a private home will follow the event.

“BUDAPEST NOIR” (March 14)

The CJFF will host a Q&A with award-winning filmmaker Éva Gardos following this thriller set in Budapest in the politically fraught autumn of 1936. The film follows a scrappy reporter as he probes the murder of a femme fatale, leading him into the dark crime underworld. Francis Ford Coppola gave Gardos, born in Hungary, her first job in film, working as a production assistant on Coppola’s epic “Apocalypse Now”. She went on to establish a career as a film editor (“Valley Girl”, “Mask”, “Bastard Out of Carolina”), working with distinguished directors such as Barbet Schroeder, Peter Bogdanovich, and Anjelica Huston.

Éva’s screenwriting and feature film directorial debut, “An American Rhapsody”, starred a young Scarlett Johansson. The film is based on the true life events of Éva’s family escaping from Hungary in the 1950s and being forced to leave their infant child (Éva) behind. Éva spent six years in Hungary with foster parents before rejoining her biological parents in America. The film won many prizes on the Festival Circuit and was released by Paramount Classics.

“THE ACCOUNTANT OF AUSCHWITZ” (March 15)

Partnering with the Catholic Diocese, the CJFF will screen a Canadian film “The Accountant of Auschwitz”. In 2015, 94-year-old former German SS officer Oskar Groning admitted his guilt and went on trial. But bringing war criminals to justice asks fundamental moral questions with few simple answers. From Nuremberg to the new alt-right, this documentary is a stark reminder to “never forget”.

CLOSING NIGHT (MARCH 22)

The CJFF also will partner with the local Muslim community for the Closing Night selection Abe, a Brazilian film centered on a teen curious about his family’s Middle Eastern culinary heritage. A reception with Israeli and Arab dishes will precede the film.

As the only Jewish film festival in Monterey County, we serve all residents with our 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

There’s a Gift inside Every Gift Purchased at Goodwill Central Coast — your Holiday Shopping Headquarters

What if you could buy someone a holiday gift that would keep on giving long after the wrapping paper is recycled?

Salinas, CA, November 06, 2019 – That’s the reality when shoppers comb the aisles or the online store at Goodwill. Each purchase enables the community-based nonprofit to better fund its job-training and employment placement services — so you’re actually giving twice.

Make Goodwill Central Coast your holiday headquarters — from setting your Thanksgiving table to finding that perfect gift on Black Friday and beyond.

Thanksgiving
Goodwill Central Coast stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day, allowing employees time with their families. But gearing up for Turkey Day has never been easier thanks to the wide range of items Goodwill sells at lower-than-retail prices.

Find deals on platters, wine glasses, table runners, silverware and more. Or create that perfect DIY tablescape with marked-down items such as candles, ornate pumpkins and decorative linens.

Black Friday
The busiest shopping day of the year begins at 7 a.m. at all Goodwill Central Coast stores. Find 25 percent off all items marked with a colored tag, along with Door Buster specials on new goods (including cookware).

Arrive early and stay late for two daily drawings in each store, where you could walk away with special merchandise.

Other special shopping days
There’s always a good excuse to shop at Goodwill during the Season of Giving. Join us for Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30), Sorting Sunday (Dec. 1) or Giving Tuesday (Dec. 3). Except for Thanksgiving, our stores are open throughout the holiday season.

Stocking Stuffer Campaign
Throughout December, all Goodwill Central Coast stores will put an emphasis on stocking stuffers priced in four categories (under $20, under $10, under $5, and under $2).

The list of stocking stuffers is as long as your imagination, but popular items include jewelry, games, earbuds, phone chargers, candy, ornaments, decorative mugs and books.

Donations
Remember, if you’re not in the shopping frame of mind, you can donate new and gently used items to Goodwill — all treasures for someone else to find and turn into jobs. From home pick-ups to tax write-offs, Goodwill makes donating as easy as possible. Find out more at www.ccgoodwill.org.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs more than 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 9,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

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

Goodwill Central Coast CEO Moving to New Position in Goodwill Organization; Board of Directors to Begin Executive Search

The Goodwill Central Coast Board of Directors today announced that CEO Ed Durkee will be moving to a new position as CEO of Goodwill Industries of Central Florida in Orlando.

