Brickman Blog

New membership club at the Monterey Bay Race Place!

Why not start a membership club!?! Here's a great new membership club for those who love horse racing and sports at the wonderful Monterey Bay Race Place! Check it out!

MONTEREY BAY RACE PLACE ANNOUNCES NEW ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS AT THE MONTEREY COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS 

October, 2011. Monterey, CA,  The Monterey Bay Race Place is pleased to announce exciting new ”Race Place Annual Memberships” are now available at the Monterey County Fairgrounds’ Monterey Bay Race Place located at 2004 Fairground Road in Monterey.   There are currently three different types of membership that can be purchased:

Platinum Membership $850 (value $3000)

· Annual Membership to Winners’ Circle

· Member name on a plaque to be placed on the Race Place’s newly renovated Sports Bar

· Private Parking space on grounds (Only three private parking spaces available!)

· 30 Comp Tickets for the year.

· 12 tickets to the Monterey County Fair, August 29-September 3, 2012 & a VIP parking pass allowing members to park in Monterey Pines Golf Course Lot A during the Fair.

Gold Membership $650.00 (value $2,500)

· Annual Membership to Winners’ Circle

· Your name on a plaque to be placed on our newly renovated Sports Bar

· Parking space on grounds (Only 10 available!)

· 15 Comp tickets for the year

· Cal Racing Scan: Must be a member (Free Program for every 7th admission)

Basic Membership $450.00 (value $1,500)

· Annual Membership to Clubhouse

· Member name on a plaque to be placed on the Race Place’s newly renovated Sports Bar

· 10 Comp tickets for the year

· Cal Racing Scan: Must be a member (Free Program for every 7th admission) 

The Race Place Annual Membership contribution will fund the proceeds for improvements to the Monterey Bay Race Place facilities (i.e.: a new bar, TVs, furniture, etc).

 

Monterey Bay Race Place is located at the Monterey County Fairgrounds (enter through Gate 5 on Fairground Road).   The spacious 7000 square-foot Monterey Bay Race Place features 50 big screen TV’s, comfortable seating, and an outdoor patio. Monterey Bay Race Place General Clubhouse admission is $4, and $6 for admission to the Winner’s Circle room which must be reserved in advance by calling (831) 372-0315.  

The Satellite Horse Racing Facility is active year-round. It offers races (depending on the season) from Golden Gates Fields, Santa Anita, Bay Meadows, Del Mar, Hollywood Park, Cal Expo and other major tracks across the country.

 

For more information, call (831) 372-5863 or check out the website at: www.montereycountyfair.com/racing.

 

The People's Water Public Forum

When you have a complex issue, it's probably a good idea to have a forum where experts can present detailed information with Q & A. Here's a great example that's coming up soon! Check out the new video on www.thepeoplesproject.com as well for visuals that show the extensive infrastructure that helps this project be the most affordable water solution for Monterey County's water woes.

THE PEOPLE’S WATER PUBLIC FORUM TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 16^TH AT EMBASSY SUITES

November 3, 2011. Monterey, CA. The community is invited to attend a public forum to hear informative presentations and learn more details about THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT, the most viable, quickest and affordable alternative to solve the water crisis. THE PEOPLE’S WATER PUBLIC FORUM will be held on Wednesday, November 16^th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at Embassy Suites, 1441 Canyon del Rey in Seaside. Presenting at The People’s Water Public Forum will be Nader Agha, General Partner in THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT, Stan Lueck, Desal plant Manufacturer/Partner in DeSal America, Cameron Weist, Attorney/Bond and Traditional Financing, and George Schroeder, Partner in THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT. There will also be time for Q & A following the presentations. For more information, go to www.ThePeoplesWater.com.

About the Presenters:

Stan Lueck, Manufacturer/Partner in DeSal America, LLC

Mr. Lueck holds a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and has spent the last 30 years as a technical professional.  His experience began as an undergraduate research associate in surface chemistry, and since, he has been involved in numerous projects related to water treatment and environmental control.  His client list includes Fortune 500 companies as well as federal government agencies.

