All posts by straightlinepr

Monterey County Fair & Event Center Hires Nicolette Aldrete as Facility Marketing Representative

The Monterey County Fair & Event Center has announced the hiring of Nicolette Aldrete as Facility Marketing Representative.

Monterey, CA, April 04, 2018 — The Monterey County Fair & Event Center has announced the hiring of Nicolette Aldrete as Facility Marketing Representative.

Born and raised in Monterey, Aldrete is a 2013 graduate of Salinas High School, where she played volleyball all four years. She attended Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park as a wine business/marketing major, graduating in December 2017.

In college she worked for Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association and Wine Spirits in Napa, where she planned and set up all of their special events and ran their social media. She also worked at Cowgirl Winery in Carmel Valley

Aldrete is the daughter of former San Francisco Giants and Oakland A’s professional baseball player Mike Aldrete, who is currently the assistant hitting coach for the A’s. She has two older brothers, Michael and Blake, and her mother Gina helps run the family’s whale-watching and fishing business on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey with her grandparents.

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

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

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

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

Welcome To The Monterey County Fairgrounds

Welcome to the 57th Annual Wildflower Show

APRIL 20th, 21st, 22nd from10:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

Salinas, CA, April 03, 2018 – For over half a century this Wildflower Show has been one of the largest on the Northern and Western Hemispheres with over 600 species and varieties of wildflowers. This is truly an event that generations of families can remember.

The Museum partners with the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) to hold this cherished annual event. Over 30 members of the Native Plant Society spend over a week scouring Monterey County and beyond collecting the finest specimens of wildflowers blooming that spring.

Botanists, garden enthusiasts, and people just looking for flowers they would like to plant in their gardens will all appreciate this comprehensive and spectacular array of wildflowers.

Wildflower Show and Museum Admission (tickets can be purchased when you arrive at the Museum):

· $8.95 adults who live outside of Monterey County

· $5.95 youth 4-18, students with ID, military who live outside of Monterey County

· Free for 3 y.o. and under

· Free for Museum Members and CNPS Members

· $5 admission for Monterey County residents

Wildflower Month Fun Continues!

Classes Open To Kids From Kinder To 5th Grade

Flower Power

SOMETHING GIANT FROM SOMETHING TINY

APRIL 7TH, 9:00-10:30AM

$25: Non-member, $20: Member

Artists will take our tiny flowers and and draw and paint giant wild flower paintings with oil pastels and tempera paint.

FLOWER CHALK

APRIL 14TH, 9:00-10:30AM

$25: Non-member, $20: Member

Artists will combine skills in drawing wildflowers using chalk pastels.

WILDFLOWER NOTEBOOKS

APRIL 21ST, 9:00-10:30AM

$25: Non-member, $20: Member

Artists will take advantage of the Native Plant Show by creating a mini wildflower book with pen and paper. Artists will visit the show and draw what they see.

STITCHING STUFFIES

APRIL 28TH 9:00-10:30AM

$25: Non-member, $20: Member

Artists will learn to stitch and create felt wildflowers. Add them to clothing, bags, coats, hair ties, or even make a stuffy!

Adult Art Classes

INTRODUCTION TO SKETCHING FLOWERS

April 14th, 3-5 PM $30: Non-member, $25: Member

Spend an afternoon with a science illustrator learning basic botanical drawing techniques. We’ll go over some botanical anatomy and spend time closely observing native California wildflowers, then practice observational drawing using these blooms as our inspiration. All skill levels welcome.

BEERS AND BOUQUETS

April 8th and April 29th

$40: Non-member, $35: Member

Join us over a drink as we explore the Museum’s native plant garden. You’ll have the opportunity to learn more about our local flora and the skills to draw them. Instructor Liana Vitousak will guide you through the basics of plant identification and recording what you see through field sketches and notes. Registration includes lesson and two pints of beer.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

https://montereybay.cnps.org/

How to prepare for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for Google Drive

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires businesses conducting operations within the European Union (EU) to protect identifiable information of consumers.

San Jose, CA, April 02, 2018 – The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) requires businesses conducting operations within the European Union (EU) to protect identifiable information of consumers. In the tech sphere, this entails protecting the data of any EU citizen, no matter where their data travels. Under the GDPR, citizens’ social security numbers and addresses will be given the same priority as name and IP addresses.