Salinas CA, November 05, 2019 – The Board said that Durkee leaves Goodwill Central Coast on sound financial footing and that the strength of the management team and Board will contribute to successfully move the organization through the transition.

The Board has also appointed Tom Moran as interim CEO effective upon Durkee’s departure date of December 13. The Board has formed a search committee and will hire a search firm to begin a search for a new CEO.

“We are entering this transition as a strong organization,” said Board Chairman Tom Strait. “We

wish Ed all the success in his new position. He leaves Goodwill Central Coast in good shape,

allowing a new CEO to seamlessly continue Goodwill’s important work.”

Durkee has been the CEO at Goodwill Central Coast since 2013.

About Tom Moran
Tom Moran has been CFO of Goodwill Central Coast since the beginning of 2018. He previously served on the organization’s Board of Directors from 2009-2014, including holding the role of Board Chair in 2013. Tom brings to Goodwill 20 years of experience in retail strategic planning and finance, including CFO roles at Conn’s, Inc., and at West Marine, with prior experience at ARAMARK, Limited Brands, and CarMax Auto Superstores. He has a bachelor’s degree in Physics from the College of the Holy Cross, and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Tom and his wife Lindora enjoy hiking and the many other outdoor activities that California has to offer.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs over 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 13,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Goodwill Central Coast
1566 Moffet Street
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 423-8611
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Media inquiries: Marci Bracco Cain at 831-747-7455 or marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

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

Interim’s OMNI Resource Center needs volunteers, donations for its annual Thanksgiving feast in Salinas

For many the holiday season brings bountiful joy, but for others it can create loneliness, anxiety and depression.

Salinas, CA, October 04, 2019 – For many the holiday season brings bountiful joy, but for others it can create loneliness, anxiety and depression.

Each year the OMNI Resource Center in Salinas hosts a lunch on Thanksgiving Day, serving about 150 people hungry for more than food.

A program run through Interim Inc., which provides services and affordable housing for those with mental illness, OMNI needs volunteers and donations to help with this year’s meal on Nov. 28.

Guests at this special holiday lunch represent not only members of Interim’s housing program, but also the homeless, those with limited income, and/or those with no family.

The lunch gives attendees more than just a meal; they also make new friends, gain a sense of community, and get a meal to take home for later in the evening.

There are many volunteer opportunities to not only help brighten their day but also give hope for their future.

Donations can be dropped off at the Pajaro Street Wellness Center in Salinas (339 Pajaro St., Suite A). Deadline is Nov. 12 for non-perishables, and Nov. 15 for fresh food. OMNI needs everything from oval roasting pans to food items such as turkeys, spiral-sliced hams, boxes of stuffing mix, chicken broth, jars of cranberry sauce, cans of whipped cream and much more.

Volunteers are needed to cook food, but also to help register and usher guests, to serve food and clean up.

Volunteers (aside from cooks) will be asked to arrive at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 28 for a quick training followed by lunch. Cooks will be asked to bring prepared food by noon on Nov. 27.

Anyone interested in donating to the Thanksgiving lunch or volunteering their time, should contact Lisa Corpuz at (831) 800-7530 x431 or email lcorpuz@interiminc.org.

ABOUT INTERIM INC.

Interim’s mission is to provide services and affordable housing supporting members of our community with mental illness in building productive and satisfying lives. Interim is a private nonprofit organization that provides a unique combination of support services, housing and treatment for adults with mental illness in Monterey County. Services provided include affordable supportive housing, residential treatment, mental health and dual-recovery services, case coordination, therapeutic services, outreach and intensive support for homeless adults, supported education and employment, day treatment and peer support.

ABOUT THE OMNI RESOURCE CENTER

The OMNI Resource Center offers peer-led programs promoting wellness and recovery, as well as recreational and social opportunities. Wellness programs are free and open to anyone with mental health challenges. Programs are also offered off-site at other community locations. No referral is necessary. The OMNI Resource Center is located at the Pajaro Street Wellness Center, 339 Pajaro St., Salinas, CA, 93901. The center is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

https://www.interiminc.org/omni/

Interim Inc will be hosting an Open House at Shelter Cove on December 6, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM

Interim Inc will be hosting an Open House at Shelter Cove on December 6, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM and will offer Holiday Treats and Tours of the remodeled facility. 613 Bayonet Circle, Marina, CA.

