Tag Archives: Monterey

Blessing of the Animals Ceremony Set for Pastures of Heaven Pet Memorial Park in Monterey on Oct. 5

Pet Cemetery Now Open and Taking Reservations For Burial Plots

Monterey, CA, August 21, 2019 — Pet owners are invited to bring their pets to be blessed when the new Pastures of Heaven pet memorial park hosts its inaugural Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 5 at its hilltop park in Monterey.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place from 12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, at Pastures of Heaven, 3021 Monterey Salinas Highway, in Monterey. Rev. Roy J. Shelly from St. Joseph’s Parish in Spreckels will be doing a special Blessing of the Animals at 1:00 p.m. at Pastures of Heaven.

The event will include food and beverage and a brief blessing of the assembled pets. Participants can also take tours of the property and discuss various options for plots and burials.

“I love pets more than I love most people; their love is unconditional, but unfortunately, the day will come when we all have to face the inevitable, the loss of our pet. Seldom are the pets that meant so much in our lives remembered for all the loyalty, love and comfort they give us, and after we move on it’s like they never existed. We wanted to create a place where the memories of our pets and the important role they played in our lives will live on forever. That’s what Pastures of Heaven is all about. This place is nicer than most human cemeteries which is a fitting return for all the joy and love we get from our furry friends.”

“The idea is to celebrate the lives of our pets in a beautiful location. We have a mile worth of walkways, views of the valley and Monterey Bay, a grove of 300-year-old oak trees, materials from a local quarry and redwood fencing made from old-growth redwoods from Mendocino. It looks more like a winery than a cemetery. It’s a beautiful place and I wouldn’t mind being buried here myself one day.” said co-owner Dean Rodatos.

Rodatos and his wife Amanda Serradell, who have a background in land development, have been working on the memorial park for the past three years. When they first saw the property they were told it was going to be developed into an office complex, but they had other plans.

“We had to save this place from development,” said Serradell. “It’s a very unique property with a special energy people can feel the moment they walk in. Our goal was to preserve the land and offer a beautiful environment for pet owners to honor and celebrate their pet’s lives.”

Helping the couple at the Blessing of the Animals will be their own pet, a 3-year-old half-Chihuahua, half-Yorkie (or “Chorkie”) rescue dog named Tallulah, named after the early-1900s actress Tallulah Bankhead, who was known for husky voice, big eyes and outrageous personality.

“Tallulah has found her calling at Pastures of Heaven, where she makes sure all the walking paths are enjoyable for a walk, and ensuring each visitor is met with a wagging tail and friendly bark,” said Serradell. “It is so rewarding to see her joyful spirit and confidence grow.

Tallulah aka “Monkey” because of her comedic antics, went from living off discarded food in the dumpsters of Oakland to living the good life in Pebble Beach thanks to Hopalong Animal Rescue, who saved Tallulah from an uncertain future, got her healthy and into a loving home. Tallulah, will serve as pet ambassador for Pastures of Heaven.

About Pastures of Heaven

Pastures of Heaven pet memorial park is located in the pristine beauty of the Monterey Peninsula, and is dedicated to celebrating and honoring your pets unique life and memory.

Nestled on 3 acres of private oak jeweled land with expansive vistas and countless areas of reflection and peace, the memorial park is truly the first of its kind. We offer in-ground burial plots with amazing views, beautiful columbarium niches for cremated remains, engraved pavers, dedication benches and trees, as well as statuary and other customizable options to uniquely pay tribute to your beloved companion.

Whether you have cremated remains from previous pets or want the peace of mind of knowing your current pet will have an eternal home when they depart, our memorial park will provide you with the security of knowing your pet’s memory will live on forever.

The park is now open by appointment only and will be open to the public soon.

Thank you for visiting PasturesofHeaven.com, we look forward to seeing you soon!

Go to PasturesofHeaven.com for more information.

Pastures of Heaven Pet Memorial Park

3021 Monterey Salinas Hwy, Monterey CA 93940

Phone: 831-204-8080

Email: info@PasturesofHeaven.com

Open to public Saturdays only 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.PasturesofHeaven.com

Balance Physical Therapy Adds Two Highly Advanced Anti-Gravity Treadmills to its Monterey and Salinas Locations

Balance Physical Therapy and Human Performance Center further cemented its reputation as being the most patient-focused and results-oriented rehabilitation facility in Monterey County by adding two highly advanced anti-gravity treadmills to its Monterey and Salinas locations.

Salinas, CA, March 04, 2019 – Balance Physical Therapy and Human Performance Center further cemented its reputation as being the most patient-focused and results-oriented rehabilitation facility in Monterey County by adding two highly advanced anti-gravity treadmills to its Monterey and Salinas locations.

The AlterG® Anti-Gravity Treadmill™ is a space-age treadmill that uses a pressurized air chamber to reduce the gravitational load on the body, so those recovering from post-operative injuries can exercise unrestricted and pain-free.

According to the company’s website, the AlterG® “integrates patented, NASA Differential Air Pressure (DAP) technology, a precise air calibration system, and real-time information to change what’s possible in rehab and training. Using a pressurized air chamber to uniformly reduce gravitational load and body weight in precise 1% increments, AlterG enables patients and athletes to move unrestricted and pain-free — restoring and building muscle strength, range of motion, balance, function, and fitness. No other unweighting technology offers as much freedom, control, and versatility.”

Adding the two high-tech machines is in line with Balance Physical Therapy’s goals when it was established in June 2002 by Dr. John Farahmand, a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist, when he opened his first facility in Salinas. His goal was to be dedicated to being the most patient-focused, results-oriented rehabilitation facility in Monterey County.

“With ten physical therapists and three athletic trainers on our team, we’re one of the largest private physical therapy clinics in Monterey County and the only one with clinics in both Monterey and Salinas,” said Farahmand, a native of Salinas who attended local schools. “And we’re one of the only clinics here that successfully bridges the gap between rehabilitation and wellness by offering programs like post-discharge gym memberships, fitness classes, personal training, Pilates for bone health, and massage therapy to our patients. We build relationships with our patients that stand the test of time.”