Adopted April 2016 by the European Parliament in hopes of upgrading an outdated data protection directive, the GDPR is forecasted to carry massive impacts to businesses catering to European clientele. Breaches of privacy will be extremely costly for companies, costing up to 4% of annual global turnover. Meeting the standards of the GDPR will require most companies to make heavy investments and administrations. Moreover, most U.S. companies believe the GDPR will place them at a competitive disadvantage with European companies, requiring them to rethink corporate strategies.

In a recent survey, over 92% of American companies consider GDPR to be a top data protection priority. Among these companies is Google—the company is working to restructure G Suite to meet GDPR criteria and to protect users. Through G Suite’s information processing lifecycle, service deployment, data storage, and communication must be conducted securely. Additionally, administrators must be able to export and delete data effectively.

Collavate DLP is prepared to help your business meet GDPR requirements. With our secure integration with G Suite, users can log in to G Suite accounts without saving any personal information within Collavate. Moreover, Collavate provides numerous data loss prevention (DLP) functionalities that protect your data, such as keyword detection and usage trends.

Collavate’s keyword detection functionality allows administrators to customize sensitive keywords. For example, administrators can specify social security numbers as critical data, preventing any files with such data from being shared publicly. In terms of the GDPR, this functionality allows businesses to place stronger sharing restrictions extending to any form of client data.

Another key feature Collavate provides is usage trend charts and statistics, which highlights all critical files and allows administrators to identify publicly shared files. This feature provides an overview of all files as well as user activity. Administrators can easily filter files by privacy status, allowing them to focus on publicly shared files.

As businesses continue their digital transformations, data privacy remains at the forefront of consumer concerns. Collavate is prepared to equip businesses with tools to reinforce client security, such as keyword detection functionality and usage statistics.

Contact:

Harry Jung

Collavate Inc

San Jose, CA 95129

+1 (650) 515-3733

hjung@collavate.com

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Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa Announces Hiring of New Director of Events

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Jenny Lopez as Director of Events.

Monterey, CA, April 04, 2018 — The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Jenny Lopez as Director of Events.

Just prior to joining the Hyatt, Lopez was part of the management team at Hilton San Jose, and before that, at the DoubleTree by Hilton San Jose.

Lopez started her hospitality career at the luxurious Westin Century Plaza Hotel & Tower in Los Angeles. In the 10 years she worked at the property she gained a well-rounded experience in the areas of Housekeeping, PBX, Reservations and Catering/Event Service. She assisted and serviced some of the most prestigious gala events the property was well known for hosting.

To expand her career growth, Lopez relocated to Orlando, Florida, where she worked at the Swan and Dolphin Hotels in the Disney World area. She spent seven years in the Orlando area working for Westin, Starwood, independent hotel chains such as Adam’s Mark and IHG.

She returned to Los Angeles to be closer to family and joined Hilton Hotels & Resorts in Burbank. Her career came full circle in 2008 when she returned to the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, by then part of the Hyatt Hotels & Resorts family. Lopez says it was great to see familiar faces and to go back to where it all had started for her.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa

Nestled in 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well-known attractions.

With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s house, TusCA Ristorante, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools, and 12,000-square-foot full-service spa. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit www.hyattregencymonterey.com.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

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

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/

Dance Kids of Monterey County Will Present Fifth Annual Performances of ‘A Folklorico Nutcracker’ at South County Schools in November

Now in its fifth year of touring Monterey County, Dance Kids of Monterey County will once again present performances of “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker,” in South County schools in November.

Carmel, CA, March 24, 2018 — Now in its fifth year of touring Monterey County, Dance Kids of Monterey County will once again present performances of “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker,” in South County schools in November.

The annual holiday tradition in story and dance celebrates the rich culture of Mexico and countries south of the border. The idea of melding European music and music from Spanish-speaking countries to create a “Cascanueces” has brought together mariachi musicians, folkloric choreographers and local ballet dancers.

This year, 10 students each from elementary schools in San Ardo, San Lucas, Greenfield, and King City, will study a dance with two folkloric dancers and one musician for six weeks prior to the school performance. These students will then perform with the professional troupe in the assembly at their respective schools.

Ten mariachi musicians will perform Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece rewritten by Salinas-born Jalisco harpist, William Faulkner. The program includes the four divertissements from the second act and the much-loved “Sugar Plum Fairy” solo, performed by a Dance Kids’ ballerina in a traditional tutu. Folkloric dancers perform four traditional, and very different, dance styles from four Mexican states. Together the program bridges cultures and fosters growth and understanding of diversity through the art of dance.

