Sunday, 29 July 2018

Monterey-based Ruccello Olive Oil Releases Four New Private Label Balsamic Vinegars on Aug. 1

Ruccello Olive Oil’s first private label balsamic vinegars will be available on its website starting Aug. 1.

Monterey, CA, July 29, 2018 — Ruccello Olive Oil’s first private label balsamic vinegars will be available on its website starting Aug. 1.

Ruccello Olive Oil, founded in 2017 by Monterey native RoseAnne Ruccello-Fischer, specializes in Extra Virgin Olive Oils from the Tuscany region in Italy and from California, as well as hand-crafted olive wood items, locally made olive oil soaps and lotions and handmade aprons.

The new line features four balsamic vinegars, including a Dark Chocolate Balsamic Reserve Vinegar (8.5 fluid ounces); a Honey Balsamic Reserve Vinegar (8.5 fl oz.); Cask 5 Organic Balsamic Vinegar (16.9 fl oz.); and Cask 25 Balsamic Vinegar (16.9 fl oz.). All the vinegars are gluten-free, with no artificial flavorings, thickening agents, caramel or additives added. May contain sulfites.


All four vinegars originate in Modena, Italy, and were bottled by the Olive Oil Source. They will be available Aug. 1, at ruccellooliveoil.com.

Here’s a description of each of the vinegars and their nutritional values:

Dark Chocolate Balsamic Reserve Vinegar
One-of-a-kind balsamic with the rich deep flavors of dark chocolate. Use as a glaze on beef or pork or drizzle on fruit, chocolate desserts, and pastries.
Nutrition facts per 1 tablespoon:
Calories 35.8
Protein 0.2g
Carbohydrates 17.39g
Sugar 8.1g

Honey Balsamic Reserve Vinegar
Blended with artisanal Italian honey and reduced over open-air fire. Fabulous drizzled on cheeses and with dishes using walnuts, pears, or game.
Nutrition facts per 1 tablespoon:
Calories 53
Protein 0g
Carbohydrates 13.3g
Sugar 13.3g
Sodium >1mg

Cask 5 Organic Balsamic Vinegar
This organic cask-aged balsamic is an everyday balsamic ideal to pair with cooked vegetables and salads.
Nutrition facts per 1 tablespoon:
Calories 81
Protein 0.6g
Carbohydrates 25g
Sugar 25g
Sodium 20mg

Cask 25 Balsamic Vinegar
This 25-year cask-aged balsamic is a prized Italian condiment that is rich and flavorful. Drizzle on fruit, cheeses, and salads.
Nutrition facts per 1 tablespoon:
Calories 35.8
Protein 0.2g
Carbohydrates 8.1g
Sugar 8.1g

About Ruccello Olive Oil
RoseAnne Fischer of Monterey has such a passion for Extra Virgin Olive Oil that she founded her own company in 2017, Ruccello Olive Oil, to offer consumers the highest quality Extra Virgin Olive Oil from the best producers from around the world.

RoseAnne is also committed to educating the consumer on the many health benefits of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and how to be a discerning consumer through olive oil tastings, olive oil and food pairing events and house parties showcasing the liquid gold.

She will have 10 different kinds of Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Italy, California, Spain, Greece and Turkey available on her website, ruccellooliveoil.com, as well as soaps and lotions made from olive oil. She and her husband also import European antiques in partnership with a company in Carmel Valley.

Her business took root in 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.

The idea of running her own olive oil business inspired her to take an Olive Oil Sommelier class to learn everything she could about olive oil.

And among the things she learned was 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 the Monterey, California native decided she wanted to educate American consumers and offer them the best Extra Virgin Olive Oil that the world has to offer.

“Consumers know that olive oil is good for you, but there are a lot of myths about it out there,” she says. “I want to share what I’ve learned and I want to provide a product that people can trust and feel safe in the knowledge that the products are of the highest quality.”

Ruccello Olive Oil
P.O. Box 257, Monterey, CA 93940
Telephone: 831-275-8306
WhatsApp: 1-831-275-8306
roseanne@RuccelloOliveOil.com
http://ruccellooliveoil.com

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

Saturday, 28 July 2018

Renovated Capitola Goodwill Store Will Host Grand Reopening on Aug. 22

After completion of a major renovation project, the Capitola Goodwill store will celebrate its grand reopening on Aug. 22.

Capitola, CA, July 28 2018 — After completion of a major renovation project, the Capitola Goodwill store will celebrate its grand reopening on Aug. 22.

The store at 1550 41st Avenue in Capitola will host city officials, Goodwill board members and staff for a reopening ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 22, and will open to the public at 9 a.m.

The store has expanded into an adjacent space, growing from 11,500 square feet to 17,500 square feet, expanding and improving its donation processing area and retail sales floor. The expansion also allows Goodwill to add six more full-time employees to its current 24 employees.

“This investment renews our very strong commitment to Santa Cruz County,” said Ed Durkee, President and CEO. “Once completed, we will have remodeled, moved or renovated all four retail stores in Santa Cruz County in less than 24 months.”

Goodwill’s Santa Cruz store at 204 Union St. is also getting a new look and is scheduled for completion about the same time as the Capitola store.

