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Entertainment

Monterey Symphony’s Fabulous Season 72, a Six-concert series that Begins Oct. 14-15, and Runs through May 19-20

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Tickets Go On Sale August 15th

Salinas, CA, July 21, 2017 – An exceptional lineup of celebrated pianists will perform iconic works by Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, Prokofiev, Saint-Saens, Mozart, de Falla and Liszt during the Monterey Symphony’s fabulous Season 72, a six-concert series that begins Oct. 14-15, and runs through May 19-20. Tickets go on sale August 15th.

The season, entitled “Concert Grand,” is under the direction of Maestro Max Bragado-Darman, whose guest pianists will Orion Weiss, David Jae-Weon Huh, Josu de Solaun, Juan Perez Floristan, Phillipe Bianconi, and one more to be selected by guest conductor Conner Gray Covington, who will preside over the March 17-18 program.

The symphony also will be performing pieces by Dvorak, Beethoven, Schumann, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Prokofiev, de Falla and Tchaikovsky.

All programs will be performed at the Sunset Center (Ninth Avenue, between San Carlos and Mission streets) in Carmel at 8 p.m. on Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays. Special youth concerts, also at the Sunset Center, have been scheduled Oct. 16, March 19 and April 23, with performances at 9:30 and 11 a.m. on each date.

The Monterey Symphony‘s chamber players will present a holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at All Saints Church (Ninth Avenue, between San Carlos and Monte Verde streets in Carmel).

For ticket information, call 831-646-8511, visit the website at www.montereysymphony.org, or send an email to info@montereysymphony.org.

Here’s an in-depth look at the upcoming season:

Program 1: Oct. 14 and 15 (with youth concert on Oct. 16)

Pianist Orion Weiss, a favorite of Monterey Symphony fans, will lend his virtuosic skills to Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 23 (originally composed for the historically acclaimed Nikolai Rubinstein) in the season opener, during which the orchestra will perform Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” Op. 95.

Weiss has performed with the major American orchestras, including the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic. His deeply felt and exceptionally crafted performances go far beyond his technical mastery and have won him worldwide acclaim.

Program 2: Nov. 18-19

South Korean-born David Jae-Weon Huh, silver medalist at the 2015 Santander Piano Competition, will lend his talents to Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3, Op. 26, in this powerful program, which also will include the Symphony’s interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Op. 68 (“Pastoral.)

Recognized for his sense of poetry and technical brilliance, Huh has performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia and the United States, and has appeared in numerous festivals, including recitals at Animato den Paris, San Francisco Music Festival, and Leipzig Euro Music Festival, among many others.

This will be his first appearance with the Monterey Symphony.

Program 3: Feb. 17-18

Josu de Solaun, first-prize winner at the 2014 Enescu Piano Competition, will join the Symphony to perform Camille Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 103 in a concert that also will include Symphony renditions of Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80, and Robert Schumann’s Symphony No. 2, Op. 61.

de Solaun’s teachers, mentors, and musical influences have Nina Svetlanova, Horacio Gutierrez, Ricardo Roca, Ana Guijarro, Maria Teresa Naranjo, Albert and Miyoko Lotto, Joaquin Achucarro, Matti Raekallio, Edna Golandsky, and Jerome Lowenthal.

Symphony audiences will remember de Solaun for his previous solo recital, featuring Mussogorky’s Pictures at an Exhibition.

Program 4: March 17-18 (with youth concert on March 19)

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend with the Monterey Symphony and wall-to-wall Mozart, a program that will include the overture from his beloved opera, Don Giovanni.

This concert will be performed under the baton of guest conductor Connor Gray Covington (recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the Utah Symphony) and will include Mozart’s Symphony No. 1, KV 16, and Symphony No. 41, KV 551 (“Jupiter”).

Covington is currently completing his tenure as the Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he is being mentored by Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin. He recently made his debut with the Curtis Symphony at Carnegie Hall, sharing the podium with Ludovic Morlot.

A special guest pianist, to be selected by Covington, also will be part of this spectacular program.