For the last 22 years, Mr. Lueck has specialized in the area of water treatment.  He has designed treatment systems, provided troubleshooting and membrane cleaning services, conducted pilot tests and feasibility studies, and developed monitoring and control systems specifically for reverse osmosis and ion exchange applications.  Mr. Lueck has trained several hundred water treatment operators from around the world, and he speaks regularly at national water treatment conferences.  He has authored a number of articles in water treatment technical and trade journals and has served on the editorial board of Separation and Filtration Systems Magazine.  His professional affiliations include the American Membrane Technology Association; the North American Membrane Society; the Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society (ISA); and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).  He previously served on a committee formed by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers to establish testing guidelines for reverse osmosis performance.  He also served on Committee D19 (water) of the ASTM.

Nader Agha, General Partner, The People’s Moss Landing Water Desal Project

Nader Agha, Managing Partner and the founder and developer of the 200 acre Moss Landing Green Business Park, leads THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT’S highly experienced management and engineering team. Mr. Agha is a general contractor who has worked on over 90 projects and has been described as one of the best estimators in Monterey County.

Team members bring more than 50 years of combined experience in the design, construction and operation of large-capacity reverse-osmosis desalination plants valued at hundreds of millions of dollars around the world.

Cameron A. Weist

Cameron A. Weist, Attorney at Law, and founding partner of the Scotts Valley, CA-based Weist Law Firm, has over 20 years of experience in municipal law, securities law and tax law aspects of public and private finance. He is also educated and trained in several branches of economics, urban and regional planning, public policy, business administration, operations research, demography, accounting, finance and real estate. His decades of experience are applied to a broad array of financing projects and programs, and address such issues as infrastructure development, economic development, development feasibility, policy research, strategic planning, program and project financing evaluation. He has developed an expertise in joint powers authority pooled financings, lease and installment sale financings, tax increment financings, special assessment financings, private activity bonds, tribal economic development bonds, clean renewable energy bonds, special districts formations, USDA financings, urban redevelopment projects, impact fee legislation, municipal utility district formations, capital recovery charge programs and numerous other value-added services focusing on public improvement projects. 

George Schroeder

George Schroeder practiced law in Monterey, CA from 1960-2000, with an emphasis in real estate and estate planning. He was a member of the City of Monterey Planning Commission for four years, including two years as Chairman. He has represented Nader Agha in all real estate matters from 1965 - 2000, and has been his partner since 1980 in real estate development in Monterey County.  Since retiring from practice, he has been an advisor and consultant to Mr. Agha. Mr. Schroeder is a University of California at Berkeley undergraduate and graduate from its law school, Boalt Hall in 1958.

About The People’s Moss Landing Water Desal Project

Every man, woman and child has the right to fresh, clean drinking water. Fresh water is also needed for plants, animals, pets, farms and businesses. The Monterey Peninsula ratepayers (homeowners, renters, business owners, hotels, restaurants and others) need a new reliable and affordable source of fresh water now and for generations to come.

Currently, the public is being given an array of confusing alternatives to the water dilemma, some riddled with controversy and even possible corruption. The public has a right to participate in shaping the public policies that affect their lives and their budgets, including the control of water and the rates they pay for it. They also have a right to know about an alternative solution that already exists. THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT is the answer to the region’s water dilemma.

 

Situated at the 200-acre Moss Landing Green Commercial Park (formerly the National Refractories & Minerals plant), THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT (approximately 60 acres including desal and solar) is a continuation of the original Moss Landing Desal Project that was launched in 2004. This site is the most suitable location in California for the construction of a desalination plant because it is already zoned for industrial use and the development of energy and utility operations.