The November 2018 tour date of “Cascanueces” is reserved by South County schools early each school year in the anticipation of a colorful and educational assembly. The tour begins in San Ardo with performances in San Lucas, King City, Greenfield and Salinas.

At least two of the schools invite other schools to their assemblies, allowing Dance Kids to impact more than seven schools in one tour date. In November 2017, there were more than 1,500 audience members in elementary through high school in attendance. The day culminated in a performance at Hartnell College in Salinas to a standing-room-only, 250-seat music hall setting.

Dance Kids of Monterey County, founded in 1993, is a non-profit group with the objective of bringing the art of the dance and theater experience to all youngsters in Monterey County. In 25 years, the organization has produced more than 50 productions, including month-long summer theater intensives, traditional and full-length story ballets.

Dance Kids now supports an ongoing afterschool learning program in a Monterey Peninsula Unified School District location, in addition to its popular annual performances of “Nutcracker” at Carmel’s Sunset Cultural Center and “Cascanueces.”

The two directors/choreographers for “Cascanueces: A Folklorico Nutcracker,” husband-and-wife team Maria Luisa Colmenarez and Rudy Garcia, were consultants on the Academy Award-nominated Pixar animated film “Coco.”

About Dance Kids

With over 24 years of production history, Dance Kids, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by Carol Richmond, is proud of its wide range of theatrical experiences that support kids to flourish. In the early days, productions at the Carmel Ballet Academy included “Nutcracker ”and original spring musicals. Dance Kids was known for fun-loving nostalgia surrounding the musicals and drew from the community a range of young people and their families committed to theater. As it grew, its little venue could not handle the “Nutcracker” any longer, but continued as the venue for the spring productions, until those too outgrew the dance studio.

Dance Kids has grown Dance Kids’ “Nutcracker” into a spectacular production eagerly awaited by cast and community. The original vision of Dance Kids of Monterey County has been honored as well as surpassed in the ensuing years. The Founder, Executive Director and the Board of Directors are proud to carry the traditions of dance and theater to the Monterey Peninsula.

Dance Kids of Monterey County was created to provide ongoing performance opportunities in dance the theater arts to the youth of Monterey County. Its mission is to strengthen character and positively influence children’s lives through the performing arts.

Street Address:

Sunset Center, Cottage #17

San Carlos Street at 10th Ave.,

Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Mailing Address:

P.O. Box 6225

Carmel, CA 93921

Phone: (831) 622-9008

Fax: (831) 218-1293

Email: info@dancekids.org

Website: dancekids.org

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.dancekids.org

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

Get ready for home entertaining this Spring and Summer!

Monterey, CA, March 24, 2018 – Get ready for 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 great cooking projects.

Be sure to save the date! Don’t miss the free 2018 Spring Inspired Home & Garden Expo of Monterey on April 21st and 22nd, 2018 that will be held at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Be ready to ask the experts on site all of your home improvement questions! This year’s event will have many great surprises and feature an array of fascinating and 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 comfortably visiting with family and friends in your enhanced home.

It’s also definitely a great time 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

Seminars to include:

Saturday, April 21, 2018

12:30 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

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 soon

Sunday, April 22, 2018

To be announced soon

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.

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

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Hosts 57th Annual Wildflower Show April 20-22

One of the largest wildflower shows in the Northern and Western Hemispheres returns April 20 through April 22 to The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

Pacific Grove, CA, March 24, 2018 — One of the largest wildflower shows in the Northern and Western Hemispheres returns April 20 through April 22 to The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History.

The 57th Annual Wildflower Show will be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 20-22 at the Museum, 165 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, and will feature more than 600 species and varieties of wildflowers, truly an event that generations of families can recall fondly.

The Museum partners with the Monterey Bay Chapter of the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) to hold this cherished annual event. More than 30 members of the Native Plant Society spend over a week scouring Monterey County and beyond, collecting the finest specimens of wildflowers blooming this spring.

Botanists, flower and garden enthusiasts, and people just looking for flowers they would like to plant in their gardens, will all appreciate this comprehensive and spectacular array of wildflowers.

Tickets can be purchased at the door on the days of the event. Admission prices are as follows:

>$8.95 for adults who live outside of Monterey County

>$5.95 for youth ages 4-18, students with ID, and military who live outside of Monterey County

>Free for 3 years old and under.

