Monterey County Fair & Event Center Sets Date & Theme for 2021 Fair, Sept. 3-6

  The Monterey County Fair & Event Center has set a date of Sept. 3-6, 2021, for the 2021 Monterey County Fair, with the theme, “Fair Fun in 2021!” 

Monterey, CA, February 18, 2021 — The Monterey County Fair & Event Center has set a date of Sept. 3-6, 2021, for the 2021 Monterey County Fair, with the theme, “Fair Fun in 2021!” 

The theme was the winning entry in a theme contest by Cathy Meehan of Watsonville. A poster art contest using the theme, with both adult and youth divisions, is now underway. 

Fair poster entries must be submitted as either a “draft” sketch or full artwork to the Fair office no later than 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, and include the official entry form with entrant’s name, mailing address, phone number and e-mail. Entry forms and official rules are available at www.montereycountyfair.com. Entries can be hand delivered to the fair office from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, or mailed to: 

Monterey County Fair – Poster Art Contest

2004 Fairground Road

Monterey, CA 93940 

E-Mail: entry@montereycountyfair.com 

The Monterey County Fair Board of Directors will select and announce the winning entrants and poster art on March 1, 2021. There will be an Adult and a Youth Division winner. One winning entry will be chosen as the official 2021 Fair Poster Art and one will be chosen as the 2021 Entry Guidebook Cover. 

The winner of the 2021 Fair Poster Art Contest Adult Division will receive a $100 cash prize and Youth Division winner will receive a $50 cash prize. Both winners will receive a family package of tickets to the fair, Sept. 3-6, 2021. 

For information, contact the Monterey County Fair & Event Center at (831) 372-5863 email: events@montereycountyfair.com , or go to www.montereycountyfair.com . 

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.

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455 
http://www.montereycountyfair.com

PG Museum of Natural History Launches Year-long Virtual Speaker series to Echo ‘Changes’ Exhibit

  The series begins on Feb. 25 with featured speaker Dr. Doug Smith, a professor in the Applied Environmental Science Department at CSU Monterey Bay. Dr. Smith teaches watershed science courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, including geology, geomorphology and hydrology. 

Pacific Grove, CA, February 16, 2021 - In support of its upcoming new exhibit “Changes,” the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History has announced a year-long speaker series as part of its popular Hardcore Natural History program. 

“Changes” will offer layers of interpretation for those who want to dive deeper into a main message: change has occurred, and will continue to occur, in the ecosystems of Monterey County. 

The speaker series will echo those sentiments, focusing on changes in these habitats over time, the impact of humans in these landscapes, and the role of humans in protecting them for the future. Local researchers and advocates will address the science behind current issues facing the coastal, valley and mountain habitats of Monterey County. 

Hosted by the museum, the free webinar series will be held through Zoom on the last Thursday of each month from 6-7 p.m. Presenters will include local environmental scientists and activists making interactive presentations and a question-and-answer session. 

The series begins on Feb. 25 with featured speaker Dr. Doug Smith, a professor in the Applied Environmental Science Department at CSU Monterey Bay. Dr. Smith teaches watershed science courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, including geology, geomorphology and hydrology. His talk, titled Sea Level Rise in Southern Monterey Bay: Process, Protection, and Habitat Impact, will discuss how coastal erosion has impacted southern Monterey Bay and its inhabitants over time.  And will examine the impacts we might expect to see on beaches, structures, and endangered species in this coastal habitat in the future.  

Although admission is free, the currently-closed museum encourages audience members to make a contribution to help create future online programming during the pandemic. Audience members must register online prior to the event to receive a link to the webinar. 

For more information visit www.pgmuseum.org/lectures. 

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455 
http://www.pgmuseum.org

Virtual Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit on March 18-19

 The Eighth Annual Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit on March 18-19 will once again deliver in-depth and actionable insights on a range of topics vital to a thriving fresh produce industry – all presented in a virtual format. 

Salinas, CA, February 11, 2021 - The Eighth Annual Salinas Valley Ag Tech Summit on March 18-19 will once again deliver in-depth and actionable insights on a range of topics vital to a thriving fresh produce industry – all presented in a virtual format. 

Attendees will be able to view and participate in the online program at no charge. 

A President’s Reception will kick off the summit on the evening of March 18, featuring a 5:30 p.m. Fireside Chat with Karen Ross, secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, moderated by Dennis Donohue, director of the Western Growers for Innovation and Technology. 

Dr. Raúl Rodríguez, interim superintendent/president of Hartnell College in Salinas, will open the reception at 5 p.m. with a welcome greeting and brief update on Hartnell’s Agriculture and Business Technology Institute. The college is presenting the Ag Tech Summit in partnership with the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology. 

During the full-day program on March 19, morning business sessions will feature ag tech players and industry leaders presenting on key issues, including workforce challenges and the critical role of education. Afternoon sessions will spotlight “Ag Tech, the View From Mexico and the Americas,” providing a fresh focus on challenges and opportunities in Mexico and Latin America. 