Balance currently has six physical therapists in Salinas and four in Monterey, all with doctorates and many who have also pursued even more education in the form of Board Certification in Orthopedics, Manual Therapy Certification, Certification as Strength and Conditioning Specialists, Lymphedema Specialists, and experts to help with Dizziness, Imbalance, and Vertigo. They’ll also be adding Pelvic Health Specialists shortly!

All of Balance’s physical therapists frequently attend continuing education courses, serve as mentors and clinical instructors for graduate students, and speak on a variety of topics in the local community. In fact, the therapists hold a “journal club” every two weeks to go over medical journals to hone their skills and techniques and research new developments in physical therapy.

In addition to physical therapy, Balance also offers 18 group classes per week to patients, including Pilates for Bone Health, balance and fall prevention, high-intensity circuit training and massage therapy. Classes range from 10 to 30 people each.

Expansion is definitely in the future, with new clinics and strategic partnerships planned. “Growth is important,” says Farahmand, “It not only gives us the opportunity to serve more patients, it gives our therapists opportunities for growth as professionals.”

Even with all the physical therapists, high-tech equipment and administrative duties running involved with operating Balance Physical Therapy, Farahmand enjoys getting in the trenches, as it were.

“It’s what I love the most, to get in and work with patients, and to see them make progress” said Farahmand. “The heart and soul of our practice is hands-on patient care and the relationships that we develop along the way.”

ABOUT BALANCE PHYSICAL THERAPY®

Founded in June 2002, by Dr. John Farahmand, who grew up in Monterey and attended local schools, Balance Physical Therapy® and Human Performance Center is dedicated to being the most patient-focused, results-oriented rehabilitation facility in Monterey County.

Balance Physical Therapy® achieves that goal by the application of highly skilled manual therapy, prescribed therapeutic exercise, and patient education, forming a team with its patients that is committed to returning them to an active lifestyle.

Dr. Farahmand graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles with degrees in Psychobiology and Business Administration before pursuing his Doctorate in physical Therapy at the University of Southern California.

In addition to Dr. Farahmend, there are 10 physical therapists at Balance Physical Therapy®, all tops in their field. Dr. Joseph Melo and Dr. Miguel Vargas, both local, are the Directors of the Monterey and Salinas clinics, respectively. All of the physical therapists are committed to constant improvement in the areas of their clinical expertise, exercise interventions, advanced rehabilitation techniques, and the latest in research and science.

In order to maintain the highest standards of professional excellence, all of the physical therapists frequently attend continuing education courses, serve as mentors and clinical instructors for graduate students, and speak on a variety of topics in the local community.

Balance Physical Therapy now has two locations, in Monterey and in Salinas, to better serve the community’s needs.

Balance Physical Therapy Monterey

2260 N. Fremont St., Monterey, CA 93940

831-372-4782

monica@balancept.com

https://www.balancept.com

Balance Physical Therapy Salinas

143 John St., Salinas, CA 93901

831-422-4782

jessica@balancept.com

https://www.balancept.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

https://www.balancept.com

Free Live Entertainment Abounds at the 2018 Monterey County Fair, Coming Aug. 30-Sept. 3, in Monterey

Fairgoers will be able to enjoy a whole host of free live entertainment during the Monterey County Fair, set for Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2018, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

Monterey, CA, July 18, 2018 — Fairgoers will be able to enjoy a whole host of free live entertainment during the Monterey County Fair, set for Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2018, at the Monterey County Fair & Event Center.

This year’s theme is “Shake Your Tail Feathers,” and fairgoers will be able to do that with rock, funk rock, country, R&B, pop, magic, juggling and hypnosis acts, pig racing, rodeo, and much more, all free with a paid entry to the fair.

In addition to the headlining artists on the Main Stage — chart-topping funk rock group War, on Thursday, August 30, George Strait Tribute on Friday, August 31, Journey Revisited at on Saturday, September 1 — Reno country band Left of Centre will play daily in the Turf Club and electric violinist and singer Razzvio performs at 3:30 and 5:30 p.m. daily on the Island Stage.

Also performing daily on the grounds during the fair will be Stilt Circus, Chicken Man, Godfrey the Magician and Down on the Farm (in the King City Room); All Alaskan Racing Pigs and live wood-carving demonstrations daily in the Oak Tree Ring; Circus Imagination and pony rides in the Children’s Area; juggler Something Ridiculous on the Community Stage; and the Flying U Rodeo and the Flying Cowboyz (separate admission charge) at 6 p.m. August 31 and September 1, and 3 and 6 p.m. September 2, in the Pattee Arena.

Admission to the fair is $10 for adults ages 13-61, $8 in advance, and $8 online, plus $1 fee; seniors 62 and older, $9, $8 advance, and $8 online, plus $1; children $6, $4 advance, $4 online, plus $1 fee; children 5 and under free.

Carnival wristbands are $35, $25 in advance, and $25 online, plus $1 fee. Wristbands are available every day this year and all military and law enforcement receive a $5 discount every day. This is a coupon that can be exchanged for a free popcorn, 2 for 1, free prize and a carnival wristband.

Fun Pack tickets will be sold at Sand City and Salinas Costco stores from July 25- August 29 and include two admission tickets, two carnival coupons, and multiple food coupons for $44.99.

Rodeo Admission is $5 per seat, per performance and on sale on the admit one ticket page. This price is a pre-sale price and good until August 29. After that, tickets are $10 each.

Sunday Rodeo Family Pack includes two adult fair admission, two children fair admission and four rodeo tickets. These packs are only good for one rodeo performance on Sunday. Presale: $35 Gate Pricing: $50

Discount fair and carnival tickets are available at the Fairground’s Administrative Office or at www.MontereyCountyFair.com.

Fair Hours:

Thursday-Sunday: 12 to 11 p.m.

Monday: 12 to 10 p.m.

Left of Centre

August 30- September 2

Two daily shows in the Hunt Club

Left of Centre is based in Reno, Nevada. They are the official house band at Toby Keith’s (I Love This Bar and Grill in Las Vegas). This band does it all, from Brad Paisley to Bob Marley to Metallica with true conviction. They believe there are only two types of music, good and bad. They have been voted Entertainer of the Year, Musicians of the Year, Best Album and Best Band in multiple states and have shared the stage with Kenny Chesney, Sammy Hagar, Clay Walker, Lee Ann Rimes, Maroon 5, Joan Jett, Ratt, Quiet Riot, Cinderella, Jarrod Nienamm, Lee Brice, Diamond Rio, Tracy Lawrence, Jake Owen, the list goes on and on.