Program 5: April 21-22 (with youth concert on April 23)

Guest pianist Juan Perez Floristan, winner at the 2015 Santander Piano Competition, will showcase his talents with a performance of Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 83, in a program that also will include the Symphony’s rendition of Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, Op. 90 (“Italian”) — a piece Mendelssohn, himself, declared to be the “jolliest” he ever composed.

Regarded as a beacon among new generations of Spanish and European musicians, Perez has performed with the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, Malmo Symphony, Radio Television Espanola, Seville Royal Symphony, Gran Canaria Philharmonic, Malaga and Cordoba Symphonies, and the Andres Segovia and Spanish National Youth Orchestras.

Program 6: May 19-20

The incomparable Phillipe Bianconi will be at the piano for the Monterey Symphony’s final program of the season, performing Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

Liszt perfected the art of thematic transformation and took it to an extreme level with this impassioned concerto.

French pianist Bianconi has been described as an artist whose playing is “always close to the soul of the music, filling the space with poetry and life” (Washington Post), “an extraordinary exhibition of musicianship, technical control and good taste which lent the music a freshness, immediacy and conviction one all too seldom encounters” (The London Times). After winning the Silver Medal in the Seventh Van Cliburn International Competition, Bianconi made an acclaimed recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 1987 and, since then, has enthralled audiences and critics throughout the world.

Also featured will be Manuel de Falla’s lovely Noches en los Jardines de Espana, his most impressionist-style work, which details three gardens in a setting for piano and orchestra.

Chamber Program: Dec. 7 (7:30 p.m. at All Saints Church)

The Monterey Symphony is pleased to offer a special holiday chamber music treat, featuring concertmaster Christina Mok, with selections that include Piazzolla, Beethoven, Mozart, and the Hampton String Quartet’s “What if Mozart wrote ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas!”

Come have fun and enjoy holiday music in a classical style with the Monterey Symphony chamber players.

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 in part through the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Monterey Symphony, and through grants from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Buffet Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, Frisone Family Foundation, The Harden Foundation, The Todd Lueders Fund for the Arts of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Monterey County Weekly Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Music Performance Trust Fund, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Samson Foundation, Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation, Alexander F. Victor Foundation, and many other generous foundations and individual donors.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported in part through the fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Monterey Symphony, and through grants from The Arts Council of Monterey County, California Arts Council, The Berkshire Foundation, The Buffet Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, Frisone Family Foundation, The Harden Foundation, The Todd Lueders Fund for the Arts of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Monterey County Weekly Community Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Music Performance Trust Fund, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, Samson Foundation, Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation, Alexander F. Victor Foundation, and many other generous foundations and individual donors.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit our web site: www.montereysymphony.org.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

http://www.montereysymphony.org

Entertainment

Monterey Museum of Art Appoints Stuart A. Chase Executive Director

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The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart A. Chase as its Executive Director. Chase officially assumed the role on April 24, 2017.

Monterey, CA, July 19, 2017 – The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart A. Chase as its Executive Director. Chase officially assumed the role on April 24, 2017.

“The Board of Trustees is thrilled to welcome Stuart to the Monterey Museum of Art,” said Kim Negri, MMA Board President. “With over 30 years of museum experience, Stuart is an accomplished, creative, community-minded leader and has the vision and knowledge to carry MMA into the future.”

As President and CEO of HistoryMiami Museum from 2013-2017, Chase led development of programs and exhibitions for expanded facilities to serve the public, including 135% growth of additional museum space.

As Executive Director of the Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, from 2005 to 2011, Chase focused on community partnerships by engaging area cultural organizations, and led a $10.3 million capital campaign for physical improvements to the art museum.

“I will be focused on engaging audiences with the visual arts of California and in particular the Monterey Peninsula. The Monterey Museum of Art holds a fine reputation in the museum field,” says Chase. “I am delighted to lead MMA into the next phase of growth, and showcase this unique American art community. The Peninsula is a beautiful region, with a strong local identity — a heritage of creative people located far enough from urban centers, but close enough to nature for lively intellectual exchange.”

Originally from Palmer, Massachusetts, Chase graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. His first position in the arts was as Assistant Director at Museum of the Southwest in Midland, Texas.