For additional information about this year’s summit, including sponsorship and virtual exhibitor opportunities, please contact Clint Cowden at (831) 755-6702 or ccowden@hartnell.edu. 

For Media inquiries : Scott Faust, Director of Comm. & Marketing, (831) 755-6858, Cell (831) 206-9422, sfaust@hartnell.edu. 

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455 
http://www.hartnell.edu

Everyone’s Harvest sees dramatic increase in funds distributed through nonprofit’s Market Match program

 Strengthening its mission to provide equitable access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables, Everyone’s Harvest saw a 28-percent increase in funds distributed through its Market Match program in 2020. 

Marina, CA, February 10, 2021 - Strengthening its mission to provide equitable access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables, Everyone’s Harvest saw a 28-percent increase in funds distributed through its Market Match program in 2020. 

“We were thrilled to see that more families than ever took advantage of this program in 2020, and we are also able to double produce purchases for families who received the Pandemic (P-EBT) CalFresh allocation,” said executive director Reid Norris. 

Market Match is California’s healthy food incentive program that matches customers’ federal nutrition assistance benefits (like CalFresh and WIC) at farmers’ markets. The program empowers low-income customers to make healthy food choices and benefits hundreds of small and midsize California farmers.  

In the last 10 years, Everyone’s Harvest has coordinated more than $175,000 in CalFresh purchases for fresh fruits and vegetables. September 2020 was the best month in the history of the Market Match program, as more families than ever now rely on farmers’ markets for healthy, local produce. 

“Not only have we had our most successful year in distributed funds, we've also had great success in assisting those with EBT for the first time,” said Norris, who reported a 57 percent increase in first-time users. “With this increase, we are delighted to ensure food security for those who need it most.” 

For more information, visit www.everyonesharvest.org  or www.marketmatch.org. 

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455 
http://www.everyonesharvest.org

“Ganas - Leading from The Heart” February Podcasts

  Available at gilbasketballacademy.com/ganas-leading-from-the-heart 

Salinas, CA, February 08, 2021 - Episode 13 (Feb. 8, 2021): From the Fields of Salinas to the Youngest Latino General Counsel 

Guest: Francisco Silva, General Counsel, California Medical Association 

As General Counsel and Senior Vice President for CMA’s Centers for Legal Affairs, Economic Services and Health Policy, Francisco Silva represents more than 50,000 state physicians. 

The youngest of seven children, Francisco was born in Sonora, Mexico, with the family migrating to Salinas when he was 4 years old. Like his siblings, Francisco was expected to work in the agricultural fields alongside his parents, who taught their children the value of hard work and education. Francisco graduated from Santa Clara University and UCLA School of Law in the inaugural class of the David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy. He has spent a distinguished career speaking up for the underserved. 

Calling himself a “proud immigrant,” Francisco Silva learned the value of hard work and education at an early age. The youngest of seven children, Francisco toiled in the fields in and around Salinas alongside his siblings and parents. Also expected to make it through college, Francisco attended nearby Santa Clara University before graduating from the prestigious UCLA School of Law, where he served as an editor on the UCLA Chicano/a Latino/a Law Review. Always focused on representing the underserved, Francisco is now the youngest Latino General Counsel for the California Medical Association. He serves on the Board of Directors of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, California Health Information Partnership & Services Organization and the Gil Basketball Academy. 

Episode 14 (Feb. 22, 2021): Empowering the underrepresented 

Guest: Alma Medina, providing free legal advice and representation to underserved communities 

Alma Medina is a pro-bono attorney in Bonita in Southern San Diego County, where she works to empower individuals in low-income and underserved communities. 

Over a 20-year-plus career as a pro-bono attorney, Alma has worked with La Raza and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, served as an associate with the law firm Connerton, Ray, and Simon, and has served two terms as an alumni representative to Stanford’s El Centro Chicano Guiding Concilio. 

With a mission to empower the underprivileged, Alma has spent a distinguished career as a pro-bono attorney in Southern San Diego County. The Stanford University graduate was inducted into the Stanford Multicultural Hall of Fame during the 2019 reunion homecoming, honoring her work to empower individuals in low-income and underserved communities.

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455 
https://gilbasketballacademy.com/

Mee Memorial Healthcare System’s Board appoints Two Physicians as New Trustees to Governing body

  Mee Memorial Healthcare System’s (MMHS) governing body has appointed two new members to its Board of Trustees, responsible for ensuring quality healthcare and financial wellbeing. 

King City, CA, February 08, 2021 - Mee Memorial Healthcare System’s (MMHS) governing body has appointed two new members to its Board of Trustees, responsible for ensuring quality healthcare and financial wellbeing.

 The new members include Dr. Moneesha Pinto, an Internist at the King City Clinic, and Dr. Noah Hawthorne, an Emergency Medicine physician at Mee Memorial.. The appointments add to the expertise, experience and diversity that make up the current board. Dr. Pinto will be named Chief of Staff. 

