Explore the Towns of Marina, Salinas and Seaside, California Outdoor Adventure, Foodie Finds and Undiscovered Gems Await!

Outdoor adventures. Diverse dining. Rich cultural history. Monterey County is home to all of these unforgettable experiences — and you can discover these in the towns of Marina, Salinas and Seaside along California's Central Coast.

Monterey, CA, December 19, 2018 – Outdoor adventures. Diverse dining. Rich cultural history. Monterey County is home to all of these unforgettable experiences — and you can discover these in the towns of Marina, Salinas and Seaside along California's Central Coast. Though these three towns occasionally stand in the shadow of their more popular neighbors like Carmel, Monterey and Big Sur, they're still can't-miss hubs for outdoor enthusiasts, foodies and history buffs alike. Explore these undiscovered gems for a unique experience you'll remember for years to come.

Marina: The Height of Beachside Tranquility

Do you enjoy a nice day (... or two or three) on the beach? Then you must visit Marina, located right on the water in Monterey County. Marina State Beach offers plenty of great waves for avid surfers, as well as sand dunes that provide a home for all sorts of exotic birds and animals. The well-marked Dune Nature Trail gives you a full rundown of the creatures located among the dunes, making this a truly unique beach experience.

And after a long day on the beach, Marina offers plenty of intriguing dining options. Head to English Ales Brewery for locally brewed beer paired with a comprehensive menu of pub grub. Or if you're looking to try one of Monterey County's newest and most buzzed-about restaurants, Salt Wood Kitchen & Oysterette offers delicious raw, cured or wood-fired takes on your favorite dishes.

Salinas: A Unique Combination of Culture and Agriculture

Salinas isn't just the home of Nobel Prize laureate John Steinbeck. It's also a notable agricultural hub, lovingly called "America's Salad Bowl" as a nod to the many crops grown in the Salinas Valley. You can learn more about the farming techniques being put to work in Salinas at Ag Venture Tours, which gives you a full sensory experience of the many greens grown in this region. But that's not the only sensory experience in the area. The River Road Wine Trail offers wine lovers the chance to trek along River Road and visit nearly a dozen award-winning wineries.

After exploring all that grows in Salinas, learn more about the favorite son of Salinas, John Steinbeck, at the National Steinbeck Center. Full of interactive exhibits and fascinating artifacts from his life, this museum gives you a personal, one-of-a-kind look at the life of a great American. Then, if you are hungry for more, stop by The Steinbeck House to see his childhood home and enjoy a delicious lunch. Once you've had your fill of all things Steinbeck, get your fill of locally

grown cuisine at 201 Main in Oldtown Salinas. With an extensive wine list and an eclectic menu of fresh food, 201 Main has something for everyone.

Seaside: Monterey's Coastal Neighbor

Located just to the north of Monterey, Seaside is sometimes overlooked by visitors who tend to head toward its more popular neighbor. In Seaside, you can fill your day with a diverse range of outdoor activities and delicious dining options. Seaside is home to Fort Ord National Monument, a beautiful stretch of rolling hills and over 83 miles of trails. It's a favorite for mountain bikers, but it's also perfect for a relaxing stroll.

For a full day of outdoor fun, hit the links at Bayonet and Black Horse, two challenging golf courses that offer stunning bay views. Ready for a relaxing meal after a day outdoors? Then get ready for a big authentic Italian meal at Gusto, some of the most delicious Italian food on the peninsula.

While in Seaside, make sure to explore recently revitalized Broadway Avenue. The downtown artery was updated with expanded sidewalks, newly planted trees and designated bike lanes. On Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the street plays host to a year-round certified farmers market with a bounty of local produce and products.

The fact that Monterey County's lesser-known towns are so packed with culture and activities proves something the locals know to be true: Monterey County has endless activities to explore and places to discover. It's a place to go on adventures, enjoy delicious food and learn about California history. Plan your trip and find out more today at SeeMonterey.com.

ABOUT MONTEREY COUNTY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU
The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is a 501c6 organization that drives tourism for Monterey County. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to drive business growth through compelling marketing and targeted sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.85 billion in 2017, representing a 3.5 percent increase from 2016. This $2.85 billion in visitor spending supported 24,990 jobs, contributed $255 million in total taxes and generated $127 million local tax dollars that directly benefited the community.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.SeeMonterey.com

Monterey County Tourism Makes Significant Strides Towards Destination Sustainability

Addressing plastics and measuring sustainability progress are critical steps in the path

Monterey County, CA, December 18, 2018 – The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) has joined two initiatives that will further its goal of ensuring Monterey County is one of the world’s leading sustainable destinations by both setting ambitious goals and measuring long term impacts.