“Our commitment and continued presence in these communities is unwavering and we look forward to many more decades of community support and providing jobs to people with barriers to employment,” said Durkee.

Jim Burke, Vice President of Retail and Operations, said that donations to Goodwill and shoppers to the store have seen an uptick in recent years, which the expansion will be able to accommodate.

“We’ve enlarged the donation area by three times, so logistically, we’ll be able to handle all the donations the store gets,” said Burke.

The expansion also benefits Goodwill’s mission to help people train for and get jobs in the community.

Goodwill Central Coast continues its investments in Santa Cruz County and creates more jobs,” said Durkee. “Goodwill is creating more jobs and training opportunities through additional investment in our Retail Training Centers in Capitola and Downtown Santa Cruz.”

The opening takes place just prior to Be Kind to Humankind Week, an annual celebration of kindness that is recognized globally from Aug. 25-31 every year. The week is a time for everyone to reflect on what we can all do in order to make this world a better place.

About Goodwill Central Coast
Goodwill Central Coast, a private 501(c)3 non-profit organization, began in 1928 in the city of Santa Cruz and today has expanded into three counties: Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Luis Obispo. Goodwill Central Coast now employs over 600 people, including employment training professionals, sales personnel, donation center attendants, warehouse and distribution workers, and administrators. Its programs strengthen communities by improving job growth, the lives of individuals and families, and the health of our environment. Each year Goodwill assists more than 10,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Goodwill provides a positive learning environment that creates brighter futures through connecting people to meaningful work.

Capitola Goodwill
Donation Center and Store
1550 41st Avenue, Capitola, CA
(831) 462-1300
https://www.ccgoodwill.org

Store hours:
9 a.m.–8 p.m. Monday–Saturday
10 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday

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

Friday, 27 July 2018

Monterey Symphony 2018-19 Season Announcement!

The Monterey Symphony announces its 73rd season, Sound Waves. A spectacular lineup of guest performers are poised to make this 2018-19 season a special one featuring some of the most-iconic compositions of all time.

Monterey, CA, July 27, 2018 - The Monterey Symphony announces its 73rd season, Sound Waves. A spectacular lineup of guest performers are poised to make this 2018-19 season a special one featuring some of the most-iconic compositions of all time. Concerts are held on Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and on Sunday afternoons at 3 p.m., at the Sunset Center in Carmel. For information about subscriptions and single ticket sales visit our website at www.montereysymphony.org or call the box office at (831) 646-8511.


View our 2018-19 Season Brochure online HERE

CONCERT I

October 20-21, 2018

The Monterey Symphony will open the 73rd season – Sound Waves – with Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 9, “The Great;” and a new work from composer Alex Berko...READ MORE

CONCERT II

November 17-18, 2018

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4, Op. 36 – often referred to as the “Fate” symphony because of the dark undertones – headlines the second concert of the season...READ MORE

CONCERT III

February 16-17, 2019

The season Sound Waves comes alive in the third concert with four works all dedicated to the sea. Claude Debussy, the father of Impressionism in music composed La Mer...READ MORE

CONCERT IV

February 16-17, 2019

Jung-Ho Pak guest conducts the fourth concert of the season with works by Tan Dun, Shostakovich, and Alan Hovhaness. Revolutionary experimental composer...READ MORE

CONCERT V

April 13-14, 2019

Three Romantic German composers are featured on the fifth concert of the season, opening with Mendelssohn’s concert overture Calm Seas and Prosperous Voyage...READ MORE

CONCERT VI

May 18-19, 2019

The sixth and final concert of the season, Sound Waves, will conclude in grand fashion with music by Wagner, Chopin, and Beethoven! Richard Wagner composed...READ MORE

Monterey Symphony | 2560 Garden Rd. Suite 101, Monterey, CA 93940.

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

Thursday, 26 July 2018

Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa Launches Pin it to Win it Contest

Did you know smiling is contagious? Studies Show that just seeing one person smiling activates the area of your brain that controls your facial movement, which leads to a grin!

Salinas, CA, July 27, 2018 - Did you know smiling is contagious? Studies Show that just seeing one person smiling activates the area of your brain that controls your facial movement, which leads to a grin! It also lowers stress and anxiety, releases endorphins and strengthens your immune system! To celebrate #NationalSmileMonth we are giving you a chance to win a two night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel … now that’s something to smile about!

Follow us on Pinterest: pinterest.com/montereyhyatt


Create a board titled: SMILE at Hyatt Regency Monterey Add a minimum of 5 pins with your favorite smile quotes and/or pictures. From babies to animals there is no shortage of great smiles on Pinterest! Make sure to use the hashtag #SmileAtHyattRegencyMonterey.

E-mail a link of your board to: marci@chatterboxpublicrelations.com

Did you know smiling is contagious? Studies Show that just seeing one person smiling activates the area of your brain that controls your facial movement, which leads to a grin! It also lowers stress and anxiety, releases endorphins and strengthens your immune system! To celebrate #NationalSmileMonth we are giving you a chance to win a two night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel … now that’s something to smile about!

One lucky winner will receive a two-night stay at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and romantic dinner with wine pairings at TusCA Restaurant! Winner will be announced September 5th.

