The language of MUsic: Come and learn how you are affected by today’s music industry from Brian S. Nuemann beginning Thursday, April 29 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Hollister SDA Church. Call 831-637-5506 for more information.
Miss San Benito Rodeo: Applications for the Miss San Benito Rodeo Contest are available at the Bolado Park Office, Ranchers’ Feed, Chamber of Commerce and McAbee Feed. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, April 30. For more details, call the office at (831) 628-3545.
Scholarship deadline: California Women for Agriculture, Salinas Valley Chapter will be offering two scholarship programs for women in or from Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. The scholarships, women pursuing degrees in agriculture and daughters of farm workers, will be awarded to women pursuing a bachelor’s degree, an associate’s degree or a degree from an accredited trade school. All scholarship applications must be postmarked by May 1 to be considered. For a copy of the application, visit http://www.salinascwa.org or call Kelly O’Grady at 408-782-5009.
SOUTH VALLEY FLEURS GARDEN CLUB: Presents its Second Annual Plant Sale on May 1 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Belle Vie Herb Gardens & Nursery, 14035 Columbet Avenue, San Martin. Master Gardeners will be present to answer your gardening questions. For information call 408-686-0143. Take 101 to San Martin Ave, go east on San Martin Ave to Columbet and then follow signs.
SOuTH valley Symphony: Announces the fourth annual running of the de Anza Trail 8k run/walk event at 8:45 a.m. Saturday, May 1 at the de Anza trailhead on Old Stage Road in San Juan Bautista. This event is one of two fund-raisers benefiting the South Valley Symphony Orchestra. Pre-registration continues until April 26. Entry fees are $13 for registration without a shirt and $20 with a shirt. Registration costs increase afterward to $15 w/o shirt and $25 with. Medals will be awarded to the first three finishers in each age and gender category. Call 408-683-4683 for more information.
Festival: The 20th annual American Indian and World Cultures Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on May 1 and 2 on the Alameda in the San Juan School lot in San Juan Bautista. Artists, dancers, food, and Xipe Totec Aztec Dancers will honor Cinco de Mayo, family, friendship, and fun. Admission for a donation.Sponsored by One Earth One People Peace and Vision and the San Juan Indian Council. Call Peace Vision at 831-245-5440 for more information.
Wine Pairing Dinner: Winemaker Steve Pessagno of Pessagno Winery and will team up with Chef Todd Fisher, chef/proprietor of Hullabaloo and Billy Quon’s to demystify the pairing of wine and food. At this unique interactive dinner, attendees will feast on Chef Todd’s Chilean Day Boat Scallop on the half shell, Sesame Oil Poached Salmon, Prosciutto-Wrapped Venison Loin, Bittersweet Chocolate Crème Brulee and the like while learning how to complement such dishes with Pessagno’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and Port – a culinary concert that will play like a symphony on the palate.
The event will take place Saturday, May 1, starting at 7 p.m. at A Taste of Monterey’s Cannery Row location. For more information call 888-646-5446, ext. 10.
Native daughter luncheon: The Native Daughters of the Golden West, San Juan Bautista Parlor 179 will host a luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 1 at Paine’s restaurant in Hollister. Anyone interested in preserving California missions is welcome to attend. Members from all parlors in district 27, consisting of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties will attend. Reservations can be made by calling Janet Somavia at 628-3376.
san benito oriana chorale: The Oriana Chorale will perform selections from “Oklahoma,” “The King and I,” “South Pacific,” Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cole Porter in its 2004 season. Performances will include a dinner show at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club, 3800 Airline Highway, on Saturday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $37. Two other performances will be on Tuesday, May 25, at San Juan Oaks Golf Club and Wednesday, May 26, at the First Presbyterian Church. Both performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults; $7 for teens. Contributions and ticket orders must be mailed by May 1, with checks payable to the San Benito Oriana Chorale, PO Box 1364, San Juan Bautista, CA 95045. Donations of $50 or more will receive complimentary tickets to the May 25 or 26 shows. For more information, call (831) 637-2848.
Astronomy Night: Pacheco State Park offers Astronomy Night on Saturday, May 1. Local astronomers will be on hand to view stars, planets, nebula, the moon and more. Viewing will begin shortly before sunset and last until 10 p.m. There is a $4 state park day use fee per car. For more information, call Morgan at (209) 826-1196, ext. 534.
Garden Party: Carmel’s unique springtime celebration of poetry, flowers and history – the annual Tor House Garden Party – will be Sunday, May 2, from 2 to 5 p.m. The Crabapples will perform bluegrass music, and Jay Salter will play the Great Highland bagpipe. A silent auction will feature overnight stays at fine resorts, fine dining certificates and more. Docents will be stationed throughout the house, tower and gardens ready to take photographs and share some of the many poems written by renowned Robinson Jeffers, who lived in the Tor House. Tor House is located at 26304 Ocean View Avenue at Carmel Point. Admission to the Garden Party is $15. No advance notice and no children under 12. For more information, call (831) 624-1813.
Working women: The National Women in Construction Pinnacles Chapter #363 will hold a special event from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 2 at Dorothy McNett’s Place for any working woman running out of ideas on what to feed her family. Come join us for a relaxing afternoon with a glass of wine and a treat from Dorothy’s famous kitchen. The cost is $20. For more information or to reserve your spot, contact Dorothy McNett’s Place at 637-6444.
HIstorical society: The San Benito County Historical Society has dusted off about 20 piece of art and will display them for the public’s enjoyment on Sunday, May 2, from 1 to 4 p.m. Several pieces are by well-known local artists. The historical Society is hoping to raise funds to save the piece of historic Terrazzo sidewalk that used to be in front of the State Theater. A $5 donation will be collected at the door. the open studio will be at 498 Fifth St. For more information, call (831) 636-5313.
Cannery Row Block Party: Cannery Row Company and Cannery Row are pairing with Pepsi on Sunday, May 2 to throw Pepsi’s Cannery Row Block Party from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event is free and invites everyone to enjoy a day of fun including food, music, shopping and entertainment. All proceeds from the Pepsi booth sales will be donated to Monterey County Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Cannery Row Foundation. For more information visit the official Cannery Row Web site at www.canneryrow.com.
GIVE BLOOD: The Red Cross Blood Bank will hold a blood drawing Thursday, May 6 from 1:30-6:30 p.m. at the Latter Day Saints Church on 1670 Cienega Road in Hollister. For appointments call 1-800-448-3543 or online at www.beadonor.com.
Make a PSA: Local access television station CMAP is hosting a quarterly PSA Day on Friday, May 7. Nonprofit and government agencies in Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista can create a general PSA with long air-play for free. Call 408-846-4983 for more information.
Chili cook-off: The Salvation Army will sponsor a Chili Cook-off to raise funds for youth and family programs in Hollister. Contestants can pick up an entry form at 910 Buena Vista Road by May 12. Awards will be given for the best four chilis. The Cook-off is scheduled at 5 p.m. on Saturday May 15. Entry to the event costs $5 for adults, $2.50 for children and contestants can enter for free. Call Hermemlinda or Ramon Garcia at 636-5612 for more information.
Spring into Health: The San Benito County Health Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 13 at the Veterans Memorial Building in Hollister. The fair offers seniors and their families a chance to learn more about their health and community resources available that provide support and information. The interactive event will feature speakers, info booths, workshops, breakout sessions and health screenings.Call 831-688-0400 or 831-628-3305 for more information.