Monterey, CA, October 03, 2019 – The need transitional housing has been identified by Monterey County’s Coalition of Homeless Services Providers Local Continuum of Care. According to the 2017 Monterey County Homeless Census, approximately 28% of the homeless have serious mental illnesses and approximately 34% have substance use disorders.

Those who are homeless and in need of transitional housing often have a wide variety of needs to address before they are ready to move on to a permanent, independent living arrangement. Examples of common barriers to stability include lack of an income source (employment and/or access to benefits), history of untreated or undiagnosed mental illness, physical illnesses, substance use issues, a lack of basic life skills and deep emotional traumas. Interim staff at Shelter Cove offer case management, individual and group counseling, collaborative treatment planning focused on symptom management, social/family functioning and activities of daily living, coordination with psychiatric and other healthcare providers, including transportation if needed, medication education and support, linkage to community resources, recreational and social activities and peer counseling and support.

Residents of the Shelter Cove Program have private bedrooms and share the common living areas. The Bridge House Academy, a successful dual-diagnosis (mental illness and substance addiction) rehabilitation program located nearby, is available to all residents of Shelter Cove as well as, individual and group counseling and peer support groups for people for whom a day rehab program is not indicated. For example, clients in Shelter Cove are strongly encouraged to work, go to school, or do volunteer work. There is a resident manager available at night for emergencies. Residents pay 30 percent of income or the General Assistance set amount for rent. The maximum length of stay is one year.

· Interim originally acquired the Shelter Cove property under the McKinney Act from the US government as part of the decommissioning of Ft. Ord and has successfully operated transitional housing at this site for adults with mental illness since 1996.

· The Shelter Cove site formerly had 32 bedrooms. We have added seven bedrooms to the project by converting ground-floor community spaces into bedrooms. The ground-floors of these units are large enough to accommodate these renovations easily (approximately 1,000 square feet in shared space). These additional bedrooms were added without changing the exterior footprint of the buildings and were completed at a fraction of the cost of new construction. Adding these seven beds to Shelter Cove (now 39 beds) allows Interim to increase the number of homeless/at-risk individuals it serves from 45 to 65 individuals per year, an approximate increase of 22%.

· We have converted ground floor powder rooms in these units into full baths by adding showers. This conversion, in addition to the new ground floor bedrooms will better accommodate mobility-impaired residents. Although these units are not fully ADA compliant due to floor plan constraints, they are more accommodating for residents unable to climb stairs.

· Additionally, the kitchens of these seven units have been completely remodeled with new cabinets, flooring, countertops and appliances. Kitchen storage has been optimized as well. All Shelter Cove residents cook for themselves in the shared kitchens. The remodeled kitchens better accommodate multiple cooks.

We will be hosting an Open House at Shelter Cove on December 6, 2019 from 3:00 – 4:30 PM and will offer Holiday Treats and Tours of the remodeled facility. 613 Bayonet Circle, Marina, CA.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

https://www.interiminc.org/

Nest Boutique in Pacific Grove Celebrates its 20th Anniversary with Special Shopping Events in November

Phyllis Davis is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her women’s wear shop Nest Boutique in Pacific Grove and she says she owes it all to the love and support of her loyal customers.

Pacific Grove, CA, October 31, 2019 — Phyllis Davis is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her women’s wear shop Nest Boutique in Pacific Grove and she says she owes it all to the love and support of her loyal customers.

“I’m just amazed and feeling very blessed,” says Davis, when asked about her thoughts on celebrating 20 years in business. “Somehow in this world of online shopping and big box stores, a little family boutique has survived. A lot of it is due to our wonderful customers. Without them, we wouldn’t be here. I love showing my clients designer fashions that are fashionable, flattering and fun!”

With that in mind, Davis and Nest are hosting two special events in November to celebrate its 20th anniversary, a one-night-only shopping event for VIP customers and a weekend event in which a percentage of proceeds from sales go to three local charities.

