Saturday, February 15, 2025 3-4:30 – “Hearts and Heritage Valentines High Tea” at beautiful Casa Serano, 412 Pacific Street, prepared by Rosemary and Thyme High Teas. $65. Enjoy this lovely British tradition in elegant surroundings while supporting this fundraiser for Monterey History and Art. Reservations required at www.rosemaryandthymehighteas.com. Silent auction of three Rosemary and Thyme gift baskets. Proceeds of the tea and auction go to the fund to replace the roof at Casa Serano.
Saturday, February 22, 2025, 4-7 pm Chocolate and Wine Fundraiser at the Monterey Public Library. Enjoy great food, wine, and chocolate from local sponsors at this fun event that helps support the public library. $75. Silent auction opportunity to bid on great events and items. Buy tickets online at https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/ADTXIcIObyDMZ4rcAwlK6PfDoLg?reason=norrinuser.
Thursday, February 27, 5:00-8:30 “Wildfire Ready” Monterey Town Hall Meeting at the Monterey Conference Center Serra Ballroom. Hear from Monterey City Fire, Police, Forestry, Building Safety, PGE, Cal Am, SPCA and more. Parking will be validated at the Downtown West Garage and the East Garage on Tyler Street. Don’t miss this panel discussion with wildfire experts.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025, 7 pm – Old Town Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting at MIIS McKone Building Conference Room, 499 Pierce Street/corner of Jefferson. Mayor Tyller Williamson will be our speaker at this annual meeting, open to the entire community. Bring your questions, as this is a chance to address local issues. We will also have our election for the seven directors on Old Town Neighborhood Association’s Board of Directors. As of this writing, we have seven candidates who have indicated they will run for the board (alphabetically): Phyllis Bussey, Mary Grove, Joyce Haferman, Susan Ricketson, Gari Soule’, Nancy Soule’ and Max Troyer. If you are interested in running for a board position or serving on a board committee, please let us know, as we always welcome new people!
Sunday, March 16, 2025, 3 pm – Celebration and Sendoff of The Western Flyer from Monterey Old Fisherman’s Wharf, marking the 85 years since John Steinbeck, Ed Ricketts, and their crew embarked on their now-famous journey to the Gulf of California. The boat will retrace the route, before returning home in mid-June.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
MIIS Student Housing Needed! Do you have an extra bedroom in your house or a local rental? Consider renting to a Middlebury Institute of International Studies (MIIS) student! The housing crisis in Monterey is deeply affecting our student population with low inventory and high prices. We are reaching out to our community to form partnerships with local landlords and homeowners. For more information, go to this link: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGb0hGd1Qk/V0hDlFvuILlZKtzRyIWIcQ/view?utm_content=DAGb0hGd1Qk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hba13c991dc. Still have questions? Contact the MIIS Landlord Coordinator Naomi Braswell at nbraswell@middlebury.edu or at (831) 647-4120.
Free Wharf Walks by Maritime Historian Tim Thomas the first Saturday of every month from 10am to noon. Hear and experience a two hour cultural maritime history tour, with themes changing monthly. Meet at the head of Old Fisherman’s Wharf near the pink Harbor House store. Free, but advance reservations are required and can be made by contacting Tim Thomas at 831-521-3304 or by email at timsardine@yahoo.com. Participants must be 10 and above with a maximum group of 15 people.
The Presidio Museum of Monterey is open Saturdays and Sundays 10-4 pm – Learn the fascinating history of our Presidio, including the early indigenous settlers, the founding of the fort, the history during three wars, and the history of the Buffalo Soldiers. An interpretive walk with great views of the bay lead up to the Sloat Monument. You can take a short cut from Van Buren over the creek bridge to reach it from Old Town. Free. Please consider volunteering as a docent for this great museum!
Second Saturdays, 9-10 and 10:30-11:30 am- Tours of Ed Ricketts Pacific Biological Laboratory subject to availability. “Doc Ricketts” was featured prominently in John Steinbeck’s novels about Cannery Row, and the lab at 600 Cannery Row was the site where the idea of a Monterey Jazz festival was born. Tours are free, but limited in size. As waiting lists fill quickly, this item is listed as announcements so you can reserve in advance at this link: https://montereypl.libcal.com/calendar/pbl?cid=15157&t=g&d=0000-00-00&cal=15157&inc=0. You are also welcome to drop by without a reservation to self-tour this historic site from 12-4 pm on the second Saturday.
Casa Serano, the historic adobe at 412 Pacific Street, is now open for free visits on Saturday and Sunday 2-4 pm. Docents can help you learn the interesting history of this adobe built in 1843, as you peruse the art and furnishings.
Old Town Neighborhood Association’s website is LIVE! Visit oldtownmonterey.org for the latest on events, issues, and to find the Historic Homes self-guided walk featuring historic homes in our Old Town neighborhood. Photos of the July 13 picnic are now posted on the social page of the website.
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND CLUBS
Are you interested in finding others with your interests? Below are some of the other local organizations that welcome new members:
American Association of University Women – This national organization promotes equity for women in the workplace and in education. In addition to supporting education through scholarships, they have book clubs, social events, monthly speakers, a Romancing the Coast monthly adventure, a hiking/walking group, and other interesting events. See http://mpb-ca.aauw.net for more information.
Monterey Civic Club – Founded in 1906, the club owns and meets monthly at the House of the Four Winds, located at 540 Calle Principal. This beautiful and historic adobe is believed to be the oldest women’s clubhouse in continuous use in the United States. Members meet the first Tuesday of each month for lunch and a social program ($25), often with a speaker of importance to members. Contact (831) 747-1072 for more information.
Gentrain Society is an organization for life-long learners. They generally meet the first and third Wednesdays from 1:30-2:30 at the Monterey Peninsula College Lecture Forum #103. Lectures are free and open to the public (except $3.00 parking fee). Topics range from drama, history, and understanding civilizations and more. Courses are also offered, along with trips organized for special events. Note: Gentrain has arranged a special bus trip to tour the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento on October 27. For more information, visit gentrain.org – Special events.
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| Not Yet a Member of Old Town Neighborhood Association? Annual membership dues are just $20 for two adults in your household which covers the calendar year in which paid. Your dues help support social events and technical costs of website, Zoom meetings, and newsletter. Members can be renters, owners or landlords of a property in Old Town. Learn how to become a member on our website! If you have any questions, contact us! All residents living above Pacific St between the creek near Madison and the Presidio/DLI are eligible. Checks to OTNA can be mailed, along with your names, address, phone and email to our address below. Old Town Neighborhood Association P O Box 724, Monterey, CA 93942 |
This information is being shared as a service by Old Town Neighborhood Association. Information is presumed accurate, but is not guaranteed, and always subject to change. Visit our website at oldtownmonterey.org.