Monday, July 20, 2020

VNA volunteer Connie Sapien Makes Patients Feel Good by Looking Good — and that’s often the Beat Medicine

VNA volunteer Connie Sapien Makes Patients Feel Good by Looking Good — and that’s often the Beat Medicine

Salinas, CA, July 20, 2020 -“If God lets me live … I shall not remain insignificant. I shall work in the world and for mankind.”

Frank, of course, fell victim to the Holocaust, but she fulfilled that destiny posthumously through her book “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Sapien made it through her surgery following a terrible stroke, and wanted to spend her time making life better for others.


“In no way do I put myself in the category of Ann Frank,” she said. “Her words are so powerful. They reminded me, though, that I needed to do whatever I could to make a bit of difference.”

Sapien eventually became a volunteer at VNA, helping the nonprofit achieve its ultimate goal — to provide care in an ethical, effective, compassionate and fiscally responsible manner.

Sapien’s surgery became an important turning point in her life.

“I was so scared all I could do was pray,” she said. “I asked God to help me make it through this, and I promised that I would find something I could do with my time to help or benefit others.”

Although she recovered from the surgery in 2006, she suffered a stroke three years later, and her left hand suffered partial paralysis. That forced her to give up her love of cutting hair as owner-stylist at Hair Unlimited in Salinas.

She found herself with lots of free time, joining various community service organizations in an attempt to find her niche.

Then her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She wanted to stay at home, and Connie and her sister were able to fulfill that wish for her, eventually turning to VNA and Hospice.

“I saw how great the nurses were at providing my mom with a service we couldn’t provide,” she said. “We were so thankful to VNA.”

Because Sapien had never worked in the medical field, she had no idea she could volunteer her time for VNA. She quickly learned that VNA volunteers did a wide variety of tasks.

“I started by doing respite care, light housekeeping and companionship,” she said.

Because of her hand, Sapien had not cut anyone else’s hair (besides her own) since her retirement. “I wanted to try cutting someone else’s hair but found it challenging because some of the patients could not get out of bed.”

She worked with VNA nurses and caregivers to effectively prop up the patients into a sitting position, allowing her to work around her partial paralysis. “This took lots of pillows, but we managed,” she said. “The easy ones were the patients who could sit in a wheelchair.”

Suddenly, Sapien had found the best of two worlds.

“I could continue to use my talent, also socializing with patients and their caregivers,” she said. “I love making people feel good, by looking good. That is the best medicine.”

Sapien keeps busy in her life, especially when it comes to cooking, gardening and dancing. “I love any form of exercise, yoga and aerobics,” she said. “Presently I practice Zumba.”

For VNA, Sapien schedules as many patients in one day as possible, traveling all over Monterey County — from Carmel Valley to Hollister — to share her talents and compassion.

“Everyone I have met at VNA is a kind, loving caring human being,” she said. “The patients, especially the elderly, are in so much need of a visit, a touch or companionship because a lot of them have no family close by.”

VNA provides medical attention and the volunteers help with special tender loving care.

“I am so proud to be a member of the volunteer team,” said Sapien, who encourages people she meets to try and find an area in VNA Hospice where they can contribute to helping the elderly.

“There are great rewards when you know you have made someone comfortable and happy,” she said. “Their smiles are worth millions. I promise, your life will be enriched tremendously.”

For more information about VNA, visit www.ccvna.com.

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

Goodwill Central Coast Shares tips on How to shop Safely and Happily throughout the Pandemic

The year 2020 has brought unforeseeable changes as a global virus dramatically altered the way we all live.

Salinas, CA, July 20, 2020 - The year 2020 has brought unforeseeable changes as a global virus dramatically altered the way we all live. But through it all we have found solace in ordinary activities that provide a sense of comfort.

Those activities include shopping — and helping a community thrive by supporting the ongoing mission of Goodwill Central Coast. Safely and patiently shopping at your local Goodwill store helps job seekers get back to work and reclaim financial and personal independence.

And in the process shoppers can dive into a treasure trove of items — all at bargain prices. Goodwill has found that donations have increased dramatically since the pandemic began, as the community has looked to effectively downsize and declutter.

Shoppers at Goodwill Central Coast stores may notice some changes made as part of important safety measures. Face masks are required, of course, and shoppers should follow social distancing guidelines.

Goodwill will limit the number of shoppers at one time, so a queue will often form outside each store. Goodwill urges shoppers to show patience — and will reward a lucky few who maintain composure in support of this policy.

When it comes to shopping, how do bargain hunters find new treasures and still stay safe? Goodwill Central Coast offers the following tips:

Seniors, students and members of the military receive 10 percent off purchases when shopping Monday through Wednesday.
The slowest time of the day is normally after lunchtime until Goodwill stores close (check www.ccgoodwill.org as hours frequently change due to COVID-19).
Follow the markers on the floor designed to improve traffic flow and create social distancing.
Shop in zones (Goodwill stores have separated housewares and clothing, for example).
For those who remain uncomfortable shopping in person, Goodwill reminds them to shop on the nonprofit’s e-commerce site at www.shopgoodwill.com. More than 130 Goodwill organizations from across the country list and auction unique items on the site. Each day the Salinas e-commerce team alone ships 400 to 500 items, from gold jewelry to clothing, musical instruments and more.

Through this avenue, shoppers can enjoy what Goodwill calls “guilt-free retail therapy,” knowing every purchase supports job training programs and promotes reuse, keeping items out of landfills and reducing the need for scarce natural resources.

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

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

San Lorenzo Valley Water District Offering Financial Assistance to Low-Income Water Service Customers

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is implementing a low-income assistance program for up to 208 qualifying residential water customers starting July 15.

Boulder Creek, CA, July 15, 2020 — The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is implementing a low-income assistance program for up to 208 qualifying residential water customers starting July 15.

Income-eligible customers who currently receive a discounted rate through PG&E’s CARE program may be eligible to receive $10 off their monthly water bill.

To see if your household qualifies, answer these three questions:

• Yes, I pay SLVWD for an individually metered residential water service AND

• Yes, I receive a discounted rate through PG&E’s CARE program for the same address and in the same name AND

• Yes, I live at the property that receives these services and the SLVWD bill is in my name

If you said yes to all three of the required qualifications, you may apply by doing the following:

• Complete a web form available here https://www.slvwd.com/customer-service/webforms/rate-assistance-program

• Attach your most recent PG&E bill showing participation in the CARE program for the same address as the water bill.

• If you are a tenant, attach a copy of your lease agreement. If you do not have a lease agreement, contact Customer Service so SLVWD can send the owner a verification form.

Approved applications will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Please click here to view the full policy, including continued eligibility requirements.https://www.slvwd.com/customer-service/webforms/rate-assistance-program

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

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

All Branches of Central Coast YMCA Now Open and Operating Summer Day Camps, Following Strict Local, State and CDC Safety Guidelines

The Central Coast YMCA is providing safe, reliable childcare while following all current local, state and CDC guidelines to be safe during the pandemic.

Salinas, CA, July 14, 2020 - Summer Camp is crucial for our youth and community. The Central Coast YMCA is providing safe, reliable childcare while following all current local, state and CDC guidelines to be safe during the pandemic.

All branches are now open and operating Summer Day Camp, offering a summer experience that will last a lifetime. More than 2800 children are registered for Summer Day Camp and over 1050 have attended since June 1.

Detailed guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and the YMCA recommend extensive cleaning protocols and safety measures to protect kids.