>Free for Museum members and CNPS members

>$5 admission for Monterey County residents

About the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

In 1883, our museum opened its doors among the first wave of natural history museums in America. Naturalists of this era, such as John Muir And Louis Aggasiz, began a national tradition of hands-on science education and nature preservation. The museum has continued this tradition for 130 years. The museum’s mission is to inspire discovery, wonder, and stewardship of our natural world. It envisions a community of curious minds, engaged in discovering the natural heritage and cultural legacy that exist today on the Central California Coast. The Museum is a catalyst for conservation and a valued learning resource in this region, facilitating active inquiry for all ages.

Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

165 Forest Ave, Pacific Grove, CA, 93950

(831) 648-5716

Fax: (831) 648-5755

admin@pgmuseum.org

www.pgmuseum.org

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.pgmuseum.org

Dates and Theme of 2018 Monterey County Fair Announced “Shake Your Tail Feathers,” and official poster unveiled

The Monterey County Fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 3, 2018.

Monterey, CA, March 23, 2018 — The Monterey County Fair announced that the theme for the Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2018, event will be “Shake Your Tail Feathers.”

The fair also unveiled its official poster for this year’s event, featuring chickens in Mardi Gras-style beads, masks and hats and two chickens enjoying a Ferris wheel ride.

“We are very excited about the 2018 Monterey County Fair theme and dedicate it to our feathered friends at the Fair,” says Kelly Violini, Monterey County Fair CEO. “We hope that everyone can come out and join us in ‘Shaking a Tail Feather’!”

The artists and graphic designers who collaborated on the poster are Olivia Trinidad and Arnold Ramos of OT Graphic Design of Monterey, which has been doing graphic art and design work for the Monterey County Fair since 2008, including all official posters for the fair since then.

“They just wanted it to be colorful and fun, with chickens and roosters having fun at the Fair,” says Trinidad, who has 20 years of experience in graphic design, about the poster assignment. “It’s great to be able to do a poster on our own. Usually we work with art we are given, but this time it was my artwork, so we were able to play with it. It was fun and easy.”

The Monterey County Fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 30-Monday, Sept. 3, 2018, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Road, in Monterey.

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

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

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

Monterey County Fair & Event Center

2004 Fairground Road, Monterey, CA 93940

www.montereycountyfair.com

montereyfairpr@gmail.com

(831) 372-5863

OT Graphic Design

PO Box 2454

Monterey CA 93942

Phone: (831) 402-7946

E-mail: olivia@otgraphicdesign.com

otgraphicdesign.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.montereycountyfair.com

Dancer With Carmel Academy of Performing Arts Invited to Compete in Finals of Prestigious Dance Competition in New York City in April

Annabel De Luca, a dancer at The Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, has been invited to compete at the finals of the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York City, April 13-20.

Carmel, CA, March 20, 2018 — Annabel De Luca, a dancer at The Carmel Academy of Performing Arts, has been invited to compete at the finals of the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York City, April 13-20.

De Luca, 14, was chosen by audition and after a performance in San Francisco at the Youth America Grand Prix competition to compete in the finals in New York City.

“This is a huge accomplishment for Annabel and her instructors, a real stepping stone to the potential of creating a professional career,” said Carol Richmond, owner of CAPA. “This is a highly prestigious honor where she will perform and compete with dancers from the world over.”

She will also be attending the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Bellevue, Washington, this summer for their Summer Intensive Program. She was also accepted into Paris Opera Ballet in Paris, The Kirov Academy in Washington D.C and the Los Angeles Ballet Academy.

De Luca’s teachers at CAPA are Sandra Burnham and Philip Pegler, CAPA Ballet Director.

Youth America Grand Prix is the world’s largest global network of dance. Dancers worldwide, ages 9-19, of all economic, ethnic and geographic backgrounds are provided scholarship opportunities, master classes and audition classes in 25 U.S. cities and eight international locations. YAGP awards more than $300,000 in scholarships.

Each season culminates in the week-long New York Finals, where more than 1,200 of the world’s most promising dancers receive in-depth mentoring and greater scholarship, professional, and performance opportunities. The New York Finals closing night “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” Gala features the students showing the most potential alongside the stars of today’s leading dance companies.

Some of Youth America Grand Prix’s significant achievements include: More than 450 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 80 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Washington Ballet, among many others.

To identify promising young dance talent, YAGP conducts auditions in 22 cities in the United States and in Belgium, France, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Japan, and China among others.

Carmel Academy of Performing Arts

Mission Street & 8th Avenue

Carmel, CA 93923

(831) 624-3729

www.carmelacademyofperformingarts.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.carmelacademyofperformingarts.com