Razzvio

Razzvio is an electric violinist and singer who reinvents familiar pop and rock arrangements from an entirely different angle. Through live looping, she blends powerhouse vocals with her unique violin designed to build songs with the sophistication of a string quartet. Razzvio’s all new brand of interactive electric string pop will make you rethink the electric violin and is a perfect complement to any outdoor event.

Flying U Rodeo & the Flying Cowboyz

Not your Grandfather’s Rodeo. Get the thrills of the most extreme rodeo events at a Flying U Extreme Rodeo. Featuring fan-favorite events such as bull riding and bull fighting with the added flair of new events — bull poker, ring of fire, toro teeter totter and FMX. The contestants are just as wild as the rowdy section of the rodeo crowd and leave fans screaming for more.

August 31 – September 2, 2018

Friday & Saturday at 6 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

Sunday at 3 & 6 p.m. (Gates open at 2 & 5 p.m.)

About the Monterey County Fair & Event Center

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

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

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.montereycountyfair.com

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

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

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

Hyatt Regency Monterey Launches November be Thankful Pinterest Contest

November is all about being thankful and giving back. We look forward to this time of year and love to find new ways to celebrate the season.

Monterey, CA, October 25, 2017- November is all about being thankful and giving back. We look forward to this time of year and love to find new ways to celebrate the season. Pinterest has wonderful ideas to inspire you- from thankful quotes to activities your family can enjoy together to learn about gratitude. Create your own board and enter to win a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey!

To Enter The Contest Simply Pin It To Win It:

  • ·         Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/montereyhyatt
  • ·         Create a board titled: In A Hyatt World
  • ·         Add a minimum of 5 pins with your favorite thankful quotes, activities and crafts!
  • ·         Make sure to use the hashtags #GiveThanks #InAHyattWorld
  • ·         Email a link your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com
  • ·         One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey!
  • ·         Winner will be announced December 5th.
  • *Contest runs from November 1st – November 30th. Does not include airfare.  The trademark HYATT and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2017 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

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

Monterey-based Baker’s Bacon All-Natural Uncured Back Bacon Available for First Time to Public Will Be Sold through Allen Brothers, Country’s Top Purveyor of Premium Steaks and Other Prime Meats

The country’s finest bacon, Baker’s Bacon all-natural uncured back bacon, will now be available to the public nationally for the first time and sold through Allen Brothers, the country’s top purveyor of prime steaks and premium meats.

Monterey, CA, October 19, 2017 — The country’s finest bacon, Baker’s Bacon all-natural uncured back bacon, will now be available to the public nationally for the first time and sold through Allen Brothers, the country’s top purveyor of prime steaks and premium meats.

Baker’s Bacon, created in 2011 by renowned chef Tony Baker of Monterey’s Montrio Bistro, will be featured in the Allen Brothers’ Fall/Holiday catalog as well as on its website, https://www.allenbrothers.com/bakers-back-bacon.html and https://www.allenbrothers.com/bakers-peppered-bacon.html.

Allen Brothers, which deals exclusively with premium meats, will feature three offerings of Baker’s Bacon: English-Style “Uncured” Back Bacon, Dry-Cured Double Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, as well as a peppered version of the latter. This is the first time the uncured bacon will be sold to the public at retail.

“We are very excited to be working with what has long time been recognized as one of the country’s top beef houses,” said Baker. “We get so many requests from the public to be able to purchase our bacon, which up until now has only been available to the foodservice industry, I couldn’t think of a better partner to help us make this a reality.”

Far beyond the quality you’ll find at your local butcher shop, Allen Brothers’ luxurious USDA Prime and Wagyu steaks — once reserved exclusively for some of the nation’s top steakhouses including Hall’s Chophouse, Nick & Sam’s, David Burke’s Prime House, Bourbon Steak & Gallagher’s Steakhouse — are available to discerning home chefs and grillers nationwide. Named one of the best online butchers in America by Town & Country and Forbes Magazines, Allen Brothers is still located near the historic Union Stock Yard on Chicago’s South Side, where its artisan butchers have expertly hand-cut prime steaks since 1893.

In addition to prime steaks, Allen Brothers also sells pork, lamb, veal, game, poultry and seafood.

Baker’s Bacon is also distributed wholesale to restaurants in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Chicago, Miami and New York City, and is proudly featured on menus of some of the top chefs in the country.

Chef Tony Baker of Montrio Bistro in Monterey, California, created this style of bacon for his restaurant, now it’s available to you. “It takes me back to my English roots. It really doesn’t get any better than this!”

About Baker’s Bacon

Unable to find a naturally dry-cured back bacon anywhere in the states, Chef Tony Baker decided it was time to bring a taste of the UK across the pond. As a professional chef and restaurateur for over 20 years, Tony desires the finest of ingredients in every dish he prepares. Missing from the list was back bacon, made using only the best ingredients from the swine on up. Out of that desire for quality and freshness came Baker’s latest product, English-Style “Uncured” Back Bacon.

Baker’s Bacon was founded with the help of partner Steve Sacks of Prime Smoked Meats in Oakland, California, starting with a long, slow, dry cure, followed by a long and low smoke in a 60-plus-year-old smoke house. Baker’s Bacon has a culture of sustainability with all of its business practices starting with its commitment to humane, crate free, antibiotic free pork from US family farms, even the marketing materials and reusable sampling containers.

About Allen Brothers

Since 1893 — no compromises. Allen Brothers is the leading purveyor of award-winning USDA Prime beef — The Great Steakhouse Steaks — serving many top restaurants nationwide and direct to consumer.

Steaks are what made Allen Brothers famous. We offer Dry- and Wet-Aged USDA Prime, Wagyu, and Kobe beef, Bone-in or Boneless, Natural or Grass-Fed that are hand-selected from the finest breeds of beef cattle raised on only the highly-regarded farms and ranches in the Midwest. Our artisan butchers age the beef and then hand-cut all of our meat to to ensure beautiful, tender cuts for your kitchen, BBQ or grill. Simply put: we offer the best beef in America.