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

Tuesday, 24 July 2018

Monterey Museum of Art Opens Exhibit Sept. 20 Featuring Six Women Photographers as Part of its Year of the Woman 2018

The Monterey Museum of Art, as part of its Year of the Woman 2018 at MMA, has announced the opening of an exhibit, “Salon Jane: The Ethereal Zone,” featuring the works of six renowned Monterey Peninsula-based women photographers, on Sept. 20.

Monterey, CA, July 24, 2018 — The Monterey Museum of Art, as part of its Year of the Woman 2018 at MMA, has announced the opening of an exhibit, “Salon Jane: The Ethereal Zone,” featuring the works of six renowned Monterey Peninsula-based women photographers, on Sept. 20.

Salon Jane is composed of six women — Martha Casanave, Susan Hyde Greene, Jane Olin, Anna Rheim, Robin V. Robinson, and Robin Ward — in the Monterey Peninsula who formed a group in 2014 to support one another as artists.


Although all of these women use photography in their art, the finished products are remarkably diverse. From aerial to underwater, abstract to representational, digital to darkroom, wall art to books, the work produced by these artists is wide ranging. Their diversity is an asset for promoting each artist strong sense of individuality.

The differences between members include careers, ages, and backgrounds, but each member of Salon Jane shares a passion for expressing her deepest concerns through art. The group meets quarterly to share work and plan exhibitions and educational adventures together.

According to Salon Jane member Jane Olin most of its members have been working as artists for more than 30 years and this MMA exhibition is their first opportunity to express their ideas through their work to the larger Monterey community.

“Salon Jane’s exhibition at MMA provides a platform to promote our work to an expanding audience, not only reaching our own community, but beyond,” said Olin. “MMA’s Year of the Woman is an extremely important first step in making known the depth and richness of the work of our local women artists. We are thrilled to be part of that movement.”

Olin added that only 20% of MMA’s collection consists of women artists and that most museums are far below that number.

“This struck a note with us. We want to be part of the solution,” said Olin. “Even with our diverse points of view and working methods, we as a group are cohesive when showing work. The thread that weaves our work together is authenticity and originality.”

Olin said the group intends to reach out to other museums to promote “The Ethereal Zone” as a traveling exhibition through the MMA.

“Salon Jane: The Ethereal Zone,” opens Sept. 20 and runs through Nov. 26, 2018.

Anna Rheim

Artist Statement
I am a storyteller. Indeed, I believe that the women in our culture are the primary custodians of family stories. Many of my images end up in hand made books, some with words, some without words. The images and words in this exhibition are part of a series that explores the life of my mother, Marguriette, my father, Perry, and their influence on me and on others.

Throughout my 40 years in photography, I have discovered the value of an intimate support group for pushing one’s creativity and nurturing the expression of one’s deepest emotions. The five women in Salon Jane are my artist family. They are a valuable source of encouragement and inspiration.

Bio
Anna graduated from Stanford University with a BA in History in 1966. She studied black and white photography and mixed media at Monterey Peninsula College with Henry Gilpin, Roger Fremier, and Don Anderson, and color photography and printing at University of California Santa Cruz with Jack Fulton. Anna has taken private classes with many noted photographers including David Bayles, Ruth Bernhard, Martha Casanave, Lisl Dennis, Tom Millea, and Ted Orland.

Martha Casanave

Artist Statement
Explorations Through A Fabricated Microscope: A Compendium Of Tears

Before I knew what postmodernism was, I decided to make a lifetime “performance piece” of collecting my tears. I made a tiny, padded green velvet pouch to wear around my neck for this purpose; it contains a tiny dropper, and a few microscope slides. After the tears dry on the slides, I store them in carved wooden boxes with slots. Each slide is numbered, and labeled with the date and place the tears were collected, for example: “Tear # 958: Boiler Room of Apartment Building on Moskovskii Prospekt, Leningrad, USSR, 1987.”

Recently, I decided to make microscope photographs of these tears. The decision to actualize the images was inspired by two things: first, by the recent activity of making an index for the 30 volumes of photo albums I have assembled over my lifetime. And second, by the beautiful, round images I have seen of 19th C photomicrography. Oddly, though I don't label the slides as such, I remember, upon looking at them in the microscope, exactly what emotion caused the tears.

I have captioned the images accordingly. Because I am often keeping the captions ambiguous, I find that some of the captions can apply to more than one incident in my life, and perhaps in others' lives as well. Many deal with loss. Miscommunication. Things that are done and cannot be undone. On the other hand, some captions are very specific, for example my eyes welling from a frisson of mixed emotions upon landing again at Pulkovo International Airport in Leningrad, USSR.

Most of my tears are mere wellings, not flowings. The only time I have produced copious flowing tears was/is during uncontrolled hysterical laughter, and after the death of a whippet. What prompts tears to arrive? Regret, loss, happiness, confusion, cold wind, foreign body in eye. Real trauma doesn't cause tears, at the time it is happening anyway, because the body dissociates, and is preoccupied with survival. Tears require some kind of presence, some kind of realization, and with traumatic events, this usually happens later (if at all), with recollection. With memory.

