Category Archives: Business

Business, Electronics, Technology

Fulham Exec to Speak on Clever Lighting Strategies as Building Blocks for Building Automation at Niagara Summit

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Fullham’s Russ Sharer to Discuss How Smart LED Luminaire and Sensors for Smart Lighting Deliver on the Promise of Native IoT for Niagara Framework®.

New Orleans, LA, USA — Tridum’s Niagara Framework is being recognized as the de-facto standard for building management, providing single-screen control of physical, mechanical and environmental building properties. As the demand for Internet of Things (IoT) compatibility grows as a necessary requirement for controls systems, lighting and their sensors become the ideal data gathering points for IoT analytics, AI and machine learning applications to reveal the “golden nuggets” of business intelligence. That’s the topic that Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing for Fulham, Co., Inc., will be discussing in a session entitled “Clever Lighting: Leveraging the Power of Niagara to Build the Exoskeleton for IoT” at the Niagara Summit, being held here April 15-17.

In his presentation Sharer will discuss the advent of clever lighting – programmable LED light fixtures with on-board sensors – and how clever lighting can deliver more data directly and natively into the Niagara Framework and, ultimately, IoT systems. Lighting is the most prevalent electrical system in any building, and strategically placed sensors in luminaires can support new control systems based on the movement, behavior, and actions of building occupants. Connecting clever lighting end points provides a cost-effective means to deploy the sensors needed to feed Niagara directly as well as associated IoT systems.

“For too long lighting system have been focused solely on illumination,” said Sharer. “The new generation of clever luminaires with integrated sensors can deliver new types of data to Niagara natively via direct end-point communications. By connecting luminaires and their sensors to Niagara platforms directly, Niagara users will have a system that delivers previously unavailable building information, enhancing the value of Niagara based IoT edge controllers and paving the way for IoT communications.”

Sharer predicts that clever lighting units could be adapted to monitor and manage various building functions. For example, locally installed sensors could also be used to detect heat, humidity, measure air quality to provide additional information to HVAC systems. Information derived from Clever luminaires and sensors could also be used to augment life safety systems. And with the number of luminaries in close proximity in the average commercial building, clever lighting components can be readily connected using wireless technology such as Bluetooth Mesh, which could simplify installing luminaire retrofits to support Niagara building controls.

Fulham is a leading supplier of clever LED lighting components and has been working with partners to promote intelligent lighting by connecting clever luminaires. The company also offers elitedali™, a native DALI Niagara product that can transform any NiagaraAX or Niagara4 platform into an IoT convergent lighting commissioning and control platform.

For more information, visit Fulham Controls at http://www.control-network-solutions.co.uk.

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.

Media Contact:
Andy Firchau
Marketing Manager
Fulham Co., Inc.
Phone: +1 (323) 779-2980, ext. 1252
afirchau@fulham.com

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Array of Informative Free Seminars Announced for the 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey to be held on April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

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Don’t miss the informative home, garden and cooking seminars and workshops coming up at the free 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey on April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Monterey, CA, April 10, 2018 – Don’t miss the informative home, garden and cooking seminars and workshops coming up at the free 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey on April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Are you prepared for great home entertaining this Spring and Summer! Why not create a fabulous outdoor kitchen or back yard sanctuary, upgrade your dining room area or add a kitchen island for all of your cooking projects?

You will be able to ask an array of diverse experts on site all of your home improvement questions! This year’s event will feature useful Home and Garden Exhibits, Daily Seminars, Live Chef Demos, Shopping, and Charity Partners as well as Expo Sponsors.

Stop by for a few hours and discover the very best in home-improvement products, advice and inspiration. Home expo exhibitors include general contractors, flooring, landscapers, kitchen and bath, cabinets, closet organizers, landscape designers, painters, countertops, tile, granite, appliances, solar energy, fireplaces, and much more all from around Monterey County!

Spring is a great time to evaluate your home and initiate home renovation projects so you’ll be ready to enjoy visits from family and friends in your updated home.

It’s also a wonderful time to Get Inspired! Start by visiting the Inspired Home Expo to plan your home improvement and landscaping vision and meet trusted experts who can make it a great reality. Unleash your creativity and create a true sanctuary where you can relax and rejuvenate in your beautiful home.

At a Glance:

· Saturday, April 21, 2018 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Sunday, April 22, 2018 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

· Free to all attendees!

· The Spring 2018 Inspired Home Expo of Monterey will feature a full weekend of activities for homeowners plus the latest remodeling, landscaping and home accessory trends and tips.

· Educational home improvement seminars by local professionals, cooking demos, local charity partners and more.

· Additional informative and fun free seminars will be available both days during the Spring 2018 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey (full schedule coming soon on inspiredexpos.com)

· The Grand Prize for attendees of the event: $100 Home Depot Gift Certificate!

· Free parking!

· Location: Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Rd. Monterey, California. (Please enter at Gate 3)

· For more information, go to InspiredExpos.com or call (831) 222-0772.

During the Spring 2018 Inspired Home Expo of Monterey weekend, there will be an outstanding line-up of seminars in the home, food and garden areas that include many experts in their field. Attendees can plan their visit to the Spring 2018 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey around many valuable remodeling workshops and home improvement seminar presentations by local experts and live chef demos and some seminars are now listed below.