Allen Brothers has received accolades from many of Americas finest chefs and media including David Burke, Kevin Rathbun, Forbes Magazine, Town and Country Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Gear Patrol and many others.

Founded in Chicago’s famed Union Stockyards meat market, Allen Brothers still operates in the same neighborhood that shaped the American beef industry more than 120 years ago.

www.allenbrothers.com

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://www.allenbrothers.com

Alaskan Residents Can Now Take Advantage of Monterey, California-Based Minimus Institute’s Patient-Focused Surgical Care, World-Class Surgeons, Innovative Transparent Pricing and Outcome Reporting System in a Concierge Setting

Minimus Institute, a Monterey, California-based national referral center offering state-of-the-art outpatient surgery to patients and self-insured groups throughout the country

Monterey, CA, March 02, 2017 — Minimus Institute, a Monterey, California-based national referral center offering state-of-the-art outpatient surgery to patients and self-insured groups throughout the country, is now taking patients from Alaska and is the first surgery center to offer Alaska residents transparent pricing on its website http://minimusinstitute.com/pricing/.

With Minimus, Alaskans can fly to the beautiful coastal city of Monterey and receive nationally renowned patient-focused surgical care in a concierge setting, featuring world-class surgeons and an innovative transparent pricing and outcome reporting system.

Although the majority of their patients reside in Northern and Central California, in the last five years, Monterey Peninsula Surgery Centers (home of Minimus Institute), has become a national center attracting patients from 47 states and 10 countries seeking the most advanced minimally invasive surgery.

“Patients can visit our website at MinimusInstute.com to view prices, patient satisfaction scores and infection rates to help them make an informed decision regarding their surgery options,” said Thomas D. Wilson, Managing Partner and CEO of Minimus Institute. “Minimus provides patients an outstanding surgical experience with great value as measured by an optimum combination of quality, service and price. Because surgery is all we do, our hallmarks are efficiency, clarity and excellence. Our goal is to deliver surgery a better way. We strive to be pioneers in arming our patients with knowledge and we want to enable patients to make well-informed decisions.”

By leveraging the organization’s high-quality care, excellent patient experience combined with transparent pricing and outcomes, Minimus seeks to demystify the patient/surgery/doctor interaction.

Minimus’ prime objective is to become recognized as a national destination surgery center, or “beacon,” for patients, insurance companies and self-insured groups seeking the most advanced and least invasive outpatient surgery in a setting featuring transparency, value and great outcomes.

At Minimus, surgical care is provided at one of Monterey Peninsula Surgical Centers’ locations around Monterey Bay. MPSC is the largest locally-owned outpatient healthcare facility in California, performing nearly 17,000 surgical cases annually. Every day more than 70 individuals and their families trust MPSC for their care. And, their esteemed team of surgeons and staff have been supporting patients for more than 35 years.

With Minimus, distance is not an obstacle to keep patients from the surgery they deserve. It is surgery and care worth traveling for.

Minimus Institute:

Minimus Institute is a national state-of-the-art surgical institute located in a beautiful setting on California’s Central Coast, providing patients access to world-class surgeons and exceptional value. Offering transparent pricing and clear, comprehensive outcome information and patient-satisfaction scores, Minimus demystifies the surgical-care experience allowing patients to make the most informed decisions about their care. To learn more go to http://minimusinstitute.com/.

Background on Monterey Peninsula Surgery Centers:

Monterey Peninsula Surgery Centers (MPSC) and its surgeons are recognized leaders in outpatient surgical care as measured by the high demand for its services, extremely low infection rates, 99% patient satisfaction scores and affordable, transparent pricing.

MPSC is known for performing complex surgery, including total joint replacements, major spine surgeries, hysterectomies, breast reconstruction and thyroidectomies in the outpatient setting. In excess of 31,500 surgical procedures in 13 specialties are performed annually at MPSC by its 190 physicians on staff.

High Resolution Photos Available: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zo7s0a27obvtu3x/AACyJlJ5-2eFvdzSOg4awhUwa?dl=0

Contact:

Marci Bracco Cain

Chatterbox PR

Salinas, CA 93901

(831) 747-7455

http://minimusinstitute.com/

Monterey Symphony’s six-concert season opens in October, celebrates Shakespeare, Big Sur

The magic of one of the world’s most-celebrated coastlines was the inspiration for Big Sur: The Night Sun, an original piece by Emmy Award-winning composer John Wineglass that will highlight the first of six concerts comprising the 71st season of the Monterey Symphony.

Monterey, CA, August 17, 2016 – The magic of one of the world’s most-celebrated coastlines was the inspiration for Big Sur: The Night Sun, an original piece by Emmy Award-winning composer John Wineglass that will highlight the first of six concerts comprising the 71st season of the Monterey Symphony. The three-time Daytime Emmy winner composed the music in honor of the Carmel Centennial Celebration, with the support of the Big Sur Land Trust, to premier at the Symphony’s season-opening program, scheduled Oct. 21-23.

The season, entitled “Shakespeare in Music,” will run through May under the direction of Monterey Symphony Music Director and Conductor Max Bragado-Darman. Each concert will feature at least one work influenced by Shakespeare.

MAIN CONCERTS:
Concert times
The six concert programs, which run October 2016 through May 2017, will be performed at 7:30 p.m. at Sherwood Hall in Salinas on Fridays, and at Carmel’s Sunset Center on Saturdays (8 p.m.) and Sundays (3 p.m.). A pre-concert lecture will be offered an hour before each event.

Youth Concerts
The Symphony’s long tradition of youth outreach and education continues this season with eight free Monday Youth Concerts on October 24, November 21, and April 24 at Sunset Center and March 20 at Sherwood Hall. Youth Concerts are held on Mondays at both 9:30 and 11:00 a.m., allowing thousands of students from Monterey, San Benito and south Santa Cruz Counties to experience the magic of Great Music Live. Contact dross@montereysymphony.org to reserve space for your school group.

