Sanctuary Vacation Rentals Entices Remote workers to create Work-play balance with Month-long getaways

Sanctuary Vacation Rentals would like to help empower remote workers and students to begin thinking outside the home.

Monterey, CA, August 20, 2020 - During these unprecedented times, many Americans find themselves working from home — yet not embracing the fundamental freedom that comes with that term.

Sanctuary Vacation Rentals would like to help empower remote workers and students to begin thinking outside the home.

Why does “remote work” have to mean sequestering ourselves in our own homes? With kids underfoot, the dog barking during video conferences, and the overused Internet constantly buffering, families are finding themselves long past the point of cranky.

How about creating some work-play balance by securing a month-long vacation rental on the idyllic Monterey Peninsula? If you’re going to work or study remotely, why not do so in an area with expansive ocean views, fresh air and beautiful natural land and seascapes? Embrace the word “remote.”

Sanctuary Vacation Rentals provide safe, clean, gorgeous getaways that can brighten any mood — and increase productivity at the same time.

Eight great reasons to book a home on the Monterey Peninsula:

• Create a beautiful home base to create a balance of work and play.

• Pack and unpack just once.

• Enjoy extra room and the time to enjoy it.

• Choose the type of property, amenities and comforts you desire.

• Save money by shopping and cooking your own meals.

• Experience flexibility in your daily schedule.

• Enjoy high-speed wifi on multiple devices

• Create lifelong memories in the location of your dreams.

Find the perfect getaway home that will nurture your body, mind and spirit while you discover and savor all the delights of the scenic Monterey Peninsula. Sanctuary’s unique vacation homes, many with stunning ocean views, invoke a sense of peace and harmony, often awe, and in some inexplicable way allow people to relax and have fun, as well as to revitalize and reconnect with one another.

Find out more at www.sanctuaryvacationrentals.com.

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

Monterey Symphony Kicks Off Balcony Sessions on Friday, August 28th

The Monterey Symphony (MSO), after postponing its entire 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19, has scheduled a series of solo performances highlighting the talents of the orchestra.

Carmel, CA, August 19, 2020 – The Monterey Symphony (MSO), after postponing its entire 2020-2021 season due to COVID-19, has scheduled a series of solo performances highlighting the talents of the orchestra. These 30-minute performances will be live streamed and available to watch on the Symphony’s website and social media. E-news subscribers to the Symphony’s mailings will also have direct access.

The direct link can be found here: https://vimeo.com/448146767

The series kicks off Friday, August 28th at 4 PM with Principal Bass Trombone Will Baker and is sponsored by Monterey Private Wealth.

The first session will take place at Hampton Court (the Symphony’s new offices) at the corner of 7th and San Carlos in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Mr. Baker will perform from a balcony, following all social distancing protocol. Three other solo performances will occur at Hampton, along with three at different venues in Carmel, including Golden Bough Theatre and the Winfield Gallery on Dolores and one in Monterey at MyMuseum. A total of seven solo performances will take place before the end of the year.

“The idea of the solo performer is a pretty spot-on image of the time we’re living in,” said Executive Director Nicola Reilly. “And, we so seldom have an opportunity to showcase our individual players, since we focus on the big orchestra. We really had to adapt and try and bring some music to our community. It’s great to use our office space, and we’re so grateful to the city of Carmel for getting involved and excited about this project. We also wanted to showcase our partner organization venues.”

The Symphony has also partnered with Manzoni Vineyards, also in Hampton Court, so sponsors can attend these sessions. Although no tickets will be sold, sponsorship opportunities are available.

“We wanted to find a way to support our artists, as well as the creative people behind the cameras – videographers, graphic designers, backstage crew,” says Reilly.

About the Artist:

Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, Will Baker is one of the most sought after young Bass Trombonists working today. He is the Principal Bass Trombonist of the Monterey Symphony and his musicianship has taken him all over the world, including stints with the San Francisco Symphony, Detroit Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Malaysian Philharmonic, and Burning Man 2018 with the ArtHaus Collective. Before moving to Northern California, Will was the premier bass trombonist in the state of Iowa, performing as the tenured member of Orchestra Iowa from 2013-17 and the Des Moines Symphony since 2014-18. In 2016, while artist in residence with the Southeast Iowa Symphony (SEISO), Will commissioned and premiered a new bass trombone concerto by composer Robert Tindle titled At Sixty Miles An Hour. In 2018, Will premiered the Wind Ensemble arrangement with Travis Cross and the UCLA Wind Ensemble. He is a faculty member of Las Positas College and the Fredericksburg Brass Institute, and is a founding member of the Des Moines Low Brass Triumvirate (DMLBT).