The first is with Positive Impact, a global not for profit which exists to provide education and collaboration opportunities to create a sustainable event industry – and a vision to address the role of plastics in this industry. MCCVB is the exclusive destination partner for Positive Impact on this project which has already included collaboration with a number of United Nations bodies and in Spring 2019 will see the launch of materials to help the global industry measure and understand the role of plastics.

“MCCVB is already resetting boundaries for responsible tourism and by partnering with our organization they are taking a leadership position for the entire meetings industry,” said Fiona Pelham, CEO for Positive Impacts. She added, “Certainly understanding the role of plastics which will lead to its elimination from the future meetings and conference landscape is a considerable goal, but it is critically important and partnerships such as this with Monterey County are the building blocks of collaboration necessary to achieve it.”

Meetings and events are big business in Monterey County, which is a destination known for inspiration and innovation. “This partnership is completely in line with that legacy,” says Tammy Blount-Canavan, President and CEO of MCCVB. “Our tourism economy owes everything to our ecosystem, and so taking this bold step ensures further protection of our environment and further demonstrates the innovation of our region.”

Measuring success is also critical to MCCVB’s mission. The organization joined the Global Destination Sustainability Index (GDS-Index) initiative, an alliance focused on helping destinations, convention bureaus, and businesses promote sustainable practices. The GDS-Index does this by measuring and comparing sustainability strategies, policies and performance of participating destinations and by sharing best practices from around the world.

GDS-Index recently released its yearly survey of global destinations at the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) annual meeting in Dubai in November. Monterey County scored 52% on the sustainability index just behind Geneva and ahead of U.S. cities like Washington, D.C. and Houston. The scoring allows MCCVB to set a benchmark and improve in the coming years.

“Ultimately, protecting our destination is every bit as important as promoting it,” said Rob O’Keefe, Chief Marketing Officer for MCCVB. “These initiatives contribute to our long term viability as a top tourism destination plus they are essential to the balance we seek to foster between visiting travelers and the residents who call our beautiful region home.”

These latest partnerships align with the MCCVB’s Sustainable Moments Collective. The purpose of the collective is to share best practices from concurrent sustainability initiatives and use the group’s collective influence to reach visitors and residents alike. More information on MCCVB’s Sustainable Moments initiative and collective can be found at SeeMonterey.com/Sustainable. For more information on Positive Impact, go to PositiveImpactEvents.com. For more on the GDS-Index, go to GDS-Index.com.

About Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Monterey County Convention & Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) is a 501c6 organization that drives tourism for Monterey County. Tourism is the largest industry on the Monterey Peninsula and the second largest in the County. The MCCVB is a partnership of the hospitality community and local governments that aims to drive business growth through compelling marketing and targeted sales initiatives that maximize the benefits of tourism to our guests, members and the community. Travel spending in Monterey County was $2.85 billion in 2017, representing a 3.5 percent increase from 2016. This $2.85 billion in visitor spending supported 24,990 jobs, contributed $255 million in total taxes and generated $127 million local tax dollars that directly benefited the community.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.seemonterey.com/Sustainable

New Sisters-Founded and Run Business, Pests Out Now, Offers Unique Non-Toxic, Non-Invasive, Compassionate Approach to Pest Control

Pest extermination — everything from ants and cockroaches to rats and raccoons — is a tricky business.

Watsonville, CA, December 2018 — Pest extermination — everything from ants and cockroaches to rats and raccoons — is a tricky business. You want to get rid of them, but you don’t want to use harsh chemicals, poisons or traps. Well, two sisters with extensive experience and training in the healing fields, have a non-toxic and compassionate solution.

Pests Out Now, which was founded in 2017 by sisters Marilyn and Patricia Smith, is a unique non-toxic, non-invasive and compassionate approach to pest control that doesn’t use toxic aerosol sprays, chemicals, poisonous pellets or traps. The sisters, who both have extensive experience and knowledge in various wellness practices with people, use elevated frequencies of Universal Light to treat significant, life challenges in health and well-being, and now with pest control.

Using techniques developed over many years of experience and instruction, Pests Out Now relocates pests to a neutral area away from your living, work or backyard seating areas. These critters, no longer pests, live independently in harmony with nature in a location that doesn’t interfere with your daily activities, never to return to your home or office.