Tickets
All Subscription packages (6 concerts/4 concerts/3 concerts) are available now by phone or online. The 4 concert mini-series option requires selection of the concerts when purchased and the same seats are guaranteed for each concert; whereas the 3 concert flexpass option allows concert selection at any time with the same seats attempted, but not guaranteed.

Single Tickets may be purchased beginning September 1 by phone at 831-646-8511 or online at www.montereysymphony.org. Tickets will also be sold 90 minutes before show time at the box office at Sherwood Hall or Sunset Center.

General admission tickets for Friday concerts at Sherwood Hall (940 N. Main Street, next to the Salinas Sports Complex) are priced at $25.

Tickets for 8pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday concerts at the Sunset Center (San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel) are priced at $80, $60, $40 and $30.

SUNSET CENTER

Saturdays at 8:00 PM 6 CONCERTS 4 CONCERTS 3 CONCERTS SINGLE TICKETS
Sundays at 3:00 PM Full Series Mini Series Flexpass

TIER 1 $474 $316 $237 $80
TIER 2 $354 $236 $177 $60
TIER 3 $234 $156 $117 $40
TIER 4 N/A N/A N/A $30

SHERWOOD HALL 6 CONCERTS 4 CONCERTS 3 CONCERTS SINGLE TICKETS
Fridays at 7:30 PM Full Series Mini Series Flexpass
GENERAL ADMISSION $120 $80 $60 $25

Concert I: Oct. 21-23
The Monterey Symphony gloriously opens its 71st season with Big Sur: The Night Sun, a commissioned orchestral work from local Emmy-winning composer John Wineglass, written for the Carmel Centennial Celebration in conjunction with the Big Sur Land Trust. Wineglass, a Washington D.C. native, lives today on California’s spectacular Central Coast, 20 minutes from Point Lobos, one of the breathtaking locations he says inspired Big Sur: The Night Sun, which he characterizes as a “symphonic tone poem.”

Ludwig van Beethoven’s magnificent concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello in C Major, Op. 56, the “Triple Concerto”, will showcase the talents of three rising stars: Anna Petrova, piano; Rebecca Anderson, violin; and JeongHyoun Christine Lee, cello, in an exciting performance of the only concerto that Beethoven composed for more than one instrument.

In a season that honors Shakespeare in Music, exactly 400 years after the great artist’s death, the second suite from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet adds a moving and profound tone. This work utilizes some rarely used instruments in the orchestra, such as tenor saxophone and cornet, and concludes a colorful and riveting season opener!

Pianist Anna Petrova, a native of Bulgaria, has been honored at numerous international competitions, including the José Roca (Valencia), Val Tidone (Italy) and Maria Yudina (St. Petersburg) Competitions, and was a semifinalist at the prestigious Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition in Belgium in 2010, where she performed as soloist with the Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia under Paul Goodwin.

Violinist Rebecca Anderson is a versatile soloist and chamber musician whose recent performances range from solo appearances with the Philadelphia Orchestra, contemporary music premieres with A Far Cry and eighth blackbird, and collaborative projects with Questlove and Ben Folds. She has appeared as a soloist with the Oregon Symphony, Olympia Symphony, and Columbia Symphony orchestras, and in Europe with a recital concert at the Conservatorio de Bologna in Italy. Most recently, she was a first-prize winner at the 2013 American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition for senior division violin.

Cellist JeongHyoun Christine Lee, a native of Seoul, Korea, has appeared with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Korean Broadcast Symphony Orchestra, and Calgary Symphony Orchestra, among others, and has served as the Co-Principal of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Lee has performed in Europe and Asia with Curtis on Tour and was recently featured as a Young Artist at Music from Angel Fire and a Caramoor Rising Star at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. She recently performed with Juilliard’s contemporary ensemble, AXIOM, and has attended summer festivals such as the Taos School of Music, Encore, the Great Mountains Music Festival, Orford, and Hotchkiss Summer Portals. She has participated in Prussia Cove Master Classes with Ralph Kirshbaum and the Académie Musicale de Villecroze with Miklós Perényi.

Preview Luncheon with Guest Artists
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
Glen Deven Ranch, Big Sur, CA
$50/person
Register at 831-646-8511 or www.montereysymphony.org/special-events

Symphony of Flavors
Pre-show soiree pairing local musicians with featured local wine, beer, and tasty bites included with concert ticket
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

Sunset Center Terrace
Concert II: Nov. 18-20
The Romantic music of Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn distinguish the Monterey Symphony’s second concert of the season, opening with Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56 by Brahms, an elegant and well-orchestrated theme and variations on the popular “St. Anthony Chorale” featuring the Honors Orchestra of Youth Music Monterey County in their annual Side-by-Side Program appearance, playing onstage with Monterey Symphony mentors.

This concert will also feature the Overture, Op. 21 and Incidental Music, Op. 61 from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with a burgeoning stage that highlights the local talents of singers Mary Young Bragado and Angelique Zuluaga, actors Michael Jacobs and Doug Toby, and community chorus I Cantori di Carmel, directed by Dr. Sal Ferrantelli. You will not want to miss this exciting and entertaining collaboration celebrating Shakespeare in Music!

Mezzo-Soprano Mary Young Bragado, wife of the Monterey Symphony’s Music Director Max Bragado-Darman grew up in Princeton New Jersey and graduated as a singer/choral conductor from the University of Michigan. She has directed numerous works throughout the U.S. and in Spain. She has sung in recital and with many choral groups in the U.S. and Europe. Including the prestigious University of Michigan Chamber Choir, the Kenneth Jewell Chorale in Detroit, and the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus.

Soprano Angelique Zuluaga has performed opera, oratorio, and chamber music throughout the U.S. and South America and can be found frequently collaborating with composers in new works. Performance highlights include: soloist in Brahms’ Requiem with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir; Handel’s Ode to St. Cecilia with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Zankel Hall under the direction of Ton Koopman; and soprano soloist with the Youth Orchestra of the Americas’ St. Matthew Passion Brazilian tour under the direction of Kent Nagano.
Actor Michael Jacobs received his B.A. from Whitman College, then went on to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts/West and became a member of the first graduating class in 1976. In New York, he studied at the Herbert Berghof Studios with Uta Hagen and Michael Beckett and in California he became a member of the Shakespeare Santa Cruz Company for 3 years, working and studying with members of the Royal Shakespeare Company from England. In 1987, he was cast in The Normal Heart at the GroveMont Theatre, which began a 27-year stint as actor-in-residence for what is now the Pacific Repertory Theatre.