Bio
Old enough now to say “in retrospect,” Casanave graduated from the Monterey Institute of International Studies with a degree in Russian Language and Literature and began her working life as a translator in Washington, D.C. She engaged in photography from early childhood, however, and later came back to the Monterey Peninsula, built up a portrait clientele and began teaching photography, while continuing to pursue her personal work. She has been an exhibiting and working photographer and educator for more than 40 years.

From 1984 to 1995, Casanave used her knowledge of Russian language and culture to take groups of American photographers to the Soviet Union/Russia, and has made a number of trips on her own to work on photographic projects, making a total of 14 trips to the USSR/Russia to date.

She was awarded the Imogen Cunningham Photography Award for her portraiture in 1979, and also was a 1989 recipient of the Koret Israel Prize. Her first book, “Past Lives — Photographs by Martha Casanave,” was published by Godine in 1991. This was followed by “Beware of Dog” (Center for Photographic Art, 2002). A book of pinhole images, “Explorations Along an Imaginary Coastline,” was released by Hudson Hills Press in 2006. Her most recent publication (Image Continuum Press, 2013) is “Trajectories: A Half Century of Portraits.”

Casanave’s photographs are included in many major collections, including the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Stanford Museum, the Bibliotheque Nationale, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Monterey Museum of Art and the Graham Nash private collection.

Casanave has taught master classes on the portrait, human figure, the creative process, and lensless photography for many national workshop programs. She teaches regularly at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, CA, and at Monterey Peninsula College.

Jane Olin

Artist Statement
My photographs always begin with a question or some curiosity that arises within me. In more than 30 years, I have rarely photographed the external world for its own sake, but for the ways in which it helps to reveal subconscious processes and evoke meaning. I generally focus on a single subject in a related series of images, which allows me to hone in on the heart of what I am after. I also have a contemplative awareness practice that is of central importance to me, and which guides and enhances my working methods and my output.

As an artist who has always liked to experiment, I find that pushing the boundaries of what is possible with both camera and darkroom techniques motivates my best work. I photograph with film and sometimes use a pinhole or Holga camera for making images. I love the darkroom process and take advantage of every tool and technique at my disposal.

Playing with exposure, focus, and a wide variety of photographic chemicals, I embrace creative accidents, and willingly abandon rules of darkroom procedure, with the intention of expressing a distinctive vision by whatever method seems right. I sometimes print my gelatin silver pieces digitally, but only after darkroom work is completed.

Bio
Olin has lived and worked as a photographer in California’s Monterey Bay area for more than 25 years. Living at the epicenter for the West Coast photography movement, she learned the skills of straight photography and the tenets of the historic Group f/64 from the assistants and students of Ansel Adams. She participated in workshops with prestigious photographers, including Ruth Bernhard, John Sexton, Joyce Tenneson, Brian Taylor, Martha Casanave, Holly Roberts, and Christopher James, which enriched and broadened her perspective.

Olin has traveled widely and, of all countries she visited, Japan had the most profound impact. Its aesthetics and its Zen Buddhism resonated deeply, particularly its emphasis on beauty found in nature, in simplicity, the imperfect, the transient, and in the values of grace and subtlety, which all suited her well. She maintains a mindfulness practice today, and present moment awareness is imbedded in her photographic process.

Although subtle influences from straight photography remain, Olin has developed a distinctly personal vision. She works in series of related images, a practice that allows for extended explorations of her subject. An adventurer, she enjoys experimenting both in camera and in the darkroom.

In her previous bodies of work, “Greta and Thirteen Crows,” Olin’s unconventional handling of her pinhole camera and darkroom enlarger challenged traditional expectations of focus and exposure. Her recent series of abstractions, “Site/Sight Unseen,” arose from an unfixed print mistakenly overlooked in the darkroom sink. When rediscovered, its unexpected beauty prompted a new way of working, in which process rather than a preconceived idea took precedence.

Pushing the boundaries of analog photography, Olin purposely pours, sprays, and drips chemicals onto her exposed gelatin silver paper, manipulating and closely monitoring changing effects using intuition and an alchemist’s attention to detail. These one-of-a-kind silver gelatin images are enlarged and printed using the digital process.

Olin continues to innovate in this vein, experimenting with new subjects and approaches as her latest and still-evolving tree project, “Intimate Conversation,” clearly reveals.

Robin Ward

Artist Statement
The images in “Echoes from a Future Past” are playful examinations of the enigmatic nature of reality and the quirky essence of time and space. In this work, I blend together original photographs of nature, architecture and artifacts to portray hybrid spaces and to experience intermingling realities. I layer unexpected juxtapositions in color and black and white to allude to infinite possibilities.

Each composite renders pure states captured in close proximity. I am influenced by the Surrealist ideas of uniting distant realities to create a new one and the play of thought where an image is a pure expression of the mind.

Bio
Ward was born in Atlanta, Georgia, where she developed a lifelong habit of spending time in nature. Her first creative effort was painting, then poetry and ultimately photography, a medium in which she could blend the other two endeavors. Ward discovered her love of photography at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English. She continued her photography studies by participating in various workshops, including Brooks Institute of Photography and the Center for Photographic Art where she served as a Trustee from 2010-2016. In November 2017, she received her remote pilot certification.