The Y will separate campers into small groups, require social distancing and wash hands frequently. The camp’s common areas and equipment will undergo frequent cleaning.

Experts agree that kids need summer camp for their mental health. They need to be around children their own age to play and be kids again. They need a routine and something familiar. They need to feel normal again.

“Play is essential,” Dr. Jeffrey Hutchinson, fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told CNN. “Unstructured time is vital for development, stress reduction, and physical and mental health [for children].”

Central Coast YMCA has moved its administrative offices from Salinas to Monterey in order to increase capacity for summer day camp while incorporating social distancing and complying with CDC guidelines.

The camp runs Monday through Friday, from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and space is limited. Parents should reserve their child’s spot now. Financial assistance is available. For more details, call your local branch or visit www.centralcoastymca.org.

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

Monday, July 13, 2020

Sheraton Palo Alto Offering ‘Summer Drive to Outside Fun Package’ Road Trip to Enjoy Outdoor Activities in Charming Palo Alto

Beautiful Palo Alto is in the heart of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area, within short driving distance from many areas of California and filled with outdoor activities, from hiking and kayaking to golfing and biking.

Palo Alto, CA, July 10, 2020 — Beautiful Palo Alto is in the heart of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area, within short driving distance from many areas of California and filled with outdoor activities, from hiking and kayaking to golfing and biking.

With that in mind, the Sheraton Palo Alto is launching a “Summer Drive to Outside Fun Package,” a road trip with the Sheraton as your base of operations from where you can enjoy the charming attributes of Palo Alto.

The Sheraton is just 2.5 miles from The Stanford Dish, a popular hiking area that offers hikers and walkers with stunning panoramic views of Silicon Valley, with the striking 150-foot diameter dish, a radiotelescope that is still in use, as its centerpiece. The sprawling Stanford University campus also provides a nice setting for a shaded walk, jog, or bike ride.

The Sheraton is just 8 miles from Shoreline Park in Mountain View, which offers golf, bike, kayak and paddle boat rentals — a beautiful setting to enjoy the outdoors.

The area also boasts two golf courses, the Shoreline Golf Links, an 18-hole championship course that offers golfers equal parts beauty and challenge; and the Baylands Golf Links, which features 55 acres of native Baylands vegetation and wetlands areas.

You could play a few sets of tennis at Mitchell Park Tennis Courts or stroll the gorgeous garden at Filoli Historic House & Garden, a site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in nearby Woodside.

End your day with a stroll to downtown Palo Alto for outdoor dining or window shopping.

The area is packed with outdoor activities and Sheraton’s concierge can help you find the perfect activity for your outdoor adventure in Palo Alto. Seize the day, your way!

To book this package, go to: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjcsi-sheraton-palo-alto-hotel/. The “Summer Drive to Outside Fun Package” includes complimentary parking and HSIA.

About the Sheraton Palo Alto
The Sheraton Palo Alto Hotel is the perfect location for business or leisure travel, bay area weddings or banquets in Silicon Valley. Located at the entrance to Stanford University, the hotel is within walking distance to downtown Palo Alto with its charming boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and nightlife.

Just one block away you will find the nationally recognized Stanford Shopping Center, Stanford Stadium, Stanford Medical Center, Palo Alto Medical Foundation and the Town & Country Village. The hotel is one block from the CalTrain Station, which provides easy access into San Francisco and San Jose.

The Sheraton’s resort-like setting provides 346 spacious guestrooms with many of the rooms featuring a patio or balcony that overlooks the koi ponds, water and flower garden or the sparkling pool.

Taste the freshness of California cuisine at the Poolside Grill, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with al fresco dining.

The Bay Area Silicon Valley Hotel offers event facilities for banquet and wedding receptions.

Sheraton Palo Alto
625 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650-328-2800
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjcsi-sheraton-palo-alto-hotel/

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sjcsi-sheraton-palo-alto-hotel/

Friday, July 10, 2020

Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas Continue to Provide Safe Access to Healthy Food

Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Marina, CA, July 10, 2020 — Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Everyone’s Harvest Markets are open Sundays in Marina, Mondays in Pacific Grove, Tuesdays in Alisal, Wednesdays at Natividad Medical Center and Fridays at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS), all in Salinas, with fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs, and more.

Alisal’s market, which is located at Women, Infants And Children (WIC) offices at 632 East Alisal St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, and features three farmers, WIC program for healthy families, and all markets now match P-EBT (special Pandemic EBT funds distributed recently) for Market Match, to increase EBT customers’ spending power.

Natividad’s market, open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Natividad Medical Center at 1441 Constitution Blvd., has added Perfect Crumb Bakery, Frutas Frescas Barajas, and Locally Roasted Coffee back this week, joining Stackhouse Orchards of San Joaquin Valley, offering dried tree fruits and almonds; Gallardo’s Organic Farm in Salinas, offering vegetable row crops and strawberries; and Golden Flowers, offering fresh-cut flowers.

Both markets are smaller, modified markets with social distancing plans in place. All markets have strict social distancing and thorough sanitation plans in place.

SVMHS, open on Fridays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 450 East Romie Lane, brought back Mai Thai cuisine, Chava's Roasted Corn and Baked Potatoes, and this week, Maido Sushi and Teriyaki.

The Marina Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 215 Reservation Road, in Marina. The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the corner of Central and Grand avenues, in Pacific Grove.

Fruits and vegetables currently in season include peaches and nectarines, a few tomato varieties, summer squash, fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and avocados.

All markets are continually adding more vendors. The Pacific Grove market now includes:

>Chef Ron Mendoza’s Seaside-based Ad Astra Bread Co. — Offers fresh-baked sourdough, rustic breads, baguettes, flatbreads, pretzels, focaccia, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls.

>Garlicville's Best Salsa — Offers fresh salsa made with Gilroy garlic in mild, medium, and hot.

>Also, Kirk Williams Avocados are back.

Marina market now includes:

>Honey from MockaBees Aromas Apiary in Aromas.

Both PG and Marina markets now include:

>Susan Carter’s The Perfect Crumb Bakery in Monterey — Offers a variety of breakfast and dessert pastries, from scones and croissants to cookies, brownies, pies and cupcakes.

>San Leandro-based Hummus Heaven — Brothers Mourad and Tarek Cherif source local and seasonal ingredients from farmers markets to offer 17 flavors of hummus and many accompanying food items, including tapenades, grape leaves, pita chips, and more. Traditional techniques and small-batch productions are employed at their kitchen to give their products a North-African and Mediterranean flavor.

New vendors at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System:

>Ledesma Family Farms organics from Holllister, Gustine and Watsonville.

At all markets:

> Stackhouse Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley is back with peaches, nectarines, and almonds.

>Taco trucks.

Coordinating markets and the Fresh Rx program is new market program manager, Karen Gomez.

Gomez graduated last year from CSU-Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health & Human Services and an interdisciplinary concentration of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Community Health. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.

Gomez has been involved with various nonprofits for the past few years, and has enjoyed being able to apply the skills and knowledge she learned in school to real world challenges. She hopes to continuously help her community and make a difference. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and taking spontaneous trips.

And for convenience, safety and avoiding lines, consumers can pre-order their goods from markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas by scanning a QR code with their smart phones located on the website at everyonesharvest.org. More info is also available at the green Everyone's Harvest info booth at each market.

As always, safety is a top concern at all Everyone’s Harvest markets.

