This Week on the Central Coast...
Watsonville's arts are highlighted, MPC is celebrating its 75th anniversary, Jeninni Kitchen + Wine Bar sold to a familiar chef, and Skyler the Surf Dog needs our help.
MPC celebrated its 75th anniversary
The celebration included food and carnival games, along with live music and other activities.
Monterey Peninsula College shared some notable moments in its history. In the summer of 1949, the first degrees were presented to thirty-four graduates. Ten years later, Jackie Williams ran the “100-yard dash in 9.7 seconds, a school record that still stands today”. Over the next thirty years, MPC played host to many notable figures in history, including Eleanor Roosevelt (1960), Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1961), Ansel Adams (1970), and Rosa Parks (1990).
The celebrations will continue throughout the next year, with events already scheduled through May 2023.
Skyler the Surfing Dog needs help
“Skyler is a Therapy Surf Dog for Waves of Impact working with Children with disabilities and A volunteer for OperationSurf working with wounded veterans!” A tumor was recently found on her heart after she won the World Dog Surfing Contest in Pacifica. The tumor must be removed promptly and her surgery is scheduled for today (9/12).
Her owner, Homer Henard (a Santa Cruz local who’s surfed with her since she was a puppy), is asking for help to cover her surgery and rehabilitation costs. Skyler’s GoFundMe has currently (as of 9/8) raised around $11,000 out of the $20,000 goal.
“Any prayers and happy thoughts are appreciated! Any donation amount that you can contribute would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, in advance for any support you can offer to help with Skyler’s medical care.”
Caltrans wants to renovate downtown Watsonville
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has committed $25 million towards the renovation of Main Street in Watsonville. The proposed project would attempt to change the downtown area “from a car-centric expressway to a pedestrian-friendly destination where a person can live, shop, play and eat without having to hop in a car.”
Caltrans and Watsonville acknowledged that the plan will likely have some pushback, especially since the proposed plan would remove one lane from Main Street, “call for separated bike lanes, parklets and widened sidewalks, and for changing the traffic patterns on Beach Street and Lake Avenue from one way to two-way roads.”
If the project gets approved, the planning process can begin. Watsonville’s Principal Engineer, Murray Fontes, stated that the planning itself may take around 10 years to complete, though he noted that it may be an overestimate.
Watsonville continues to grow as an art community
Last month, Pajaro Valley Arts (PVA), finalized its purchase of the Porter Building in downtown Watsonville. The building’s first floor will be used as a gallery and a small performing venue. The upstairs areas will be artist studios, offices, and workshops.
Not far from the Porter Building is the new hub for the Watsonville Center for the Arts. “WCA has started out as a collective of established dance, music and theater groups. Some have been active in the community for decades but never had a permanent practice space.” Several groups , such as The Whitehawk Dancers, are excited to finally have a set location to perform and practice after “bouncing around…from school parking lots, cafeterias, the Vets Hall. It’s been tough. When the Arts Council came to us with this idea, it was the biggest blessing ever.”
The Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) is another organization that has been steadily growing. Despite not having a permanent home, the WFF has still managed to present a film festival every year. The group also launched Cine se Puede last year, which supports local filmmakers by funding projects, teaching participants how to “pitch stories and projects, improve proposals, budgets, marketing and more.”
Santa Cruz County has always been known for its support for the arts, though funding has historically been hard to come by. Now, a statewide proposition will be on the ballot in November that can help change that. Prop 28 (also called Californians for Arts and Music in Schools) would dedicate “$1 billion annually from the state’s general fund to arts and music education in public institutions, without raising taxes. 70% of the funding will be allocated to every public school based on enrollment, and the remaining 30% will be given to schools serving economically disadvantaged students and communities, such as Watsonville.”
PVA director, Valeria Miranda, encourages other local communities to come to Watsonville to see an event. “You might go to the ballet every year, so why not check out folklorico?” she says. “Try something you’ve never tried before. I guarantee you’re going to be amazed.”
New owners at Jeninni Kitchen + Wine Bar
Jeninni has been a unique staple in Pacific Grove, offering “inventive pan-Mediterranean fusion fare to go with uncommon wines”. The restaurant featured a fusion of Spanish and Middle Eastern cuisine, such as smoked lamb mollete sandwiches and persimmon pudding flan, a culinary experience not seen in PG before.
And now, after nearly ten years of business, Jeninni is being sold to Jerry Regester and Gail Grammatico. The pair each have their own extensive resume and most recently worked together at Rise + Roam in Carmel-by-the-Sea. The business officially changes over on September 15, though its founder, Thamin Saleh, will stay aboard for an extra month to help the transition.
“Regester and Grammatico plan to better understand the space with Saleh’s guidance and keep the existing flavors in place while deploying some specials.” Regester plans to eventually add his own flair to the menu, as well as offering catering options (the restaurant has a back room with a stage, bar, and movie theater components).
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