Doug Toby worked as an actor in the film industry for several years and appeared in a number of films and television shows such as Hill Street Blues, The Rockford Files, and the 1984 film Red Dawn. Doug has been involved with many amateur productions since relocating to Monterey County including the Renaissance Festival and the annual Mystery plays of the Friends of the Monterey Symphony.
I Cantori di Carmel (Italian for The Singers of Carmel) conducted by Dr. Sal Ferrantelli, has been bringing choral classics to the Monterey Peninsula since 1981, performing concerts twice annually, in the spring and fall, at the Carmel Mission Basilica and at other venues throughout the year.

Preview Luncheon with Guest Artists
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.
Sardine Factory, Cannery Row in Monterey, CA
$50/person
Register at 831-646-8511 or www.montereysymphony.org/special-events

Symphony of Flavors
Pre-show soiree pairing local musicians with featured local wine, beer, and tasty bites included with concert ticket
Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.
Sunset Center Terrace
Post-concert Supper Club with Guest Artists
Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 5:30 p.m.
Il Fornaio, Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA
$70/person
Register at 831-646-8511 or www.montereysymphony.org/special-events

Concert III: Feb. 17-19
The Monterey Symphony opens its third program of the season with one of Arturo Toscanini’s favorite works: the Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 by Ludwig van Beethoven. The tragic story of Gaius Marcius Coriolanus – who unsuccessfully invaded Rome – was dramatized by both William Shakespeare and Viennese poet and author Heinrich Joseph von Collin.

Acclaimed violinist Sergej Krylov will dazzle audiences with his exhilarating performance of the Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op.47 by Jean Sibelius, the only concerto composed by the brilliant Finnish composer. Rounding out this program will be the legendary Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 by Johannes Brahms, an audience favorite that has thrilled listeners since it premiered in 1883. Do not miss this opportunity to hear three monuments of musical perfection!

Sergej Krylov, born in Moscow, began playing violin at age 5 as the son of an outstanding violin maker, Alexander Krylov, and a famous Russian pianist and teacher, Liudmila Krylova. He performs with world-famous orchestras such as the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of Saint Petersburg Philharmonic, the Mariinsky Theatre Symphony Orchestra, the Russian National Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, and the Chamber Orchestra “Moscow Soloists,” among others. He was lauded by late conductor Mstislav Rostropovich as “one of the top five contemporary violinists”.

Concert IV: March 17-19
Bruno Aprea will guest conduct the Monterey Symphony for the fourth program of the season, featuring works by Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, and Bernstein. The fiery overture from Giuseppe Verdi’s La Forza del Destino – or ‘the force of destiny’ – sets the tone for this musically broad and brilliant concert.

Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s fantasy overture Romeo and Juliet and two movements from the dramatic symphony Romeo and Juliet (“Love Scene” and “Romeo Alone”) by French composer Hector Berlioz, one of the greatest orchestrators of all time, amplify this performance of powerful and passionate themes. The Symphonic Dances from the ever-popular West Side Story by American composer Leonard Bernstein will conclude this rich and rousing concert.

Bruno Aprea, former Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Palm Beach Opera, began his musical career as a pianist studying under his father, Tito Aprea, at the Conservatoire of S.Cecilia in Rome. He met with considerable success at a very young age, paving the way to a career on the international concert circuit and playing on numerous occasions with the Accademia di S.Cecilia Orchestra.
He conducted at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, in a Gala evening with Mirella Freni and in a number of concerts at the Opera of Monte Carlo, including one in aid of Unesco, broadcast in Eurovision in 1979. In Italy he conducted all the main symphonic orchestras and toured in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania. In Israel, invited by Shlomo Mintz, he conducted the Israel Chamber Orchestra of Tel Aviv, in South Africa the SABC of Johannesburg, and in Brazil, invited by Eleazar de Carvalho, the Orquestra Sinfonica of Sao Paolo. He has also conducted the Philarmonia Hungarica, the Presidential Symphonic Orchestra of Ankara and the Bilbao Symphonic Orchestra.

Concert V: April 21-23
The fifth concert program in the Monterey Symphony’s Season of Shakespeare opens with the demanding arias of Desdemona from Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Otello, with guest coloratura soprano Cyndia Sieden. Included are the famous “Willow Song” and the “Ave Maria” from Act IV.
Cyndia Sieden also appears in the monumental Symphony No. 4 in G Major by Gustav Mahler, one of his shorter symphonic works. Although the soprano is featured in the fourth and final movement only, this entire symphony was based on the song “The Heavenly Life,” which he composed for an earlier song cycle titled Des Knaben Wunderhorn. Don’t miss this chance to hear Mahler’s magical symphony and highlights from one of Verdi’s most mature roles in a spectacular Spring concert!

Soprano Cyndia Sieden studied with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in master classes in Carmel Valley, CA in the early 1980s and has moved among the Baroque, classical, romantic and modern/contemporary repertoire at most of the world’s great opera houses, including Munich’s Bavarian State Opera, Paris’ Opéra Bastille, Barcelona’s Gran Teatre del Liceu, Brussels’s La Monnaie, and London’s Royal Opera House and English National Opera, as well as in Beijing and Australia. Her Metropolitan Opera debut was in the title role of Alban Berg’s Lulu, and she returned there in 2008 for the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte. With a great sympathy for the works of Richard Strauss, she often performs Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos (Munich, Japan, Vienna), Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier (Paris Châtelet) and Aminta in Die schweigsame Frau (Palermo).

Concert VI: May 19-21
Come hear Michael Noble – winner of the prestigious Carmel Music Society Piano Competition in 2013 – perform Antonin Dvorák’s Piano Concerto in G Minor, Op. 33 with the Monterey Symphony! Dvorák’s violin and cello concertos receive ample stage presence, but the concerto for the piano is the most balanced of the three and a favorite of audiences and musicians alike.