2018 Spring Home Expo Seminar Schedule

Saturday, April 21, 2018

12:00 pm

Easy Updates When Selling Your Home or Just to Enjoy It More

Presented by Amber Russell of Over the Moon Realty, Inc.

Join us as local real estate broker Amber Russell goes over quick fixes and changes for your home to make it a more attractive and impressive space. These updates can help with making your home more desirable when the potential buyers come through, or to just create a more enjoyable space for you and your family.

12:45 pm

Learn More About High Quality Olive Oil & Olive Oil Demo

Presented by RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer of Ruccello Olive Oil

We know that olive oil is good for you, but there are a lot of myths about it out there. Many olive oils are for sale in the U.S. and are mislabeled or adulterated. As a new provider of high quality extra virgin olive oil from Italy and California, RoseAnne Ruccello will share olive oil facts and tips, health benefits of olive oil, and will discuss how to do olive oil tastings and food pairings.

1:30 pm

Cooking Demonstration

Spring Vegetable Farrotto Cooking Demonstration

Presented by Chef Scott “Paul” Blackerby of the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel Spa TusCA Ristorante

Join Chef Paul as he makes a delectable dish of Spring Vegetable Farrotto, a dish much like risotto but with farro grains. We will make the quick and easy dish using ancient wheat grain farro, sauteed asparagus, peas, squash, baby tomatoes, herbs, vegetable broth, and finished with lemon olive oil!

2:15 pm

Homes for Heroes: Cash Back for Heroes who Buy or Sell a Home

Presented by Allison Chance of Homes for Heroes

Learn about the Homes for Heroes program where qualifying professions (Firefighters, Law Enforcement, Military (Active, Reserve & Veterans), Healthcare Professionals, EMS, Teachers) receive cash back when buying or selling a home. As a military spouse herself, Allison is pleased to offer this amazing program. Allison will also be doing a giveaway for a $50 Target gift card for those who attend the seminar!

3:00 pm

The ABC’s of Artichokes

Presented by Denice Amerison of Castroville Artichoke Festival Food & Wine

Join us to learn the ABC’s of Artichokes! We will cover basic preparation of artichokes, including how to microwave them, pressure cook them and other secrets of artichokes! Pat Hopper will also unveil the mystery and flavor of California’s official state vegetable!

Sunday, April 22, 2018

12:00 pm

Why Choose Metal Roofing

Presented by Mike Ruiz of Noble Pride Roofing

Watch a live demonstration showing how metal roofing panels are formed through a metal panel machine. Learn the advantages of metal roofing and see why today metal roofing is a popular alternative to traditional roofing products.

12:45 pm

Spring & Summer Painting Tips for Your Home

Presented by Jon Stuefloten of Jon Stuefloten Restoration Painting

Join us as Jon Stuefloten of Jon Stuefloten Restoration Painting discusses spring and summer painting tips for the exterior and interior of your home. He will be offering advice on the best colors for your home, techniques and much more.

1:30 pm

Hardscape Design & Opportunity

Presented by Steve McShane of McShane’s Landscape Supply

Too many landscapes go underutilized due to maintenance challenges. Join Steve McShane to dream up cost effective landscape solutions using stone, pavers, rocks and bark. Steve will highlight materials that last and require little or no upkeep. Steve will also walk through the design process so you can begin thinking about outside spaces you can enjoy.

And more seminars to be announced!

Corporate Sponsors:

· Noble Pride Roofing

Media Corporate Sponsors:

· Monterey County Herald

· KRML Radio 102.1 FM and 1410 AM

· Times Publishing Group

Exhibitor booth and Sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, go to www.InspiredExpos.com/Expos/Monterey.

Publicity Contacts:

Wendy Brickman (831) 633-4444 or brickman@brickmanmarketing.com

Marci Bracco (831) 747-7455 or marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

About Presenter RoseAnn Ruccello-Fischer

RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer has a passion for premium olive oil and she’s turned that passion into a vocation, recently launching Ruccello Olive Oil, which specializes in Extra Virgin Olive Oils from Italy and California, hand-crafted olive wood items and handmade aprons.

Starting April 1st, Ruccello Olive Oil will offer on its website, ruccellooliveoil.com, Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the Tuscany region in Italy and California, handmade olive wood bowls and cutting boards, and aprons crafted by hand. In the future, she hopes to offer more varieties of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from around the world. She also currently imports European antiques with her husband in partnership with a company in Carmel Valley.

Ruccello-Fischer may be passionate about olive oil, but she’s equally passionate about eating and living well. She’s been in the health care field for more than 30 years and is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, so she’s well acquainted with the many health benefits of olive oil. But it wasn’t until 2015, when she and her husband bought a small house in Tuscany nestled in the Chianti hills, with vineyards and olive groves everywhere you could see, that the idea of running her own olive oil business took seed.