Will earned a Masters Degree in Bass Trombone performance at Northwestern University where he studied with Michael Mulcahy, Randall Hawes, Peter Ellefson, and Tim Higgins. He graduated Cum Laude from UCLA with a BA in music performance, studying Euphonium and Bass Trombone with Patrick Sheridan. It was Mr. Sheridan that inspired Will to forge a career in music, and for this Pat will always be one of his favorite people in the world.

The full schedule can be found below and on the Monterey Symphony website. People interested in learning more about sponsoring can contact Nicola Reilly directly, nreilly@montereysymphony.org

2020 Line Up:

August 28th - Will Baker, bass trombone @ Hampton Court

Sponsored by: Monterey Private Wealth


September 18th – Genie Wie, violin and Adele Kearns, cello @ Hampton Court

September 25th - Valerie Bengal and Vlad K., violas @ Golden Bough Theatre
Sponsored by: Gary and Carolyn Bjorklund

October 16th – Sarah Lee, violin @ Hampton Court

October 23rd - Saul Richmond-Rakerd, cello @ Hampton Court

November 20th - Isaac Pastor-Chernak, cello @ Winfield Gallery
Sponsored by: Beverly and Lyman Hamilton

December 18th - Alicia Mastromonaco, horn + singers + poetry @ MyMuseum

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

YMCA of the Central Coast Outside-of-School Program, Excel Beyond the Bell, Now at 45 Sites Across Central Coast

YMCA of the Central Coast’s curriculum-based outside-of-school Excel Beyond the Bell program now has 45 sites offering the program throughout the Central Coast.

Salinas, CA, August 18, 2020 — YMCA of the Central Coast’s curriculum-based outside-of-school Excel Beyond the Bell program now has 45 sites offering the program throughout the Central Coast. In the Excel Beyond the Bell program outside-of-school program, youth will do distance learning as part of this four-part curriculum that includes Character Development Learning Institute, Youth Fit 4 Life, Enrichment Activities, and Homework Time.

In addition to all five branches of Central Coast YMCA (Salinas, Watsonville, San Benito, South County and Monterey), YMCA is working with the following schools and school districts: Salinas Elementary School District, Spreckles Unified School District, Salinas Union High School, Santa Rita School District, Carmel Unified School District, Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, Monterey Bay Charter Schools, Hollister School District, Hollister Pre Navigator School, North County Joint Union School District, Watsonville prep school, and Aromas schools. More sites may be added as needed.

The Central Coast Y is offering Live Group Exercise classes and home workouts with demo on-line. Youth programming (Arts & Crafts, Story Time and STEAM projects) will be added to the schedule starting Monday, Aug. 17. YMCA also has access to Y360 library of workout videos, all of which are accessible through its website at www.centralcoastymca.org.

In addition, the Salinas YMCA pool is open for lap swim, swim lessons and water aerobics and exercise classes.

For more information call (831) 758-3811 or visit www.centralcoastymca.org.

About the Central Coast YMCA
Formed in 1989, the Central Coast YMCA began with the merger of two independent YMCAs; the Salinas Community YMCA (founded in 1921) and the Watsonville Family YMCA (founded in 1898). Originally a USO built in 1941, with the purpose of supporting American troops during World War II, the YMCA of the Monterey Peninsula joined the association in 1990. In 1998 the South County YMCA became the fourth branch in the association, extending its service area to the residents of south Monterey County. The YMCA of San Benito County became the fifth and most recent addition to the association in 1999.

CCYMCA is an independent, private, nonprofit corporation, a part of the YMCA of the USA, but responsible for its own policies, programs, and budgets. It employs 27 full-time employees, about 225 part-time employees, and 120 volunteers who impact approximately 40,000 people in Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties.

CCYMCA is located at 500 Lincoln Ave. in Salinas.

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

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay Offers Employers Drug Testing, Background Screening and Physical Exams for Employees

ARCpoint Labs’ network of experts can help ensure employers that they are staying compliant with federal and state drug testing regulations.

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2020 — While ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is the foremost local lab offering COVID-19, it also offers accurate, reliable and confidential testing for employers requiring drug & alcohol testing, background screening, health & wellness testing, and Department of Transportation compliance services.

ARCpoint Labs’ network of experts can help ensure employers that they are staying compliant with federal and state drug testing regulations. ARCpoint Labs can provide employers with secure, online technology that gives them quick access to their company's drug testing background check documentation. They can get the information they need, when they need it, with real-time updates on ARCpoint’s easy-to-use platform.

