Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa ranked Top 25 in Northern California by Condé Nast Traveler readers

Each year more than 600,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the world rank their favorite experiences as part of the luxury and lifestyle travel magazine’s global Readers’ Choice Awards list.

Monterey, CA, October 10, 2019 - Each year more than 600,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers across the world rank their favorite experiences as part of the luxury and lifestyle travel magazine’s global Readers’ Choice Awards list.

Results of the 2019 survey released Monday, Oct. 7, saw Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa ranked No. 21 in the category “Top 25 Hotels in Northern California.”

For the first time since its brand reorganization, Condé Nast Traveler combined the annual surveys in the United States and United Kingdom into one global list. The final rankings were announced globally online, and will also be highlighted in the November 2019 US and UK print editions of Condé Nast Traveler.

About Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa
Nestled within 22 acres of majestic Monterey Pines, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course provides the most discerning traveler with the quintessential Monterey experience. The property features 550 guestrooms, including 27 suites with expanded living areas, a spa, fitness center, pools, tennis courts and access to Del Monte Golf Course, the oldest operating course west of the Mississippi.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/california/hyatt-regency-monterey-hotel-and-spa-on-del-monte-golf-course/mrydm

Goodwill Central Coast Stores to Match Donations during Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Campaign

What if the cookie was not only delicious but part of a sweet fundraising campaign that aims to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer?

Salinas, CA, October 08, 2019 - How much would you pay for a cookie? What if the cookie was not only delicious but part of a sweet fundraising campaign that aims to make a difference in the fight against pediatric cancer?

On Wednesday, Oct. 16, all Goodwill Central Coast stores will be offering delicious treats from Pacific Cookie Company — with all proceeds supporting Cookies for Kids' Cancer. You can choose your donation amount for a cookie, and Goodwill will match it!

Tragically, cancer is the No. 1 cause of death in children by disease in the United States. There are 40,000 U.S. children actively battling cancer right now. With less than 4 percent of the National Cancer Institute's budget going to all childhood cancers combined, donations are critical in making a difference for these kids.

For more information or to make a tax-deductible donation online, visit www.cookiesforkidscancer.org/Fundraiser/goodwillcentralcoast

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

Yeast of Eden welcomes Autumn with Seasonal Brews, Cocktails and a new Food Menu Launching Oct. 11

Rarely is the end of summer celebrated, but Yeast of Eden in Carmel is brewing up excitement around the flavors of fall — making the shorter days and chillier air more tolerable.

Carmel, CA, October 08, 2019 - Rarely is the end of summer celebrated, but Yeast of Eden in Carmel is brewing up excitement around the flavors of fall — making the shorter days and chillier air more tolerable.

It begins in the barrel room with head brewer Andrew Rose, who named his latest creation Astral Seasons, a mixed-fermentation saison conditioned with local Blenheim apricots from B&R Farms in Hollister.

The beer’s dry, effervescent finish brings mango and earthy notes intertwined with bursts of apricot. In addition to the 18 Yeast of Eden beers currently on tap, Yeast of Eden offers a local wine list and full bar with a rotation of seasonal cocktails.

The latest libation, called Binding Arbitration, is a smooth and slightly bitter bourbon cocktail featuring Cynar (an Italian bitter liqueur), Yellow Chartreuse (an herbal liqueur first produced by French monks) and lemon, shaken and served up. The new Spiced Island Cream tastes like fall in a glass, featuring a combination of spiced rum, coconut milk, cinnamon and egg white, served up with a sprinkle of nutmeg.

While the Yeast of Eden bar finds inspiration in the changing seasons, chef Florencio Cruz is set to launch his new fall menu on Friday, Oct. 11. Seasonal dishes include: roasted butternut squash soup with crème fraiche, chives and toasted pepita seeds; and a refreshing fall salad with mixed greens, kale, quinoa, apples, butternut squash, goat cheese and an apple cider vinaigrette. Guests can make dishes even heartier by adding chicken or the fresh catch of the day atop any salad.

For dessert, the Yeast of Eden kitchen puts a vibrant twist on a classic chocolate mousse with the addition of ginger mascarpone and yuzu gelée.