A local business owner in their small Italian town suggested importing extra virgin olive oil to the U.S., an idea that appealed to her. She wanted to learn everything she could about olive oil, so signed up for an Olive Oil Sommelier class. The original business idea didn’t pan out, but she did learn quite a bit about olive oil, especially the fact that many olive oils for sale in the U.S. are mislabeled and adulterated and that customers were being duped into buying Extra Virgin Olive Oil that was either virgin olive oil or lampante oil, which is not fit for human consumption.

So she decided she wanted to educate American consumers and offer them the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil that the world has to offer. Ruccello Olive Oil was founded, the name taken from her maiden name. She’s already working with three olive oil producers in Italy and one in California, with another from Italy in the works.

More about the Expo:

Learn from and become “inspired” by top professionals in the field. Come meet the experts from the community who can help you create a more beautiful living environment, make a space more comfortable or fix an issue in your home. The event gives you the opportunity to build relationships with the people who can help you make your dreams become reality. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for ideas for Spring projects, inspiration or just browsing home improvements large too small. Talk with expert local home contractors that can create all your “inspired”, images from your clippings and Pinterest boards, meet your Google search list face to face, and make your home improvement dreams a reality.

The free, fun and informative Spring 2018 Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey will be held on Saturday and Sunday, April 21st and 22nd at the Monterey Fair & Expo Center, 2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA. This not-to-be-missed event will feature about a hundred LOCAL home and garden professionals on site, many based in Monterey County, with all of your home project solutions. They will be available to answer all of your questions and provide expert advice for enhancing your indoor and outdoor living space.

The Spring 2018 Inspired Home & Garden Expo will feature displays and exhibits of the latest ideas in home improvement, remodeling, interior design, decorating and landscaping. In addition, it will provide educational and informative seminars and demonstrations designed to help you enhance the beauty and the value of your home. Quality contractors, expert craftsmen, premier designers and home improvement professionals are there both days to focus on all of your needs to make your home meet your vision.

About Simply Clear Marketing & Media:

Simply Clear Marketing & Media (SCMM) is a professional event management and marketing company based on the Central Coast. SCMI currently produces 7 successful INSPIRED trade show events per year and is expanding its events and services. The Inspired Home Expos are designed to create an environment for consumers to find the products and services they need to create the home of their dreams. The vision behind the home expos is to create a location for local residents to meet face to face with local companies who can help them to create a beautiful living environment and increase the value of their homes. The health expos provide a location for residents to meet face to face with a variety of health, wellness, and fitness providers in the area.

Simply Clear Marketing & Media’s mission is to help small businesses grow by connecting them with potential clients through events and marketing. For more information, go to www.InspiredExpos.com or call (805) 222-0772.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.InspiredExpos.com

Business

Carmel Honey Company Gives Back to the Community with the Product that Gives Back — Honey

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At the heart of the corporate philosophy of Jake Reisdorf and his Carmel Honey Company is giving back to the community — both human and honey bees.

Carmel, CA, April 10, 2018 — At the heart of the corporate philosophy of Jake Reisdorf and his Carmel Honey Company is giving back to the community — both human and honey bees.

Reisdorf, who founded Carmel Honey Company when he was only 11years old (he’s now 15), is so passionate about honey and especially the need to save honey bees and endangered bee habitat, that he also founded the “Jake Gives Back” program.

The “Jake Gives Back” program not only makes financial donations to honey bee research and education organizations, it involves Reisdorf sharing his honey bee knowledge by speaking to students, service groups, civic organizations, businesses and corporations.

In addition to his speaking engagements, Reisdorf also does pop-up events where he can offer honey tastings, a presentation about bees and honey, as well as Q&A sessions.

Honey bees are a critical to the production of many of the fruits and vegetables we love to eat. In fact, about 90% of US crops depend on honey bees. These social insects also pollinate clover and alfalfa, which are fed to cattle, so they actually support the dairy and meat industry too. In addition, honey bees are also important to cotton and flax crops.

And yet the bees are dying. Pollination beekeepers lost an alarming 44% of their colonies last year due to Colony Collapse Disorder.

With his “Jake Gives Back” program, Reisdorf hopes to raise awareness about this crucial problem and identify solutions to how to reverse the trend.

And now, with the opening of Carmel Honey Company’s first brick-and-mortar store last August at the lower level of the Carmel Plaza in Carmel, Reisdorf is further able to support honey and bee research. When someone purchases a jar of honey or any honey-related product from Carmel Honey Company, either online or at the store, they just contributed to future honey and bee research and education.

In that sense, it’s one of the few products that consumers buy that actually gives back to the community and to the world at large in tangible ways. It can’t be understated how important honey bees are to sustain our global food system.

The Carmel Honey Company store is stocked not just with honey, but hive-related merchandise, including apparel, unique gifts, bath and body items and specialty edibles. Carmel Honey Company products also make for great gift items, including custom-made gift boxes that can be shipped directly to the recipient.

And of course, there is also an educational component to the store. Since most people haven’t tasted real, raw, premium honey, guests will be able to sample honeys from all over the country, discover beekeeping practices from around the world, and learn about the importance of pollinators to the ecosystem and the human race.

For more information on how you can buy “the gift that gives back,” please contact Carmel Honey Company at: (831) 687-8511 or at www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com.