The event for VIP customers will be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, where VIP customers will be treated to a night of shopping and mingling with bubbles and nibbles, a special 20th anniversary gift for all attendees and a drawing to win a $200 gift certificate — every shopper is eligible! The drawing will be held at 7:30 p.m. and you must be present to win the gift certificate.

In addition, for every $100 spent during the month of November, VIP customers will receive a $20 gift certificate to shop in December only. The certificate would be valid December 1 – December 31, 2019.

The community event supporting Nest’s 20th anniversary and its charity partners will be held all day Friday, November 15 through Sunday, November 17. Each charity partner will receive 20% of all sales for the day:

•Friday, November 15, I-Help, Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program •Saturday, November 16, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

•Sunday, November 17, Animal Friends Rescue Project (AFRP)

On Sunday, AFRP will have a table and adoptable animals in front of the shop from 12 – 2 p.m.

Customers will get a chance to meet someone from the charity, pick up some information on the organization, shop and support a good cause with their purchase.

To RSVP for any of the events, call/go to xxx.

“This celebration is to show our customers what their patronage has meant to us,” she says.

Nest started life in The Barnyard Shopping Village in Carmel in 1999, and moved to its current Grand Avenue location in Pacific Grove in January 2005. Davis and her husband Mitch and her mother and stepfather Bonnie and Milt became partners in the venture. In fact, Davis’ mother came up with the name for the boutique.

“My mom was all excited and she asked me, ‘Can we call it Nest?’, ” says Davis about starting the business venture. “I asked her, ‘What does that have to do with women’s fashions?’ ‘Well, we want it to be a warm and welcoming place don’t we? Like a nest.’”

Her mother loved clothes and had a background in retail, owning and running both The Attic on Cannery Row and The Cottage Collection in The Crossroads Shopping Center. She was very close to her mother, whom customers called “The Bulldog” for her dogged enthusiasm, and likening their relationship to Lucy and Ethel of the “I Love Lucy” TV show.

With her mom’s sales acumen, her stepdad’s knack for woodworking and cabinetry, her husband Mitch’s business mind and her jack-of-all-trades skills, Nest thrived, allowing her and Mitch to also pursue their other love: the theater.

“I started acting at age 14, my first show on the Monterey Peninsula was nine years later in 1978, and I met Mitch in a production of ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ at the Outdoor Forest Theater,” she says. “Nest is my daytime passion, theater is my nighttime passion.”

While Nest started out as a women’s wear boutique, it has earned a reputation as the place to go for special occasion wear — weddings, formal events, and so forth.

“We have everyday casual wear, all the way to bridal wear and everything in between, that’s why our slogan is ‘From Blue Jeans to Bridal, Nest Has It All!’ ” she says. “Mitch calls it the ‘world’s smallest department store.’ ”

As for whether there are any plans in the future for expansion or other measures, Davis says they just want to keep serving the community as best they can.

“We’re happy, so we want to keep it simple and easy,” she says. “We don’t need a lot of drama, we’ll leave that to the stage!”

About Nest Boutique

For the best selection of women’s clothing and formal wear, come to Nest Boutique! Opened in 1999 by Phyllis Davis, her husband Mitch, and her parents Bonnie and Milt, their shop is the perfect place for all your clothing needs. Phyllis was born and raised on the Monterey Peninsula. She and her husband enjoy performing in many local theater productions. Phyllis runs the shop and enjoys helping customers or ordering new merchandise! Trust our friendly team to do whatever we can to make you happy!

Nest Boutique

229-B Grand Ave.

Pacific Grove, CA 93950

nestinpg.com

831-333-9184

phyllis@nestinpg.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.nestinpg.com

Sip, Buy and Save a Furry Friend! Raise a glass of De Tierra wine and help animal welfare charities in Monterey County

Buy a bottle (or two!) of De Tierra’s 2016 Frannin Red Blend and 10% of all purchases go to a rotating list of animal charities, including Animal Friends Rescue Project; Peace of Mind Dog Rescue; Max’s Helping Paws; and Birchbark Foundation.

Monterey, CA, October 29, 2019 – Buy a bottle (or two!) of De Tierra’s 2016 Frannin Red Blend and 10% of all purchases go to a rotating list of animal charities, including Animal Friends Rescue Project; Peace of Mind Dog Rescue; Max’s Helping Paws; and Birchbark Foundation.