A lover of the outdoors, Chase and his wife Julie are excited to land in an area of such natural beauty.

“I love the outdoors and the natural world and this area is stunningly beautiful,” Chase says. “I’m a nature buff. I love gardening, kayaking and skiing. We also love the ocean and beaches. And I actually prefer the cooler weather.”

Chase and his wife found a home in New Monterey, which allows them to walk to the Rec Trail, Cannery Row, Fisherman’s Wharf and downtown to explore the community.

“It has a very comfortable community feel to it,” he says. “I can easily see why the Monterey area became an art colony.”

As for the “next phase of growth” for MMA, Chase said he wants to build the Museum’s programs and exhibits and “reinvigorate the exhibition cycle.” But first he wants to take the pulse of the community.

“I’m a curious learner,” he says. “I want to know what the community wants and what it wants to happen with the Museum. I just want to be as open and accessible as possible.”

At the Rockwell Museum of Western Art in Corning, New York, he managed a $10 million capital improvement campaign of the historic museum building, and led acquisitions of major American regional regional artworks.

Additionally, Chase has served with the Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, New York; and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and was CEO of 1Berkshire.

In addition to his bachelor’s degree, Chase participated and completed master’s degree coursework in Arts Administration at Long Island University in Brookville, New York. He was a Bohlen Scholar at Attingham Summer School in England, and attended the Summer Institute in Management of Non-Profit Institutions at New York University.

About the Monterey Museum of Art

The Monterey Museum of Art expands a passion for the visual arts and inspires appreciation of California Art — past, present, and future. The Museum recently hosted the exhibit “Edward Weston: Portrait of the Young Man as an Artist” as the opening venue, and debuted “Who Shot Monterey Pop! Photographs from the 1967 Music Festival” on June 2, 2017.

The Monterey Museum of Art connects art and community, with an emphasis on participatory experiences built around the Museum’s strong collection of California and regional art. Exhibitions and programs of the highest quality are designed to engage and inspire visitors.

The Museum was established in 1959, to uphold the artistic legacy of the region by collecting, preserving and presenting art of California and the Central Coast. Originally a chapter of the American Federation of the Arts, MMA remains the only nationally accredited museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara.

Visit montereyart.org for additional information on the Museum’s exhibitions, programming and events.

Media Inquiries: pr@montereyart.org or 831.372.5477 x101

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.montereyart.org/

Entertainment

Monterey Museum of Art Receives Highest National Recognition

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Awarded re-accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums

Salinas, CA, July 19, 2017 – The Monterey Museum of Art is proud to announce that it has once again been honored with the highest degree of national recognition from the American Alliance of Museums.

In a July 5, 2017 letter to museum director Stuart Chase, the Alliance announced that the Monterey Museum of Art has been granted re-accreditation — recognition that the museum continues to meet National Standards and Best Practices for U.S. Museum.

“Accredited museums are a community of institutions that have chosen to hold themselves publicly accountable to excellence,” said Laura L. Lott, Alliance president and CEO. “Accreditation is clearly a significant achievement, of which both the institutions and the communities they serve can be extremely proud.”

“As the new leader of The Monterey Museum of Art, I’m very proud to work with our Board and staff to produce programs, exhibitions and build collections that meet national standards reflected by this re-accreditation,” said Stuart Chase, Executive Director Monterey Museum of Art. “We are truly one of the finest American regional art museums in the nation.”

Among an estimated 33,000 museums in the United States, only about 1,000 are currently accredited. The Monterey Museum of Art is the only accredited art museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara.

Accreditation signifies excellence to the museum community, to governments, funders, outside agencies, and to the museum-going public. The Monterey Museum of Art initially received accreditation in 1976, but all museums must undergo a re-accreditation review at least every 10 years to maintain accredited status.

“The Board of Trustees is pleased to receive news of the Museum’s re-accreditation from AAM,” said Board President Kim Negri. “We look forward to continuing to guide the Museum and support our new Executive Director, Stuart Chase, in our mission of expanding a passion for the visual arts and inspiring appreciation of California art, past, present and future.”