More information is also available at:

www.Facebook.com/CarmelHoneyCompany

www.Instagram.com/CarmelHoneyCompany

www.Twitter.com/CarmelHoneyCo

Carmel Honey Company store

Carmel Plaza, Suite 118,

Ocean Avenue & Mission Street

Carmel, CA 93921

Phone: 831.687.8511

Hours: Mon-Sat 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.CarmelHoneyCompany.com

Business

T5 Data Centers Celebrates 10 Years of Data Center Excellence

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March Marks the 10-year Anniversary for Leading Provider of Enterprise-Scale, Custom-Built Data Centers.

Atlanta, GA, USA — T5 Data Centers, innovators in providing secure, customizable, hyperscale computing environments for enterprise companies, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary. In March 2008, T5 Data Centers opened its doors with a vision of filling a niche in the data center market by providing customized, mission-critical data centers designed to customers’ exacting specifications.

In its first decade, T5 Data Centers has established a reputation for superior reliability and performance, and best-in-class customer service. Since the company broke ground on its T5@Charlotte facility in North Carolina in 2011, T5 Data Centers has continued to build state-of-the-art facilities with robust building specifications, redundant power, ready access to fiber networks, and other features that have attracted Fortune 500 customers looking for customization and reliability. In fact, thanks to the T5 team’s data center expertise and commitment to excellence, all of T5’s data centers have been a regular recipient of the Uptime Institute’s Continuous Uptime Award for uninterrupted performance.

T5 Data Centers also provides hands-on experts to maintain all of its facilities to deliver a complete data center offering. The T5 Facilities Management (T5FM) team manages all of T5’s data centers as well as third-party operations. T5 Data Centers has recruited the best experts in the business for the T5FM team; many of them military veterans with experience in managing mission-critical systems. T5FM serves as an extension of customers’ IT staff, offering facilities operations and management, remote hands, and IT consulting services.

“After only 10 years, we have been able to establish a record of reliability and performance that is unprecedented in the data center market,” said Pete Marin, CEO of T5 Data Centers. “We guarantee that the lights will never go out in any of our facilities. Since we began, our vision has been to provide the best data centers in the best locations, and our track record over the past decade has realized that vision. We also believe in controlled growth, expanding at a pace that ensures we continue to provide exceptional customer service as we expand.”

T5’s newest data center and the first facility outside the United States is T5@Ireland in Cork Ireland. Today T5 operates 18 data centers in 14 markets.

T5 Data Centers offers colocation, wholesale, and build-to-suit data centers focused on the Enterprise and Hyperscale user; and plans continued expansion in new regions based on customer requirements.

For more information, visit http://www.t5datacenters.com.

About T5 Data Centers
T5 Data Centers (T5) is a leading global data center owner and operator, committed to delivering customizable, scalable data centers that provide a “Forever On” computing environment to power mission critical business applications. T5 Data Centers provides enterprise colocation data center services to organizations across the globe using proven, best-in-class technology and techniques to design and develop facilities that deliver the lowest possible total cost of operations for its clients. T5 Facilities Management (T5FM) is the mission-critical support division of T5, providing 24/7 critical facilities management, remote hands, IT consulting, and related services. T5 currently has business-critical data center facilities in Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, Portland, Charlotte, Chicago, New York, Colorado, and Ireland. All of T5’s data center projects are purpose-built facilities featuring robust design, redundant and reliable power and telecommunications, and have 24-hour staff to support mission-critical computing applications.

For more information, visit http://www.t5datacenters.com.

Contact:
Aaron Wangenheim
T5 Data Centers
(415) 292-7700
aaron@t5datacenters.com
http://www.t5datacenters.com

Biotech, Business, Construction, Food & Beverage, Industrial, Pharmaceuticals, Small Business

Leading Industrial Contractor and Fabricator Wins ABC National Safety Excellence Award

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M. Davis and Sons, Inc. has been awarded the National Safety Excellence Award, which is the industry’s leading safety laurel that honors both merit shop general and specialty contractors.

Long Beach, CA, 2018-Mar-30 — /REAL TIME PRESS RELEASE/ — Associated Builders and Contractors Delaware Chapter announced the winners of the prestigious Excellence in Construction award during its 28th annual celebration held in Long Beach, California.

The award was received by the construction and fabrication company M. Davis and Sons received amidst resounding applause.

M. Davis and Sons. Inc. is the leader in construction and fabrication of corporate plants and facilities for Fortune 500 Companies. Their expertise in mechanical, electrical, fabrication, instrumentation, and power distribution equipment create efficient processes for their customers.

Receiving the award has been termed as a milestone for the company as the Excellence in Construction awards program is the industry’s leading competition that honors both general and specialty contractors for innovative and high-quality merit shop construction projects.

Held on March 26, 2018, the ceremony of the ABC’s 28th Annual Excellence in Construction Awards had guests from every corner of the industry.