“We enjoy and have fun with our work. It makes the little irritations in life what they truly are — little. However, when it comes to our commitment to you, we are serious,” says Patricia and Marilyn. “Our intent is to provide a service that will make you want to tell everyone about us — because you were treated with such respect. We relocated your pests with little effort and no pain to you. Everybody wins and your life is now a little more pleasant because of us. The bottom line is: You are the reason we are in business, and we want you to be happy.”

The business came about when the sisters were commiserating about their mutual ant problems, Marilyn in her bathroom, Patricia in her kitchen. Neither of them wanted to use harmful chemicals or other drastic measures to solve their ant problems. They both had more than 15 years experience using universal energy to help people heal life challenges and decided to use this to relocate the pests.

As master teachers, healers and communicators, they realized that they could use the techniques and methods they had trained for and practiced for more than 15 years to relocate pests. They are both trained and certified through Soul Power Institute as taught by Master Zhi Gang Sha.

They experimented on their own ant infestations using Universal Light and were pleasantly surprised to discover that the ants were gone within two days — and never came back! They tried experiments on other pests and again discovered that their method worked just as effectively for removing small animals as well as bugs, all without harming them or the environment.

That’s when the idea for a business was born. “This could be a great business — A compassionate approach to pest control!” they said to each other. The result was Pests Out Now.

How the service works
Modern science has verified that elevated frequencies of light have a strong effect upon the material world. They use the term “Universal Light” to represent the high frequencies of energy used in their pest-relocation services. Universal Light resonates with all of life, and has a nurturing quality that is very attractive. Humans, plants, animals — even pests — are drawn to the light’s nourishing properties.

When Universal Light is directed to an area, pests move to this area and make it their abode. The healing quality of Universal Light draws them in, and welcomes them to their new home. Their home is pleasant, and they are quite content to remain there — except under conditions that may disrupt their home, such as flooding, digging up the ground, or changing the landscape, etc.

And, you don’t have to be at home for the service since everything is done remotely.

The initial service is customized just for you to create a pest-free environment using Universal Light. This approach to pest control is compassionate, non-toxic, and non-invasive. Without harm, pests are relocated to a neutral area which is a more suitable location for both the client and the pests.

The initial service is only $125 per infestation, after completing a brief survey. Pests Out Now follows up by email after 3 days to monitor the success of the service, with another follow-up 30 days later.

How the survey works
The survey provides Pests Out Now with necessary information to assess the nature of the pest infestation. This includes

•The type and severity of pest infestation

How severe are the infestations

•The duration, and seasonal or other characteristics of your infestation

•Affected living areas of your property

•The home’s location

Specific requests to resolve the infestation.
Upon receiving the completed survey PON requests Guidance about the type of Universal Light required , and the number of session needed to completely resolve the infestation. (delete next sentence)

WHAT TYPES OF PESTS CAN BE RELOCATED?

•Ants

•Spiders

•Cockroaches

•Silverfish

•Moths

•Centipedes

•Termites

• Mice and rats

• Squirrels

• Racoons

Other pests will be considered, depending on the type of pests, infestation and severity. Contact Pests Out Now if the survey does not cover the issues outlined above.

About Marilyn and Patricia Smith
Sisters Marilyn and Patricia Smith were born and raised in Watsonville, California. After high school their paths diverged, Patricia attended the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center, Portland Oregon, while Marilyn attended the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, as well as St. Mary’s in Moraga, both in California.

Marilyn became an educator, including as a Resource Specialist Program teacher and school administrator. Patricia worked as a registered nurse and hospital administrator, as well as stints with Amnesty International and as a healer in India for four years.

About 17 years ago both discovered the teachings and methods of Master Zhi Gang Sha, both becoming, after intensive training and instruction, Master Teachers. Marilyn is working full-time as a Master Teacher, traveling to other states and countries to do consultations, teach and train. She is also the author of the book “Gratitude: A Key to Happiness,” and narrated Master Sha’s audiobooks “Soul Communication.” and “ Soul Wisdom”

Patricia, after years in nursing and the medical profession, met Master Sha in 2001, training intensively with him, also becoming a Master Teacher as well as opening her own chronic pain and healing consulting service, Patricia Smith Consulting. One of the catalysts for this, prior to meeting Master Sha, was healing from a server injury using Qigong a holistic system of coordinated body posture, movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, healing and spirituality.