The season of Shakespeare in Music concludes with the overture from Otto Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, a German Singspiel based on the infamous Shakespeare comedy, and Belgian composer César Franck’s Symphony in D Minor, his most famous orchestral work. Make sure you do not miss this opportunity to hear an evening of beautiful, lively, and splendidly crafted music. Come close the 71st season of the Monterey Symphony in this concert programmed to delight fans of great classical music, live!

Pianist Michael Noble gave his first recital when he was six and has gone on to perform concerts across Europe, Asia, and North America. In addition to winning the Carmel Music Society competition in 2013, he was also the first-prize winner in the Crescendo Music Awards (Tulsa, OK) in 2009, and is a two-time laureate of the Chopin International Competition of the 1,000 Islands. He is a graduate of Idyllwild (Calif.) Arts Academy where he was awarded the Outstanding Musician Award of 2005-2006. In 2008, he attended the Paris Conservatoire to work with Nicholas Angelich, and made his debut with the Tulsa Symphony in 2011.

CHAMBER CONCERT SERIES:

Tickets
Single Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by phone at 831-646-8511 or online at www.montereysymphony.org. Tickets will also be sold 90 minutes before show time at the venue.

General admission tickets for concerts at All Saints’ Episcopal Church (Dolores & Ninth Ave, Carmel) are priced at $25 for general admission and $10 for students and active military.

General admission tickets for concerts at the Sunset Center (San Carlos at Ninth Avenue, Carmel) are priced at $50 for Premium Seating and $25 for general admission.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 1 – CHAMBER MUSIC WITH CLARINET
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
October 7, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The first program in the Monterey Symphony’s 2016/17 Chamber Series will feature the clarinet, including works by Kokai, Debussy, and Brahms. The music on this program may not often be heard, but it will be masterfully presented by musicians from the orchestra, including Concertmaster Christina Mok, violin; Steve Sanchez, clarinet; Tina Minn, violin; Chad Kaltinger, viola; and Drew Ford, cello.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 2 – MYRIAD FACES OF RUSSIA
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
October 18, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Presented as a part of the ICONS in Transformation International Contemporary Art Exhibit at All Saint’s Episcopal Church that runs from September 25 – November 20, 2016. An exhibition of contemporary art and traditional icons with 130 selects pieces by Russian-born artist, Ludmila Pawlowska.

This all-Russian program presented by our October concert Guest Artists: Anna Petrova, piano; Rebecca Anderson, violin; and JeongHyoun Christine Lee, cello; will feature composers from around the turn of the twentieth century – Arensky, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev. Stravinksy’s Suite Italienne is an arrangement of music from his ballet Pulcinella for cello and piano, and the deep and dark Prokofiev Sonata No. 1 for violin and piano was composed for friends lost during the Stalin regime. The Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor by Arensky may not be well-known, but it is a highlight of the program!

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 3 – CHRISTMAS POTPOURRI
All Saints Episcopal Church, Carmel
December 8, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
This delightful program features concertos, sonatas, interludes and tangos! Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto” and Bach’s Brandenburg No. 5 highlight this concert program that parries itself with the Hampton String Quartet’s Mozartian rendition of holiday favorites. Do not miss this performance of passionate players including guest artist Michael Peterson, harpsichord, and Monterey Symphony musicians including Dawn Walker, flute; Concertmaster Christina Mok, violin; Jessica Poll, violin; Chad Kaltinger, viola; Isaac Pastor-Chermak, cello; and Bruce Moyer, bass, in a concert that will also include works by Ibert, Leclaire, and Piazzolla.

CHAMBER CONCERT PROGRAM 4 –
CURTIS ON TOUR: CURTIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Sunset Center, Carmel
January 13, 2017 at 8:00 p.m & January 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.

Presented in cooperation with the Sunset Center.

CURTIS ON TOUR: CURTIS CHAMBER ORCHESTRA – the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music
Do not miss this special treat to hear some of America’s greatest young musicians from the renowned Curtis Institute of Music! Featured will be legendary violinist Shmuel Ashkenasi and violist and Curtis president Roberto Diaz, along with five outstanding violin students performing Mozart’s five violin concertos – a truly unique and profoundly musical event!

Max Bradago-Darman, Music Director and Conductor of Monterey Symphony
Max Bragado-Darman has served as the Music Director and Conductor of the Monterey Symphony since July 2004. Mr. Bragado-Darman was Music Director and Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Castile and León in Valladolid, Spain, for nine years. From its formation in 1991, he built it into one of the most prestigious orchestras in Spain. Under his direction, the orchestra performed for enthusiastic audiences in all the major cities of Spain, Portugal, Switzerland and Germany. He recorded with this ensemble many unknown works of the Spanish repertoire as well as most of the orchestral works of Turina and Rodrigo on the Naxos label.

In May 1995, Max Bragado-Darman was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Louisville Orchestra. Under his direction, the orchestra grew in popularity due to his rapport with audiences, the community in general, and his innovative programming. He has worked with distinguished artists such as Alicia de Larrocha, Teresa Berganza, Horacio Gutièrrez, Elmar Oliveira, Dubravka Tomsic, Andre Watts, Angel Romero, Gary Graffman, and Aaron Rosand among many others.

As a guest conductor, Max Bragado-Darman has performed in the United States with the symphony orchestras of Honolulu, San Diego, Nashville, Delaware, West Virginia, Cedar Rapids, Savannah, Oklahoma City, Fort Worth, Austin, Fresno, and Boulder. He has led the National Orchestra, the Radio Television Orchestra and most other orchestras of Spain, as well as orchestras in Portugal, England, Argentina, Germany, and Mexico. In the fall of 2003, he made his debut at the distinguished Wexford Opera Festival with the Granados opera “Maria del Carmen,” in a version he researched and edited himself.

His conducting career has been guided by the knowledge he received from teachers and musicians such as Robert Fountain, Robert Baustian, George Szell, Igor Markevich and Franco Ferrara. Most recently, Max Bragado-Darman has appeared on the podiums of orchestras in Monterrey, Mexico and Mexico City. In the spring of 2009, in the heart of Andalucia he took on the challenge of presenting a fusion of flamenco and classical music featuring a pianist, guitarist, dancer, and full symphony orchestra. He has been the conductor for the prestigious “Iturbi Piano Competition” in Valencia, Spain for the last two editions.

