YMCA of the Central Coast Outside-of-School Program, Excel Beyond the Bell, Now at 46 Sites Across Central Coast

YMCA of the Central Coast’s curriculum-based outside-of-school Excel Beyond the Bell program now has 46 sites offering the program throughout the Central Coast.

Salinas, CA, September 03, 2020 — YMCA of the Central Coast’s curriculum-based outside-of-school Excel Beyond the Bell program now has 46 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. Excel Beyond the Bell has added a new location, Monterey Bay Charter School in Pacific Grove, which will start on Sept. 14. 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

Meet Gidget, a Cherished Emotional support animal who earned a Gift of Mobility from Max’s Helping Paws

When the healing power of animals meets the kindness of the human spirit, magic can happen.

Carmel, CA, September 01, 2020 - Just ask Melinda Moxley, a CSU-Monterey Bay student and tutor who discovered the perfect therapy for her debilitating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder — a rescue dog named Gidget.

https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org/success-stories/2020/gidget-genetic-condition-repaired

Melinda found the 8-year old Chihuahua mix wandering the streets of South Central Los Angeles and gave her a safe home in Monterey.

This past May, Gidget grew ill, unable to stand or walk on all four legs. Melinda brought her into Pet Specialists of Monterey and they said she suffered from bilateral patellar luxation, a structural issue she most likely had since birth.

Dr. Michael Dearmin recommended a procedure called Bilateral Lateral Fabellar, which could give Gidget the ability to stand, walk and function normally.

A full-time student who suffers from a disability herself, Melinda was unable to afford such a surgery. So she turned to Max’s Helping Paws Foundation, a local nonprofit that helps families fund treatment for pets in crisis.

Melinda’s initial letter brought tears to the eyes of Max’s co-founder Dyanna Klein. It read, in part: “Gidget is the one I talk to, I laugh with, study next to on the floor, and my ‘co-pilot’ in life. Please help us.”

Klein, who founded the nonprofit in 2016 following the death of her 14-year-old Miniature Pinscher named Max, agreed to help fund the surgery.

“Melinda is a phenomenal pet mom, and we were thrilled to be able to help make the surgery happen for Gidget,” she said.

The procedure went off without a hitch and, according to Melinda, “Gidget is smiling again!”

“She is doing awesome,” said Melinda, who calls Gidget her emotional support animal. “We take daily walks to smell the flowers and she can actually push off of both back legs now to go up and down the curb. This was not possible before her surgery nor was she able to put weight on all four paws.”

Melinda found the time to express her gratitude to Klein and her foundation.

“We are truly grateful,” she said. “Every single day that we go out for our walks, we know it is possible because of you and your help.”

About Max's Helping Paws Foundation
Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was co-founded in 2016 by Dyana Klein and her husband and veterinary internist, Dr. Jonathan Fradkin, in memory of their pet, Maximillian.

The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports all Monterey County veterinary practices to provide financial assistance to clients with pets in need of both critical short-term or longer-term care for chronic illness. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, MHPF has approved $275,000 in financial assistance, and has helped hundreds of pet families give their pets a second chance. MHFP is based in Monterey County and serves only Monterey County.

Max’s Helping Paws Foundation
(831) 704-6473
info@maxshelpingpaws.org
26388 Carmel Rancho Lane, Suite D
Carmel CA 93923

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

PG Museum’s Hardcore Natural History Series takes a Closer Look at the Endangered Monarch Butterfly

In the 1980s, more than 4 million monarch butterflies wintered in forested groves along the California coast.

Pacific Grove, CA, August 31, 2020 — In the 1980s, more than 4 million monarch butterflies wintered in forested groves along the California coast. Today that figure stands at less than 30,000, according to recent scientific tallies.

Monarchs in California have been in decline due to loss of habitat, including destruction of their overwintering sites and loss of both milkweed for caterpillars and flowering resources to fuel migration.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History takes great interest in these famous orange-and-black insects. As part of its Hardcore Natural History series, it will host three upcoming programs devoted to better understanding monarchs, now under government consideration for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Led by renowned experts in the field, these virtual programs take place on Sept. 17, Oct. 15 and Nov. 12. Cost is $5 for museum members and $10 for non-members. Those interested may register and purchase tickets here, although to participate they must be registered by 5 p.m. on the day of each event.

Following is an outline of the series:

Planting for Monarchs with Emma Pelton

Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Join us as we speak to Emma Pelton, a senior conservation biologist at the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Peloton leads western monarch conservation efforts — including developing best management practices for monarch habitat. She will teach participants what to keep in mind when planting for monarchs, especially around overwintering sites. She is particularly interested in overwintering site protection and restoration in California, and partners with many land managers and community scientists to improve management in these critical habitats. Pelton also serves on the Monarch Joint Venture advisory committee and the AZA SAFE Monarch steering committee.

The Price of Pesticides with Sarah Hoyle

Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m.