 

Desalination is not a new concept. The technology already successfully delivers water to more than 120 countries worldwide through 13,000 existing desalination plants around the globe. Desalination proves to be a reliable, drought-resistant and affordable water solution for as little as $600 per acre-foot. However, here on the Monterey Peninsula, the reported costs of other proposed desal projects are shockingly high, as much as $7,500 per acre-foot! The projected cost of the water produced by THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT is approximately approximately $1,317 per acre foot (at 3.5% with 30-year bond financing), delivered to Seaside (including plant, solar, land, infrastructure, and 15 miles of 30” pipeline).

 

The current estimated cost of the presently proposed desalination project is reported to be $400 million to $600 million. Compare that with the cost of THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT which is estimated at approximately $128,650,000. This number includes $18 million for the solar farm, $30 million in land plus infrastructure, and an $18,750,000 million pipeline to Seaside. This low cost of $128,650,000 is partly due to the existing infrastructure.  The replacement cost of the existing infrastructure is approximately $121,000,000.

 

The existing intake and outfall pipes have handled up to 60 million gallons of seawater per day for years. These pipes are operable and already in use and permits are already in place. Previously, these pipes were, in effect, part of a desalination plant which extracted minerals and put the water back into the ocean. The only difference now is that the fresh water created by the new desal plant will be put into the public water system. There are also existing water tanks capable of storing 44 million gallons of water.

 

THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT has a unique and valuable existing infrastructure worth approximately $121,000,000* which will be made available to a public agency at a rate significantly less than its market rate (at 24% of appraised value)), thus saving ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars in new construction costs! The people will also save money on their water bills. The water produced by THE PEOPLE’S MOSS LANDING WATER DESAL PROJECT will be pumped to Seaside from Moss Landing at a cost to the ratepayers of approximately $12.50 per month (with 3.5% 30-year bond financing available for a limited time).

 

For more information, go to www.ThePeoplesWater.com.

Petitions and Showing Up...Dolan Industrial Park in Moss Landing

Here's a situation in the Coastal Zone that the community should learn more about...this is a VERY unusual ruling that could lead to huge business problems. See below!

COMMUNITY URGED TO ATTEND THE HEARING ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9^TH AT 9 AM AT THE MONTEREY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER IN SALINAS

COUNTY OF MONTEREY ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE SMALL LONGTERM LOCAL FAMILY BUSINESSES IN MOSS LANDING THROUGH UNREASONABLE INTERPRETATION OF MONTEREY COUNTY CODE THAT COULD IMPACT ALL PROPERTY OWNERS IN COASTAL ZONE

October 27,2011, Moss Landing, CA. The community is urged to attend the Monterey County Planning Commission hearing at the Monterey County Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers, 168 West Alisal in Salinas, on Wednesday, November 9^th at 9:00 AM to protest a ruling that involves an unreasonable interpretation of Monterey County code that could impact all property owners in the Coastal Zone.  Four local long-term auto dismantling small family businesses at Dolan Industrial Park in Moss Landing are now battling for their survival due to an unreasonable interpretation of land use code by Monterey County officials. Thousands of people have already signed petitions to help save these North Monterey County businesses that provide important auto dismantling and parts services, a local industry that has existed at the Moss Landing site since the 1970’s.

 

Monterey County is trying to force four green local businesses, Jim Pettit Auto Wreckers, All Import & American Auto Wreckers, Richness Auto Wreckers and Lopez Auto Dismantlers to close after nearly forty years. Also involved is the Loan Exchange Group LP which owns Parcel D in the Dolan Industrial Park, 516 Dolan Road, Moss Landing, the site of these four companies.

 

These business closures would negatively impact our already troubled local economy by causing unavoidable bankruptcies to the business owners and possibly up to a thousand employees who would lose their jobs and ultimately their homes in foreclosure. The closures would also negatively affect all of the companies that utilize their services to locate special car parts for car repairs or use the Moss Landing companies to help them properly dispose of old rusting vehicles that drip oil or other fluids that might run into our gutters.

 

The four auto dismantling businesses are strictly regulated by Federal, State of California and local Monterey County agencies, and have no public health, safety or welfare violations. However, claiming that these companies now need a Coastal Development Permit and a General Development Plan, Monterey County is requiring multi-million dollar improvements even though nothing in the business operations has changed.