The Monterey Museum of Art is located at 559 Pacific Street, across from historic Colton Hall, and is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, and Thursday through Sunday. The Museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The Museum also has a second venue, at 720 Via Mirada, for special exhibitions.

Admission is $10 per adult, with no admission charge for students (18 and younger) and active military with identification, and members.

Call 831-372-5477, visit the website online at montereyart.org, or send an email to info@montereyart.org for additional information.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.montereyart.org/

Entertainment

YA Novel “The Praying Pond” Explores Faith and the Power of Prayer Through Childlike Eyes

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Imagine kneeling beside still waters, lifting your prayer up for consideration and seeing the answer right before your eyes? This is what happens to several of the faithful children in first time author Michelle Nadasi’s new book “The Praying Pond.”

Port St. Lucie, FL (USA), July 16th, 2017 — Imagine kneeling beside still waters, lifting your prayer up for consideration and seeing the answer right before your eyes? This is what happens to several of the faithful children in first time author Michelle Nadasi’s new book “The Praying Pond.” Visions only appear to children, those with an innocent faith and belief that God will hear and answer their prayers.

“It started with the idea of a lovely pond situated behind a church,” said Michelle Nadasi. “I wanted to write a story that dealt with faith in God but also characters who were dealing with real life issues like moving to a new school, arguing parents, trying to fit in and the inevitable “mean girls” and The Praying Pond” does just that.”

The story is told through the eyes of fourth grader Holly whose family has just moved to town. Although as a family they haven’t previously been faithful church goers they start to attend the local church. After the first service, Holly spots a young girl kneeling beside the pond. She learns that some of the children from the area who have prayed by the pond have seen visions of family members that appear to be answers from God. The history of the Praying Pond goes back several decades, according to the youth minister, Pastor Mark. As the story progresses, it is the childlike faith that Holly begins to develop that help the entire family through the challenges that can occur when moving to a new community, settling into a new job and attending a new school.

“Over the years I have worked with a number of children through the youth programs of our church,” said Nadasi. “I marvel at the unquestioning love children have for God and the power of their childlike faith. They encourage me to embrace that innocence in my faith.”

In the Message transcription of the Bible we learn from Matthew 18: 2-5, which says, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.”

“I hope that this book will inspire readers to remember what it felt like to first love God. The characters in “The Praying Pond” are relatable and their circumstances are ones that we have all encountered as youth and adults. I hope that the example of prayer in the book will encourage believers and inspire others to become curious about God and seek to learn more.”

“This is such an enjoyable read,” said Lisa Umina, founder and publisher of Halo Publishing, Inc. “Holly is a great main character and following her story as she grows in her faith and works through the challenges of moving to a new town and making new friends is one that everyone will be able to relate to. It is an uplifting story and readers will walk away feeling joyful at the end.”

“The Praying Pond” is now available at Halo Publishing, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other outlets in paperback for $12.95, hardcover for $15.95 and e-book version for $5.99.

* Halo Publishing
* Amazon
* Barnes and Noble

About Michelle Nadasi:
Michelle Nadasi is a stay at home mom who lives with her husband and three children in Florida. Although she received a Bachelor’s Degree in  Psychology from college, her true passion is writing. She hopes that through her stories, she will bring herself, and her readers closer to God and his everlasting love.

About Halo Publishing International:
Halo Publishing International is a self-publishing company that publishes adult fiction and non-fiction, children’s literature, self-help, spiritual, and faith-based books. We continually strive to help authors reach their publishing goals and provide many different services that help them do so. http://www.HaloPublishing.com

Press & Media Contact:
Lisa Umina, Publisher
Halo Publishing International
1100 NW Loop 410, Suite 700-176
San Antonio, TX 78213 – USA
+1 877-705-9647
contact@halopublishing.com
http://www.HaloPublishing.com

Entertainment, Marketing

First Edition Design Publishing Releases New Book, “The Dance Dragon” by Dan Logan

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The Dance Dragon, by Dan Logan, encourages all of us to master our dragon.

Boston, MA, USA — Dan Logan’s The Dance Dragon confronts the author’s fear of dance and finds the courage to walk in a ballroom dance studio.