Talking to them, the 2018 ABC National Chair George R. Nash. Jr., Director of Preconstruction at Branch & Associates in Herndon, VA said,

“I am continually inspired by the amazing talent these ABC members and their employees display every day in the communities they build. It is an honor to recognize their commitment to world-class safety, superior craftsmanship, and cutting-edge innovation. The scope of this year’s Excellence in Construction award-winning projects, from a science museum and luxury apartment buildings to a polyethylene facility and sports stadiums, proves that if it can be built, the merit shop can be built it, on time and on budget.”

The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) organizes Excellence in Construction Awards every year and selects winners based on the several criteria such as experience modification rating, OSHA report information, commitment to safe work practices, policy and leadership, and safety vision.

About ABC:
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) is a national construction industry trade association established in 1950. It represents more than 21,000 members. Founded on merit shop philosophy, ABC and its 70 chapters help members develop people, win work, and deliver that work safely, ethically, and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work. For more information visit ABC.org.

About M. Davis & Sons, Inc.
M. Davis & Sons, Inc. is a fifth generation women-owned industrial contractor and fabricator located in Delaware that has served customers for more than 145 years in the oil & gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, food, beverage and industrial markets.

Media Contact:
M. Davis and Sons
Elaine Buonopane
19 Germay Drive
Wilmington, DE
Phone: 302-993-3365
Email: Elaine.Buonopane@mdavisinc.com
www.mdavisinc.com

Business

Castroville Gears up for The 59th Annual Artichoke Food & Wine Festival

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As the 59th annual Artichoke Food & Wine Festival approaches, the Castroville community is excited to come together to support the local community with entertainment and artichoke education this summer.

Castroville, CA, March 28, 2018 – As the 59th annual Artichoke Food & Wine Festival approaches, the Castroville community is excited to come together to support the local community with entertainment and artichoke education this summer. The festival will take place June 2-3, 2018 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds and will continue the legacy of celebrating the iconic artichoke and region known as the “Artichoke Center of the World.”

For many years, the Artichoke Festival has been dedicated to informing and exciting festival attendees about the unique qualities of artichokes including farming, harvest, and preparation to demonstrate how the artichoke industry has influenced the history of Monterey County. Now as a 501c3 organization, the purpose remains the same with an emphasis on giving back to the local community.

“We look forward to the Artichoke Festival each year because the event paints a clear picture of how this community comes together to support one another,” said Diana McClean, senior director of marketing at Ocean Mist Farms and board member for the Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival. “The purpose of this organization aligns directly with Ocean Mist Farms’ values which is part of the reason we enjoy sponsoring this annual event.”

Proceeds from the festival are used to support 501c3 community organizations and activities that align with the festivals mission. The following are the 2017 Artichoke Food & Wine Festival Donation Recipient Organizations:

Ashley Nicole Memorial Scholarship Fund

Bikers for Bikes

North Monterey County Baseball

North County Golf

Marina Lions

Ord Terrace Elementary School

Ag History Project

Peacock Acres

North County Bulldogs

Festival attendees enjoy several fresh artichoke food delicacies, a beer, wine and spirits garden, chef demos, live entertainment, field tours and more during the two-day festival. To support these events, the Artichoke Festival is encouraging individuals and organizations to volunteer their time to ensure another successful year.

For more information about giving back to the community through volunteering, please visit http://artichokefestival.org/general-info/volunteers/.

For more information contact:

Diana McClean

dmcclean@oceanmist.com

(831) 770-6435

About The Annual Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival

The Castroville Artichoke Food & Wine Festival began in 1959 and has since development to become a harvest festival to celebrate the iconic artichoke and region known as the “Artichoke Center of the World.” The festival features family-fun events for all ages and has been a primary source of funding for local non-profit groups for many years. For more information, visit http://artichokefestival.org/.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://artichokefestival.org/

Business

Area’s Pre eminent Event and Party Rental Company Celebrates 15 Years in Business

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It took a long and winding road to get to this lofty point, but Unlimited Events Inc., celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, has become the foremost event and party rental company in Central California.

Salinas, CA, March 19, 2018 — It took a long and winding road to get to this lofty point, but Unlimited Events Inc., celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, has become the foremost event and party rental company in Central California.

Unlimited Events provides tables, chairs, linens, silverware, lighting, dance floors, tents, glassware, and catering equipment, in short, just about anything someone would need to put on an event, everything from weddings and corporate events to charity events and galas.

But what sets Unlimited Events apart from similar companies is that they are fully equipped with sewing and fabrication facilities. So, Unlimited can not only create linens and other fabric items for clients, but also create custom items, including custom designing and producing wrought iron and wood pieces, such as centerpieces, easels, barstools, and custom bars.

But according to Lisa Clark, one of the company’s principals (when asked her title and what she does, she simply says “a little bit of everything.”), that’s not even what makes Unlimited unique and why they’re the go-to company in the area.

“I think what really makes us unique is our customer service — we’re willing to go above and beyond,” says Clark, who began with her family’s company in 2005. “If I don’t have it, I’ll get it or I can make it. I can make it happen. That’s what we’re known for. My staff can make it happen. No matter what, we’ll make things right. The last thing we want is an unhappy client.”

That’s why she says her brother Jonathan, who founded the company in 2003, named it Unlimited Events.

“My brother named it that because for us, the sky’s the limit. We’ve got that mentality,” she says.