Currently, Monterey County code does not require Coastal Development Permit or General Development Plan unless there is proposed or occurring development. In a recent ruling, Monterey County acknowledged that there was NO change in use by the businesses. Nancy Rasmussen, the Administrative Law Judge hired by Monterey County, had to “stretch” her ruling to find that the operators were “developing” the property.

 

In the recent hearing she ultimately determined that moving cars on and off property in the Coastal Zone constitutes “development” for which a Coastal Development Permit and General Development Plan are required. However, if this decision is allowed to stand,  this unfair and illogical ruling would affect every homeowner and business property owner located in the Coastal Zone, from Big Sur to Pebble Beach, Monterey, Marina and on up to Moss Landing. All homeowners or business owners in the Coastal Zone who move a car on and off their property would have to stop all use of their property and obtain Coastal and General Development permits. These permits can cost hundreds of thousands and even over a million dollars. The County claims that the permit process allows them to impose any conditions it wants for their issuance, including requiring improvements costing over $1.5 million.  After finding that the business owners moved cars on and off the property and did not have Coastal and General Development Permits, the hearing officer found that this violation constituted a nuisance.  The “nuisance” finding was based not on any health or safety issue on the property but solely on the alleged failure to have these permits. 

 

According to one of the four business owners, Jim Pettit of Jim Pettit Auto Wreckers and a former City of Marina police officer, “I  moved my business to this site in 1989 and have fulfilled the requirements of all permits that were issued to my business to this day. I have been issued a permit to operate by Monterey County every year. If the County enforces its order, it will cause the loss of my business and we will have to lay off our employees, remove buildings, remove parts and cars and spend thousands of dollars while at the same time causing the loss of our families’ and our employees’ sole livelihoods. There is no other property in Monterey County to which I could move my business nor can I even afford to move at this time. This property is zoned for auto dismantling and the North County Plan specifically states that the historical use for auto dismantling should be allowed to continue on this property. We believe that the County’s attempt to shut down our businesses without showing any public necessity is simply a violation of our Constitutional rights!”

 

According to Roger McCurdy, Manager of Loan Exchange Group LP, “This code violation ruling makes no sense and will cause irreparable harm to many long-term Monterey County family businesses, their employees and local customers. In this challenging economic climate, it makes no sense to force the closure of companies that have been in business collectively over fifty years.”

 

Salinas-based Attorney Michelle Noble McCain is representing the four companies and Loan Exchange Group and has a Vested Rights hearing before the Planning Commission on November 9th and a Trial de Novo set for December 5th.

 

The four auto dismantlers also provided necessary help in the Federal program to dispose of over 1000 "Cash For Clunker's" cars in 2010 under the Obama Administration.

 

The public is urged to call Jim Pettit at (831) 633-2588 or stop by one of the four businesses to sign the petition (which already has several thousand signatures) or sign the petition at the Law Office of Michelle Noble McCain, 106 Central Avenue, Salinas. They are urged to come to the Monterey County Planning Commission’s hearing at the County Government Center, 168 West Alisal, in Salinas on Wednesday, November 9^th at 9:00 AM to support the businesses. To schedule an interview with any of the four business owners, please contact Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444 or brickman@brickmanmarketing.com.

 

 

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International Film Festival features many award-winning documentaries! November 3-5, 2011

Look outside your window...there's a world going on! Each year, one of the most fascinating events is the International Film Festival at the Golden State Theater. Check out the array of interesting films coming up in early November...

 2011 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL TO FEATURE PROGRAM OF 15 THOUGHT-PROVOKING INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FILMS.

FILM LINE-UP INCLUDES 6 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINEES OR WINNERS

The Monterey Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association (UNA) will be holding its 12th Annual International Film Festival at the Golden State Theatre  located at 417 Alvarado in downtown Monterey. The 12th Annual International Film Festival will include a selection of 15 fascinating international award-winning documentary films that deal with critical global concerns. This year’s exciting festival will include 6 Academy Award nominees or winners: four short documentaries: The Warriors of Qiugang, Poster Girl, Strangers No More (won the Academy Award) and Killing in the Name and two feature documentaries: Which Way Home and Gasland.

