County celebrates National Parks and Recreation Month at Toro Park
SALINAS — Monterey County Parks and Lakes is inviting the community to celebrate National Parks and Recreation Month with a day of hiking, birdwatching and family-friendly activities at Toro Park on Sunday, July 26.
The event begins with a guided hiking and birdwatching tour of historic Marks Ranch, adjacent to Toro Park, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The excursion is hosted by Big Sur Land Trust in partnership with the Audubon Society and offers participants an opportunity to explore the area’s natural beauty and wildlife.
From noon to 3 p.m., the celebration continues at the Badger Flats Picnic Area with activities, exhibits, opportunities to tour the park museum and meet local outdoor organizations and public agencies dedicated to conservation, recreation and community health.
Participating partners include Salinas Valley Health, Montage Health, the Monterey County Health Department, Big Sur Land Trust and the Audubon Society, Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks District, Ventana Wildlife Society, the Bureau of Land Management, Monterey County Regional Fire District and the Monterey Off-Road Cycling Association.
The event will be held at Toro Park, 501 Highway 68 in Salinas, and is free and open to the public.
Supervisor schedules open house next week
KING CITY — Monterey County Supervisor Chris Lopez’s Third District Office will host an open house Thursday, July 30, in King City to celebrate the winners of the “We Are Southern Monterey County” painting and photography competition and recognize South County Young Leaders.
The event will begin with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and a program at 6 p.m. at the Third District Office, located at 1011 Broadway St., Suite C, in King City. The evening will include the announcement of the competition winners and recognition of South County Young Leaders for their summer work.
Residents are encouraged to RSVP by calling 831-755-5033 or emailing pe*****@**************ey.gov.
Rural California photo contest opens
CALIFORNIA — The Rural County Representatives of California is accepting entries for its 10th annual Rural County Photo Contest through July 31.
The contest invites photographers of all experience levels to submit images showcasing the scenery, activities, communities, history and unique character of RCRC’s 40 member counties. Entries must be original work and include the location where the photo was taken, including the county, as well as the photographer’s full name and email address. Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. on July 31.
The grand prize winner will receive a $300 Amazon gift card, with the winning photograph to be unveiled at the September RCRC Board of Directors meeting. Second- and third-place finalists will receive $150 and $75 Amazon gift cards, respectively.
For contest details and submission information, visit rcrcnet.org/photo-contest.