“A healthy and safe farmers' market is our number-one priority,” said Everyone’s Harvest Executive Director Reid Norris. “Our farmers and vendors, like many small businesses in the community, rely on your continued support to bring you necessary services like fresh food and produce. We are doing this to support local farmers and give people a nutritious option for produce. So if you are able to, please keep supporting us.”

Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets are adhering to guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, and are operating under an order from the County of Monterey Health Department determining that certified farmers’ markets are “essential businesses” exempt from the “Shelter in Place” order by the Health Department that went into effect on March 18, 2020.

“Everyone's Harvest is working closely with Monterey County Health Department and the cities of Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas to best serve the community,” said Norris. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we have implemented a plan of action for our markets.”

The plan of action includes the following:

•All vendors will receive Monterey County's Guidelines for Retail Food Establishments and we will be closely monitoring vendor operations.

•Everyone’s Harvest asks that all vendors, farmers, and customers not attend the market if they are sick with fever, sneezing, or coughing.

• Best Practices: Market operations will be conducted in accordance with guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets for farmers’ markets operating during shelter in place. This document will be made available at the market as well, and it recommends heightened measures such as extra space between stands, whenever possible, and disallowing sampling or prepared foods at the markets.

•Helping with Prevention: Hand sanitizer will be offered at the Information Booth, and Everyone's Harvest will monitor and, if necessary, restrict attendance so that the market attendees can maintain “social distancing” recommended by the California Department of Public Health. Market attendees are encouraged to keep 6 feet of personal space between themselves. Sanitizing solution will be used regularly at the Information Booth for any frequently touched items or equipment.

•Vendors will wear gloves whenever possible and wash their hands frequently (handwashing is available at all EH markets). Sampling of products is discontinued until further notice.

•Everyone’s Harvest is following all updates given on COVID-19, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Monterey County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health officials.

•Everyone’s Harvest is changing its usual layout of its farmers’ markets in order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible. (See below.)

“We will continue to take the actions necessary to help protect the community,” said Norris. “Specifically, if we are notified of a staff member, vendor, or participant testing positive for COVID-19, they will be suspended from any of our certified farmers’ markets until they are medically cleared.”

In order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible, Everyone’s Harvest has changed its usual layout of its farmers’ markets.

The new layout splits the market into a waiting zone and a shopping/produce area.

There is a limit of 10 people maximum in the produce area and a limit to the number of people around a booth at one time, with the 6-foot social distancing parameters in effect. Unless a vendor has a two-tent setup, each vendor is limited to one customer at a time.

There are sanitizing station/table set up with wipes and hand sanitizer for customers to use before approaching vendor booths.

Each market will have a list of what produce is being sold by the vendors that day and displaying it at a writing station so shoppers can write their grocery list with the items available and then be in and out of the market as quickly as possible.

Market managers will be on hand to assist customers with their shopping, maintaining the 6-foot rule and making sure shoppers aren’t waiting too long in the waiting area.

Social distancing at Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets, per California Department of Public Health Guidelines:

Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members [and households] can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.
Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
Suspend sampling activities.
Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.
If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment.

For more information, go to www.everyonesharvest.org or call (831) 384-6961.

About Everyone’s Harvest
Everyone’s Harvest was founded in 2002 by Iris Peppard building on her capstone project as a student at California State University Monterey Bay. Since then, the small nonprofit has grown into a robust, values-driven 501(c)3 organization. It operates five certified farmers’ markets and is a catalyst for health-related programs across Monterey County.

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

In 2008, Pacific Grove chose Everyone’s Harvest as the organization to run their community farmers’ market. This opportunity was a turning point for Everyone’s Harvest, leading to increased collaborations and partnerships.

More than 2,000 families are served weekly by Everyone’s Harvest markets in Salinas, Marina, and Pacific Grove – with more than 25 small and mid-scale farmers serving them. Everyone’s Harvest takes pride in the growing community of people who value organic food and rely on Everyone’s Harvest for access to local fresh fruits and vegetables.

The farmers’ market locations serve diverse communities and low-income people. Local hospitals host Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets at Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Everyone’s Harvest pioneered access to several public nutrition benefits at its farmers’ markets for everyone to access fresh, local, and organic foods.

In 2012, Everyone’s Harvest was presented with Edible Monterey Bay magazine’s nonprofit “Local Hero” award and in 2013 the Monterey County Weekly newspaper named Iris as one of the “25 for the Next 25” movers and shakers in Monterey County. Iris is always quick to point out, “My success is not just my own. It’s because of everyone involved. It’s about a movement. It’s about food justice.”

Today at Everyone’s Harvest:

Over 50 percent of Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets farmers are certified organic and come from within a 100-mile radius of Monterey County.
All five of our Certified Farmers’ Markets serve low-income communities and accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), the modern day food stamp.
Two of our Certified Farmers’ Markets are partnerships with medical institutions – Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System – who both partner in the Fresh Rx program.
The organization offers free space to other nonprofits, community groups, and government entities at its markets for public outreach.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://everyonesharvest.org/Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Marina, CA, July 10, 2020 — Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Everyone’s Harvest Markets are open Sundays in Marina, Mondays in Pacific Grove, Tuesdays in Alisal, Wednesdays at Natividad Medical Center and Fridays at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS), all in Salinas, with fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs, and more.

Alisal’s market, which is located at Women, Infants And Children (WIC) offices at 632 East Alisal St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, and features three farmers, WIC program for healthy families, and all markets now match P-EBT (special Pandemic EBT funds distributed recently) for Market Match, to increase EBT customers’ spending power.

Natividad’s market, open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Natividad Medical Center at 1441 Constitution Blvd., has added Perfect Crumb Bakery, Frutas Frescas Barajas, and Locally Roasted Coffee back this week, joining Stackhouse Orchards of San Joaquin Valley, offering dried tree fruits and almonds; Gallardo’s Organic Farm in Salinas, offering vegetable row crops and strawberries; and Golden Flowers, offering fresh-cut flowers.

Both markets are smaller, modified markets with social distancing plans in place. All markets have strict social distancing and thorough sanitation plans in place.

SVMHS, open on Fridays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 450 East Romie Lane, brought back Mai Thai cuisine, Chava's Roasted Corn and Baked Potatoes, and this week, Maido Sushi and Teriyaki.

The Marina Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 215 Reservation Road, in Marina. The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the corner of Central and Grand avenues, in Pacific Grove.

Fruits and vegetables currently in season include peaches and nectarines, a few tomato varieties, summer squash, fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and avocados.

All markets are continually adding more vendors. The Pacific Grove market now includes:

>Chef Ron Mendoza’s Seaside-based Ad Astra Bread Co. — Offers fresh-baked sourdough, rustic breads, baguettes, flatbreads, pretzels, focaccia, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls.

>Garlicville's Best Salsa — Offers fresh salsa made with Gilroy garlic in mild, medium, and hot.

>Also, Kirk Williams Avocados are back.

Marina market now includes:

>Honey from MockaBees Aromas Apiary in Aromas.

Both PG and Marina markets now include:

>Susan Carter’s The Perfect Crumb Bakery in Monterey — Offers a variety of breakfast and dessert pastries, from scones and croissants to cookies, brownies, pies and cupcakes.

>San Leandro-based Hummus Heaven — Brothers Mourad and Tarek Cherif source local and seasonal ingredients from farmers markets to offer 17 flavors of hummus and many accompanying food items, including tapenades, grape leaves, pita chips, and more. Traditional techniques and small-batch productions are employed at their kitchen to give their products a North-African and Mediterranean flavor.