Robin is a member of Salon Jane, Image Makers of Monterey, and San Diego Made. She has received several international awards, including International Photography Awards and Black & White Spider Awards and exhibited her work in numerous galleries and museums, including Triton Museum of Art and Museum of Monterey.

Robin V. Robinson

Artist’s Statement
Robin V. Robinson explores mystery and metaphors found in all forms of life, but focuses especially on the way we look at the planet and ourselves. She is fascinated with the idea of seeing but not knowing and the feelings which result when looking at something impossible to comprehend — when one’s mind fills in the blanks with blind reasoning and unconscious associations.

Grounded in the darkroom, Robinson embraces the element of chance in creating images: “My time in the darkroom is full of ‘what-ifs.’ I use the experimental nature of chemistry to explore pathways which are magical, alchemical in feeling, transformational in the end. This type of play and chance are what I love about the analog photography process, not to mention a satisfying original print.”

Robinson’s newest work is based on ideas about the human species and the relative permanence of the earth, with questions about our brief time here. This unique moment on the planet is unsettling and desires perspective. Robinson’s images provide intimate suggestions of our place in this liminal state.

Ongoing work includes in-water images evoking curiosity about the ocean’s deep landscape, how it relates to dry land, and what is “normal” for human beings, now and in our rapidly changing environment. Robinson’s “Surfacing” series explores the tension we feel on the water and in life, on the edge between what is above and below, between the known and unknown.

Bio
Robinson is a fifth-generation California central coast native residing in Carmel. Employing mainly darkroom-based processes, her images convey meaning through suggestion, feeling, and metaphor.

Mentors have played the most important role in Robinson’s artistic development. She has studied, lived and worked with West Coast photographers on the Monterey Peninsula and in the Bay Area for over 20 years. Robinson also studied photography at City College of San Francisco and Foothill College. Her degrees in engineering and music from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Stanford University and her personal studies of depth psychology contribute to her distinctive style of seeing and creating art.

Robinson actively exhibits and presents her work and has received top awards in international photographic competitions. She was awarded “Best Photography” in the Monterey Museum of Art Biennial 2005, where her work is in the permanent collection. She is also in the collections of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France and the Mariners’ Museum in Virginia. She is a past board member at the Center for Photographic Art and is a board member of the Monterey Friends of C.G. Jung.

Susan Hyde Greene

Artist Statement
As I became aware that the history of art is the history of people, I saw that it is possible to bring people together through the language of art. Following the tradition of women using stitches to create, mend, and heal, my quiet pictures portray the fragile wonder and miracle that is our world. Through photos cut apart and fractured pieces stitched back together, they offer hope that humans will come together, assuring succeeding generations a healthy, peaceful, safe, and breathing world.

Bio
I studied photography, textiles and art history, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah, Manoa. While completing my Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Utah, I was awarded a Graduate Research Fellowship Award as well as selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi. Additionally, I received a Master of Science degree in Special Education from Dominican University in order to develop methods of making art accessible to all people.

I taught art in schools and programs throughout Marin County, California, where I founded Very Special Arts Marin with Youth in Arts in addition to Art Pals, an arts program pairing school children with isolated seniors. I taught art at the University of Utah, Santa Clara University and Napa Valley College.

As an access advisor for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, I led workshops inspired by current exhibitions from 1996-2015. I have been the fortunate recipient of several awards and grants, including a Marin Arts Council Individual Artist grant for photography and First Place in the 2013 and 2015 Carmel, CA Center for Photographic Art International Juried Exhibition.

My work is represented by Smith Andersen North, San Anselmo, California and Green Chalk Contemporary, in Monterey. Works are included in private and public collections, including Adobe Systems, The Institute of Health and Healing Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, Bread and Roses, Corte Madera, California, Smith Andersen North, The Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK, as well as the University of Utah and the University of Hawaii.

Recently, my pieces have been exhibited at Green Chalk Contemporary, Smith Andersen North, Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara, California, The Carl Cherry Center, Carmel, Center for Photographic Art, Carmel, and Rayko Photo Center, San Francisco.

Personal interests include the ballet, music, spending time with my family and the out of doors. My husband and I fly fish and hike in the mountain west in the summer and we love to travel to as many new and different places as possible.

ABOUT THE MONTEREY MUSEUM OF ART
The Monterey Museum of Art (MMA) was established in 1959 to uphold the artistic legacy of the region by collecting, preserving, and presenting the art of California and the Central Coast. The only nationally accredited museum between San Jose and Santa Barbara, the MMA’s goal is to expand a passion for the region’s visual arts—past, present, and future. Exhibitions and programs are designed to demonstrate California’s vibrant, diverse spirit, and to inspire, engage, and connect art and community.

Visit montereyart.org for public programming opportunities and guided tours.