De Tierra co-owners Dan McDonnal and Alix Bosch not only embrace sustainable winemaking, they are passionate dog owners who are committed to helping the health and welfare of our four-legged friends. Their 2016 Frannin Red Blend is inspired by and named after their two beloved dogs, Freya and Annin, De Tierra’s official, four-legged ambassadors who are considered local celebrities in dog-friendly Carmel-by-the-Sea, and who can be found greeting visitors at the De Tierra Tasting Room at Mission Street and 5th Avenue.

De Tierra will kick off this tail-wagging campaign by hosting four separate parties through October 2020, at its tasting room in downtown Carmel. At each event, individual charity partners can reap extra rewards. Wine and animal lovers will be able to sip and save by attending events during these months:

Animal Friends Rescue Project will be having an adoption night from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 at De Tierra. The event includes complimentary nibbles, and all wine purchased during that night will benefit Animal Friends, which will receive double the rewards for every purchase.

Peace of Mind Dog Rescue will hold its double-the rewards adoption night on Feb. 7, 2020, at De Tierra Tasting Room in Carmel.

BirchBark Foundation will hold its double-the rewards adoption night on August 2, 2020, at De Tierra Tasting Room in Carmel.

For more Information call (831) 622-9704, or go to www.detierra.com.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.detierra.com

Second Concert of Monterey Symphony’s 2019-2020 Season, ‘Ovation,’ Nov. 16-17, 2019, Features Guest Pianist Kun Woo Paik

The second concert of the Monterey Symphony’s six-concert 74th season “Ovation” will be held Nov. 16-17, 2019, with pianist Kun Woo Paik returning to the Symphony to perform two piano concerti.

Monterey, CA, October 29, 2019 — The second concert of the Monterey Symphony’s six-concert 74th season “Ovation” will be held Nov. 16-17, 2019, with pianist Kun Woo Paik returning to the Symphony to perform two piano concerti.

Max Bragado-Darman will conduct Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595, and Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15, with guest pianist Paik.

Paik, winner of the Naumburg award and gold medallist at the Busoni International Piano Competitions, is considered one of the finest pianists of his generation.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, KV 595 is his last piano concerto ever written. Myths surrounding both its composition and premiere give the work an air of mystery.

Elegant in nature, the Mozart is complemented by Johannes Brahms’ 1st Piano Concerto, the first work Brahms ever premiered from the piano! Although Brahms was only 25 when he composed the work, the melodies are mature and sophisticated. The piece was composed two years after Schumann’s death and explores a complex set of emotions. Schumann played an important role in Brahms’ life and it is hard to not see the connection between them in some of his works.

Paik came to prominence at the age of 10 performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto with the Korean National Orchestra. His international career took off soon after with his first New York recital at the Lincoln Center and his orchestral debut at Carnegie Hall.

Paik has collaborated all over the world with the most renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons, Neville Marriner, Jiří Bělohlávek, Vladimir Jurowski, Dmitri Kitaenko, Paavo Järvi, and Ivan Fischer, with orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Oslo Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Berlin Symphony, and the Deutsche Bremen Kammerphilharmonie. He has recently performed with the New York Philharmonic, Lucerne and Berlin Symphony orchestras and given recitals at Carnegie Hall, La Scala, the Mariinsky Theatre and all over Asia and Europe. His numerous recordings appear on BMG, Decca and Deutsche Grammophon. Kun Woo Paik studied at the Juilliard School in New York with Rosina Lhevinne and worked with Ilona Kabos, Guido Agosti and Wilhelm Kempff.

Performances on Saturdays are at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. One hour prior to every performance there will be a pre-concert lecture in the Hall of Sunset Center.

Subscriptions are available. Please contact the box office for availability at (831) 646-8511. For more information and pricing visit:

https://www.montereysymphony.org/subscriptions.htm

Single tickets are now on sale at www.montereysymphony.org.

The Symphony’s season continues with Concert No. 3, Feb. 15-16, 2020, and features two massive symphonic works, both weaving elegant stories for the listener. The fourth concert of the season is set for March 14-15, 2020, and features guest conductor Oleg Caetani making his debut with the Symphony.