Their career paths converged with Master Sha and now with Pests Out Now, which follows the precepts of Master Sha’s teachings including helping people, reconnecting people with their souls and aligning of the soul, heart, mind and body, to uplift every aspect of life.

CONTACT PESTS OUT NOW:
Email only: Contact@PestsOutNow.com

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.PestsOutNow.com

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa Announces Hiring of Daniel Elinan as New Executive Chef

The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Daniel Elinan of Virginia Beach, Virginia, as its new Executive Chef.

Monterey, CA, December 14, 2018 — The Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa has announced the hiring of Daniel Elinan of Virginia Beach, Virginia, as its new Executive Chef.

As Executive Chef, Elinan successfully opened The Cavalier Hotel, a luxury Autograph by Marriott property with three outlets — Becca, Hunt Room, and The Raleigh Room — in early 2018. Shortly after opening, Elinan and his brigade earned an immediate 4-diamond rating for the Hotel’s prized dining venue Becca.

Prior stints included executive chef positions at the Hilton Virginia Beach, Omni Shoreham Hotel Washington D.C., Hyatt Key West Resort and Spa and Grand Hyatt San Francisco. Elinan was also Executive Chef at Primetime Restaurants in Budapest Hungary, Executive Chef at Carlo IV & New York Palace, Boscolo Hotels in Prague and Budapest as well as the Chef de Cuisine for Shangri-La Hotels in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Throughout his esteemed career Chef Elinan has worked under three Michelin Star-rated chefs and has been a guest chef at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City. He attended the Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, New York.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course
Nestled on 22 acres of soaring Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa on Del Monte Golf Course is a destination resort providing the discerning traveler the quintessential Monterey experience. Its location offers guests close proximity to downtown Monterey and Monterey Airport and easy access to some of the Peninsula’s most well known attractions. With its warm, contemporary ambiance, elegant furnishings and convenient amenities, the hotel offers both leisure and business travelers a Northern California respite of unmatched serenity and comfort. Features include 550 guestrooms including 32 suites, and the President’s House, TusCA Restaurant, Knuckles Sports Bar, Fireplace Lounge, a 2,000 square foot fitness facility, tennis courts, pools and whirlpools. The hotel is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road in Monterey, California. For information call (831) 372-1234 or visit http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com/.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.hyattregencymonterey.com

Tickets On Sale Now! Join Us On January 24th 2019... For a Presentation by Renowned Journalist and Author Steve Lopez - Mr. Lopez Meets Mr. Ayers: Exploring Mental Illness and Homelessness

Interim is bringing renowned author and Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez to the Monterey Bay.

Monterey, CA, December 13, 2018 - Interim is bringing renowned author and Los Angeles Times journalist Steve Lopez to the Monterey Bay. Join us for this engaging community presentation - Mr. Lopez Meets Mr. Ayers: Exploring Mental Illness and Homelessness.

Get Your Tickets NOW!

Steve has won more than a dozen national journalism awards for his reporting and column writing at seven newspapers and four news magazines, and is a three-time Pulitzer finalist for commentary.

Steve is also famous for his popular novel, The Soloist, which was turned into a movie starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. The Soloist is a true story of the unlikely friendship between Nathaniel Ayers and Steve Lopez, which began when he spotted Ayers, who he learned was homeless and living with schizophrenia, playing a two-string violin on skid row in Los Angeles.

About the Event:
Steve Lopez will talk about his experiences and insights, with an emphasis on homelessness and the mental health system of care. Steve will also talk about his friendship with Nathaniel Ayers. A casual reception for all event attendees will follow the presentation. Includes light refreshments. Steve will be signing copies of his book, The Soloist!

When: January 24, 2019, 7-9 PM
Where: Hyatt Regency, 1 Old Golf Course Rd, Monterey, CA 93940
General Admission: $30
Sponsorships (see details below): $250-$2500
Online Tickets or Sponsorships: Eventbrite

Get Your Tickets NOW!

Phone Registration, Sponsorships or Other Questions: contact Our Development Officer, (831) 649-4522, ext 205

Event Sponsors

A big THANK YOU to all of our generous sponsors!