New vendors at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System:

>Ledesma Family Farms organics from Holllister, Gustine and Watsonville.

At all markets:

> Stackhouse Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley is back with peaches, nectarines, and almonds.

>Taco trucks.

Coordinating markets and the Fresh Rx program is new market program manager, Karen Gomez.

Gomez graduated last year from CSU-Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health & Human Services and an interdisciplinary concentration of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Community Health. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.

Gomez has been involved with various nonprofits for the past few years, and has enjoyed being able to apply the skills and knowledge she learned in school to real world challenges. She hopes to continuously help her community and make a difference. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and taking spontaneous trips.

And for convenience, safety and avoiding lines, consumers can pre-order their goods from markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas by scanning a QR code with their smart phones located on the website at everyonesharvest.org. More info is also available at the green Everyone's Harvest info booth at each market.

As always, safety is a top concern at all Everyone’s Harvest markets.

“A healthy and safe farmers' market is our number-one priority,” said Everyone’s Harvest Executive Director Reid Norris. “Our farmers and vendors, like many small businesses in the community, rely on your continued support to bring you necessary services like fresh food and produce. We are doing this to support local farmers and give people a nutritious option for produce. So if you are able to, please keep supporting us.”

Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets are adhering to guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, and are operating under an order from the County of Monterey Health Department determining that certified farmers’ markets are “essential businesses” exempt from the “Shelter in Place” order by the Health Department that went into effect on March 18, 2020.

“Everyone's Harvest is working closely with Monterey County Health Department and the cities of Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas to best serve the community,” said Norris. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we have implemented a plan of action for our markets.”

The plan of action includes the following:

•All vendors will receive Monterey County's Guidelines for Retail Food Establishments and we will be closely monitoring vendor operations.

•Everyone’s Harvest asks that all vendors, farmers, and customers not attend the market if they are sick with fever, sneezing, or coughing.

• Best Practices: Market operations will be conducted in accordance with guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets for farmers’ markets operating during shelter in place. This document will be made available at the market as well, and it recommends heightened measures such as extra space between stands, whenever possible, and disallowing sampling or prepared foods at the markets.

•Helping with Prevention: Hand sanitizer will be offered at the Information Booth, and Everyone's Harvest will monitor and, if necessary, restrict attendance so that the market attendees can maintain “social distancing” recommended by the California Department of Public Health. Market attendees are encouraged to keep 6 feet of personal space between themselves. Sanitizing solution will be used regularly at the Information Booth for any frequently touched items or equipment.

•Vendors will wear gloves whenever possible and wash their hands frequently (handwashing is available at all EH markets). Sampling of products is discontinued until further notice.

•Everyone’s Harvest is following all updates given on COVID-19, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Monterey County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health officials.

•Everyone’s Harvest is changing its usual layout of its farmers’ markets in order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible. (See below.)

“We will continue to take the actions necessary to help protect the community,” said Norris. “Specifically, if we are notified of a staff member, vendor, or participant testing positive for COVID-19, they will be suspended from any of our certified farmers’ markets until they are medically cleared.”

In order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible, Everyone’s Harvest has changed its usual layout of its farmers’ markets.

The new layout splits the market into a waiting zone and a shopping/produce area.

There is a limit of 10 people maximum in the produce area and a limit to the number of people around a booth at one time, with the 6-foot social distancing parameters in effect. Unless a vendor has a two-tent setup, each vendor is limited to one customer at a time.

There are sanitizing station/table set up with wipes and hand sanitizer for customers to use before approaching vendor booths.

Each market will have a list of what produce is being sold by the vendors that day and displaying it at a writing station so shoppers can write their grocery list with the items available and then be in and out of the market as quickly as possible.

Market managers will be on hand to assist customers with their shopping, maintaining the 6-foot rule and making sure shoppers aren’t waiting too long in the waiting area.

Social distancing at Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets, per California Department of Public Health Guidelines:

Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members [and households] can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.
Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
Suspend sampling activities.
Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.
If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment.

For more information, go to www.everyonesharvest.org or call (831) 384-6961.

About Everyone’s Harvest
Everyone’s Harvest was founded in 2002 by Iris Peppard building on her capstone project as a student at California State University Monterey Bay. Since then, the small nonprofit has grown into a robust, values-driven 501(c)3 organization. It operates five certified farmers’ markets and is a catalyst for health-related programs across Monterey County.

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

In 2008, Pacific Grove chose Everyone’s Harvest as the organization to run their community farmers’ market. This opportunity was a turning point for Everyone’s Harvest, leading to increased collaborations and partnerships.

More than 2,000 families are served weekly by Everyone’s Harvest markets in Salinas, Marina, and Pacific Grove – with more than 25 small and mid-scale farmers serving them. Everyone’s Harvest takes pride in the growing community of people who value organic food and rely on Everyone’s Harvest for access to local fresh fruits and vegetables.

The farmers’ market locations serve diverse communities and low-income people. Local hospitals host Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets at Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Everyone’s Harvest pioneered access to several public nutrition benefits at its farmers’ markets for everyone to access fresh, local, and organic foods.

In 2012, Everyone’s Harvest was presented with Edible Monterey Bay magazine’s nonprofit “Local Hero” award and in 2013 the Monterey County Weekly newspaper named Iris as one of the “25 for the Next 25” movers and shakers in Monterey County. Iris is always quick to point out, “My success is not just my own. It’s because of everyone involved. It’s about a movement. It’s about food justice.”

Today at Everyone’s Harvest:

Over 50 percent of Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets farmers are certified organic and come from within a 100-mile radius of Monterey County.
All five of our Certified Farmers’ Markets serveEveryone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Marina, CA, July 10, 2020 — Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Everyone’s Harvest Markets are open Sundays in Marina, Mondays in Pacific Grove, Tuesdays in Alisal, Wednesdays at Natividad Medical Center and Fridays at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS), all in Salinas, with fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs, and more.

Alisal’s market, which is located at Women, Infants And Children (WIC) offices at 632 East Alisal St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, and features three farmers, WIC program for healthy families, and all markets now match P-EBT (special Pandemic EBT funds distributed recently) for Market Match, to increase EBT customers’ spending power.

Natividad’s market, open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Natividad Medical Center at 1441 Constitution Blvd., has added Perfect Crumb Bakery, Frutas Frescas Barajas, and Locally Roasted Coffee back this week, joining Stackhouse Orchards of San Joaquin Valley, offering dried tree fruits and almonds; Gallardo’s Organic Farm in Salinas, offering vegetable row crops and strawberries; and Golden Flowers, offering fresh-cut flowers.

Both markets are smaller, modified markets with social distancing plans in place. All markets have strict social distancing and thorough sanitation plans in place.

SVMHS, open on Fridays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 450 East Romie Lane, brought back Mai Thai cuisine, Chava's Roasted Corn and Baked Potatoes, and this week, Maido Sushi and Teriyaki.

The Marina Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 215 Reservation Road, in Marina. The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the corner of Central and Grand avenues, in Pacific Grove.

Fruits and vegetables currently in season include peaches and nectarines, a few tomato varieties, summer squash, fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and avocados.

All markets are continually adding more vendors. The Pacific Grove market now includes:

>Chef Ron Mendoza’s Seaside-based Ad Astra Bread Co. — Offers fresh-baked sourdough, rustic breads, baguettes, flatbreads, pretzels, focaccia, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls.