The company has its roots in her father’s welding and metal-working business, West Coast Manufacturing Company, in 1988. He often worked with local agriculture companies making customized ag equipment. Before long, the ag companies asked him if he could provide portable toilets for their workers.

That’s when her father and brother created a new company, Salinas Sanitation, to provide portable toilets. That in turn led to questions about if they could supply events with tables, chairs, tents and other items.

That aspect of the business got so big that they created Unlimited Events in 2003 and then sold Salinas Sanitation. Her brother, in addition to being an expert welder and metal worker, was also an accomplished wood worker. He would make items such as rustic farm tables and other furniture for Unlimited, which became popular items to rent for clients.

Her brother then founded Misa Bella Designs, which specializes in furniture for hospitality, from desks and benches to bars, tables and chairs. Both her brother and father are still involved in Unlimited Events.

“It’s interesting to see how each one (company) played a role in what we do now,” says Clark.

When asked how it feels to celebrate 15 years in business, Clark sounded bemused.

“I never really thought about it, we’re so busy here,” she says, laughing. “When I was told this year was our 15th year, I had to think about it. Wow, that’s pretty good. That’s amazing.”

The largest event her company has done was the 100th anniversary event for the California Rodeo Salinas, an event that drew almost 700 people and took Unlimited a whole week to set up. Unlimited also donates its time to non-profits, such as Meals on Wheels – Culinary Classique and the Kinship Center.

The bottom line for her and Unlimited is making the customer happy.

“As long as we know we went the extra mile and the client is happy, that’s what we strive for,” she says. “I treat our clients the way I would want to be treated.”

Unlimited Events Inc.

P.O. Box 4460

Salinas, CA 93912

Ph. (831) 422-8300

Fax. (831) 754-9300

Salinas Location:

546 Brunken Ave

Salinas, CA 93901

sales@uei-rentals.com

fax. 831.250.6956

Contact:

Marci Bracco

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.uei-rentals.com

Business

Monterey-Based Sanctuary Vacation Rentals Inc. Celebrates its 10th Year in Business, Announces its Four Charity Partners

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Sanctuary Vacation Rentals Inc., the premier vacation home rental agency on the Monterey Peninsula, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is inviting the news media to an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 5 at Sanctuary’s Monterey office.

Monterey, CA, March 17, 2018 — Sanctuary Vacation Rentals Inc., the premier vacation home rental agency on the Monterey Peninsula, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is inviting the news media to an invitation-only ribbon-cutting ceremony April 5 at Sanctuary’s Monterey office.

The event will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, with the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Carmel Chamber Commerce, at Sanctuary’s office at 888 Munras Avenue in Monterey.

The ribbon-cutting is invite-only and will kick off Sanctuary’s 10-year anniversary campaign. Sanctuary will also announce its four charity partners, including Animal Friends Rescue Project (AFRP), The Fund for Homeless Women, Dorothy’s Kitchen and The Food Bank for Monterey County.

Animal Friends Rescue Project

From April 5 to December 31, Sanctuary Vacation Rentals will donate $5 per pet-friendly rental up to $2,500 to AFRP. Gracee is a 6-month-old shelter puppy that owners Annee and David adopted from AFRP after she was found wandering the streets of Salinas in pretty bad condition. She was given a tremendous amount of attention, love and care from her foster parent family and their five dogs, so much so that she has no fear of anyone or any dog and wags her tail at everyone she meets. Gracee has been proclaimed the Sanctuary ambassador of goodwill and joy because everyone she touches is left feeling better. animalfriendsrescue.com

The Fund for Homeless Women

Sanctuary will be supporting The Community Foundation for Monterey County’s The Fund for Homeless Women by donating blankets, towels, linens and more on an ongoing basis. The company will work to ensure that Homeless Women are given as many supplies as possible from vacation rentals. The Fund supports programs and services for homeless women on the Monterey Peninsula. In its initial years, the Fund supported both emergency assistance (e.g., temporary motel lodging, transportation expenses, laundry, etc.) and innovative ideas that expanded temporary and permanent housing options and case management services. cfmco.org.

Dorothy’s Place

Sanctuary Vacation Rentals will be supporting Dorothy’s Place by bringing food and supplies from each rental weekly to Dorothy’s Place in Salinas to help feed those in need.

Dorothy’s Place Hospitality Center in Chinatown, run by Franciscan Workers of Junipero Serra, includes Dorothy’s Kitchen, a Drop-In Center, Women Alive! Emergency Shelter for street women in Salinas, and a community of formerly broken and abandoned lives now living together in mutual support in House of Peace transitional living program.

dorothysplace.org

Food Bank for Monterey County

Sanctuary will be donating food throughout the year to the Food Bank for Monterey County and encouraging their guests and clients to donate as well. On December 5, there will be a food drive fundraiser for the Food Bank. Details to come. As the largest and most comprehensive provider of emergency supplemental food and a key proponent of anti-hunger and healthy eating education and advocacy in Monterey County, the Food Bank feeds more than 100,000 residents of Monterey County each year. http://www.foodbankformontereycounty.org.