About Yeast of Eden
Our brewery-restaurant opened in December 2018 in the south wing of the Carmel Plaza in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. The brewpub features 120 seats inside and 40 seats in an outdoor courtyard patio, all in a hip, contemporary design aesthetic. The menu features global, street-food inspired cuisine to pair with the crisp, effervescent open-fermented beers made on-site. For more visit http://www.yoebeer.com

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

Big Sur Health Center Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary at Annual Big Sur Health Fair, Set for Oct. 8, 2019

The Big Sur Health Center’s Health Fair has been held for almost 20 years, but this year’s event, set for Oct. 8, takes on a little more significance.

Big Sur, CA, October 02, 2019 — The Big Sur Health Center’s Health Fair has been held for almost 20 years, but this year’s event, set for Oct. 8, takes on a little more significance.

In addition to free flu shots, counseling, a free barbecue, live music and more, the non-profit Health Center will be celebrating its 40th anniversary at the popular event, which is set for noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, on the grounds of the center at 46896 Highway 1, in Big Sur.

The fair will also offer free blood pressure checks, cholesterol and blood sugar screening through Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP), free counseling services by BSHC medical providers and nutritionists from CHOMP who can answer questions about diet, lifestyle and weight. The cholesterol and blood sugar screenings are done through a simple finger-stick and results will be available instantaneously.

At 2 p.m., speakers from foundations that support the center (Community Foundation for Monterey County, Monterey Peninsula Foundation and the Harden Foundation), CHOMP President/CEO Dr. Steven Packer, and some of our elected officials will celebrate the 40th anniversary during a short program.

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself; it’s hard to believe it’s been 40 years. I wish I had kept a diary. There have been so many bumps in the road, but we’ve weathered them all,” said Sharen Carey, executive director of BSHC, who has been involved with the center in various capacities since 1985. “It’s been such a joy to see it grow from the early days to what it is now, being open five days a week and so busy it’s hard to keep up. We have a wonderful professional staff and the great support of our board of directors.”

The Health Fair had initially been founded to serve and inform the local workforce, but it has grown to be a cherished community event.

“We targeted local businesses because we want to keep our workforce healthy, but the health fair is open to everyone,” says Carey. “We’ve even had tourists who dropped by and were thrilled to participate. It’s always a wonderful way for community members to get together. It feels like a reunion and gives us time to visit with our neighbors and friends.”

There will be a free organic barbecue for lunch, music by Monterey Peninsula musician Rick Chelew, as well as a Children’s Corner with books, toys and games. It’s a fun and lively event, but the fair is all about early prevention of health problems.

“We’re all about prevention, that’s what the Health Fair is all about,” says Carey.

As the Health Center celebrates its 40th year, Carey says she’s encouraged about the future of the center.

“The Health Center, by all standards, should have gone out of business a long time ago,” she says. “The statistics say that you need 5,000 people for one health provider, and our community is 1,600, with about 300-400 who come from the Peninsula. So we’ve overcome those statistics through the generosity of our foundations and many donors.

“We used to have a receptionist who would say to me, when we would have a problem, ‘Sharen, it’s OK, the Health Center has a life of its own.’ It’s been my mantra ever since.”

For more information on the Health Fair, call (831) 667-2580.

About Big Sur Health Center
BSHC was founded in September 1979, through a local, grass-roots effort, to meet the needs of this rural community through its mission to provide quality comprehensive medical care to all in Big Sur regardless of ability to pay. In 1985, BSHC became a 501(c)(3) corporation with a volunteer Board of Directors. That same year BSHC relocated from the Big Sur Grange Hall to the grounds of the All Saints Episcopal Church of Carmel, 1/8 mile south of the Big Sur River Inn.

Ultimately, through a community-wide fundraising and development effort by BSHC and volunteer members of the Big Sur community, along with financial support from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation and other foundations, we opened a new 2,100 sq. ft. medical facility in November 2004 to replace an aging building that we had long-past outgrown.

The presence of BSHC is crucial to the welfare of the Big Sur Community. As the only medical facility between the Monterey Peninsula (30 miles to the north) and Cambria (70 miles to the south), BSHC plays a vital role in the local community, serving the health care needs of the population by providing local, culturally and linguistically appropriate, affordable, quality medical care.