ARCpoint has a national network of industry experts can help employers, whether they have questions about marijuana or CBD and how they affect their company’s drug-testing policy or needing to manage the entire program.

As local industry experts, ARCpoint takes pride in providing the information employers need to feel comfortable with how they are leveraging ARCpoint Labs services to effectively serve their employees’ and candidates’ needs.

No matter the industry, background screening is a necessary part of pre-employment on-boarding process to ensure the safety and security of the workplace. Background screening is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Employers need to select the right type of background screen for the job, and then they need to know what you can do with that information. ARCpoint Labs partners with employers to help navigate the various types of background screens available, so they can determine the right screens for their company.

ARCpoint’s background screening services include the following types of employment considerations:

County vs. National Criminal Record
Credit Report (Including Bankruptcies)
Driving Record
Employment Verification
Education, Certifications, and Licenses
Sex Offender Registry List
Government Watch List

ARCpoint can also help employers develop a health and wellness program that fits their needs to keep their workplace and their employees healthy. corporate wellness program can be as simple or as complex as you would like.

Here are just some of the ways a strategically designed wellness program can benefit a company:

Decreases of up to 80% in lost work days
Decreases of up to 64% in modified duty days
Decreases of up to 50% in workers’ compensation premiums
Increases in on-the-job satisfaction and employee retention

ARCpoint also gives employers access to ARCpoint MD Telehealth, a trusted and timely medical service that saves employers money and time while improving employees’ health and common illnesses. Telehealth services provide employers with:

Convenience: 24/7/365: Why leave home to drive to your doctor’s office and waste time in a waiting room? Doctors are available by phone and online, whenever employees need them with an average call-back time of only 15 minutes!
Access: Whether you are at home, working, or traveling, ARCpoint’s U.S.-based and board certified physicians are only a click or call away.
Affordability: With only one low monthly cost and $0 copay/consultation fees, you and your entire household will have access to ARCpoint services. ARCpoint MD is the smart alternative to costly Urgent Care visits, while also helping to redirect non-emergency ER visits.

Companies that fall under the Department of Transportation’s rule 49 CFR Part 40 are subject to strict and often confusing regulations. Most companies need a partner who can help them navigate the complex regulations, ensure they are always compliant with federal regulations and allow them to focus on their business.

ARCpoint Labs has been an expert in DOT and federally mandated testing for more than 20 years. ARCpoint helps navigate the regulations that apply to employers so they don’t have to worry about DOT compliance.

ARCpoint’s DOT compliance team has the knowledge and experience to help break down what DOT changes mean for a company and help them develop an actionable plan so they remain compliant without worrying about penalties.

For more information, call (831) 324-0772. You always speak directly to a local testing expert at ARCpoint Labs.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider and administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise. The Smith family of Monterey, brothers Spenser and Bryant and their parents Belle and Randy, established the company in 2018.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email: monterey@arcpointlabs.com

Website: www.arcpointlabs.com

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

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay Expands Its COVID-19 Rapid Testing Capabilities

ARCpoint Labs has added 10 testing machines to its lab, with the long-term goal of offering businesses and schools on-site testing so they can get quicker results.

Monterey, CA, August 14, 2020 — ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay has expanded its rapid testing capabilities, adding new testing equipment, allowing 24-hour turnaround for test results, perfect for businesses, schools and individuals who need quick results.

ARCpoint Labs has added 10 testing machines to its lab, with the long-term goal of offering businesses and schools on-site testing so they can get quicker results.

ARCpoint has also expanded its staff to handle the increased workload, now with 10 people working in the lab alone. ARCpoint is also hiring now to meet demand.

ARCpoint will also be opening a branch in Salinas in the fall.

The 24-hour turnaround test is a live virus test, Antigen Rapid Test, which requires a nasal or other swab, a 94% true positive rate, 100% true negative rate, no doctor’s order is required, $130. A viral test identifies whether you have the current SARS-CoV-2 infection in your body.

If you have questions about ARCpoint Labs COVID-19 testing, go to www.labtestmonterey.com or call (831) 324-0772. You always speak directly to a local testing expert at ARCpoint Labs.

ABOUT ARCPOINT LABS
ARCpoint Labs is a full-service national third-party provider and administrator of accurate, reliable, and confidential diagnostic testing for individuals, companies, and legal and healthcare professionals. ARCpoint Labs has been in the drug and alcohol testing business for over 18 years, and our staff has over 60 years of combined industry experience. ARCpoint Labs has over 100 locations across the country with an additional 18 locations slated to open within the next 12 months. For more information on ARCpoint Labs, visit www.arcpointlabs.com.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay is an independently owned ARCpoint Labs business, part of a Greenville, South Carolina-based franchise. The Smith family of Monterey, brothers Spenser and Bryant and their parents Belle and Randy, established the company in 2018.