Five Star Reviews!

A fun memoir of a man stepping out of his comfort zone, and learning a lot about himself in the process. If you like ballroom dancing, journeys of self-discovery or people who are finding new life in their sixties, you’ll enjoy The Dance Dragon. ~Ted Hogan

Dan knew nothing about dance. After several embarrassing experiences in his youth, Dan decided he would never again make a fool of himself on the dance floor. Then something happened, Dan’s daughter was getting married. One day he found the courage to walk in a ballroom dance studio, met Melissa, and everything he thought about dancing changed.

His journey takes him into a world of dance studios and clubs, where he dances with hundreds of women, travels to rural Cuba and eventually Washington D.C for a competitive performance for his final confrontation with the dragon.

The Dance Dragon is Dan Logan’s first novel. He grew up in Boston, graduated with a major in American history from the University of Notre Dame, spent three years in the U.S Military and received an M.B.A. in marketing research from New York University.

After 12 years working at a large global advertising firm in New York at the end of the Mad Men era, Dan moved back to Boston and started his own advertising and communication firm. Dan and his wife Eileen live on the Boston waterfront.

Genre – Dance, Ballroom, Wedding, Tango, Dragon, Cuba, Learning, Hemingway, Rhythm, Havana

The ebook version of The Dance Dragon ISBN 9781506904375, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold. The 124 page print book version, ISBN 9781506904368, and ISBN 9781506904368 hardback, are published by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed worldwide to online booksellers.

Media Contact:
Dan Logan
+1(941)921-2607
dancedragonbook@gmail.com

Entertainment

Carmel Dog Tales™ Presents… America’s 1st Annual PAWlitzer Prize™ for Best Dogged LITTERature

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In honor of the Pulitzer Prize celebrating 100 years of excellence in journalism and the arts, Carmel Dog Tales presents America’s 1st Annual PAWlitzer Prize™ for Best Dogged LITTERature.

Salinas, CA, July 09, 2017 – In honor of the Pulitzer Prize celebrating 100 years of excellence in journalism and the arts, Carmel Dog Tales presents America’s 1st Annual PAWlitzer Prize™ for Best Dogged LITTERature. And what better venue to host the Award Ceremony than Carmel, California – often named America’s Most Dog-friendly town — where writers such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Robinson Jeffers and Mary Austin, lived and explored the good, the bad, and the ugly of the human comedy.

But what of the Canine comedy? What of the great real-life dog stories?

Have a Story to Tell About Your Beloved Pooch?

Carmel Dog Tales™ wants to read the most memorable adventure, romance, comedy, or tear-jerker tale you’ve had with your dog. It’s time to recognize and honor ordinary people with extraordinary stories to tell about their BFFF (Best Furry Friend Forever!)

The PAWlitzer Prize™ will be presented to winners in two non-fiction categories: Drama and Humor. The Awards Ceremony will take place in Carmel, Ca., October 14, 2017. Afternoon festivities will include:

Entertainment and treats for all blue bloods, mixed breeds and mutts – canine and human!

PAWlitzer Prize Winners will be invited to read their stories at the Awards Ceremony.

Featured entertainment will be a PAWetry Slam™ where finalists get to perform their pooch passionate doggerel. Canine and human audience response will determine the winner. PAWetry Slam contestants will submit YouTube videos to be invited to perform at the Awards Ceremony.

For eligibility rules and submission guidelines for the PAWlitzer Prize™ and the PAWetry Slam™, including information on prizes, Judges, entry fees & full event details, go to: www.CarmelDogTales.com

100% of all net proceeds from the PAWlitzer Prize event will benefit the SPCA for Monterey County and The Birchbark Foundation.