The hazardous coastline of Big Sur, combined with extreme weather conditions, road closures and frequent large-scale fires, underscores the critical need for the local presence of BSHC. Our centrally located facility is easily accessible to residents and tourists with urgent care needs. During road closures and other community disasters, BSHC provides 24-hour-on-call service, home welfare visits, medication service (at times, via helicopter transport) and coordination with local emergency teams.

From the early days at the Grange Hall, providing basic first aid, BSHC has developed into a busy family practice with over 1,200 patient visits annually.

Big Sur Health Center
46896 Highway 1 Big Sur, CA 93920
Hours: 10:00 a.m.-1:00 , .m. & 2:00-5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
Phone: 831-667-2580
bigsurhealthcenter.org

About Sharen Carey, PA-C
Executive Director, Physician Assistant
Sharen started her career as a laboratory technician for Dr. Jonas Salk at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California. She became a licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist in 1969, working at Children’s Hospital in San Francisco for 2 years, followed by 7 years in immunology and cancer research at the University of California at San Diego. With a keen interest in medicine, Sharen returned to school at the University of Southern California where she completed her Family Practice training in 1981. She has been a Physician Assistant at the Big Sur Health Center since 1987. In 2005 Sharen received the Outstanding Service Award from the California Academy of Physician Assistants. In 2006, she was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Women of Monterey County. Sharen was Administrator of the Big Sur Health Center from 1990-1994 and 1998-2008. She became the center’s first Executive Director following a strategic plan update and reorganization in early 2008. Sharen is a member of the California Academy of Physician Assistants and she is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

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

Monterey Symphony Opens 74th Season Ovation Oct. 19-20 2019, With Works By Berlioz, Dvořák and Featuring Violinist and Concertmaster Christina Mok

The Monterey Symphony opens its 74th season Ovation on Oct. 19 and 20, 2019, with a party and concert at Sunset Center in Carmel.

Monterey, CA, September 30, 2019 — The Monterey Symphony opens its 74th season Ovation on Oct. 19 and 20, 2019, with a party and concert at Sunset Center in Carmel.

Celebrate the start of the 74th season with a sparkling, celestial party on the lower Terrace of the Sunset Center Saturday evening. Get in the mood for a season of Ovation with aerial artistry by Erin Jane, decadent desserts by Parker Lusseau and delicious local wines from Chalone Vineyards. Opening Night Party admission is included with all Saturday night tickets.

The season opens with Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9 by Hector Berlioz, Antonín Dvořák's Romance, Op.11 for violin and orchestra, featuring Concertmaster Christina Mok, and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique. Romance, a delightful, single-movement work, was commissioned to serve as an annual musical tradition for the Provisional Theatre Orchestra in Prague. Based on a theme from the second movement of his fifth string quartet, Romance is a lovely interplay between the violinist and the orchestra. Other iterations of the melody were presented in his later works — it was an obvious favorite of Dvořák's!

Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique, Op.14 takes the mercurial, and often tragic, life of an artist and sets it to music. The title underlines not only the fantastic musical fireworks that take place on stage, but also a fantasy Berlioz was demonstrating. Written as an homage to unrequited love—the result of too many unanswered love letters — Berlioz uses the voices of the instruments to explain his emotions. The work travels through the artist's life, culminating in his own funeral in the wildly intense final movement.

Performances will be at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019.

There will be pre-concert lectures in the Hall of Sunset Center one hour prior to performances.

As part of the Symphony’s opening weekend, there will also be a Preview Luncheon Thursday, Oct. 17 at Los Laureles Lodge in Carmel Valley, and the first Sunday Supper Club to celebrate the season opening, Sunday, Oct. 20, at Billy Quon's Sur Restaurant at the Barnyard in Carmel.

The October Preview Luncheon will be held at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17, 2019, at Los Laureles Lodge, 313 W. Carmel Valley Road, Carmel Valley. Join the fellow Monterey Symphony fans for a Preview Luncheon at Los Laureles Lodge in Carmel Valley. Support classical music, enjoy great food and company, and enjoy an exclusive concert preview with Max Bragado-Darman and violinist Christina Mok, from the season-opening October concerts. Welcome reception at 11:30, lunch at noon, program at 1 p.m. Cost is $50 per person. RSVP by October 1, 2019. Priority parking available to offer a shorter walk to the venue. Sponsored by Marion Klein, Sally Maggio, and Los Laureles Lodge.