ARCpoint Labs of Monterey Bay
24560 Silver Cloud Court, #103 Monterey, CA 93940
Phone: (831) 324-0772
Email: monterey@arcpointlabs.com

Website: www.arcpointlabs.com
COVID-19 Appointments: labtestmonterey.com

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

San Lorenzo Valley Water District Appoints Two Public Members to Its Budget & Finance Committee

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District has appointed two members of the public to its Budget & Finance standing committee.

Boulder Creek, CA, August 12, 2020 — he San Lorenzo Valley Water District has appointed two members of the public to its Budget & Finance standing committee.

Boulder Creek residents Rivka Lund and Stephanie Winegarden were appointed to the committee by the Board of Directors at its Aug. 6, 2020, meeting.

Committee member Steve Architzel resigned as a public member of the committee on June 25, 2020, and the District advertised the opening from July 13-20. The Budget and Finance Committee is responsible for the review of District finances, including rates, fees, charges, and other sources of revenue; budget and reserves; audits; insurance; and other financial matters.

Rivka is currently the Program Manager for Devices & Services, Business Intelligence and Automation for Google, LLC, and has experience in budget building/tracking. She is a graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in business economics. She was previously head of Finance & Administration at Noon Home, Inc.

Winegarden, who has lived in Boulder Creek for 14 years, has a background in banking, including eight years as Vice President of Operations at Santa Cruz Community Credit Union. She has also worked with Wells Fargo Bank In Santa Cruz, LaSalle Bank and National City Bank, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She has a degree in business management from Davenport University in Grand Rapids.

The Budget and Finance Committee Meeting meets the first Tuesday of the Month. Join September’s meeting on Tuesday, 9/1. Agendas are published the week prior to the meeting. View the District’s calendar for all meeting dates & details here.

For more information, call (831) 338-2153, or go to www.slvwd.com.

About the District
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District was established in 1941 as an independent special district. The District is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, elected at-large from within the District’s service area. A special district is a local government agency formed by voters to perform a needed service, such as water or sewer. The District’s boundaries comprise approximately 60 square miles and 190 miles of pipeline. The District currently provides service to approximately 7,900 residential, commercial, and institutional connections. The District relies on both surface water and groundwater resources, including nine currently active stream diversions, one groundwater spring, and eight active groundwater wells. The District owns, operates, and maintains two water systems from separate water sources. These sources are derived solely from rainfall within the San Lorenzo River watershed.

The District owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater system in Boulder Creek’s Bear Creek Estates, which serves approximately 56 homes.

Website: slvwd.com
Phone: (831) 338-2153
Fax: (831) 338-7986

Emergency Numbers:
After-hour emergencies: (831) 338-2153

Address:
San Lorenzo Valley Water District
13060 Hwy 9
Boulder Creek, CA 95006

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

Kindness Monterey Campaign to Stream First of Live Care-A-Thon Online Concerts on Aug. 23, On Facebook

Campaign Helps Restaurants and Those In Need Due to COVID-19 Emergency.

Monterey, CA, August 10, 2020 — Kindness Monterey, a campaign initiated to help individuals in need and restaurants that have been challenged as the result of the coronavirus emergency, will present its first online Care-A-Thon live concerts on Aug. 23 on Facebook.

The first online Care-A-Thon concert is produced by musician and promoter Kiki Wow and hosted and produced by Destination 831, and will be held from 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020. The concert will feature 10 local musicians, short video interviews with local restaurant owners, and a call-out to donate to the gofundme campaign. The link to the concert will be available on the website after its initial streaming.

Musicians confirmed include: Alisa Fineman & Kimball Hurd, Kenny Stahl & Bob Burnett, Lee Durley, Robert Turner, Dave Holodiloff Trio, Kiki & Wowettes, Haley Jane, Mira Malcom & Michael Martinez, and Richard Bryant & Kyle Kovalik.

The concert will be streamed on the Kindness Monterey Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey. Another concert will be held in September.

Kindness Monterey, which was launched on July 8, 2020, has expanded its campaign to include a gofundme page, new partners working to get sponsors and donations, and assistance to restaurants wanting to set up gift cards on their websites.

Kindness Monterey is encouraging local restaurants to join their campaign. KM is making a concerted effort to reach out to all restaurants by in-person visits, email, mail, phone to have them sign on so that they can be listed on the website. Many restaurants that provide gift cards do not have the ability to order them online as a digital gift card, which makes it difficult for the person wanting to

send a friend or co-worker a gift card, which is the message of the campaign — to buy a gift card and send it to someone who needs a lift. Sign up at: https://www.kindnessmonterey.com/sign-up/ and read about the benefits of being on the kindnessmonterey website and offering digital cards.