Platinum:
Wald Ruhnke and Dost Architects
Suhr Risk Services

Gold:
Alexander and Maryn Ljubimow
Bill Pardue and Barbara Mitchell
MidPen Housing
John Stafsnes and Iathan Annand
Fenton & Keller
Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Weisshahn
Each Mind Matters

Silver:
The Nunez Company
Fran Baca
Wayne and Maureen Lavengood
Renee and Richard Kezirian
Suzanne Taunt
Sheila Holmes

Bronze:
Philip Bhaskar, D.MD. Monterey Oral Surgery
Mr. & Mrs. Fred Cohn
Anastacia Wyatt
Jocelyn Brady
Judith Ritchey

About Interim, Inc.
Interim, Inc. is the only agency in Monterey County that provides affordable housing, residential treatment, social support, homeless outreach and support, family outreach, and supported education and employment services for adults who have serious mental illnesses.

Our mission is to provide services and affordable housing supporting members of our community with mental illness in building productive and satisfying lives.

We believe that housing, healing, and hope are a path to mental health.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.interiminc.org

Original, Interactive Multi-Media Show ‘Celebration ’69’ features Live Music, Vintage Images, Trivia Quiz Exploring the Pivotal Year of 1969

The year 1969 was a momentous one for music, popular culture and world events.

Salinas, CA, December 10, 2018 — The year 1969 was a momentous one for music, popular culture and world events. Richard Nixon became president, Charles Manson went on his murderous spree, the Woodstock Music Festival raised its freak flag to half a million blissful hippies, man walks on the moon, The Beatles released its classic “Abbey Road” album and the dark side of the ’60s showed its face at the Rolling Stones’ disastrous concert at Altamont Speedway.

These six iconic events form the framework for musician/actor Mark Shilstone-Laurent’s original, multi-media, interactive show “Celebration ’69,” which opens Feb. 8 and 9, 2019, at The Western Stage’s SprigFEST 2019, at Hartnell College in Salinas.

The show will also be performed March 8-10 and Aug. 7-9, 2019, at the Carl Cherry Center for the Arts in Carmel. Other shows are being planned in venues in Monterey County, said Shilstone-Laurent.

“I think it’s going to be a pretty fun show, especially for the Boomers. It really is unique,” said Shilstone-Laurent, a longtime local actor and musician, who has taught speech at Hartnell since 1996. “There was so much going on musically and historically in 1969. The music acts as a transition between these six iconic events. I’m trying to make it feel like a party. It’s not a play, it’s a party.”

Each section is illustrated with photographs and other images projected on a background screen, with Shilstone-Laurent providing narration and leading a five-piece band playing popular music from that year. “It encapsulates the whole year in one two-hour show,” he says.

The opening number, Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times” perfectly summarizes and sets up the show, with music from, among others, The Who, Moody Blues, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Santana, Fleetwod Mac, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Allman Brothers, Janis Joplin, Elton John, Chicago, Michael Jackson, the Jackson Five, as well as, of course, the Rolling Stones, providing the soundtrack of that year.

Shilstone-Laurent uses many black and white photographs from his “oldest, dearest friend” from high school, rock lensman and journalist Stephen Robert Caraway, who passed away in 2015, but left a treasure chest of iconic images from rock ’n’ roll’s biggest stars from as far back as 1967. He said the show is a memorial to Caraway’s photos as well as his spirit that never really lost track of what the ’60’s tried to be all about — peace and love.

Joining Shilstone-Laurent, who is the lead singer and plays guitar, in the band will be drummer Rod “The Mod” Wilson, bassist Jeff Covell, guitarist Justin Noseworthy, and lead guitarist Dustin Carroll. Making a special guest appearance during the show will be a close friend, Randy Thayer.

In addition to the six iconic events that provide the framework, audiences will learn about countless other major happenings that made 1969 such a unique year: Edward Kennedy severely damages his political future by driving off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island; a giant oil spill fouls the beaches of Santa Barbara and a polluted river in Cleveland literally catches fire, giving birth to the environmental activism movement; the largest anti-war protests in American history take place in November and December; police raid a gay bar in New York City — The Stonewall Inn — and for the first time meet fierce resistance, giving birth to the gay rights movement; “Star Trek” airs its final episode and “Sesame Street” its first, and on and on. All told, quite a year.

Shilstone-Laurent has been a longtime performer in the local theater and music scenes. He has taught speech since 1977 and at Hartnell College since 1996. He has also owned a job listing service for jobs in television news, which he sold in 2013. A Salinas resident, he and his wife Adrienne, who works for the Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System and is a former local news anchor, have three grown sons.