The films will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 3rd, continue Friday evening, November 4th at 7:00 PM, and will conclude with two sessions on Saturday, November 5th, at 1:00 pm and 7:00 p.m. For more information about UNA, check out www.unamontereybay.org or contact farflung@redshift.com or 831-625-9414. The price of admission will again be just $5 per session of 3 - 5 films, with free admission for students with student ID.


This year’s festival in Monterey is made possible through the generous support of the Arts Council for Monterey County with a grant from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, City of Monterey, Old Monterey Business Association, Monterey County Weekly, KAZU 90.3 FM Radio, KRXA 540 AM Radio, KSBW-TV, Sotheby’s International Realty, Portola Hotel & Spa, The Wild Plum Cafe and Bakery (of Monterey), Kerry Lee Remarkable Jewelry (of Carmel), Santa Catalina School and the Monterey Institute of International Studies..

According to Larry Levine, UNA Monterey Bay Chapter President, "Our Committee of 22 volunteers has been working since February to identify, preview and finally select our excellent and very diverse program of documentaries. The wide range of global issues and countries represented seems to get broader and better each year, this year with six Academy Award nominees or winners, more than ever. In 2010 the attendance at our four sessions was 2,350, and this year we hope to even surpass that.”

 The Monterey Bay Chapter of the United Nations Association (UNA) is an all-volunteer organization of about 800 members in Monterey County, currently the largest and one of the most active UNA chapters in the country. In addition to the International Film Festival and other community events, they have held two successful Adopt-a-Minefield Campaigns for Bosnia and Afghanistan, and work with student groups at various local high schools, colleges and graduate schools. The United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA) (national organization) is one of the country's largest grassroots foreign policy organizations, and a leading center of policy research on the United Nations. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group designed to educate Americans of every age about critical issues tackled by the U.N. With a national membership of thousands and more than 100 affiliated organizations, UNA-USA sponsors programs and events designed to encourage participation in global issues.

More information about the local 12th Annual International Film Festival is available at the website: www.unamontereybay.org under Future Events. Journalists may call Larry Levine at (831) 625-9414 or email farflung@redshift.com.


BELOW IS THE SCHEDULE AND DETAILS ABOUT SPECIFIC FILMS AND HIGH RESOLUTION JPEG PHOTOS FROM THESE FILMS ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Thursday evening, November 3, 7:00 pm

Humanity Explored – 7 min – many countries –
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentaries/watch-online/festival/openingFilm.php

The Warriors of Qiugang – 39 min – China -- www.warriorsofqiugang.com

Benghazi Rising – 53 min – Libya -- http://www.journeyman.tv/61643/documentaries/benghazi-rising.html

Triangle Returns – 9 min – US, Bangladesh -- http://www.globallabourrights.org/campaigns?id=0033

The Price of Sex – 73 min – Moldova, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Dubai -- http://priceofsex.org/



Friday evening, November 4, 7:00 pm

Poster Girl -- 38 min – US, Iraq -- www.postergirlthemovie.com

Which Way Home – 63 min – Mexico, US, Guatemala, Honduras -- http://www.whichwayhome.net

Blood in the Mobile – 82 min – Congo, Finland -- http://www.bloodinthemobile.org

Saturday afternoon, November 5, 1:00 pm

The 10 Conditions of Love – 54 min – China, US
http://uhrp.org/articles/2344/1/THE-10-CONDITIONS-OF-LOVE/index.html

Strangers No More – 40 min – Israel -- www.strangersnomoremovie.com

Killing in the Name – 39 min – Jordan, Indonesia -- http://www.globalsn.net/content.aspx?menu=main&pageid=6

Sarabah – 60 min – Senegal, Germany -- www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c811.shtml

Saturday evening, November 5, 7:00 pm

The Dark Side of Chocolate – 46 min – Ivory Coast, Mali -- www.thedarksideofchocolate.org

Sun City Picture House – 27 min – Haiti -- www.suncitypicturehouse.com

Gasland – 106 min – US -- www.gaslandthemovie.com

Descriptions of films:

Humanity Explored  (7 min, many countries)
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentaries/watch-online/festival/openingFilm.php

In a world of many cultures, circumstances and differences, humanity still shares many common concerns and desires.