PAWlitzer Prize™ Partners & Sponsors include: Chatterbox PR, www.chatterboxpublicrelations.com , Diggidy Dog Boutique, www.diggidydog.com , Porta Bella Restaurant, www.portabellacarmel.com , Carmel Road Wines, www.carmelroad.com , Carmel Country Inn, www.carmelcountryinn.com , Tradewinds Carmel, www.Tradewindscarmel.com, Kerry Lee Jewelry, www.kerrylee.com , Suds ‘n Scissors Pet Spa, www.sudsandscissorscarmel.com , Say WOOF! Petography, www.saywoofpetography.com , A. Herman – Dog Therapist, www.ahermandogtherapist.com

ABOUT CARMEL DOG TALES:

Carmel Dog Tales™ was founded by Mark Oman, a best-selling golf humorist, longtime Carmel resident, and volunteer with the Monterey County SPCA and Carmel Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife, Barbara, have two rescue mutts from the SPCA, Winifred and Winston.

Carmel Dog Tales offers everything you and your pooch need to know to walk and wag your tails through Carmel-By-The-Sea. www.CarmelDogTales.com

ABOUT SPCA:

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for Monterey County is your nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. Online at www.SPCAmc.org.

ABOUT BIRCH BARKL

About Birchbark Foundation

By providing financial resources for those in need and educational resources to our community, BirchBark Foundation empowers people to make informed decisions in times of crisis and to be better advocates for their pets. BirchBark offers assistance grants to animal owners who are unable to cover some or all of the cost of their pet’s medical care. BirchBark currently offer grants only to financially qualified applicants in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties. The Foundation is reliant on the discounted services of Associate Member Hospitals. For more information please visit: www.birchbarkfoundation.org

Media Contact: Mark Oman (831) 624-4386 FAX: (831) 626-9357 Mark@markoman.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.CarmelDogTales.com

Entertainment, Marketing

FED Publishing Releases New Book, “At a Crossroads: Finding the Right Psychotherapist (Even if You Already Have one)” by Linda Tucker, PsyD, LCSW

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At a Crossroads: Finding the Right Psychotherapist (Even if You Already Have One) became an Amazon International Number 1 Best Seller, by Linda Tucker, PsyD, LCSW, as the insider’s guide to finding the very best help when you need it most.

San Francisco, CA, USA — Dr. Linda Tucker’s At a Crossroads: Finding the Right Psychotherapist (Even if You Already Have one) asks Do You Need Help and Don’t Know Which Way to Turn?

“I wish I had read this book 20 years ago. Dr. Tucker provides a concise, clear guide to the often confusing and intimidating world of therapy and therapists…..What kind of therapist do I need, how do I find someone that is “right” for me. I’ve always found it to be a daunting, somewhat scary endeavor. Understanding the process from Dr. Tucker’s perspective has shed a very different light on the experience. If you have been thinking about finally addressing those demons and realize that you can’t do it alone, read this book. Really. It’s that good.” ~Lisa Farnsworth

When you’re at a crossroads, you need to know what to look for so you can choose the right professional for your particular situation. This book will guide you as you begin (or continue) your journey to find help when you need it. You will learn:

-What to look for in a psychotherapist
-What kind of therapy may be best for you
-How to find a great therapist where you live
-How to pay for therapy
-Where NOT to go to find a therapist (hint: the internet is not the best guide)
-What to ask on the initial call and the first appointment
-How to tell if a therapist isn’t right for you
-What to expect in the therapeutic relationship

Written by a top San Francisco psychoanalyst, At a Crossroads will give you the guidance you need to find a caring psychotherapist, and then show you how to make the most of the therapeutic relationship.

Voted “one of San Francisco’s Best Psychologists,” Linda Tucker, PsyD, LCSW, is seasoned psychoanalyst with 20+ years of experience in helping individuals and couples lead more fulfilling lives. She also hosts a bi-weekly award winning podcast, “Challenge Your Thinking,” interviewing notable individuals to discover how they overcame the challenges we all face.

Genre – Psychology, Psychotherapy, Psychoanalyst, Counseling, Therapy, Mental Health

The ebook version of At a Crossroads: Finding the Right Psychotherapist (Even if You Already Have one) ISBN 9781506904337, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold. The 124 page print book version, ISBN 9781506904320, is published by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed worldwide to online booksellers.

Media Contact:
Linda Tucker
+1(941)921-2607
lintucker@sbcglobal.net

Entertainment, Marketing

First Edition Design Publishing Releases New Book, “High Spain Drifter” by Mark Krieger

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High Spain Drifter, by Mark Krieger, follows cyclist Mark and his wife Roz, as they travel around Spain and Portugal’s Iberian Peninsula.