Join us for a discussion of recent research on pesticide contamination of milkweed in California's Central Valley. This program will be led by Sarah Hoyle, a researcher for the Xerces Society, who joined scientists from University of Nevada, Reno, in sampling milkweed plants from various landscapes in the Central Valley, analyzing them for pesticide residues. They found widespread contamination of milkweed at levels that could harm monarch caterpillars. Hoyle will review the research and its implications for monarch conservation.

Small But Mighty: Monarch Butterfly Migration and Overwintering with Jessica Griffiths

Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m.

Every fall, thousands of monarch butterflies migrate to Monterey County from all across the western United States to spend the winter clustering together at special overwintering sites. But how do they get here? And why do they spend the winter in certain groves of trees, but not others? How do researchers know where the monarchs come from, or how many there are? Join Jessica Griffiths as she shares what we know and don't know about monarch migration and overwintering, and how we can help protect this magnificent butterfly and its habitat in Monterey County. Griffiths has worked with monarchs on the Central Coast for almost 20 years, in both Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties. Over the years, she has trained hundreds of volunteers — including those from PGMNH — on how to count monarch butterflies, and she is currently the SLO County coordinator for the annual Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count.

For more information visit www.pgmuseum.org.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 747-7455
http://www.pgmuseum.org

Balance Physical Therapy Founder Urges us to make Regular deposits into ‘Healthcare Bank Account’

Dr. John Farahmand founded Balance Physical Therapy to help patients improve movement and manage pain.

Salinas, CA, August 31, 2020 - Dr. John Farahmand founded Balance Physical Therapy to help patients improve movement and manage pain. Yet through the years he’s found that his practice plays an important role in preventive care.

Part of the treatment at BPT includes education — helping people heal, grow and feel empowered to build a stronger, more resilient body.

Patient education, especially focused on injury prevention, is a huge element of the practice, effectively helping to reduce return visits.

Farahmand puts the topic into relatable terms.

“I always like to ask people whether they do anything to save for retirement,” he said. “When they answer ‘yes,’ and I ask them why, they say, ‘Well, because I know I'll slow down some day and I'd like to have something put away to draw from.’ ”

Making regular deposits into a “healthcare bank account” can increase long-term wellness and longevity.

“Remember, regardless of how well you take care of yourself, time will force you to make some withdrawals along the way,” said the 46-year-old founder and CEO. “We must invest in the things we want to grow. If you want to have a healthy healthcare balance, start learning to make deposits. It’s really hard to draw from an account with a zero balance.”

Part of the answer involves taking personal responsibility for ourselves.

“Stay mobile and stay fit,” he said. “Everything in your life starts with a healthy body.”

Farahmand loves the philosophy of Hollywood actor Dick Van Dyke, who’s still spry at age 94. His secret? Wake up each day and keep moving.

“I think that is right in line with our slogan at Balance Physical Therapy — Movement is Medicine,” he said. “I believe in that, heart and soul.”

To help relieve stress and stay active, Farahmand offers the following tips:

• You don't need fancy equipment to work out: Walk, run, bike, garden … just get moving.
• Disconnect from the outside world periodically by putting down your electronic devices.
• Find a quiet place and focus on breathing and meditation, even for 10 minutes.
• Get at least 7 hours sleep; it’s an important way to regain motivation to stay active — and for the body and mind to stay healthy.
• Hug and touch and snuggle loved ones; it helps release “feel-good” hormones.
• Drink at least 32 ounces of water each day.
• Watch the sunset and sunrise, and enjoy nature’s healing powers.
• Cook your own meals at home.
• Play games (with grownups and kids) instead of sitting on the couch watching others play on TV.
• Farahmand likes to say that the most important step you can take toward fitness is the first one out your front door.

“Learn to adapt. We are humans, which means that our superhuman strength is that we are adaptable, we're malleable, we can learn new things,” he said. “We can adapt to new environments and new circumstances. These are certainly new and uncertain times but if you look inside yourself, you'd realize you have a tremendous capacity within you to adapt to anything. And it all starts with the way that you think.”

There are plenty of ways to stay physically active. Walking, gardening or biking all provide great opportunities to burn calories and create wellness.

Just 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity or at least 75 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise shows substantial health benefits.

If you take care of your body, and keep making regular deposits into your healthcare “bank account,” you may never have to see Farahmand. And that’s just fine by him.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 747-7455
https://www.balancept.com/

Goodwill Central Coast Stores in Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties to Help Wildfire Victims By Raising Funds Through Its ‘Round-Up’ Program

Goodwill Central Coast stores in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties will help out wildfire victims by donating all funds from its Round-Up Program in September and October to those who lost their homes and were forced to evacuate.

Salinas, CA, August 28, 2020 — Goodwill Central Coast stores in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties will help out wildfire victims by donating all funds from its Round-Up Program in September and October to those who lost their homes and were forced to evacuate.