Along with live music, narration, projected images, and guest appearances, the show will feature a Beatles trivia quiz for the audience, making it more of an interactive experience.

“I want to make it interactive, so I encourage the audience to sing along all night and hopefully people will jump in and make it a party,” said Shilstone-Laurent.

For more information and for additional dates go to celebration69.com, or email Shilstone-Laurent mark@medialine.com.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.celebration69.com

Gavilan College Kicks Off its Centennial Year With a Gala Event ‘Gavilan Through The Decades’ Set for Sept. 7, 2019

Gavilan College kicks off its centennial year with a gala event looking back at its first 100 years on Sept. 7, 2019, on the college campus.

Gilroy, CA, December 08, 2018 — Gavilan College kicks off its centennial year with a gala event looking back at its first 100 years on Sept. 7, 2019, on the college campus.

“Gavilan Through The Decades” will be held from 5:30–9:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the college at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. in Gilroy. Tickets are now available as are sponsorships ranging from $500 to $50,000.

Gala guests will take a nostalgic and informative stroll through the decades of Gavilan’s history from the 1920s to today. Each decade will feature areas of academia highlighted with education tables, as well as food stations with themed food from each decade, wine stations, live music, photo booths, students in period costume, formal portraits, live auction, silent auction, strolling card magician in a tuxedo, and a string quartet.

When guests check in, they will be given a commemorative wine glass and a program for the evening that contains a map that highlights where each decade is located and what is taking place in each decade’s area.

“We are really looking forward to this celebration, and look forward to welcoming the community to campus for the party of the century!” said Dr. Kathleen Rose, Superintendent / President of Gavilan College.

From 5:30-7:15 p.m., guests will stroll Sycamore Lane on campus to take in the Roaring ’20s through the Jazzy ’40s, which will be highlighted by three wine station, three themed food stations, three areas of academia, a student jazz band, and students in period costumes strolling and speaking to guests.

As guests continue to stroll through the ages on Sycamore Lane, they will enter the Rockin’ ’50s area, where they will be greeted by a fourth winery, adult milkshake bar, food station from the ’50s, and performers in poodle skirts and ducktail haircuts dancing away to the music of the ’50s.

At the end of Sycamore Lane, guests will enter the Student Center Courtyard, where they will savor the sights, sounds and flavors of the decades from the 1960s through the 1990s. There they will be greeted by four more winery stations and food stations with themed food from each decade, two areas of academia, a strolling card magician in a tuxedo, a photo booth with costumes and props from the ’60s to the ’90s. Guests will be able to take home a strip of photos from their photo shoot.

At 7:15 p.m. the outdoor reception areas close and the doors open to the Student Center, where the 2000s to the present will be highlighted and where the elegant evening gala takes place. Guests will be greeted by a string quartet and can get their formal portraits taken. Photos in a keepsake folder will be ready one hour after being taken. Guests will enjoy passed appetizers as well as gourmet themed food stations featuring the region’s bounty. They can bid on more than 70 items at the silent auction area, as well as an opportunity drawing with five prizes. There will also be a handful of live auction items.

At 7:50 p.m., the program will begin with a welcome from Superintendent/President Dr. Kathleen A. Rose, who will share the history of the college, acknowledge all sponsors and dignitaries, introduce all honorees from each decade and present them or their family representatives with a plaque, draw winners of opportunity drawing, conduct a live auction, and close the silent auction at 8:30 p.m.

At 8:45 p.m., guests can check out and pick up their formal portrait. The event will end at 9:00 p.m.

Gavilan College was established in 1919 as the San Benito County Junior College, operating under that name until 1963, when a new community college district was drawn that included both San Benito County and southern Santa Clara County. The college moved to its present main campus in 1968.

In 1997, satellite sites were added in Hollister and Morgan Hill to augment offerings on the main campus. In 2008, land was purchased in Coyote Valley and San Benito County for the development of additional campuses. In 2017, Phase 1 of the Coyote Valley Center was completed, becoming Gavilan's newest instructional site and the home for South Bay Public Safety Training Consortium police and fire academies.

Gavilan College is one of 114 California community colleges, a part of the largest system of higher education in the world.

Sponsorships, which offer a number of benefits depending on level of sponsorship, including gala tickets, signage, promotion and advertising, social media and website promotion, and more, are now available. To become a sponsor, contact 'Bobbi Jo Palmer' bpalmer@gavilan.edu

To purchase tickets, go to https://www.gavilan.edu.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.gavilan.edu