The Warriors of Qiugang  (39 min, China)       
www.warriorsofqiugang.com

Villagers in central China take on a chemical company that is poisoning their land and water. For five years they fight to transform their environment, transforming themselves as well. This film is an Academy Award nominee.


Benghazi Rising  (53 min, Libya)      
http://www.journeyman.tv/61643/documentaries/benghazi-rising.html

A revolution was born in Benghazi, Libya, in February 2011. Through personal stories told by the people of Benghazi, this film traces the conflict from its beginnings as a small protest to capture how the unarmed people of Libya rocked the police state built by Muammar Gaddafi.

Triangle Returns  (9 min, US, Bangladesh)     http://www.globallabourrights.org/campaigns?id=0033

The tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 repeats itself a hundred years later, but this time in Bangladesh instead of New York City. Are low clothing prices worth this tragic loss?


The Price of Sex  (73 min, Moldova, Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Dubai)         
www.priceofsex.org

This film tells the gritty story of young Eastern European women who seek economic opportunity far from their post-Soviet homelands, only to find themselves suffering the horrors of sex trafficking. Some of these women tell their own stories, through the lens of Bulgarian-born filmmaker Mimi Chakarova.


Poster Girl  (38 min, US, Iraq)      
www.postergirlthemovie.com

Robynn Murray was an all-American high school cheerleader who enlisted in the US Army and headed for Iraq. Returning home, she was left struggling with the debilitating effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). This film is an Academy Award nominee.


Which Way Home  (63 min, Mexico, US, Guatemala, Honduras)          
www.whichwayhome.net

As the United States continues to build a wall between itself and Mexico, Which Way Home shows the personal side of immigration through the eyes of children who face harrowing dangers with courage and resourcefulness as they endeavor to make it to the United States. This film is an Academy Award nominee.


Blood in the Mobile  (82 min, Congo, Finland)         
http://bloodinthemobile.org

We all love our cell phones, but are we aware that they contain rare minerals that fund and perpetuate the on-going conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has led to millions of deaths and hundreds of thousands of rapes? Our screening will be the West Coast premiere of this film.


The 10 Conditions of Love  (54 min, China, US)        
www.10conditionsoflove.com

This film tells the story of Rebiya Kadeer, exiled leader of the Uyghur people, China’s oppressed Muslim minority of 20 million people, who has been twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.


Strangers No More  (40 min, Israel)          
www.strangersnomoremovie.com

In the heart of Tel Aviv, there is a school that brings together children escaping troubled lives in 48 different countries. This film is an Academy Award winner.


Killing in the Name  (39 min, Jordan, Indonesia)     www.globalsn.net/content.aspx?menu=main&pageid=6

Ashraf was celebrating the happiest day of his life when an Al-Qaeda suicide bomber walked into his wedding and killed his father and 26 other family members in front of his eyes. Now, he’s rising from tragedy to break the silence in the Muslim community on the taboo subject of terrorism. This film is an Academy Award nominee.


Sarabah  (60 min, Senegal, Germany)      
www.wmm.com/filmcatalog/pages/c811.shtml

Rapper, singer and activist Sister Fa is a hero to young women in her native Senegal. She uses her art and her fame to take on a struggle against destructive traditions in her country.


The Dark Side of Chocolate  (46 min, Ivory Coast, Mali)      
www.thedarksideofchocolate.org

We love our chocolate, but do we realize it is produced with the use of child labor and trafficked children? Danish investigative filmmaker Miki Mistrati takes us to Mali and the Ivory Coast in search of the real story.