Monterey Museum of Art
559 Pacific St., Monterey, CA 93940
(831) 372-5477
http://www.montereyart.org

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

Saturday, 21 July 2018

New Jewelry Line from Designer/Entrepreneur Vivian Storms Features One-of-a-Kind Sculptural Artwork from Acclaimed Cold Glass Artist Jack Storms

Even though Vivian Storms has accomplished much in her young life — she’s only 31 — including being a child star in her native Brazil, a publisher, CEO, manager of an art gallery, marketing expert, fashion designer and mother, she never imagined she’d become a designer of her own jewelry line.

Valencia, CA, July 21, 2018 — Even though Vivian Storms has accomplished much in her young life — she’s only 31 — including being a child star in her native Brazil, a publisher, CEO, manager of an art gallery, marketing expert, fashion designer and mother, she never imagined she’d become a designer of her own jewelry line.

Viv Storms Fine Jewelry will launch its new line of exceptional jewelry, fashioned from one-of-a-kind, original cold-glass artwork produced by her business partner, artist Jack Storms, on Aug. 1.

There will be 500 pieces available during the pre-sale, with five different designs for necklaces, rings, cuff links, earrings and pendants, all affordably priced starting at $500, and up. A pre-sale will be launched on Aug. 1, with 360-degree videos of the pieces on the website vivstorms.com. Those who pre-order pieces will receive several perks, including deep discounts and entry into a giveaway of a $15,000 Jack Storms sculpture. Pre-ordered pieces will be delivered on Nov. 1. A portion of the proceeds of the pre-sale will go to charity.

“We have an amazing team of designers helping me take this crazy idea of a jewelry line based on fine art from a piece of paper to reality,” said Vivian about the process of creating the line.

Over the last decade, Jack has become a dominant force in the landscape of cold-glass art. The effect of his work is palpable. Take one look at any of his masterpieces, and it’ll become obvious that, aside from technical prowess, there’s something else at work. It’s that artistry that Vivian, the brains behind the Storms company, thought of harnessing three years ago.

Vivian believed that Jack’s craft had a lot more to offer, so she set herself the task of reinterpreting his art and expanding the reach of the Storms name. Rendered in jewelry form, Jack’s art could be worn, carried and someday even passed down. With this venture, Vivian also combined two of her greatest passions: art and fashion.

But the scale of Jack’s sculptures and their sheer weight posed a challenge. Taking Jack’s work and striving for the same excellence — and the same painful precision and meticulous attention to detail — in a fraction of the size was by no means an easy task. The former husband-and-wife duo worked feverishly, side-by-side, to translate Jack’s creation into stones as small as 8mm. It took two and a half years, and various episodes of trial and error, to develop and perfect the process, but Vivian’s jewelry line is finally slated to launch in November.

With the brilliantly reflective core in mind, Vivian dreamed up the designs — which come in gold, silver and platinum — for her debut line, her first foray into fine jewelry.

In the Sophia collection, the stones drive the narrative and dictate the settings. The collection makes good use of simple, modern lines and contemporary features, all executed with an obsession with quality and elegance.

The Aria collection, on the other hand, sings another tune. While the stone is still the star attraction, it works hand-in-hand with ornate settings to display all facets of the duo’s vivid imagination. Here, Vivian opts for drama, in place of more minimalist design elements. The shimmering, light-catching stones are presented in romantic, storybook-like settings adorned with intricate scrollwork.

Manufactured entirely in the United States, between Los Angeles and Miami, both collections boast a timeless aesthetic, a true embodiment of outstanding work at the service of a radical vision.

When asked why someone should buy her jewelry, what with so many jewelry lines on the market, Vivian didn’t hesitate to answer.

“Because they are buying a piece of art from the foremost cold glass artist in the world,” she said. “These pieces do not exist anywhere else in the world. Every one of these pieces is different, they’re all original pieces of art, made by a master sculptor, one of only three in the world. The colors are just surreal.”

Vivian says she has more of an overarching view of the jewelry line than just selling necklaces and rings, beautiful and intricate as they are.

“It’s always been about bringing enlightenment with Jack’s art, it really changes people’s perception of everything, it’s more than a sculpture, he’s able to create something truly unique,” said Vivian. “For me it’s about bringing this art to the world — to see, to believe and to see the beauty of art. To involve more people and have this work touch them.”

About Vivian Storms
Hailing from the sprawling Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, where she carved a name for herself as an actress at a precocious age, Vivian Storms moved first to Canada then to the United States to pursue a career in film.

Her life in art began unexpectedly, in 2009, when she met cold-glass artist Jack Storms. Infatuated by his artistry, particularly his exceptional approach to glassmaking, Vivian decided Jack’s company image needed a complete overhaul.

Vivian knew that Jack’s work was an ode to superb workmanship, and that concocting a marketing strategy that accurately represented his talent would be fundamental to its success. Taking the helm of the company, she spent the lion’s share of her time building the Storms brand, and defining its identity. This included starting an online campaign, supervising photo and video shoots and expanding the brand’s presence on social media and print media.

Thanks to Vivian, the video she helped create went viral in 2014, racking up close-to 5 million views on YouTube alone. From then on, the business ballooned, and Jack began amassing a devout following of private collectors itching to get their hands on the next piece.

He also achieved widespread recognition when two of his pieces made cameo appearances in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. Not to mention, the “ViviOvo”— an egg-shaped sculpture he finessed as a gift to Vivian, his muse, and named after her — become one of his most popular and sought-after pieces.