>Garlicville's Best Salsa — Offers fresh salsa made with Gilroy garlic in mild, medium, and hot.

>Also, Kirk Williams Avocados are back.

Marina market now includes:

>Honey from MockaBees Aromas Apiary in Aromas.

Both PG and Marina markets now include:

>Susan Carter’s The Perfect Crumb Bakery in Monterey — Offers a variety of breakfast and dessert pastries, from scones and croissants to cookies, brownies, pies and cupcakes.

>San Leandro-based Hummus Heaven — Brothers Mourad and Tarek Cherif source local and seasonal ingredients from farmers markets to offer 17 flavors of hummus and many accompanying food items, including tapenades, grape leaves, pita chips, and more. Traditional techniques and small-batch productions are employed at their kitchen to give their products a North-African and Mediterranean flavor.

New vendors at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System:

>Ledesma Family Farms organics from Holllister, Gustine and Watsonville.

At all markets:

> Stackhouse Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley is back with peaches, nectarines, and almonds.

>Taco trucks.

Coordinating markets and the Fresh Rx program is new market program manager, Karen Gomez.

Gomez graduated last year from CSU-Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health & Human Services and an interdisciplinary concentration of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Community Health. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.

Gomez has been involved with various nonprofits for the past few years, and has enjoyed being able to apply the skills and knowledge she learned in school to real world challenges. She hopes to continuously help her community and make a difference. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and taking spontaneous trips.

And for convenience, safety and avoiding lines, consumers can pre-order their goods from markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas by scanning a QR code with their smart phones located on the website at everyonesharvest.org. More info is also available at the green Everyone's Harvest info booth at each market.

As always, safety is a top concern at all Everyone’s Harvest markets.

“A healthy and safe farmers' market is our number-one priority,” said Everyone’s Harvest Executive Director Reid Norris. “Our farmers and vendors, like many small businesses in the community, rely on your continued support to bring you necessary services like fresh food and produce. We are doing this to support local farmers and give people a nutritious option for produce. So if you are able to, please keep supporting us.”

Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets are adhering to guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, and are operating under an order from the County of Monterey Health Department determining that certified farmers’ markets are “essential businesses” exempt from the “Shelter in Place” order by the Health Department that went into effect on March 18, 2020.

“Everyone's Harvest is working closely with Monterey County Health Department and the cities of Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas to best serve the community,” said Norris. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we have implemented a plan of action for our markets.”

The plan of action includes the following:

•All vendors will receive Monterey County's Guidelines for Retail Food Establishments and we will be closely monitoring vendor operations.

•Everyone’s Harvest asks that all vendors, farmers, and customers not attend the market if they are sick with fever, sneezing, or coughing.

• Best Practices: Market operations will be conducted in accordance with guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets for farmers’ markets operating during shelter in place. This document will be made available at the market as well, and it recommends heightened measures such as extra space between stands, whenever possible, and disallowing sampling or prepared foods at the markets.

•Helping with Prevention: Hand sanitizer will be offered at the Information Booth, and Everyone's Harvest will monitor and, if necessary, restrict attendance so that the market attendees can maintain “social distancing” recommended by the California Department of Public Health. Market attendees are encouraged to keep 6 feet of personal space between themselves. Sanitizing solution will be used regularly at the Information Booth for any frequently touched items or equipment.

•Vendors will wear gloves whenever possible and wash their hands frequently (handwashing is available at all EH markets). Sampling of products is discontinued until further notice.

•Everyone’s Harvest is following all updates given on COVID-19, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Monterey County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health officials.

•Everyone’s Harvest is changing its usual layout of its farmers’ markets in order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible. (See below.)

“We will continue to take the actions necessary to help protect the community,” said Norris. “Specifically, if we are notified of a staff member, vendor, or participant testing positive for COVID-19, they will be suspended from any of our certified farmers’ markets until they are medically cleared.”

In order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible, Everyone’s Harvest has changed its usual layout of its farmers’ markets.

The new layout splits the market into a waiting zone and a shopping/produce area.

There is a limit of 10 people maximum in the produce area and a limit to the number of people around a booth at one time, with the 6-foot social distancing parameters in effect. Unless a vendor has a two-tent setup, each vendor is limited to one customer at a time.

There are sanitizing station/table set up with wipes and hand sanitizer for customers to use before approaching vendor booths.

Each market will have a list of what produce is being sold by the vendors that day and displaying it at a writing station so shoppers can write their grocery list with the items available and then be in and out of the market as quickly as possible.

Market managers will be on hand to assist customers with their shopping, maintaining the 6-foot rule and making sure shoppers aren’t waiting too long in the waiting area.

Social distancing at Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets, per California Department of Public Health Guidelines:

Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members [and households] can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.
Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
Suspend sampling activities.
Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.
If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment.

For more information, go to www.everyonesharvest.org or call (831) 384-6961.

About Everyone’s Harvest
Everyone’s Harvest was founded in 2002 by Iris Peppard building on her capstone project as a student at California State University Monterey Bay. Since then, the small nonprofit has grown into a robust, values-driven 501(c)3 organization. It operates five certified farmers’ markets and is a catalyst for health-related programs across Monterey County.

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

In 2008, Pacific Grove chose Everyone’s Harvest as the organization to run their community farmers’ market. This opportunity was a turning point for Everyone’s Harvest, leading to increased collaborations and partnerships.

More than 2,000 families are served weekly by Everyone’s Harvest markets in Salinas, Marina, and Pacific Grove – with more than 25 small and mid-scale farmers serving them. Everyone’s Harvest takes pride in the growing community of people who value organic food and rely on Everyone’s Harvest for access to local fresh fruits and vegetables.

The farmers’ market locations serve diverse communities and low-income people. Local hospitals host Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets at Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Everyone’s Harvest pioneered access to several public nutrition benefits at its farmers’ markets for everyone to access fresh, local, and organic foods.

In 2012, Everyone’s Harvest was presented with Edible Monterey Bay magazine’s nonprofit “Local Hero” award and in 2013 the Monterey County Weekly newspaper named Iris as one of the “25 for the Next 25” movers and shakers in Monterey County. Iris is always quick to point out, “My success is not just my own. It’s because of everyone involved. It’s about a movement. It’s about food justice.”
Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Marina, CA, July 10, 2020 — Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Everyone’s Harvest Markets are open Sundays in Marina, Mondays in Pacific Grove, Tuesdays in Alisal, Wednesdays at Natividad Medical Center and Fridays at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS), all in Salinas, with fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs, and more.

Alisal’s market, which is located at Women, Infants And Children (WIC) offices at 632 East Alisal St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, and features three farmers, WIC program for healthy families, and all markets now match P-EBT (special Pandemic EBT funds distributed recently) for Market Match, to increase EBT customers’ spending power.

Natividad’s market, open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Natividad Medical Center at 1441 Constitution Blvd., has added Perfect Crumb Bakery, Frutas Frescas Barajas, and Locally Roasted Coffee back this week, joining Stackhouse Orchards of San Joaquin Valley, offering dried tree fruits and almonds; Gallardo’s Organic Farm in Salinas, offering vegetable row crops and strawberries; and Golden Flowers, offering fresh-cut flowers.

Both markets are smaller, modified markets with social distancing plans in place. All markets have strict social distancing and thorough sanitation plans in place.

SVMHS, open on Fridays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 450 East Romie Lane, brought back Mai Thai cuisine, Chava's Roasted Corn and Baked Potatoes, and this week, Maido Sushi and Teriyaki.