Sun City Picture House  (27 min, Haiti)     
www.suncitypicturehouse.com

Haiti’s devastating earthquake of January 2010 left Port Au Prince without any standing cinema theaters, until Haitian Raphael Louigene and a team of volunteers set out to build a new picture house, on a hill overlooking a tent city housing thousands of displaced people.


Gasland  (106 min, US)        
www.gaslandthemovie.com

Fracking is a means of natural gas and oil extraction employed in deep well drilling. Horizontal hydrofracking taps shale deposits previously inaccessible, using a mixture of 596 chemicals and millions of gallons of water. The water becomes contaminated, must be cleaned and disposed of, but can leave toxic wastewater which appears to be damaging the health of many throughout the US. Gasland tells this story, and is an Academy Award nominee.

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Upcoming meet and greet...your elected officials! Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce!

No matter what your orientation may be, it is always a good idea to stay engaged in your local community and hear the latest perspective of our politicians who are representing us locally and in Sacramento and Washington, DC. Hats off to the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce for holding their annual Leadership Luncheon next week with a bunch of our local elected officials who will share some thoughtful statemnts about what they see is going on. Come and check it out!

 
CONGRESSMAN SAM FARR JOINS CHAMBER’S LEADERSHIP LUNCHEON PANEL

September 20, 2011 – Congressman Sam Farr has joined the distinguished panel of local, state, and federal elected officials that will be speaking at the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Leadership Luncheon next week.

Sponsored by Rabobank, this signature Chamber event gives community leaders, local business owners, and engaged citizens an opportunity to gain further insight into the current business climate on the Peninsula. Panelists will cover topics such as new projects taking place in their jurisdictions, new business coming to the region and important issues that have impact on the future viability of our local economy.

“The Leadership Luncheon puts the principal players in Peninsula prosperity in the same room for an unvarnished update on items of importance to our businesses,” says J. Alan Fagan, MPCC Board Member and member of the Government Affairs Committee. “This is a must-attend event for anyone involved in the local business community.”

CONFIRMED PANELISTS INCLUDE: Representative Sam Farr, Member of Congress, 17th Congressional District; Senator Sam Blakeslee, State of California, 15th Senate District; Assemblymember Bill Monning, State of California, 27th Senate District; Supervisor Lou Calcagno, Monterey County District 2; Supervisor Jane Parker, Monterey County District 4; Supervisor Dave Potter, Monterey County District 5; Sheriff Scott Miller, Monterey County Office of the Sheriff; Mayor Sue McCloud, City of Carmel-by-the-Sea; Mayor Jerry Edelen, City of Del Rey Oaks; Mayor Chuck Della Sala, City of Monterey; Mayor Carmelita Garcia, City of Pacific Grove; Mayor Dennis Donohue, City of Salinas; Mayor David K. Pendergrass, City of Sand City; Mayor Felix Bachofner, City of Seaside; and Vice Mayor Frank O’Connell, City of Marina.

Over the years, the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce (MPCC) has taken the role of educator in the political arena. MPCC hosts public policy forums, such as the Leadership Luncheon, for its members and community leaders to keep them informed of issues of importance to the business community. In addition, the mission of the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) is to provide a basis for the Chamber to act on local, state and federal government-related issues and have a good working relationship with its elected officials thus creating a favorable and profitable business environment.

The Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, September 29, from 11:30am-1:30pm at the Hyatt Regency Monterey. The cost at attend is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. To register, visit www.mpcc.com or call (831) 648-5350. Registration Deadline: Friday, September 23.

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A Sweet Holiday Treat! Mike Beck Solo Acoustic at the Ice Cream Shoppe!

About Mike Beck...A Holiday Treat! Delicious Marketing Metaphors abound when a Great Musician Performs at an Ice Cream Shoppe!