In 2010, Vivian opened the doors to Storms Fine Art Gallery, an airy, light-filled space tucked away in Santa Clarita, California. She focused her efforts on discovering, selecting and displaying the works of gifted contemporary artists like New Zealand-based Michael Waysmith and LA-based Anja Van Herle.

But aside from being a gallery owner, a doting mother to her 7-year-old son Owen, and the brains behind the Storms legacy, Vivian can now add “jewelry designer” to her impressive and ever-growing resume.

Viv Storms Fine Jewelry, her namesake brand, is Vivian’s entrée into the world of jewelry design. Vivian has long been a style enthusiast, and she credits her unwavering love for fashion as the main draw to the project. After close to two-and-a-half years of work, a process fueled by Vivian’s workaholic nature and sheer will, the collection is complete and available for pre-sale ahead of its official launch date in November.

About Viv Storms Fine Jewelry:
Viv Storms Fine Jewelry is a luxury jewelry line by Vivian Storms that marries Jack Storms’ unparalleled craftsmanship with Vivian’s sophisticated designs. As one of the few cold-glass artists in the country, Jack uses optical crystal and dichroic glass to create a kaleidoscopic core for every stone. Because the artistic process is so labor-intensive, unique and rare, no two cores are the same. Every stone tells its own story, each aflame with turbulent, psychedelic flashes of color and alive with personality.

Viv Storms Fine Jewelry
(831) 920-8984
25520 Avenue Stanford #315
Valencia CA 91355

Vivian Storms
CEO & FOUNDER
STORMS PUBLISHING INC.
Storms Fine Art | StormWorks Studio | Viv Storms Fine Jewelry
Direct: +1 831.920.8984

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455


Friday, 20 July 2018

Principals in Leading Florida-based Vacation Rental Consulting Firm Featured Speakers at Three Industry Conferences in 2018

Ben Edwards, founder and CEO, and Greg Herr, VP, of Weatherby Consulting LLC, a leading vacation rental consulting firm based in Florida, will be featured speakers at three industry events in September and October this year.

Miramar Beach, FL, July 20, 2018 — Ben Edwards, founder and CEO, and Greg Herr, VP, of Weatherby Consulting LLC, a leading vacation rental consulting firm based in Florida, will be featured speakers at three industry events in September and October this year.

Edwards and Herr will speak at the Streamline Summit 2018, to be held Sept 10-12, at The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, Arizona; Rezfest 2018, the world’s leading vacation rental technology conference, on Sept. 25-27, in Florida; and at 2018 VRMA International Conference, set for Oct. 27-30, MGM Grand Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Streamline Summit features five speakers over three days and more than 100 workshops, while Rezfest 2018 is the world’s leading vacation rental technology conference.

At this year’s Rezfest, participants will dive deep into industry trends and technology solutions, inviting all professional property managers to join in. The event will feature exciting general sessions and keynote speeches, plus many opportunities to collaborate and network with hundreds of industry leaders and property managers from around the globe.

The VRMA National Conference has been re-named and re-branded as the VRMA International Conference, to more accurately reflect what it has become. Participants will still experience the same top-tier educational content and one-of-a-kind networking opportunities featured at VRMA’s fall event — with a broadened scope and more education geared toward the international audience, including a new international track.

With more than 60-plus educational sessions and an exhibit hall featuring more than 100 industry-leading suppliers, this is the global conference for the vacation rental industry.

About Ben Edwards
As a respected and innovative industry leader, Ben Edwards has been positively affecting the vacation rental industry for over 19 years. From managing small resorts, to financial and operational auditing, to opening large-scale resort developments, Edwards’ unique background provides a multi-level approach to vacation rental consulting, transaction advisory services and accounting services. Involved in more than 100 purchase and sale transactions in the vacation rental industry, Edwards's experience offers significant advantages, typically providing material gains or savings of the gross purchase price for clients at a cost that is generally a small fraction of the value delivered.

About Weatherby Consulting
Weatherby Consulting provides strategic transaction advisory services, vacation rental consulting an expert accounting services to create opportunities and solutions in the highly competitive vacation rental and resort management industries.

Founded in 2013 by vacation rental industry veteran Ben Edwards, Weatherby Consulting is the preeminent provider of consulting services in the vacation rental industry with more than 100 buy-and-sell transactions and more than $200 million in sales of vacation rental companies throughout his career.

Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, Weatherby Consulting delivers high-impact results, provides partner-level attention and implements solutions tailored to address every client’s unique goals and objectives.

Weatherby Consulting has worked with industry leading clients in more than 200 resort markets across North America and beyond. With more than 19 years of industry and accounting knowledge, Weatherby Consulting provides rapid, strategic advice to assist our clients with purchase-and-sale transactions, profitability consulting and vacation rental specific financial reporting.

With an unwavering dedication to both the short- and long-term interests of your company, our services are designed to identify underlying issues, provide straightforward answers, and create solutions that will achieve the maximum financial benefit and a competitive advantage for your organization.

Their services include:

1. Transaction Advisory Services — This service line includes the purchase and sale of Vacation Rental Companies, our primary service line.