Concert No. 5, April 18-19, 2020, features Symphony favorite, violinist Judith Ingolfsson, performing Brahms’ violin concerto. The sixth and final concert will highlight works by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler and be conducted by Symphony Music Director Max Bragado-Darman.

The roster of special events, luncheons and dinners includes six preview luncheons hosted on the Thursdays prior to each concert and five supper clubs to be held on Sundays after the matinee concerts (through April). Special Events culminate on May 17, 2020, with the Finale Celebration to give the Maestro a send-off worthy of his 15 years at the helm of the Symphony.

Concert 3: February 15-16, 2020

February’s program features two massive symphonic works, both weaving elegant stories for the listener. Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations are comprised of 14 separate movements sketching a different friend or close acquaintance. Rather than depicting the person as a whole, a single element of their personality or relationship with Elgar is illustrated musically. The movement titles contain cryptograms or keys to the identity of the subject! Elgar started the work casually at the piano as an exercise to capture someone musically, and evolved it into a large and beloved symphonic work.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade is based on the Arabian Nights. Replete with Russian folk melodies, many excerpts of this piece are used for Olympic figure skating – making it a well-known and recognized work. Rimsky-Korsakov worked tirelessly on this composition, along with his ornate Russian Easter Overture and the completion of Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor. The work features stunning and virtuosic violin solos — not to be missed!

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor

Edward Elgar / Enigma Variations, Op. 36

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Scheherazade, Op. 35

Concert 4: March 14-15, 2020

Guest conductor Oleg Caetani hails from Italy and is making his debut with the Monterey Symphony. The son of famed conductor and composer, Igor Markevitch, Caetani completed his formal training at the Moscow Conservatory and graduated from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. He won the RAI Competition and third prize at the Karajan Competition in Berlin.

Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Symphony, “Polish,” opens the program. This symphony is unique in that it is his only Symphony both in a major key, and containing five movements. The piece, sans first movement, was used by choreographer George Balanchine for Diamonds, the third and final part of his ballet Jewels. Various instruments are showcased in this iconic work, including a lovely flute solo in the third movement.

The second half of the program contains Shostakovich’s 15th Symphony, written in 1971 and premiered in Moscow, which is full of references to other composer’s works. Shostakovich tips his hat to Rossini and Glinka, as well as featuring the “Fate” motif from Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Oleg Caetani, one of the greatest conductors of his generation, moves freely between symphonic and opera repertoire. Caetani has conducted all over the world including: La Scala in Milan, the Mariinsky in Saint Petersburg, the Royal Opera House in London, the Opera House in San Francisco, the Musikverein in Vienna, Lincoln Center in New York and Suntory Hall in Japan, working with the greatest soloists of our days.

Oleg was chief designate at the ENO in 2005, chief designate 2002-2005 for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Music Conductor and Artistic Director for the same orchestra from 2005 to 2009. Before that, Caetani was the Principal Conductor for the Staatskapelle Weimar, First Kapellmeister of the Frankfurt Opera and GMD in Wiesbaden and in Chemnitz.

Oleg Caetani, guest conductor

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Symphony No. 3, Op. 29

Dmitri Shostakovich / Symphony No. 15, Op. 141

Concert 5: April 18-19, 2020

A Monterey Symphony favorite, violinist Judith Ingolfsson returns in April to perform Brahms’ violin concerto. Judith is currently Professor at the State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart and co-artistic director and founder of the Festival “Aigues-Vives en Musiques” in France.

Brahms’ violin concerto was written for Joseph Joachim and is the only violin concerto he wrote. Marked by soaring melodies for the violin, it contains some of the most challenging passages for the instrument.

Jean Sibelius’ 2nd Symphony was started in Italy and completed in Helsinki. Sibelius himself declared the work “a confession of my soul.” The piece was premiered with the composer conducting and received three back-to-back sold out performances! A beloved work, after his wildly popular tone poem Finlandia, the 2nd Symphony is Sibelius at his finest with whimsical touches throughout!