With that in mind, KM is partnering with a CSUMB initiative called GetVirtual.org. GetVirtual gives local businesses affected by COVID-19 the tools to adapt to the virtual landscape and extend their businesses online. Their program pairs local businesses such as restaurants, who need help with online tools like gift cards, with college students who are tech-savvy and want business experience. It's a win-win. Restaurants get help for free and the students get college credit.

KindnessMonterey.org is partnering with GetVirtual’s CSU Monterey Bay chapter starting in September when students are back in school. Maren Elwood, (co-founder of KindnessMonterey.com), will work with Brad Barbaeu (GetVirtual CSUMB Program Director) and Kenneth Olsen (CSUMB GetVirtual Program Manager) to pull together a team of students who will assist our local restaurants to offer an online gift card option on their website. Meanwhile Maren Elwood, the co-founder of Kindness Monterey, is currently working to sign up restaurants now.

Kindness Monterey has teamed up with The American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF), Monterey Bay Chapter (https://www.aiwfmb.org/), which has agreed to be the campaign’s 501(c)3 non-profit fiscal sponsor. Kindness Monterey can now accept donations of $250 or more from corporate sponsors or individuals through their fiscal sponsor — AIWF-Monterey Bay Chapter, and those donating at that level or higher will then be able to get a tax write off. Chef/caterer and cookbook author Mary Chamberlin, Emeritus Chapter Chair/National Vice Chair of AIWF – Monterey Bay Chapter, has been instrumental in making this happen.

Kindness Monterey has also set up a GoFundMe page at: https://www.Gofundme.com/manage/kindness-monterey. You can also access the page with the “Donate” button on the Kindness Monterey website (kindnessmonterey.com) or Facebook page (facebook.com/kindnessmonterey).

The GoFundMe page was set up primarily for individuals to give smaller donations to help fund the campaign. It will enable the Kindness Monterey team to spread the word about this important program that benefits so many local community members through print advertising and social media. The advertising will urge everyone in the community to go to the KindnessMonterey.com website https://www.kindnessmonterey.com/ and purchase restaurant gift cards. Please note that any donation under $250 is not tax-deductible.

For individuals or businesses who do not have a specific person in mind and would still like to make a donation to the Kindness Monterey program, these GoFundMe funds will be used to purchase gift cards for the Food Bank For Monterey County, to support the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County and other worthy local community members in need.

Kindness Monterey has also teamed up with marketing and PR professional, Wendy Brickman (https://www.brickmanmarketing.com), who will reach out to local businesses and individuals to secure sponsorships to help fund the campaign. The campaign needs the support to be able to continue and every donation makes it possible to bring the community together to support our restaurants.

Sponsorships will allow Kindness Monterey to accomplish five important goals:

1. Fund its campaign enabling Kindness Monterey to do widespread marketing through social media, print advertising, Constant Contact and various Chamber of Commerce email blasts.

2. Allow Kindness Monterey to buy restaurant gift cards and distribute them to organizations such as the Food Bank For Monterey County, Chambers of Commerce, small business owners whose companies are being challenged by COVID-19, first responders, musicians, displaced hospitality workers, including those working in the restaurants, field workers, etc.

3. Provide matching funds to offer 2-for-1 deals to generate additional sales for gift card promotions.

4. Allow Kindness Monterey to donate six grab-and-go weekend meals to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey County for every $1,000 raised through sponsorships and GoFundMe.

5. Fund the two online Care-A-Thon concerts as well as other fundraising events.

The Kindness Monterey campaign was created by local businesswomen Annee Martin and Maren Elwood, and the website, www.kindnessmonterey.com was launched on July 8, 2020.

The pay-it-forward gift card campaign to help Monterey Peninsula restaurants encourages generosity from the community by purchasing these gift cards to give to family, friends, neighbors, musicians, service providers, small business owners, field workers, frontline medical personnel and first responders. Martin believes that not only are you helping restaurants stay alive and letting them know they are loved and supported by their community, but by paying it forward, you are lifting the spirits and hopes of our entire community.

Kindness Monterey will continue to provide as long as there is a need in our community. For more information, go to: info@kindnessmonterey.com, like Kindness Monterey on its Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kindnessmonterey, or call Annee Martin at 831-236-5618; Maren Elwood at 831-238-5503; or Kiki Wow at 831-235-7662. Or, go to the website at: kindnessmonterey.com.

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