The Marina Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 215 Reservation Road, in Marina. The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the corner of Central and Grand avenues, in Pacific Grove.

Fruits and vegetables currently in season include peaches and nectarines, a few tomato varieties, summer squash, fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and avocados.

All markets are continually adding more vendors. The Pacific Grove market now includes:

>Chef Ron Mendoza’s Seaside-based Ad Astra Bread Co. — Offers fresh-baked sourdough, rustic breads, baguettes, flatbreads, pretzels, focaccia, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls.

>Garlicville's Best Salsa — Offers fresh salsa made with Gilroy garlic in mild, medium, and hot.

>Also, Kirk Williams Avocados are back.

Marina market now includes:

>Honey from MockaBees Aromas Apiary in Aromas.

Both PG and Marina markets now include:

>Susan Carter’s The Perfect Crumb Bakery in Monterey — Offers a variety of breakfast and dessert pastries, from scones and croissants to cookies, brownies, pies and cupcakes.

>San Leandro-based Hummus Heaven — Brothers Mourad and Tarek Cherif source local and seasonal ingredients from farmers markets to offer 17 flavors of hummus and many accompanying food items, including tapenades, grape leaves, pita chips, and more. Traditional techniques and small-batch productions are employed at their kitchen to give their products a North-African and Mediterranean flavor.

New vendors at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System:

>Ledesma Family Farms organics from Holllister, Gustine and Watsonville.

At all markets:

> Stackhouse Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley is back with peaches, nectarines, and almonds.

>Taco trucks.

Coordinating markets and the Fresh Rx program is new market program manager, Karen Gomez.

Gomez graduated last year from CSU-Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health & Human Services and an interdisciplinary concentration of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Community Health. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.

Gomez has been involved with various nonprofits for the past few years, and has enjoyed being able to apply the skills and knowledge she learned in school to real world challenges. She hopes to continuously help her community and make a difference. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and taking spontaneous trips.

And for convenience, safety and avoiding lines, consumers can pre-order their goods from markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas by scanning a QR code with their smart phones located on the website at everyonesharvest.org. More info is also available at the green Everyone's Harvest info booth at each market.

As always, safety is a top concern at all Everyone’s Harvest markets.

“A healthy and safe farmers' market is our number-one priority,” said Everyone’s Harvest Executive Director Reid Norris. “Our farmers and vendors, like many small businesses in the community, rely on your continued support to bring you necessary services like fresh food and produce. We are doing this to support local farmers and give people a nutritious option for produce. So if you are able to, please keep supporting us.”

Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets are adhering to guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, and are operating under an order from the County of Monterey Health Department determining that certified farmers’ markets are “essential businesses” exempt from the “Shelter in Place” order by the Health Department that went into effect on March 18, 2020.

“Everyone's Harvest is working closely with Monterey County Health Department and the cities of Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas to best serve the community,” said Norris. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we have implemented a plan of action for our markets.”

The plan of action includes the following:

•All vendors will receive Monterey County's Guidelines for Retail Food Establishments and we will be closely monitoring vendor operations.

•Everyone’s Harvest asks that all vendors, farmers, and customers not attend the market if they are sick with fever, sneezing, or coughing.

• Best Practices: Market operations will be conducted in accordance with guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets for farmers’ markets operating during shelter in place. This document will be made available at the market as well, and it recommends heightened measures such as extra space between stands, whenever possible, and disallowing sampling or prepared foods at the markets.

•Helping with Prevention: Hand sanitizer will be offered at the Information Booth, and Everyone's Harvest will monitor and, if necessary, restrict attendance so that the market attendees can maintain “social distancing” recommended by the California Department of Public Health. Market attendees are encouraged to keep 6 feet of personal space between themselves. Sanitizing solution will be used regularly at the Information Booth for any frequently touched items or equipment.

•Vendors will wear gloves whenever possible and wash their hands frequently (handwashing is available at all EH markets). Sampling of products is discontinued until further notice.

•Everyone’s Harvest is following all updates given on COVID-19, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Monterey County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health officials.

•Everyone’s Harvest is changing its usual layout of its farmers’ markets in order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible. (See below.)

“We will continue to take the actions necessary to help protect the community,” said Norris. “Specifically, if we are notified of a staff member, vendor, or participant testing positive for COVID-19, they will be suspended from any of our certified farmers’ markets until they are medically cleared.”

In order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible, Everyone’s Harvest has changed its usual layout of its farmers’ markets.

The new layout splits the market into a waiting zone and a shopping/produce area.

There is a limit of 10 people maximum in the produce area and a limit to the number of people around a booth at one time, with the 6-foot social distancing parameters in effect. Unless a vendor has a two-tent setup, each vendor is limited to one customer at a time.

There are sanitizing station/table set up with wipes and hand sanitizer for customers to use before approaching vendor booths.

Each market will have a list of what produce is being sold by the vendors that day and displaying it at a writing station so shoppers can write their grocery list with the items available and then be in and out of the market as quickly as possible.

Market managers will be on hand to assist customers with their shopping, maintaining the 6-foot rule and making sure shoppers aren’t waiting too long in the waiting area.

Social distancing at Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets, per California Department of Public Health Guidelines:

Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members [and households] can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.
Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
Suspend sampling activities.
Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.
If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment.

For more information, go to www.everyonesharvest.org or call (831) 384-6961.

About Everyone’s Harvest
Everyone’s Harvest was founded in 2002 by Iris Peppard building on her capstone project as a student at California State University Monterey Bay. Since then, the small nonprofit has grown into a robust, values-driven 501(c)3 organization. It operates five certified farmers’ markets and is a catalyst for health-related programs across Monterey County.

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

In 2008, Pacific Grove chose Everyone’s Harvest as the organization to run their community farmers’ market. This opportunity was a turning point for Everyone’s Harvest, leading to increased collaborations and partnerships.

More than 2,000 families are served weekly by Everyone’s Harvest markets in Salinas, Marina, and Pacific Grove – with more than 25 small and mid-scale farmers serving them. Everyone’s Harvest takes pride in the growing community of people who value organic food and rely on Everyone’s Harvest for access to local fresh fruits and vegetables.

The farmers’ market locations serve diverse communities and low-income people. Local hospitals host Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets at Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Everyone’s Harvest pioneered access to several public nutrition benefits at its farmers’ markets for everyone to access fresh, local, and organic foods.

In 2012, Everyone’s Harvest was presented with Edible Monterey Bay magazine’s nonprofit “Local Hero” award and in 2013 the Monterey County Weekly newspaper named Iris as one of the “25 for the Next 25” movers and shakers in Monterey County. Iris is always quick to point out, “My success is not just my own. It’s because of everyone involved. It’s about a movement. It’s about food justice.”

Today at Everyone’s Harvest:Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Marina, CA, July 10, 2020 — Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’’ Markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas are all open and going strong while adhering to all state and local health and safety guidelines.

Everyone’s Harvest Markets are open Sundays in Marina, Mondays in Pacific Grove, Tuesdays in Alisal, Wednesdays at Natividad Medical Center and Fridays at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System (SVMHS), all in Salinas, with fruits and vegetables, local honey, fresh eggs, and more.

Alisal’s market, which is located at Women, Infants And Children (WIC) offices at 632 East Alisal St., is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, and features three farmers, WIC program for healthy families, and all markets now match P-EBT (special Pandemic EBT funds distributed recently) for Market Match, to increase EBT customers’ spending power.