In addition to the above actions, the entire team at Sanctuary Vacation Rentals will be donating their time and talents to each charity.

Founded in 2008 by Annee Martin, Sanctuary Vacation Rentals boasts a team of 20 professionals and represents almost 100 homes across the Monterey Peninsula, including Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel proper, Carmel Highlands, Big Sur, Pebble Beach, Pacific Grove, Monterey, Marina, Seaside, Carmel Valley and the Highway 68 corridor near the airport and Laguna Seca.

Sanctuary’s roster of homes includes everything from cozy two-bedroom cottages in Carmel and Pacific Grove to larger four- to six-bedroom homes that can accommodate up to 12 people and luxurious Pebble Beach homes with ocean views. Many of the homes are within walking distance to the area’s beaches, restaurants, shopping and tourist attractions.

Sanctuary homes all invoke a sense of peace and harmony, allowing guests to relax, revitalize their lives, reconnect with one another, and above all, have fun. Sanctuary’s goal is to provide guests with a sanctuary from all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Its vision is to inspire and nurture the hearts and souls of guests with the beauty and magic of the Monterey Peninsula while staying in one of its vacation homes.

“What drives me in this business is my love for people and wanting to give them the best experience they can have when they’re here,” says Martin. “We’re all travelers and we’ve all been strangers at one point. I just want people to feel welcome when they come here.”

Sanctuary Vacation Rentals started just after the housing market crash in 2008, which forced Martin and her husband David, an architect, to rent out their own home. Martin was amazed at how many people wanted to come to the Monterey Peninsula. She was soon able to help many of their friends who found themselves in a similar situation.

Before long, she had half a dozen homes, all through word of mouth. She quickly found out she found joy and a creative outlet for her talents in staging and maintaining homes for vacation rentals.

Her goal was to offer a warm and welcoming environment in each Sanctuary rental, with small welcoming touches such as fresh flowers and a bottle of Monterey County wine. All the homes are fully equipped and furnished with everything a visitor may need. In fact, guests need not bring anything with them but their suitcases.

Or as Martin likes to say, “We provide all the amenities and services of a 5-star resort with all the comforts of home.”

Martin says that a lot of Sanctuary’s success is owed to its Florida-based CFO Ben Edwards.

“Ben is one of the most respected leaders and consultants in the industry, president of the VRMA (Vacation Rental Management Association) the past three years,” says Martin. “I really consider him as responsible for my success as my own efforts. He keeps Sanctuary on the leading edge of marketing, technology and keeps us financially solvent. I am so blessed to have him.”

Martin has also become a strong advocate for the vacation rental industry, which has recently come under fire from local communities hoping to curtail the growing practice. She is now one of the leading voices for the vacation home rental industry, something she believes she was “called to do.”

She believes that neighborhoods can be protected with fair and reasonable regulation as opposed to bans and that more good comes from them than bad. She believes that vacation rentals provide affordable options for families that would not otherwise choose to stay in hotels and that they are good for the overall business community. She believes that there are plenty of visitors that want to come and stay on the Monterey Peninsula. It is her hope that hotels, inns and B&Bs can find a way to work together with the vacation rental companies and encourage visitors to visit Monterey as opposed to another city or coastal town.

She loves to network and refer businesses to her guests, and that includes the hotels and inns and B&Bs. Vacation rental homes are not always the best option for guests and many people do prefer the hotel or bed and breakfast experience. She believes being able to meet the needs of the traveler should be the highest priority and we can all work together to provide this.

The bottom line is the satisfaction she derives from making people happy.

“What drives me in this business is my love for people and wanting to give them the best experience they can have when they’re here,” she says. “We’re all travelers and we’ve all been strangers at one point. I just want people to feel welcome when they come here.”

Sanctuary Vacation Rentals

888 Munras Ave., Suite 100

Monterey, CA 93940

Phone: (831) 233-6340

Toll-Free: (800) 614-6706

https://www.sanctuaryvacationrentals.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

https://www.sanctuaryvacationrentals.com

Business

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Celebrates Earth Day with a Pin-It-To-Win-It Contest

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Did you know this year Earth Day is celebrating its 48th anniversary? In 2020 it will be 50 years!

Salinas, CA, March 16, 2018 – Did you know this year Earth Day is celebrating its 48th anniversary? In 2020 it will be 50 years! Each year we learn more about sustainability and Pinterest is an excellent place to share tips from green construction to composting and quotes! Share your favorite pins that represent what Earth Day means to you in our new Pin-It-To-Win-It contest!

Simply:

• Follow us on Pinterest

• Create a board titled: Earth Day 2018

• Pin your favorite Earth Day images, from trends to beautiful photos

(minimum 5 pins)

• Use the hashtag #EarthDayHyattRegencyMonterey on all the pins

• EMAIL a link to your board

• One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey

• Contest runs March 25th – April 22nd. Winner will be announced April 22nd in

honor of Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day, Sunday, April 22nd, the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Spa in Monterey is offering the following promotions:

Guests checking in on April 22nd will receive a sprouting pencil that can be planted at home to grow basil! #TravelGreen #InAHyattWorld

Happy Earth Day

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa shows their commitment to the environment and their local communities with programs that ranged from a naturalist-led beach clean-up to shutting the lights off in all unoccupied rooms, and employees turned out to volunteer at dozens of local green efforts. These activities take place throughout the year.

