This Week on the Central Coast…
Clint Eastwood honored at the Jazz Fest, lots of help for nonprofits, and a couple festivals in Salinas and Santa Cruz
Monterey
Clint Eastwood Awarded Cultural Leadership Award
On Sunday, Clint Eastwood was given the Cultural Leadership Award at the Monterey Jazz Festival. The award was presented by Morgan Freeman and recognizes Eastwood’s many contributions to culture and the arts. He was a prime candidate for the award due to his longtime support of jazz music and the Jazz Festival, his many contributions to film and film scores, and his ties to the Central Coast.
“Housing for Kids” Fund Helping Homeless Youth
The Housing for Kids Fund is partnering with the Monterey County Office of Education in hopes of combating youth homelessness. The partnership will help families in several ways, including financial and educational support. Additionally, the program provides advocacy and community representation for homeless youth. All of these efforts are designed to create a supportive environment for homeless students, which could lead to success in school and in life overall.
Programs like these are important for our area. In 2024, about 2,436 people were homeless. That’s an increase from 2023 and the highest since 2017.
If you would like to contribute to these programs, you can do so by donating directly to the Housing for Kids Fund on their website.
Salinas
Salinas Rodeo Sets a New Record for Nonprofit Donations
This year, the Salinas Rodeo set a new record for the amount of money it donated to local nonprofits, industry groups, and community organizations. The $796,337 is 3.28% more than last year.
The donation money was raised by various means throughout the rodeo, such as parking fees and concessions. The funds will support a wide range of improvements across the beneficiaries, including funding uniforms, improvements to facilities, transportation, scholarships, training, and education.
The increase in donations was driven by new events and expanded benefits to organizations partnered with the California Rodeo Salinas.
The 115th rodeo is scheduled for July 17-20, 2025.
Second Annual Cervezalandia in Oldtown
Last weekend marked the second annual Cervezalandia Festival in Oldtown Salinas.
The event was a celebration of the talent and culture of Mexican and Chicano-owned breweries in the area and beyond. Featured breweries included local favorites like La Cantina Brewing Company from Salinas, Hillside Brewing Company from Santa Cruz, and Buena Vista Brewing Company from Watsonville. The beers on offer included a variety of unique flavors, such as mango, tamarind, and chocolate.
Cervezalandia was designed to be fun for all, whether indulging in beers or not. A variety of local food trucks were present, as well as live music and family-friendly activities.
Santa Cruz
AI Vs. Human Comic Roast Battle
The Santa Cruz Comedy Festival begins this week. The annual event features performances across seventeen different venues and over sixty different comedians. To open the festival, The Blue Lagoon will feature a unique roast battle between comedian Dashiell Renaud and an AI that is programmed to learn and adapt as it goes. Renaud is known for his unique blend of rap and comedy. The event is a concept created by Harmon Leon, who has an extensive background in comedy, writing, and filmmaking.
Other notable comics performing in the festival include those seen in Netflix specials, such as Beth Stelling and Moshe Kasher, and seasoned comedians like Louis Katz.
Tickets range from $15 to $40, depending on the event. The Santa Cruz Comedy Festival begins on October 1 and continues through October 5.
Very interesting stuff this week. I didn't know about the comedy. Keep up the hood work