Natividad’s market, open Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Natividad Medical Center at 1441 Constitution Blvd., has added Perfect Crumb Bakery, Frutas Frescas Barajas, and Locally Roasted Coffee back this week, joining Stackhouse Orchards of San Joaquin Valley, offering dried tree fruits and almonds; Gallardo’s Organic Farm in Salinas, offering vegetable row crops and strawberries; and Golden Flowers, offering fresh-cut flowers.

Both markets are smaller, modified markets with social distancing plans in place. All markets have strict social distancing and thorough sanitation plans in place.

SVMHS, open on Fridays from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., at 450 East Romie Lane, brought back Mai Thai cuisine, Chava's Roasted Corn and Baked Potatoes, and this week, Maido Sushi and Teriyaki.

The Marina Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 215 Reservation Road, in Marina. The Pacific Grove Certified Farmers’ Market is held from 3 to 7 p.m. every Monday at the corner of Central and Grand avenues, in Pacific Grove.

Fruits and vegetables currently in season include peaches and nectarines, a few tomato varieties, summer squash, fresh strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and avocados.

All markets are continually adding more vendors. The Pacific Grove market now includes:

>Chef Ron Mendoza’s Seaside-based Ad Astra Bread Co. — Offers fresh-baked sourdough, rustic breads, baguettes, flatbreads, pretzels, focaccia, coffee cake, and cinnamon rolls.

>Garlicville's Best Salsa — Offers fresh salsa made with Gilroy garlic in mild, medium, and hot.

>Also, Kirk Williams Avocados are back.

Marina market now includes:

>Honey from MockaBees Aromas Apiary in Aromas.

Both PG and Marina markets now include:

>Susan Carter’s The Perfect Crumb Bakery in Monterey — Offers a variety of breakfast and dessert pastries, from scones and croissants to cookies, brownies, pies and cupcakes.

>San Leandro-based Hummus Heaven — Brothers Mourad and Tarek Cherif source local and seasonal ingredients from farmers markets to offer 17 flavors of hummus and many accompanying food items, including tapenades, grape leaves, pita chips, and more. Traditional techniques and small-batch productions are employed at their kitchen to give their products a North-African and Mediterranean flavor.

New vendors at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System:

>Ledesma Family Farms organics from Holllister, Gustine and Watsonville.

At all markets:

> Stackhouse Orchards in the San Joaquin Valley is back with peaches, nectarines, and almonds.

>Taco trucks.

Coordinating markets and the Fresh Rx program is new market program manager, Karen Gomez.

Gomez graduated last year from CSU-Monterey Bay with a degree in Collaborative Health & Human Services and an interdisciplinary concentration of Public Administration/Nonprofit Management and Community Health. She is now pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at San Jose State University.

Gomez has been involved with various nonprofits for the past few years, and has enjoyed being able to apply the skills and knowledge she learned in school to real world challenges. She hopes to continuously help her community and make a difference. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, hiking and taking spontaneous trips.

And for convenience, safety and avoiding lines, consumers can pre-order their goods from markets in Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas by scanning a QR code with their smart phones located on the website at everyonesharvest.org. More info is also available at the green Everyone's Harvest info booth at each market.

As always, safety is a top concern at all Everyone’s Harvest markets.

“A healthy and safe farmers' market is our number-one priority,” said Everyone’s Harvest Executive Director Reid Norris. “Our farmers and vendors, like many small businesses in the community, rely on your continued support to bring you necessary services like fresh food and produce. We are doing this to support local farmers and give people a nutritious option for produce. So if you are able to, please keep supporting us.”

Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets are adhering to guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets, and are operating under an order from the County of Monterey Health Department determining that certified farmers’ markets are “essential businesses” exempt from the “Shelter in Place” order by the Health Department that went into effect on March 18, 2020.

“Everyone's Harvest is working closely with Monterey County Health Department and the cities of Marina, Pacific Grove and Salinas to best serve the community,” said Norris. “We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation, and we have implemented a plan of action for our markets.”

The plan of action includes the following:

•All vendors will receive Monterey County's Guidelines for Retail Food Establishments and we will be closely monitoring vendor operations.

•Everyone’s Harvest asks that all vendors, farmers, and customers not attend the market if they are sick with fever, sneezing, or coughing.

• Best Practices: Market operations will be conducted in accordance with guidelines created in collaboration with Monterey County Health Department, California Department of Public Health, and California Alliance of Farmers' Markets for farmers’ markets operating during shelter in place. This document will be made available at the market as well, and it recommends heightened measures such as extra space between stands, whenever possible, and disallowing sampling or prepared foods at the markets.

•Helping with Prevention: Hand sanitizer will be offered at the Information Booth, and Everyone's Harvest will monitor and, if necessary, restrict attendance so that the market attendees can maintain “social distancing” recommended by the California Department of Public Health. Market attendees are encouraged to keep 6 feet of personal space between themselves. Sanitizing solution will be used regularly at the Information Booth for any frequently touched items or equipment.

•Vendors will wear gloves whenever possible and wash their hands frequently (handwashing is available at all EH markets). Sampling of products is discontinued until further notice.

•Everyone’s Harvest is following all updates given on COVID-19, including guidance from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Monterey County Health Department, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local health officials.

•Everyone’s Harvest is changing its usual layout of its farmers’ markets in order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible. (See below.)

“We will continue to take the actions necessary to help protect the community,” said Norris. “Specifically, if we are notified of a staff member, vendor, or participant testing positive for COVID-19, they will be suspended from any of our certified farmers’ markets until they are medically cleared.”

In order to increase the amount of social distancing as much as possible, Everyone’s Harvest has changed its usual layout of its farmers’ markets.

The new layout splits the market into a waiting zone and a shopping/produce area.

There is a limit of 10 people maximum in the produce area and a limit to the number of people around a booth at one time, with the 6-foot social distancing parameters in effect. Unless a vendor has a two-tent setup, each vendor is limited to one customer at a time.

There are sanitizing station/table set up with wipes and hand sanitizer for customers to use before approaching vendor booths.

Each market will have a list of what produce is being sold by the vendors that day and displaying it at a writing station so shoppers can write their grocery list with the items available and then be in and out of the market as quickly as possible.

Market managers will be on hand to assist customers with their shopping, maintaining the 6-foot rule and making sure shoppers aren’t waiting too long in the waiting area.

Social distancing at Everyone’s Harvest Farmers’ Markets, per California Department of Public Health Guidelines:

Space booths accordingly to increase social distancing among patrons in line and walking about the market.
Ensure that social distancing of six feet per person for non-family members is maintained and make clear that family members [and households] can participate in activities together, stand in line together, etc.
Limit the number of customers at any given time as necessary to reduce outdoor/indoor crowding and lines to meet social distancing guidance.
Increase cleaning and sanitizing frequency of restroom and other high contact areas.
Train employees on best hygiene practices including washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Offer additional hand washing or sanitizing stations throughout the venue.
Eliminate events/marketing that target individuals that the CDPH has identified as higher risk of serious illness for COVID-19.
Encourage activities such as pre-bagging to expedite purchasing.
Suspend sampling activities.
Increase frequency of cleaning of tables, payment devices, and other surfaces.
Eliminate non-essential/non-related services, such as bands or other entertainment.
At the end of the market, continue to utilize local food recovery systems to feed/donate extra products to populations in need.
If applicable, continue accepting EBT payment.