Enjoy this green-inspired cocktail:

“Green Garden”

1.5 oz of Organic Blanco Tequila

½ oz of Cucumber-infused Organic Simple Syrup

¼ oz of freshly squeezed Organic Lime Juice

1 oz of Sparkling Cava

Build and Shake in cocktail shaker. Strain into Martini Glass – Cucumber Garnish

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

https://monterey.regency.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html

Business, Electronics, Technology

Fulham Demonstrates Bluetooth Mesh and PoE Technology for LED Lighting Control at Light+Building

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Fulham’s connected lighting controls shows the potential of Bluetooth mesh and Power over Ethernet for intelligent lighting commissioning and management.

FRANKFURT, Germany — At Light+Building this week, Fulham Co., Inc., a leading supplier of lighting components and electronics for commercial and specialty applications, will demonstrate new wireless lighting control technology that uses the Bluetooth mesh control stack from Silvair to provide two-way communication to smart light fixtures. Fulham also will demonstrate new Power over Ethernet (PoE) LED Linear Engine technology combining DC power and smart lighting control. The technology demonstration of lighting controls will be shown in Hall 4.0, Stand A12.

Fulham’s Light+Building Bluetooth mesh demonstration will include a Bluetooth to 0-10V LED controller and a 40W LED driver with add-on Bluetooth connectivity via a Fulham Intelligent Wireless Module. Both products will be used to control third-party sensors and wall switches, showing the promise of Bluetooth Mesh compatibility. These are some of the very first wireless LED controllers to provide two-way Bluetooth communications, enabling control commands and commissioning as well as data gathering for performance monitoring and analytics.

Bluetooth mesh can be used to enable a wireless lighting management ecosystem that can quickly pay for itself, as well as laying the foundation for centralized lighting controls as the foundation for IoT (the Internet of Things). ABI Research predicts there will be 48 billion Internet-enabled devices installed by 2021, including smart luminaires, and open standards such as Bluetooth mesh will make it possible to consolidate these devices into an IoT infrastructure. Fulham is demonstrating a prototype app that shows how sensors in luminaires can be used for additional IoT functions such as managing HVAC, alarm systems, emergency exit signs, and smart door lock controls.

Adopting Bluetooth mesh for wireless lighting controls offers a number of advantages since Bluetooth is a well-defined, open standard that promises fast, reliable performance and scalability. Mesh networking was designed for applications such as building automation, supporting many-to-many communications, and it is ideally suited for connected lighting since it can simultaneously connect sensors in hundreds to thousands of luminaires.

Fulham also will display a new PoE Linear LED Engine technology, which can be integrated into a variety of form-factors . Unlike previous generations of PoE products that can only issue commands via a 0-10v interface, the PoE LED Engine connects directly to the LED light module, providing complete two-way communication with the fixture to gather data about luminaire performance, power consumption, and operating temperature, as well as issuing commands such as on/off, diming, color tuning and timed scheduling.

Using PoE to power LED luminaires simplifies installation, since only one cable is needed for both power and controls. PoE provides the LED luminaries with a low-voltage DC power source providing up to 52W of power. This makes the luminaire more energy efficient and less costly since no conversion drivers are required.

PoE also allows makes it easier to accommodate high bandwidth sensors such as IP cameras in the same network infrastructure used to power and control lighting. With PoE, each LED luminaire has a unique IP address, making it easy to add lighting to an IoT infrastructure, including remote management over the Internet.

“We have been developing clever LED products with integrated programmability for some time. The next step toward smart lighting is to add communications to programmability, and our technology demonstrations at Light+Building will highlight some of the possibilities offered networked lighting ecosystems,” said Russ Sharer, Vice President of Global Marketing and Business Development for Fulham. “In addition to providing two-way communications for both control and data gathering, using open standards such as Bluetooth Mesh and Power over Ethernet to connect luminaires paves the way for IoT integration. LED lighting with built-in sensors creates an ideal framework for IoT infrastructure. These technologies have been requested many times by our OEMs, and we are excited to share their status.”

For more information, visit Fulham at Light+Building 2018 in Hall 4.0, Stand A12, or visit http://www.fulham.com.

#LB18
#BLEmesh4lighting
#BLEmeshecosystem

About Fulham
Fulham Co., Inc. is a leading global provider of intelligent, socially-conscious sustainable commercial lighting components and electronics for use in commercial general lighting, parking structure, signage, horticultural, UV and other applications. The company develops and manufactures a variety of award-winning LED and emergency products, as well as legacy products across multiple lighting platforms. Fulham sells its lighting solutions worldwide through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and electrical equipment distribution channels. Headquartered in Hawthorne, Calif., the company has sales and/or manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, China, India and the UAE. For more information, visit http://www.fulham.com. @FulhamUSA and @FulhamEurope.

Media Contact:
Andy Firchau
Marketing Manager
Fulham Co., Inc.
Phone: +1 (323) 779-2980, ext. 1252
afirchau@fulham.com

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