FRIDAY 8 | 12


GUERRILLA GARDENING | CARMEL VALLEY – Join Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee in touring a guerrilla garden, where neighbors transformed a small piece of CalTrans offramp property into a spectacular park. Emily Gogol, founder of San Francisco-based Pennsylvania Street Gardens, presents ideas for creating parks, native plant gardens and other urban green spaces. Noon. Los Laureles Lodge, 313 West Carmel Valley Road. $16 includes lunch. RSVP to 659-2233 or innkeeper@loslaureles.com. 


SAVE THE WHALES | PACIFIC GROVE – Marine Life Studies’ annual “Whale of A Good Time” fundraiser benefits educational programs that get children involved in protecting whales and dolphins in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Auctions, raffle and live music. 6pm. Monterey Bay Educational Center & Benefit Gallery, 153 Fountain Ave. Free. 901-3833, www.marinelifestudies.org. 


DESAL TEST WELL | WATSONVILLE – Coastal Commission considers an application from Cal Am, Monterey County Water Resources Agency and Marina Coast Water District to build a test slant well. The Regional Desalination Project partners are exploring water intake sources for the desal plant. 9am. City Hall, 275 Main St. 588-4112, www.coastal.ca.gov. 


ASSEMBLY OFFICE OPENING | WATSONVILLE – Join Assemblyman Luis Alejo in the grand opening of a new district office. Live music, food and refreshments provided. 4-6pm. 275 Main St., Suite 104. 759-8676. 


MONDAY 8 | 15


NUCLEAR RISKS | SEASIDE – Martin Hellman, professor emeritus of electrical engineering at Stanford University and inventor of public-key and trap-door encryption methods, speaks on past and present obstacles to eliminating nuclear weapons. Sponsored by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and the Peace Coalition of Monterey County. 6:30pm. Peace Resource Center, 1364 Fremont Blvd. Free. 372-5762, www.nuclearrisk.org. 


TUESDAY 8 | 16


TOWN HALL ON PARKS | SEASIDE – The public is invited to discuss community needs and the mission of Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks with Ben Post, who represents Seaside and Sand City on the MPRP board of directors, and General Manager Jim Sulentich. 6-7:30pm. Oldemeyer Center, 986 Hilby Ave. Free. Ben@post-tech.net, www.mprpd.org.