Dr. Pinto began working with MMHS in July 2017. Born in Mumbai, India, she had never been out of the country until moving to San Jose at age 16. Her grandaunt was one of India’s first female doctors. Having lost both her husband and child to Yellow Fever, she dedicated her life to treating women in distant villages without any healthcare options. 

Dr. Pinto did undergraduate work at Santa Clara University and went to medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. She prefers the quiet pace of rural life and likes to travel, cook, eat, garden and read. 

Dr. Hawthorne received his medical degree from the University of California, San Francisco’s School of Medicine in 2013. He completed his Residency in Emergency Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco’s School of Medicine in 2017. He loves travel, photography, scuba diving, mountain biking and cooking. 

About Mee Memorial Healthcare System

Of highest priority for the Mee Memorial Healthcare System (MMHS) is keeping our community healthy. This includes offering an extensive array of medical and preventative services with a commitment to the highest possible standards, the best available technology, and the care of skilled professionals. 

The Mee network includes a hospital in King City including emergency services, 25 acute care beds and 48 skilled nursing beds, and three comprehensive outpatient clinics; two adjacent to the hospital (Adult Medicine and the King City Clinic, for Internal, Pain and Family Medicine) and the Albert and Donna Oliveira Clinic, a full-service, primary care facility in the city of Greenfield. 

MMHS is the primary healthcare organization serving the rural communities of Southern Monterey County. Overall, our healthcare professionals serve a population of nearly 80,000 within an area spanning over 55 miles between the agricultural communities of Soledad to Bradley 

Learn more at meememorial.com/ortho or call (831) 385-6000. 

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455 
https://www.meememorial.com/

San Lorenzo Valley Water District 2020 State of District Letter

  Over the last 40 years, I have seen the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (District) take on many difficult challenges, including drought, landslides, flooding, earthquakes, and fire. 

Boulder Creek, CA, February 05, 2021 - Over the last 40 years, I have seen the San Lorenzo Valley Water District (District) take on many difficult challenges, including drought, landslides, flooding, earthquakes, and fire. However, none of the previous years proved to be as difficult and challenging as 2020. Before August, the District was focused on its response to COVID-19 to ensure its staff and community’s safety. That included implementing new office and field protocols to improve sanitation, meeting all State and County orders, and separating workforces to ensure adequate staffing.  The District also met the challenge of two PG&E public safety power outages while dealing with changes in staffing and meeting new protocols. Then in August the CZU Lighting Complex Fire moved through the San Lorenzo Valley. The District saw more than 1,600 acres of its watershed properties burned, lost miles of raw water pipeline, and suffered damage to our water storage and surface water infrastructure. It was not only the District who grieved losses but the surrounding San Lorenzo Valley community as well, with many losing homes to the fire. Although these were difficult circumstances, I am beyond proud of our community’s, Board of Directors’ and staff’s response. The resiliency of the San Lorenzo Valley and surrounding areas to work together to rebuild and restore continues to impress me. 

I am looking forward to welcoming the new year and with it the productive track the District remains set on. In 2021 the District plans to continue to improve its infrastructure, restore post-fire damage, harden its facilities from future disasters, deliver high-quality water, provide outstanding customer service, and work with the community to create a stronger San Lorenzo Valley. 

There is no doubt 2021 will be a challenging year, as the District will have to work through new challenges while moving forward a multitude of previously established projects. The impacts from the CZU fire will be felt for many years to come and our community is still preparing for the potential of debris flows. The District completed a project on its watershed property to harden the stream channel in case of a debris-flow disaster, is working closely with the County of Santa Cruz in preparation for evacuations, and has allowed State and other agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to complete debris-flow monitoring studies on our watershed land. 

Beyond the impacts of the fire, customers and the District are still dealing with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The District and its customers are in a reciprocal partnership – the District is a public utility and depends on its customers, while its customers depend on the District to receive high-quality water service. Many residents in our community are struggling with economic distress and unable to regularly pay their water bills. The District understands these circumstances and wants to extend help to anyone in need. Customers need to contact our customer service staff to start a payment plan or visit our website (SLVWD.com) to qualify for the District’s Rate Assistance Program. 

We look forward to working with the community, partner agencies, and our Board of Directors in the new year. I am honored to work for our community with such a dedicated Board of Directors and staff. 

Sincerely, 
Richard Rogers 
District Manager 

To learn more about the District’s water quality, fire response, upcoming projects, income assistance programs, and more, visit the full newsletter on our website here. https://www.slvwd.com/home/news/community-report-2019-2020  Our mailing address is: 13060 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek, CA 95006, (831) 338-2153.

 

Contact: 
Marci Bracco Cain 
The Buzz PR LLC 
Salinas, CA 
(831) 747-7455] 
https://www.slvwd.com