For more information, go to www.everyonesharvest.org or call (831) 384-6961.

About Everyone’s Harvest
Everyone’s Harvest was founded in 2002 by Iris Peppard building on her capstone project as a student at California State University Monterey Bay. Since then, the small nonprofit has grown into a robust, values-driven 501(c)3 organization. It operates five certified farmers’ markets and is a catalyst for health-related programs across Monterey County.

The mission is to provide access to healthy, affordable fruits and vegetables through certified farmers’ markets and community food programs. The vision is for every community to have a fair and sustainable food system.

In 2008, Pacific Grove chose Everyone’s Harvest as the organization to run their community farmers’ market. This opportunity was a turning point for Everyone’s Harvest, leading to increased collaborations and partnerships.

More than 2,000 families are served weekly by Everyone’s Harvest markets in Salinas, Marina, and Pacific Grove – with more than 25 small and mid-scale farmers serving them. Everyone’s Harvest takes pride in the growing community of people who value organic food and rely on Everyone’s Harvest for access to local fresh fruits and vegetables.

The farmers’ market locations serve diverse communities and low-income people. Local hospitals host Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets at Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System. Everyone’s Harvest pioneered access to several public nutrition benefits at its farmers’ markets for everyone to access fresh, local, and organic foods.

In 2012, Everyone’s Harvest was presented with Edible Monterey Bay magazine’s nonprofit “Local Hero” award and in 2013 the Monterey County Weekly newspaper named Iris as one of the “25 for the Next 25” movers and shakers in Monterey County. Iris is always quick to point out, “My success is not just my own. It’s because of everyone involved. It’s about a movement. It’s about food justice.”

Today at Everyone’s Harvest:

Over 50 percent of Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets farmers are certified organic and come from within a 100-mile radius of Monterey County.
All five of our Certified Farmers’ Markets serve low-income communities and accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), the modern day food stamp.
Two of our Certified Farmers’ Markets are partnerships with medical institutions – Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System – who both partner in the Fresh Rx program.
The organization offers free space to other nonprofits, community groups, and government entities at its markets for public outreach.

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

Over 50 percent of Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets farmers are certified organic and come from within a 100-mile radius of Monterey County.
All five of our Certified Farmers’ Markets serve low-income communities and accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), the modern day food stamp.
Two of our Certified Farmers’ Markets are partnerships with medical institutions – Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System – who both partner in the Fresh Rx program.
The organization offers free space to other nonprofits, community groups, and government entities at its markets for public outreach.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://everyonesharvest.org/
Today at Everyone’s Harvest:

Over 50 percent of Everyone’s Harvest Certified Farmers’ Markets farmers are certified organic and come from within a 100-mile radius of Monterey County.
All five of our Certified Farmers’ Markets serve low-income communities and accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), the modern day food stamp.
Two of our Certified Farmers’ Markets are partnerships with medical institutions – Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System – who both partner in the Fresh Rx program.
The organization offers free space to other nonprofits, community groups, and government entities at its markets for public outreach.

Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
https://everyonesharvest.org/ low-income communities and accept Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), the modern day food stamp.
Two of our Certified Farmers’ Markets are partnerships with medical institutions – Natividad Medical Center and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System – who both partner in the Fresh Rx program.
The organization offers free space to other nonprofits, community groups, and government entities at its markets for public outreach.

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

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Cinnamon Shore Announces Rare, Newly Renovated Gulf-Front Home Hitting the Market This Week

Buyers looking for Gulf-Front property within driving distance of major Texas cities should know about this opportunity to get the coastal lifestyle from homeowners who perfected it.

Port Aransas, Texas, July 10, 2020 - Those who know Cinnamon Shore―the upscale, New Urbanist development on the outskirts of Port Aransas, Texas―know there is only one row of fewer than 20 homes that have direct Gulf views. Owners rarely put these Gulf-front tier homes on the market, but this week, a stunning, recently renovated, 4-story masterpiece will be listed.


Nestled behind protective dunes, 186 Seaside Drive offers almost 5,000 square feet of living space, with five bedrooms, three main living areas, and a top-floor tower and bunk area; an additional 1,600 square feet of porches and decks; and 550 square feet of garage and storage space. Furthermore, the seller will give the buyer the opportunity to complete the coastal lifestyle with first rights to purchase a 35-foot Boston whaler, boat slip, and airplane/boat hangar nearby.

“This is an incredible opportunity to have the Gulf-front lifestyle of your dreams—in an instant,” said Jodi Peters, broker at Cinnamon Shore Realty. “These types of homes rarely make it to the market, and we anticipate high interest.”

Listed at $2.7 million, the residence is built atop Gulf-front property that’s in very short supply in Texas, and the home has value that goes beyond its incredible architecture, interiors and Gulf-front views. “People purchase these types of homes because they want to give their families a place to gather and memories for a lifetime,” Peters said.

Yet the home’s design represents thoughtful consideration of how to enjoy every aspect of beachfront living, and the renovations and additions completed in 2015, before Hurricane Harvey, and after 2018, post Harvey, make it an even more incredible value. The home has undergone extensive cosmetic updates, including new exterior paint, interior paint refreshes, the addition of a Sub-Zero refrigerator to the already incredible kitchen, and refinished and newly stained hardwoods. It also has upgrades that increase its longevity in coastal conditions, including:

New systems, such as the air conditioning system with three units and a whole house dehumidifier
New Marvin windows and door
New foam insulation in attic and walls
New exterior siding with “air barrier” membrane
New Trex composite patio and steps
Newly done work on the metal roof
Cinnamon Shore Realty can share other recent renovations, including details on new landscaping and new window treatments.

Throughout the home, handsome woodwork and trim, coffered ceilings, and other details convey sophistication in a still-relaxed coastal scheme. With a main living space on the ground floor for easy access, Gulf views from all top-floor bedrooms, and extras such as a “man-cave” with its own mini-fridge and freezer, this house meets multi-generational vacation needs and represents a standard of luxury not often found on the Texas Gulf Coast.

To learn more about 186 Seaside Drive, contact Cinnamon Shore Realty at 361-749-185, email jodi@cinnamonshore.com, or view the listing [link to come]. For more about the community, visit cinnamonshore.com.

About Cinnamon Shore
Cinnamon Shore is a pedestrian-friendly planned community nestled behind the protective dunes on Mustang Island along the Texas Gulf Coast. It is the first new urbanism development for Sea Oats Group, which is fulfilling its vision of a traditional seaside village with a wide array of amenities and recreational facilities intertwined with beach cottages, luxury villas and vibrant town centers. Now comprised of two communities – the original, Cinnamon Shore North, and its new, 150-acre, Gulf-side expansion, Cinnamon Shore South – every detail of the master plan for both is designed to embrace the natural ambience of Mustang Island and the slow-paced charm of a walkable neighborhood. For more information, visit http://www.CinnamonShore.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@CinnamonShore).

About Sea Oats Group
Port Aransas-based Sea Oats Group is one of the most successful developers of coastal properties in any market nationwide, including the Texas Gulf Coast, where the value of its beachfront portfolio is unequalled. The firm is dedicated to creating traditional neighborhood developments that provide residents with the highest possible quality of life, while preserving the integrity of the resort landscapes they occupy. By combining living spaces with retail areas in a walkable, connected plan, Sea Oats Group weaves together beautiful places to live, work and play. For more information, visit www.SeaOatsGroup.com.

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