When you combine one of the most talented musicians we've found in recent years (and someone who is described as one of the BEST MUSICIANS TO COME OUT OF MONTEREY COUNTY by Mac McDonald, the highly respected longtime entertainment editor at the Monterey County Herald )...  and have him do a gig at the Ice Cream Shoppe (Beatles and Classic Rock Museum) on Saturday, December 19th...well, you have a very Sweet Holiday Treat! The band is also playing the prior night at Jose's...perhaps not as sweet but still very, very satisfying!!! Puns intended because...that's marketing. Check out this band in person or at CD Baby. If you have the time and want a great local concert right here in Monterey County, come out and see what we mean!

MIKE BECK & THE BOHEMIAN SAINTS TO PRESENT SPECIAL HOLIDAY CONCERT SERIES IN DECEMBER

December, 2009, Monterey, CA. ‘Tis the season for everyone to celebrate the holidays and also support our local venues. If you love to listen and dance to great music, then why not come out to enjoy the very popular band, Mike Beck & The Bohemian Saints, (www.mikebeck.com) in several great concerts during their very special holiday concert series!

Here are the details:

-    Friday, December 18th at 9:00 PM at Jose’s Underground Lounge, 638 Wave Street in Monterey (831-655-4419). $10 cover charge.

-    Saturday, December 19th at 8:00 PM. Mike Beck will play Solo Acoustic at the Ice Cream Shoppe/Beatles & Classic Rock Museum, 708 Lighthouse in Pacific Grove (831-642-9789). $12 cover charge.

Mike Beck and The Bohemian Saints (mikebeck.com) is an irresistible old fashioned guitar band, comprised of respected guitarist and songwriter, Mike Beck, and San Francisco Bay Area guitarist, Tom Ayres, backed up on bass by Marty Lydon, and on drums by Paul Montgomery. The band has played together since 2002, and no matter where the band performs, their large devoted fan base follows.

Mike Beck is a popular solo acoustic singer songwriter who lives in Montana and California. He has performed in over six countries, and throughout the United States, and just returned some shows in from Norway and Sweden. Mike is known for his memorable ballads that capture old California, our world today, and the cowboy way of life. Two of Mike Beck’s songs were listed in the “13 Best Cowboy Songs of All Time” in the April 2009 issue of Western Horseman Magazine (“In Old California” and “Don’t Tell Me.”) His song, “Patrick” was listed as one of “The Top 15 Roadworthy Cowboy Songs” in the July 2008 issue of Cowboys & Indians Magazine. His song, “Amanda Come Home” was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition, and is dedicated to all of the women who served in Iraq.

The band was recently featured at the 2009 Monterey County Fair. Their music is frequently aired on all five of the popular California KPIG Radio stations (www.kpig.com) throughout California (including Monterey/Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Chico and the San Francisco Bay Area) and via the station's popular Internet site. The music of Mike Beck and The Bohemian Saints has also been heard throughout the United States and internationally, including NPR Radio, CBC, Sirius and the BBC, among others. Their enjoyable original material, primarily composed by Mike Beck, reflects the band's love of the Byrds, Burrito Brothers and the Rolling Stones. Their popular onstage live shows reflect the energy of the Grateful Dead. The band's top professional musicians provide outstanding shows in bars, coffeehouses, folk clubs, schools, festivals, and at corporate events.

 
Born and raised in Monterey County, California, at age 13, Mike Beck went to the Monterey Pop Festival and liked what he heard. He picked up a guitar and never looked back. Since that time, he has been composing and performing a wide array of folk, rock and Americana music. Mike's songs reflect his life as a professional musician and a working cowboy in Montana and Carmel Valley near Big Sur. According to Ramblin' Jack Elliot, "Mike Beck plays the guitar like a Byrd. His strings do things that mine could never do. They obey the slightest finger-touch commands like a fine Reining Horse."
 
For more information, check out www.mikebeck.com.  To schedule an interview, contact Wendy Brickman at (831) 633-4444 or email brickman@brickmanmarketing.com. To reach Mike Beck, call (406) 285-6838 or email mikebeck1954@gmail.com.