Rosebud, Victoria, Australia — Having previously cycled around France, Mark Krieger’s High Spain Drifter continues his and his wife Roz’s journey throughout Europe, this time around Spain and Portugal’s Iberian Peninsula.

Following the footsteps of the Tour de France and Spain’s Vuelta a Espana through the Pyrenees, Mark recalls many of cycling’s memorable moments; some inspirational, and some that the sport would rather forget.

Across the border into Spain, summer is approaching, a time when Catalonians are in festival mode. Travelling west, there is a treacherous ‘goat track’, near Oviedo, that Mark’s determined to conquer after two failed attempts.

Arriving in Portugal, the pair are enthralled by the country’s history; events like the ‘Age of Discoveries’, the 1755 earthquake, the Carnation Revolution and the humble beginnings of Fado. Drenched in history and abundantly alive in the present, Lisbon proves an awesome exception to avoiding large cities when cycling.

Just as evocative in its own way is the small Spanish town of Trigueros. Once the sun goes down, its previously near-deserted streets come alive.

Continuing through the south of Spain, the travellers visit the Sierra Nevada range. It’s here where Mark tries to fulfil another obsession; to cycle up its highest peak, Pico de Veleta. Much higher and harder than any mountain he’s ever dreamed of tackling, its final kilometres of treacherous road make the thought of continuing seem foolish.

An avid cyclist, Mark has travelled widely throughout Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. Now a retired schoolteacher, these passions, as well as his life-long interest in history, have become the catalyst for his writing. His and his wife’s journey around France in 2009 – portrayed in his book, Lycra, Lattes and the Long Way Round – was the first of many wonderful adventures in the years ahead. Today, Mark and Roz live happily on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.

Genre – cycling, travel, vuelta a espana, history, cinema, mountains, portugal, spain, fado, reconquista

The ebook version of High Spain Drifter ISBN 9781506904214, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold. The 204 page print book version, ISBN 9781506904207, is published by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed worldwide to online booksellers.

Media Contact:
Mark Krieger
+1(941)921-2607
thebackgarden@mailworks.org

Entertainment, Marketing

FED Publishing Releases New Book, “From Boiling water to Master of the Southern European Cuisine: A Travelogue” by Janisa J. Brunstein

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From Boiling water to Master of the Southern European Cuisine: A Travelogue, by Janisa J. Brunstein, takes us around the world with food.

Monroe, NY, USA — Janisa J. Brunstein’s From Boiling water to Master of the Southern European Cuisine: A Travelogue is a didactic cookbook/travelogue. A recount of history, culture, gastronomy and people from Southern European Countries, Spain, Italy, France and Greece.

This book is so fun! And so very interesting. It was like I was taking the trips myself. My mouth is still watering. ~Christi Schaefbauer

Janisa J. Brunstein is an executive chef, food geek, and professional artist, born in Mérida, Venezuela. Cooking has been her lifelong passion and inspiration from childhood. She earned her B.A. in Culinary Arts from the Institut Paul Bocuse, Écoles des Arts Cuilinaires et de L’Hôtellerie in Lyon, France. She has her own successful catering/event planning business, La Cuisine de Janisa, in Monroe, New York (http://www.lacuisinedejanisa.com), which specializes in authentic, all-natural, kosher international food for all occasions. She’s also served as personal chef to rich, famous and other elite and celebrity clientele. Her culinary creations are unique and memorable works of art!

Ms. Brunstein is a true polyglot, who speaks five languages: Spanish, English, French, Italian, and Portuguese. She became a certified medical esthetician in Barcelona, Spain, and received her M.A. in Modern Languages & International Affairs from Universidad de los Andes in Venezuela. She’s a world traveler and fine arts aficionado.

