Soledad performance of "The Woman who Outshone the Sun" not to be missed!

Don't miss the last performance of "The Woman who Outshone the Sun," a cautionary tale of Zapotec origins adapted to the stage by Luis Xago Juarez of Baktun 12 and set it in the Pinnacles region near Soledad.

The play captures the spirit of the original cautionary tale and celebrates caring for the land and creatures of this unique environment, and it's performed by Soledad students from the 4th, 5th and 6th grades.

Two hundred twenty students from five after-school sites in Soledad worked with a special Arts Council for Monterey County interdisciplinary teaching artist team for several months to create the original musical. They also created backdrops and costumes as part of the program. Many will participate in the final show presented at Frank Ledesma Elementary School on Thursday at 7 pm.

“This has been such a great year - thanks to all of our partners. Now that we are ready to showcase their talents, we are so excited that all these elements have come together so well!” said in a statement Ellen Berrahmoun, arts education director of the Arts Council. Team teaching artists include Emily Morales (theater), Carlos Cortez (theater), Jose Ortiz (visual arts), Orlando Castro (music) and Christy Sandoval (dance).

The performance takes place at 7 pm. on Thursday, May 26, at Frank Ledesma Elementary School: 973 Vista De Soledad, Soledad. Not to be missed!

Marina teens (and beyond): this photography workshop is for you!

Monterey County Free Libraries will be holding a five-day photography mini-camp for teens during the spring break of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. The workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. the week of March 30 to April 3rd at the Marina Branch Library.

Local professional photographer Steve Zmak will be leading the mini-camp. Steve is a native Californian who has been capturing the natural beauty of Monterey County for many years. His book“A Year in the Vineyard” captures the beauty of one of the largest industries in the county.

This camp is free and space is limited. Teens interested in participating should apply at the Marina branch. Participants will learn essential and advanced photography skills using personal cameras, cell phones, and DSLR cameras. Photo editing skills using Adobe software will also be taught. The camp will include walking field trips to take photographs at local parks and Marina State Beach.

Following the workshop the Marina branch will host an artist reception and art show highlighting the works created by participants on April 11th at 4pm. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information contact the Marina branch library at (831) 883-7507.

Monterey County schools get after school grants

It used to be that Monterey County schools received millions of dollars in after school grant. Sadly, the pot has dried out, but two schools still managed to get some money.

The California Department of Education just announced that Jesse G. Sanchez Elementary in the Alisal Union School District will get $43,650 for its after-school program. Also, El Camino Real Science and Technology Academy on the Greenfield Union Elementary School District will get $8,100.

Given their multi-million dollar budgets, the money doesn't seem like much, but at least is something, right?

Of the Alisal, after-school programs, and journalists taking sides

Journalists are not supposed to take sides. I'm in luck, because regarding this issue, I'm truly torn up, so I won't even have to.

The issue I'm referring to is the brouhaha du jour at the Alisal. Namely, the administrator's decision to drop Yosal, the classical music program based on El Sistema, to replace it with more culturally sensitive ballet folklórico. Read about it here.

Superintendent John Ramirez says the decision is based on economics. The $95,000 now in place for Yosal could be used to fund ballet folklórico, and serve four times as many children as the Yosal program.

I can see where Ramirez and the board are coming from. When you live in a poor community, where resources are scarce, you want to maximize them. From that perspective, the decision to ditch Yosal in favor of something more economical and more inclusive seems reasonable.

But the classical music buff in me sees it differently. El Sistema has a proven track record of creating greatness, as seen in L.A. Symphony Conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Bolivarian Orchestra. Just this week, the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar de Venezuela and the Coral Nacional Juvenil Simón Bolívar de Venezuela took Salzburg by storm during its prominent cultural festival. Read all about it here.

Dilemmas, dilemmas. Do you fund a world class program for a few of your children, in the hopes that they'll have a shot of reaching unimaginable heights? Or do you fund grass-roots programs just to keep them entertained?

If you had five children, would you sacrifice four of them to send one to the best university in the world? Or would you treat them all equally and send them to affordable community colleges? (Which are perfectly fine, by the way).

It's a tough one for me. I would absolutely love to see the next Dudamel come out of the Alisal. Imagine the glory.

But I'd also love to see gang violence eradicated. I'd love to see fewer deaths, fewer children in jail.

Somebody with deep pockets out there, please, step up and fund Yosal for the Alisal!

Little Bellas camp, for the budding cyclists

The Sea Otter Classic is not just for adults. Girls ages 8 through 14 can participate in a one, two or three day cycling camp, with some scholarships available.

Girls will hone their mountain biking skills, whether they are brand new or ready for a new challenge. The focus will be having fun and improving skills, and girls will be grouped by age and ability.

An additional focus will be feeling right at home at the Sea Otter Classic, mountain biking’s biggest festival and one of the world’s largest bike festivals. Girls will have a full-access pass for Sea Otter festival activities, and they’ll have the chance to meet and learn from mentors who are among the world biking community’s favorite pros.

The Little Bellas Day Camp takes place April 19. Day camp scholarships are available.

For a scholarship application, send an email to: sabe@littlebellas.com

To register for camp, click here to go to the Sea Otter Classic website.

A team of Salinas-based Riptide All Stars earned a spot in the 2013 Cheerleading Worlds Event in Orlando, Florida, to take place the end of April.



The team competed this past weekend at the PacWest Cheerleading and Dance Championships in Portland, OR and walked away with a second place finish.

You can view Riptide Rage’s performance here.

The Cheerleading Worlds competition takes place April 27-29, 2013 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. Riptide All Stars is in its 9th year, and many of the kids on the team have been cheering with gym owner Sarah Diehl since the inception of Riptide All Stars. The team consists of 24 athletes and 3 alternates from as far away as Sacramento, however most athletes are from the Monterey/Salinas area.

“Our season started in disarray with a robbery at the gym where thieves stole over $10,000 worth of equipment,” said Diehl, “But it’s ending on a high note and we couldn’t be prouder of all our athletes and entire Riptide family.”

Go Riptide athletes! Good luck in Florida!

ACT Young Conservatory to offer classes at the Steinbeck Center

The National Steinbeck Center will be hosting ACT Young Conservatory classes at One Main Street in Salinas starting February 26 through April 23, 2013.

ACT is an award-winning conservatory, where students ages 8 to 19 develop their talents and gain the confidence to succeed, all in a creative, fun, and encouraging environment. The teachers are all ACT graduates and theater professionals who understand and have a passion for working with young people.

This is an opportunity for local youth to participate in a program that has only been available in San Francisco. ACT's Young Conservatory alumni include, Darren Criss (Glee), Milo Ventimiglia, Winona Ryder, and Nicolas Cage.

First Session: Acting Techniques
Tuesdays from February 26 through April 23
From 4 to 5:30 p.m. and from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Cost: $200 per student; future sessions will cost $250.

For more information, click here or call (831)775-4728.