The Monterey County Film Commission board of directors has elected officers for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Gary Bolen will serve as president, with Cheryl Savage as vice president, Julia Avery-Shapiro as secretary, and Sandi Austin, treasurer. Former board president Garland Thompson will serve as the board chairperson.

Bolen, a SAG actor and the retired chair of the Monterey Peninsula College Theater Department, has been a board member for more than three years, and previously served as vice president. He lives in Oak Hills in north Monterey County.

The film commission, which has an office in New Monterey's Lighthouse District, works to boost the economy throughout Monterey County by attracting and assisting on-location film production, handling inquiries and making referrals to crew and local goods and services. Each year an average of $4 million in revenue comes to local communities from more than 100 productions filming throughout the county.

The board is seeking additional volunteer board members with nonprofit or business experience from all parts of Monterey County, especially the Salinas Valley area. For more information, visit our website or call 831-646-0910.

The Library needs your support now more than ever before. As a result of the economic fallout from Covid-19, their funding has been drastically reduced. If you have the ability, you can assist by making a donation to the non-profit Monterey Public Library Friends & Foundation. The Friends & Foundation helps fund new materials, programs, and services that will keep the library a vibrant place to learn and grow.

Historically, the Monterey Public Library has been supported by $3 million each year from the City of Monterey's General Fund. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on hotel tax, sales tax, and other revenue, the City is projecting a deficit of $31 million over the next two years.

Despite these economic challenges, the City will continue to support the Library's core mission with services such as curbside pickup. However, the City cannot currently afford to fund the Library at the same level that it has provided in the past. Without the help of customers and private partners, library hours, new materials, and programs will remain drastically reduced.

Your friendly neighborhood bar, Pearl Hour, is now a mobile bottle shop and cocktail kit delivery service again, Thursday - Sunday. (We also sell non-alcoholic drink mixes.) Let us know what we can put together for you! There's no minimum for delivery - to order, just text us at 831-229-4132, message us on Instagram, or use our online order form and it will be delivered the next day.

Thank you for supporting and loving our new business during the first closure and launch as a bottle delivery service, during our 3 days back open as a neighborhood bar during a pandemic, and from now until we're permitted to open the doors of the bar again at 214 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Play Full Ground has received multiple inquiries about our sardine pillows (#happymontereysardines) lately, so here are some answers to your questions, my friends!

Do you sell the sardine pillows?
Yes! They come in 3 sizes: small ($30), medium ($50), and large ($80). Please visit the Support page on our website for more information.

Do you ship?
Yes! We ship within the U.S. (unless you are willing to pay for the expensive international shipping or secret inexpensive global shipping...please let us know!)

For the U.S. shipping, we use USPS 1-2 day flat rate for the small/medium pillows. For the large pillows, we use other carriers and it takes 3-7 days. (It’s not so cheap as sardines are bulky and we are a small business without a lot of shipping, so we don't get a big discount. Sorry! If you have any inexpensive shipping tips, please share them with us - we love to learn.)

Can I pick up my sardines?
Yes. Play Full Ground is currently closed for walk-in business, but we can arrange your pickup at the studio at 550 Lighthouse Avenue, Suite. E, in Monterey.

Do you deliver?
Maybe...depending on the place! If it's somewhere between Pacific Grove and Marina (and Carmel...maybe Carmel Valley)...the answer is yes and it's free.

Which types of payment do you take?
We accept payment by credit card on our website. We also have accounts with PayPal (hello@playfullground.com) and Venmo (@playfullground) if these are more convenient for you. Also, you can pay with cash or check upon your pick up at Play Full Ground.

Can I have a sardine pillow right now?
I, Play Full Ground owner Mai Ryuno, make your sardines to order to share happiness, joy, and creativity with you! Please allow me a few days to make your sardine pillows before sending them to you.

How can I contact you?
Please feel free to email me if you have questions that are not answered here. Thank you all for your love and support!

Hello friends. Does anyone know this upstanding young lady in the security cam photos at Bombshell Boutique?

We just wanted to remind her that she needs to wear a mask when shopping in our stores and that it's so very very not nice to steal. If you know her, please ask her if she'd be oh so kind to return the items that she didn't pay for.

First she refused to wear a mask. Then she did so begrudgingly when provided with a disposable one. Perhaps she thought that just because the mask was free, all six items she left with must have been free too.

Current Comics now carries these cool new Justice League figures based on the Justice League animated series. They're $28 each. We have all 8 figures at our store, located at 400 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey. Come check them out and be a hero, too - wear a face mask.

Did you know that Cypress Boutique Monterey has a large selection of men’s clothing and accessories? You can find everything from casual, laid-back tops and bottoms to styles for an evening out in sizes Small - 3XL. Plus, their great customer service will make your shopping experience a breeze.

Cypress Boutique Monterey is open Tuesday - Sunday, 11:30am-6:30pm. We're located at 800 Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey.

Sovino's Summer Wine Sale is here! Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant is now closed due to California Public Health Department's most recent restrictions on bars, but we are not idle! We have crazy deals for you at our online store, featuring 25% or more off all bottles of wine. You can choose free local delivery, pick-up by appointment, or shipping.

Not sure what to buy? Don’t hesitate to ask Sovino owner and sommelier Claire Sutton at 831-641-9463. Sovino Wine Bar and Merchant is located at 241 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Save yourself the time, hassle, and mess of making dinner on Friday night by ordering the Cult Cares Weekly Dinner! This take-out meal offers a full dinner for 2 adults for only $52. The menu changes each week, so you get the opportunity to try all the Cult Taco favorites and even new menu items.

Orders are accepted online every week, from Tuesday until Thursday at 12pm, and pick-up is on Friday afternoon. (Availability is limited, so we recommend ordering on Tuesday.) Just visit our online menu and scroll down the page to "Weekly Dinner Series" to order.

The first Cult Cares Weekly dinner includes our famous guacamole, the classic Cult Taco salad, the decadent Oaxacan Chocolate Brownie, and more! Cult Taco is located at 481 Alvarado Street in Downtown Old Monterey.

Jao Refresher Sanitizer is now back in stock at the Shelley Bennett Skincare online store. Formulated with 65% ethyl alcohol, you can kill germs while feeling refreshed with a blend of essential oils. Chamomile, calendula and aloe vera will keep your over-washed hands feeling hydrated.

The 4oz. spray is $14, and the 8 oz. pump is $18. Limit two of each size per order. You can purchase Jao Refreshers at our online store or by calling 831-324-4611.

Shelley Bennett Skincare, locally owned and operated, is located at 588 Houston Street in Monterey.
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Summer is here and at Cafe Lumiere we are trying to make the best out of things during season 5 of “Stay Inside and Wear Your Mask." Our seasonal drink is a sparkling lemonade cold brew. Now doesn't that look good? Call ahead to place your order, 831-920-2451, or order online for a no-contact pick up.

Cafe Lumiere, home of delicious breakfast and lunch dishes, baked goods, and hot and cold drinks, is located at 365 Calle Principal in Downtown Old Monterey.