Genre – international cookbook, international travel, cookbook, travelogue, cuisine, european cuisine, masterchef, chef, personalchef, privatechef, celebritychef, europeangastronomy, food, cookinglovers, cookinglover, cookingwithstyle, healthyeating, organic, fromscratch, handmade, homemade, deliciousness, cookbookauthor, painter, writer, cookbookwriter, ingredients, internationalcuisine, cook, internationalfood

The ebook version of From Boiling water to Master of the Southern European Cuisine: A Travelogue ISBN 9781506904412, published by First Edition Design Publishing (http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com), is available on-line wherever ebooks are sold. The 124 page print book version, ISBN 9781506904405, is published by First Edition Design Publishing and distributed worldwide to online booksellers.

Media Contact:
Janisa J. Brunstein
+1(941)921-2607
janisabrunstein@icloud.com

Entertainment

Renowned African Stone Artists Agnes and Moses Nyanhongo will Display their Talents at Sculpting Event at Devendorf Park in Carmel Aug. 27

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Brother-and-sister artists Agnes and Moses Nyanhongo are renowned fine art stone sculptors of Zimbabawe’s Shona Sculpture Movement, which has captivated art lovers and collectors the world over.??

Carmel, CA, June 30, 2017 — Brother-and-sister artists Agnes and Moses Nyanhongo are renowned fine art stone sculptors of Zimbabawe’s Shona Sculpture Movement, which has captivated art lovers and collectors the world over.

To celebrate the opening of “Life in Stone,” an exhibition of over 40 new stone sculptures at Gallery Sur in Carmel, the internationally celebrated duo will demonstrate their stone sculpting talents at a free event in Devendorf Park in downtown Carmel.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, Agnes and Moses, part of the well-known Nyanhongo family of stone sculptors, will show the various techniques used in their distinctive sculpting process and will share the deep cultural and spiritual traditions expressed in the stone.

Gallery Sur in Carmel is a North American leader in offering original, one-of-a-kind Zimbabwean stone sculpture. The new “Life in Stone” exhibition, opening August 27 at Gallery Sur, includes Shona sculpture ranging from important traditional works by older, revered artists to contemporary, purely abstract works from younger, internationally acclaimed Zimbabwean artists.

“For the past 23 years, I’ve had the pleasure of representing a handful of world-class stone sculptors from Zimbabwe,” says Braden Coolidge, artist representative and curator of the show. “Each year I hand-pick a selection that focuses on the very finest quality by a select few artists. This year’s collection is truly stunning. Clearly the most diverse and dynamic body of work I have ever seen, and in 23 years I’ve seen a lot!”

Shona artists often draw inspiration intuitively from their traditional culture: the mythology, folklore, rituals and beliefs in ancestral spirits that remain strong influences in contemporary Zimbabwean life. The integral roles of women in society are also a significant source of inspiration, often expressing the importance of the mother and child relationship and the respect for the elder’s wisdom. Both the physical and spiritual relationship with nature is another important theme, reflecting the country’s deep rural roots.

Utilizing beautiful stones in various colors, unearthed by the artists from remote mines and quarries, their distinctive sculptures are hand-carved using timeworn techniques, without power tools, maintaining a close relationship to the stone.?

The Shona Sculpture Movement, which first began in the 1950s, is named after the largest tribe engaged in stone sculpting in Zimbabwe. The name Zimbabwe is derived from the Shona word meaning “house of stone.” In the late 1960s, the new art movement born in Africa was celebrated at the famed Musee Rodin in Paris and Shona sculptors caught the attention of the art world.

Bernard Matemera, one of the founders of the Shona movement described the process of working with stone like this:

“The spirits are everywhere in the air, in the rocks. A rock is like a fruit — like an orange or a banana. You don’t eat them without peeling them first. It needs to be opened to be eaten. I open the rocks. The fruit is inside.”

Contact:

Gallery Sur

Sixth between Dolores and Lincoln

Carmel, CA

831.626.2615

www.gallerysur.com

info@gllerysur.com

Gallery Sur also supports the all-volunteer Sahwira Fund, to build classrooms at the Maulana School for Orphans in Epworth, Zimbabwe. Supported by 10% of the proceeds of all sculpture sales, eight classrooms have been built and are now sheltering many of the 800-plus students at the school. 6 more classrooms are planned to meet the demand.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.gallerysur.com