The October Supper Club will be held at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 20, 2019, at SUR Restaurant, 3601 The Barnyard, Carmel. Join the Symphony for the first Sunday Supper Club and celebrate the season opening at Billy Quon's Sur Restaurant at the Barnyard. Cost is $75 per person. RSVP by Oct. 15, 2019

Please contact the box office for availability of season tickets at (831) 646-8511. For more information and pricing visit: http://www.montereysymphony.org/concerts-events/subscriptions

About the Monterey Symphony
The mission of the Monterey Symphony is to engage, educate and excite our community through the performance and continual discovery of symphonic music.

The Monterey Symphony, under the artistic leadership of Music Director & Conductor Max Bragado-Darman, is the only fully professional, full-season orchestra serving the communities of the Monterey Bay, Salinas, Salinas Valley, Big Sur, and San Benito County. It provides double performances of a six-concert subscription series at Carmel’s Sunset Theater, as well as youth education programs that include in-class visits and culminate in full-orchestra concerts for school children.

The Monterey Symphony is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation, supported through various generous individuals and through grants and corporate gifts from The Arts Council of Monterey County, The Berkshire Foundation, The Barnet Segal Charitable Trust, California Arts Council, The Community Foundation for Monterey County, The Harden Foundation, Monterey Peninsula Foundation, Music Performance Trust Fund, Nancy Buck Ransom Foundation, The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Pebble Beach Company Foundation, The Robert and Virginia Stanton Endowment, Taylor Farms, The Yellow Brick Road Foundation and many others.

For additional information, please call 831-646-8511 or visit the website: www.montereysymphony.org

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

Los Gatos-based Custom-home builder Mehus Construction Continues Legacy of Honesty, Integrity and Craftsmanship

LOS GATOS — Since 1975, Mehus Construction has set a standard of quality that is unmatched among Bay Area custom home builders.

Los Gatos, CA, September 29, 2019 — Since 1975, Mehus Construction has set a standard of quality that is unmatched among Bay Area custom home builders.

It began with a clear vision from founder Paul Mehus, who believed in building strong relationships with clients and running his business like a family. That collaborative approach has led to a stunning, visual résumé of custom homes across the Bay Area landscape.

Paul Mehus passed away in May of 2019, but his legacy of honesty, integrity and craftsmanship never wavered following his retirement in 2011.

Aaron Ewing became president of the company that year, furthering Mehus’ proven business model — building impeccable custom homes with integrity and transparency, while creating lasting relationships along the way.

Ewing literally learned the business from the ground up, starting at Mehus on the demolition crew in 1991. Ewing quickly transitioned into other roles, including carpentry, painting, project estimating and, ultimately project management. During these transitions, his field skills were enhanced by construction management studies at San Jose State University.

Ewing’s advancement to company president also brought current VP Fernando DaCosta into the fold. He joined the team in 2011 as a project manager, developing strong relationships with subcontractors and homeowners. The son of a real estate developer, DaCosta grew up in Southern California helping his father flip homes as part of the demo crew. “My dad taught me to work through challenges and do things right,” DaCosta notes.

A former member of a U.S. Navy search-and-rescue team and later “hot shot” helicopter crew member for the U.S. Forest Service, DaCosta embraces the importance of teamwork and family. His role as VP and business partner involves business development, quality control and “connecting with people.”

Together, Ewing and DaCosta have assembled and nurtured a team of professionals that maintain a strict standard of quality and craftsmanship. It involves a relentless pursuit of perfection, a healthy respect for communication and a vow to earn and preserve every client’s trust.

The Mehus way.

Find out more at www.mehus.com.

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

From Films and Lectures to Hands-on activities, PG Museum of Natural History rounds out 2019

As a vital community and educational hub, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History plans varied and engaging events and activities to help inspire discovery, wonder and stewardship.

Pacific Grove, CA, September 25, 2019 - As a vital community and educational hub, the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History plans varied and engaging events and activities to help inspire discovery, wonder and stewardship.

This mission reshapes the typical museum experience, while creating a busy calendar to pique anyone’s interest.

The following schedule completes the 2019 calendar:

What: Science Saturday — The Sounds of Science
When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

From rabbit ears to bat echolocation, from owls in flight to dolphin sonar, the sense of hearing and the power of sound plays an important role in the natural world and how we study it. This free event allows participants to learn, make cool crafts and play fun games all about the science of sounds.


