This Week on the Central Coast
Middlebury students are helping prevent misogyny, Cella Restaurant finally opens (maybe...), PV Arts opened a new exhibit, Seaside HS was awarded for closing the gender gap in computer sciences
Middlebury Institute students move ahead in national competition
Invent2Prevent is a collegiate competition, funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, where teams find ways to “address hate, bias, and extremism through student-built campaigns.” Competing teams are tasked with identifying a form of targeted violence and must create a way of addressing the threats.
The Middlebury team, composed of Courtney Cano and Kaitlyn Tierney, is focused on “male supremacy and how misogyny can give way to extremism.” The pair created the “Diverting Hate” initiative, where people at risk of becoming misogynistic are found online and then redirected “toward healthier conversations and a mental health resource hub.” Middlebury is one of three finalists in the competition.
No matter who wins, all three finalists will be able to continue their work thanks to a year-long sustainment program sponsored by the DHS Center for Prevention Programs. However, the winning team will receive $5,000 to help continue their project. No matter the outcome, the Middlebury team plans to apply for grants and use available resources to further complete their initiative.
The Invent2Prevent final competition will be live-streamed on YouTube on Thursday, February 10, at 4PM.
Cella Restaurant set to open soon
The long-awaited Cella Restaurant may be opening today, January 24. The restaurant is located at the Cooper Molera Adobe in downtown Monterey, across the courtyard from its sister business, Alta Bakery & Cafe.
The kitchen will be run by Chefs Aaron Rayor (formerly working at Cantinetta Luca in Carmel) and Danny Leach (a Folktale veteran). Chef Ben Spungin says they want the space to be “super casual” and “have a neighborhood vibe”. To achieve this, the menu will feature burgers, oysters, hanger steak, chicken, salads, and bread from Alta Bakery. The bar will include a rotation of signature cocktails and an extensive wine list. The walls will be decorated with local art. Keep an eye on their instagram to catch when they open.
“Take Aways: Art to Go” exhibit opened in Watsonville
The exhibit marks the 9th annual fundraising exhibit at the Pajaro Valley Arts gallery, which started January 19. The gallery presents work by 73 different artists, mostly locals. The media ranges from painting and sculptures to glasswork and wax art, as presented by Dag Weiser, who uses corrugated cardboard to make crow sculptures. Each artist was asked to submit four to eight works, all priced under $350. This price allows buyers to purchase art and immediately take it home with them on the same day. The artists and gallery both get commission from any sales made. Additionally, raffle tickets will be available throughout the show’s run. The tickets offer a chance to win some artwork while supporting the gallery; 100% of raffle sales goes to the PVA. The PVA would use these funds to help move to the Porter Building in downtown Watsonville, which would give them more space. “The additional potential it would provide would be amazing,” says Jane Gregorius, curator of the gallery.
The exhibit will run through March 6. It is open Wednesday through Sunday, from 11AM to 4PM. The exhibit is located at 37 Sudden Street in Watsonville.
Seaside High was praised for closing the gender gap in computer science
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women represent only 24% of people working in computing jobs. 67% of new jobs are in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields. Of that 67%, only 11% of workers have bachelor degrees in computer science.
Seaside High was awarded the AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award by The College Board. AP Computer Science Principles show students how technology can solve real-world problems. The program first became available in the 2016-17 semester and currently “Seaside High has 610 students enrolled in computer science classes, 282 of whom are female.” There is a major opportunity for women to expand the computer science field and Seaside High is helping to make that progress.