Violinist Judith Ingolfsson is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, uncompromising musical maturity, and charismatic performance style. Based in Berlin and enjoying a global career, she performs as soloist, chamber musician and in recital as the Duo Ingolfsson-Stoupel. The New York Times has characterized her playing as producing “both fireworks and a singing tone” and Strings Magazine described her tone as “gorgeous, intense, and variable, flawlessly pure and beautiful in every register.”

Ingolfsson studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She has also been appointed to the violin faculty at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor

Johannes Brahms / Violin Concerto, Op. 77

Judith Ingolfsson, violin

Jean Sibelius / Symphony No. 2, Op. 43

Concert 6: May 16-17, 2020

The season concludes with Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler. Both of these works require intense playing from the orchestra and give our fabulous Monterey Symphony the chance to boldly shine! Strauss’ Don Juan is a powerful tone poem for large orchestra featuring many passages used for Symphony auditions. The piece is based on the unfinished poem Don Juans Ende which tells the story of a man searching for love, which he never finds.

Symphony No. 1 by Gustav Mahler, or “The Titan,” was composed in 1887–1888 in Leipzig and premiered in 1889. There are as many as six versions of the work, as Mahler was impassioned about perfecting it. He borrowed from some of his own works, and highlighted certain lied, or songs, in the movements. At one point there was an additional movement, which Mahler rejected after the first few performances. This Symphony is massive, lush, and gorgeous — a fitting end to a season deserving of many ovations!

Max Bragado-Darman has served as Music Director of the Monterey Symphony since 2004. He was Music Director/Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Castile and León in Valladolid, Spain, for nine years. With this ensemble he recorded works of Turina and Rodrigo and the cello concerti of Alberto Ginastera on the Naxos Label. He also recorded the flute and clarinet concerti by Joan Tower on the Opus One label.

In 1995, Max Bragado-Darman was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. He has worked with artists Alicia de Larrocha, Teresa Berganza, Horacio Gutiérrez, Elmar Oliveira, Dubravka Tomsic, André Watts, Angel Romero, Gary Graffman, and Aaron Rosand.

In 2003, he made his debut at the Wexford Opera Festival with the Granados opera “María del Carmen.” His conducting has been guided by teachers Robert Fountain, Robert Baustian, George Szell, Igor Markevich and Franco Ferrara. He has been the conductor for the “Iturbi Piano Competition” in Valencia, Spain in several editions.

Max Bragado-Darman, conductor

Richard Strauss / Don Juan, Op. 20

Gustav Mahler / Symphony No. 1

About the Monterey Symphony

The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, The Berkshire Foundation, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The William H. and Kristine M. Schuyler Charitable Foundation, Inc., The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Teichert Foundation The Upjohn California Fund and many others.

For additional information, please call (831) 646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.montereysymphony.org

Shopping at Goodwill Central Coast Stores Provides Thrifty, Stress-free Options for Thanksgiving decor

We all know the purpose behind Thanksgiving is to spend time with loved ones — not to stress over holiday entertaining and tablescapes.

Salinas, CA, October 28, 2019 – Goodwill Central Coast would like to remind the community how easy it is to turn donated, marked-down items into the perfect party with eye-popping, fall-themed decor. Shopping at Goodwill can alleviate both stress and the annual strain felt on pocketbooks.

Savvy Goodwill shoppers have always found it exciting to see what’s new, and what’s possible to make out of items donated by others. It’s the epitome of responsible upcycling since money through the sale of donated goods helps support and grow Goodwill’s critical community-based programs and services. The bottom line? The environmental and social impacts cannot be denied.

Turn baskets into cornucopia-style table centerpieces, use natural candles to add warmth, elevate artificial flowers with a quick spray-painting, or stock up on critical kitchen tools and accessories.

The possibilities are endless when shopping at Goodwill Central Coast stores. And all the bits and pieces shoppers buy help strengthen their own communities.

Donations

Remember, if you’re not in the shopping frame of mind, you can donate new and gently used items to Goodwill — all treasures for someone else to find and turn into jobs. From home pick-ups to tax write-offs, Goodwill makes donating as easy as possible. Find out more at www.ccgoodwill.org.

About Goodwill Central Coast

Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs more than 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 9,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.ccgoodwill.org