What: Junior Naturalist — Raptors
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 9-10 a.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Visit the newly renovated Museum Bird Gallery and join Antonio Balesteri of Sky Patrol for an hour of feathery fun learning about the birds of prey of Monterey County.


What: Museum’s Annual Gala
When: Saturday, Oct. 5, 6:30-9 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Join us in celebrating the Wonder of the Museum at the annual gala, featuring local wineries (McIntyre Vineyards, Flywheel Wines, Morgan Winery, Blair Wines, Twisted Roots), breweries (Carmel Craft Brewing Company & Martha’s Hopyard) and restaurants (Beach House at Lovers Point, Lugano Swiss Bistro, La Balena, il grillo, TusCA Hyatt Regency Monterey, California Market at Hyatt Carmel Highlands, and Parker Lusseau), a silent auction, drawings and music from DJ Steb Montez.


What: How to Create a Butterfly Nectar Garden
When: Sunday, Oct. 6, 1-2 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Native Plant Garden

During Butterfly Days, join the museum and gardener Katie to learn how to create the type of nectar gardens that will attract monarchs near an overwintering site like the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary. We’ll build a nectar garden together while we learn about the best types of native nectar plants to use in your own personal garden, and about the monarchs that could visit it.


What: Master Gardeners Demonstration Series
When: Monday, Oct. 14, 2-5 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History Native Plant Garden

Join the Monterey Bay Chapter of the University of California Master Gardeners as we launch a new monthly demonstration series. These events kick off with Master Gardeners demonstrating the science of pruning. Guests will learn best practices and walk away with a new skill set to keep their own personal gardens thriving.


What: Hardcore Natural History Series — Sea Otters: A Parasite’s New Host
When: Thursday, Oct. 24, 6:30-8 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

The southern sea otter population faces increasing challenges to survival. One of the largest obstacles otters face is a disease caused by the thorny-headed worm, a parasite known by scientists as an acanthocephalan. This talk features Richard Grewelle, PhD candidate at Hopkins Marine Station, who will discuss his current research.


What: Science Saturday — Bats, Spiders and Snakes
When: Saturday, Oct. 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Join us at this free event as we slither into the magical world of bats, spiders and snakes. Learn about these amazing (and important) animals as you visit fun and educational stations throughout the museum.


What: Junior Naturalist — Migratory Birds
When: Saturday, Nov. 2, 10 a.m.-noon
Where: Point Pinos, Pacific Grove

Each winter thousands of birds migrate south along the California Coast, and the Monterey Audubon Society’s SeaWatch initiative works to catalog the number and species that travel past our beautiful bay. Paul Fenwick of SeaWatch will join us as we discover more about some of the amazing species that will fill our skies this holiday season.


Saturday, November 9, 2019 Member Event

A Passion for Jade

11am-1pm

Donna Wobber, Monterey Bay Jade Festival board member and wife of the late artist Don Wobber, takes us on his journey through Jade Cove and his incredible art with this alluring stone. Members are invited to join this presentation, where we ‘dive’ into Wobber's legacy of influencing the jade culture, and explain the incredible 2,400 pound jade art piece that resides in our Native Plant Garden. Museum membership required, with 25 spots available.


What: Science Saturday — Magnificent Monarchs
When: Saturday, Nov. 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

View live butterflies up close, migrate like a monarch, and learn how to garden with butterflies in mind. Participants at this free event can help our visiting monarchs by taking home their very own native wildflower pot.


What: Santa at the Museum
When: Monday, Dec. 2, 5:30-8 p.m.
Where: Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History

Following Pacific Grove’s Tree Lighting Ceremony held at Jewell Park, walk the family over to the museum for a photo opportunity with Santa. Hosted by Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce.


What: Junior Naturalist — Tide Pool Exploration
When: Saturday, Dec. 14, 4-6 p.m.
Where: 631 Ocean View Blvd., Pacific Grove

Bring your rubber boots or water shoes as we get into the intertidal with our very own LiMPETS program coordinator Hannah Sarver. We will explore this ecosystem and the fantastic creatures that inhabit it as we learn about sea stars, anemones, nudibranchs and more.

Open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., the museum is at 165 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. For more information, call 648-5716, or visit www.pgmuseum.org.

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