Max and Mary Bragado have two children: Julio who was formerly a dancer with The American Ballet Theatre and is now studying acting in New York City, and Ilia who teaches dance in Valladolid, Spain and is married to José Manuel Concejo. They have two grandsons, 7 year old Max and 5 year old Alejandro. Both grandchildren are enchanted with their “Abuelito” and “Granny.”

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 triple performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater and Salinas’s Sherwood Hall, as well as youth education programs that include visits to classrooms by musicians 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, Ann and Gordon Getty 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, The Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, The Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, Samson Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, 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
http://www.montereysymphony.org

Test of Tyme, A Construction/Real Estate Consulting Firm, To Hold Seminar at Gallery Sur in Carmel-by-the-Sea on Wednesday, November 12th

Founded in 2008, Test of Tyme, an international real estate investment and development company that restores, builds, buys and sells estates in Carmel, Pebble Beach.

Pacific Grove, CA, November 03, 2014 – Founded in 2008, Test of Tyme, an international real estate investment and development company that restores, builds, buys and sells estates in Carmel, Pebble Beach, will hold a free seminar, “A Look at Historic and New Estates in Carmel and Pebble Beach” on Wednesday, November 12th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. The seminar will be held at Gallery Sur located on 6th Avenue between Dolores and Lincoln (next door to the Little Swiss Café) in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Refreshments from the new Kai Lee Creamery (in the American Tin Cannery) and beverages will be served. Space is very limited and RSVPs are mandatory by calling (831) 655-2008 or emailing tot@testoftyme.com.

Enjoy a rare glimpse inside some beautiful historic and Old Europe-inspired Carmel and Pebble Estates. Gather ideas of what you can do to restore your own home so it becomes a lasting work of art for generations to come. During his fascinating seminar, Don Whitaker will discuss:

* Opening the Door of the Past to Look Into the Future
* Historic Building Through the Ages
* Use of Sustainable Resources
* Art and Artifact Creation and Restoration
* Q and A

About Test of Tyme:
Known as two of the most sought-after artisans and consultants on the Monterey Peninsula, Don Whitaker and Scott Coulter and their hand-picked group of sub-contractors, have worked together to build or renovate many of the largest estates in the area. Due to their passion and talent, artistic vision and top craftsmanship, they have been honored to work on 300-350 of the largest and most beautiful homes and structures in Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pebble Beach, including 20 homes on the ocean side of Seventeen Mile Drive in Pebble Beach as well as the Cypress Point Golf Course Club House and Pebble Beach and Tennis Club. Most recently, they have worked on a 28-room mansion near the Lone Cypress Tree. Their work, simply stated, is created to stand the Test of Tyme!

One of their specialties is in the replication and creation of Old World-inspired finishes (1680’s – 1740’s European style), as well as the creation of original pieces designed for a specific home or space. They also restore paintings and other works of art.

Since the establishment of Test of Tyme in 2008, Scott Coulter and Don Whitaker’s artistic work has been featured in the prestigious Perspectives on Design California, a publication on creative ideas shared by leading design professionals. This is a showcase of the state’s finest architects, artisans, homebuilders, landscape architects, interior designers, craftsmen, and other industry specialists, under whose creative direction the extraordinary is made possible. This publication is part of a popular series that spans the Southwest, Chicago, New England, Florida and other design-savvy regions in North America and Europe.

Test of Tyme consists of artisans whose passions lie in the transformation of a home into an embodiment of three-dimensional art. According to Scott Coulter, “We are a community of craftsman and artisans that transform dwellings into habitable works of art. From the hand laid tile individually treated to match flawlessly with one another to the revival of a damaged painting thought to be untreatable. Rustic furnishes, antique revitalization, old-world finishes, varnishes, and custom painting.”

Test of Tyme can transform every aspect of the average home into a marvelous homage to the old-world escapes captured off the pages of a European novella. The craftsmanship and artistic vision of every member of this team poured into the very foundation of each of their passionate projects. But the artistic skill of Test of Tyme extends beyond the palette of the metamorphosis. Their skills including restoring other art such as damaged sculptures, paintings, or manipulating unique pieces of art to fit with the motif of your home. Rejuvenating and recovering the vibrancy of art that was believed to be beyond saving, or modifying other pieces to synchronize fluidly to ambience of your living areas.

About Don Whitaker:
A partner in Test of Tyme, Monterey native Don Whitaker is also the owner of The Golden Hammer in Pacific Grove providing cabinetry and custom millwork, including furniture design. He earned local, state-wide and international awards for his carpentry work and has over 40 years of experience, primarily on the largest homes in the Carmel and Pebble Beach area. His passion for perfection is reflected in his wood artistry seen in doors, beams, cabinets, floors and more. Don is a graduate of Monterey High School and attended Monterey Peninsula College. He began work in his field at the cabinetry shop that his father managed.

About Scott Coulter
A partner in Test of Tyme and also the owner of Time Honored Finishes, Scott is legendary for his custom painting and extraordinary “time honored finishes” that transform the interior and exterior of a home into a work of art for generations to come. Specializing in rustic furnishes, antique revitalization, Old World finishes, varnishes and custom painting. His surfaces are scraped, distressed, shaded, brushed, aged and inspired by Scott’s vision. Scott also skillfully restores damaged sculptures and paintings, as well as modifying other pieces to synchronize fluidly within a home. Together with Don Whitaker, surfaces featuring wood, paint, plaster, stone, effects and iron are perfectly finished to suit an estate’s unique character.

About Gallery Sur
Gallery Sur specializes in dramatic oversized color photography of Big Sur, Carmel and Pebble Beach along with a dynamic collection of color cityscapes and architectural abstracts. For the golfer, we have an impressive collection of memorable golf landscapes of Pebble Beach, Cypress Point and other courses around the world. Each piece is custom designed to suit your individual needs. Also now proudly representing the Nyanhongo family of sculptors, a stunning array of original African stone sculpture that touches your soul.

For more information, go to www.testoftyme.com or call (831) 655-2008.

Contact:
Wendy Brickman
Brickman Marketing
395 Del Monte Center #250
Monterey, CA 93940
831-633-4444
http://www.testoftyme.com