2. Vacation Rental Consulting — We provide consulting services focused on creating sustainability, efficiencies and increased profits.

3. Accounting Services — We provide expert-level accounting services and financial reporting to more than 30 companies across the U.S.

4. Partnership Opportunities — Weatherby Consulting is willing to partner with Vacation Rental Companies to more effectively manage certain business operations and substantially increase the value of the business.

Weatherby Consulting, LLC
755 Grand Boulevard
Suite 105-275
Miramar Beach, Florida 32550

Toll-Free: (888) 304-1405
Fax: (888) 304-1405
Email: info@weatherbyconsulting.com

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

Monterey County-Based Canna Safety Plus at the Forefront of Cannabis Safety, Compliance and Analytics

Californians are rightfully concerned about the safety of consumer products they buy, from automobiles and children’s toys to their meat, produce and medicines.

Spreckels, CA, July 19, 2018 — Californians are rightfully concerned about the safety of consumer products they buy, from automobiles and children’s toys to their meat, produce and medicines. And with the legalization of recreational cannabis this year, consumers also want to be informed about the safety of cannabis products as well.

With that in mind, Monterey County-based Canna Safety Plus LLC is providing the state’s cannabis industry with the necessary testing, analytics and auditing to comply with state safety and quality standards.

With the company’s trained and experienced auditors, anchored by its user-friendly, cloud-based proprietary software, which has been engineered and designed by industry professionals to prepare companies for the state regulation of cannabis, Canna Safety Plus is at the forefront of cannabis compliance and analytics.

Canna Safety Plus, in partnership with food safety consultants GFSC Group and prominent testing lab Deibel Cannabis Labs, has the necessary expertise, depth of experience and partnerships to provide the cannabis industry with the proper food safety auditing and analytical resources to comply with state standards, including SQF (Safe Quality Food), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) standards, as well as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, product testing, and more.

“Our company partners have a depth of experience in food safety compliance, and food plant operations that are unsurpassed. We believe that the cannabis industry should have access to the same food safety compliance resources as any food manufacturing facility,” said Canna Safety’s Darryle Guarino. “We recognize there is no room for error when it comes to food safety compliance, and this passion comes through in everything we do.”

To meet state product testing regulations, Deibel Cannabis Labs analyzes a number of factors in cannabis, including:

* Cannabinoids
* Terpene Content
* Moisture
* Water Activity
* Yeast & Mold
* Mycotoxins
* Pesticides
* Solvents
* Microbial Hazards
* Foreign Materials
* Homogeneity
* Heavy Metals

“Deibel Cannabis Labs is excited to be in partnership with Canna Safety Plus and we’re looking forward to working with them to help our clients meet rigorous safety standards for the cannabis industry for years to come,” said Charles Deibel, Managing Partner of Deibel Cannabis Labs.

About Canna Safety Plus
At Canna Safety Plus Powered by GFSC Group, we have the necessary expertise, depth of experience and partnerships to provide the cannabis industry with the proper food safety auditing and analytical resources to comply with state standards, including SQF (Safe Quality Food), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) standards, as well as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines, product testing, and more.

Don’t rely on guesswork or unreliable sources to determine the safety and regulatory compliance of your products to make sure you are audit ready. With our trained and experienced auditors anchored by our user-friendly, cloud-based proprietary software, which has been engineered and designed by industry professionals to prepare companies for the state regulation of cannabis, we are at the forefront of cannabis compliance and analytics.

About GFSC
GFSC Group is the exclusive combination of many services that could help a company enhance their food safety programs. GFSC Group brings a unique blend of consulting for the Field (GAPs) and Food Manufacturing (GMPs) industries. GFSC has worked with some of the largest packers and producers in the world, successfully creating and implementing multiple world-class food safety management systems. Their team has years of successful food safety and quality program implementations around the globe and in 25 high-risk food sector categories. GFSC has helped numerous companies implement SQF, and other GFSI related audit schemes.

About Deibel Cannabis Labs
Deibel Cannabis Labs is a new subsidiary of Deibel Laboratories, which has been providing diagnostic testing to the food industry for more than 30 years at 12 strategically placed labs across the country. This allows for fast turn-around times, backing by an established testing company, and extensive experience when it comes to testing. Deibel now offers all the necessary cannabis testing procedures and has made significant investments in cannabis testing equipment.

Darryle Guarino
Darryle has been managing food safety facility audit requirements for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to local food plants for more than 20 years. His background as an SQF Lead Auditor and Compliance Consultant was the foundation for GFSC Group when it was formed in 2010. Today, GFSC Group is one of the leading consulting groups for food safety compliance in the United States. Darryle’s ability to bring common sense solutions to a world often dominated by punitive reaction has put GFSC Group ahead as one of top choices for food safety compliance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Food Chemistry from the University of Maryland.

Canna Safety Plus, LLC
PO Box 7656
Spreckels, CA 92962
Email: sales@cannasafetyplus.com
Phone: 877-767-7487
Website: http://www.cannasafetyplus.com

Darryle Guarino, Principal
darryle@cannasafetyplus.com
404-859-7385

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

Wednesday, 18 July 2018

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