Goodwill will match donated round-up funds up to $2,000 per month through this program, which is a way for shoppers to either “round up” their purchase to the nearest dollar or donate a set amount ($1, $3 or $5). All of these options are displayed on the credit card terminal machines.

The round-up funds raised in September and October in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties will go to the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz and Community Foundation for Monterey County’s Fire Relief Fund to aid those affected by the River, Carmel, Lightning Complex, and Dolan fires.

Funds will go to nonprofits and organizations assisting individuals and families with emergency assistance, health and human services, short-term housing/rental assistance, reimbursement of equipment and supplies and other support for affected residents. The fund is a trusted repository for philanthropic assets to be directed specifically for this purpose.

While shopping at Goodwill, don’t forget that your support helps Goodwill organizations change lives by training unemployed or underemployed people for careers in fields such as automotive services, construction, health care, information technology, manufacturing, hospitality and retail as well as in other high-demand industries.

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 13,000 job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence. Information: www.ccgoodwill.org.

Note: . Funds from October 21st and November 11th are excluded from the promotion. October 21st is designated to Cookies for Cancer and November 11th is designated to the ALS Foundation.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 747-7455
http://www.ccgoodwill.org

Gils Basketball Academy Coach Profile Coach Profile Humberto

Two years ago, Humberto Arista retired after 26 years as a firefighter and battalion chief with North Monterey County Fire.

Salinas, CA, August 27, 2020 - Two years ago, Humberto Arista retired after 26 years as a firefighter and battalion chief with North Monterey County Fire.

To send him off, a 9-1-1 dispatcher read the following over the radio: “Chief Arista always demonstrated a sense of deep respect for his community, his department and his family.”

The Salinas resident and 1984 graduate of Alisal High School may have retired at age 52, but his hard work continued. A father of three and husband to wife Martha, Humberto (better known as “Beto”), put his entire focus on family — both at home and on the basketball court as a coach for Gil Basketball Academy.

“Having both played and coached, you realize that sports are a strong base for life,” said Beto, who coaches the GBA varsity girls select team with his wife Martha. “Everything from communication, responsibility, goals, working together and, most important for today’s youth, confidence.”

Beto is a proud father of three children, Adrianna, Mikaela and Noah). Adrianna is currently a Cease Fire Detective, while Mikaela and Noah attend Alisal High School as a senior and sophomore, respectively.

Just as he’s watched his own children grow and mature, he works just as hard to give his players the same guidance.

“You can see as a coach, the growth in all these areas as you work through each season,” he said. “An athlete has a better perspective on the standards and expectations as they carry themselves both on and off the court. “

To Beto, the most rewarding part of coaching is seeing positive growth in the values and direction that you know the young athletes will carry with them for the rest of their lives,” he said. “This has been my mission and reason for coaching and giving back to the community that gave so much to me.”

Coach Beto loves how GBA provides a recreational format that would not otherwise be available to many of the kids that the academy serves.

“There are a number of services that give even the least confident person or the least skilled person a chance to belong to a program that has opportunities for growth,” he said. “The program is set up so there is a sector for beginners to learn the basic fundamentals in a supportive environment. On the flip side, there are players a bit more skilled and there are travel basketball opportunities for them if they are seeking more of a challenge. Either way, there is acceptance at all levels, and that is not available in many places.”

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93905
(831) 747-7455
https://www.gilbasketballacademy.com/

San Lorenzo Valley Water District Update on the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires Update from The Board of Directors 8.25.2020

As the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires burn within the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, the Board of Directors held a special meeting to evaluate wildfire impacts to the water system and the community.

Boulder Creek, CA, August 26, 2020 - As the CZU August Lightning Complex Fires burn within the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, the Board of Directors held a special meeting to evaluate wildfire impacts to the water system and the community.

At the August 24th ,2020 meeting the Board heard an update from District staff, who have been working tirelessly in support of the emergency response from within the San Lorenzo Valley. The District is working closely with CAL FIRE and other key agencies such as the California State Water Resources Control Board to protect water supply.

The Board President, Steve Swan, expressed gratitude to all first responders. He emphasized, “that our hearts go out to those forced to evacuate their homes and the firefighters, District staff and other essential workers keeping our Valley safe”.

The Board passed a Resolution to declare a water shortage emergency and stop any non-essential water use in order to help firefighting efforts. It directs staff to:

Continue communicating with the public about the importance of conserving water; and
Temporarily shut off water connections to structures where staff observes fire damage, water leaks or water running off the property, and notify customers.

It is also important to continue to conserve water when evacuation orders are lifted and residents return to the Valley.

District Manager Rick Rogers asks the public to conserve water to the maximum extent possible. Follow all “Do Not Drink / Do Not Boil” to be issued for Brookdale north, and other safety notices. Mr. Rogers also asks everyone who hears this message to take it seriously and please talk to others.

The District will continue to update its website & social media platforms with news. To see the most updated information please check our website alert page here or our Facebook page 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 93905
(831) 747-7455
http://www.slvwd.com