As Chairman of the Lower Presidio Historic Park Committee for the Old Monterey Foundation, I was invited to attend the Annual Gathering of the Ohlone/Costanoan-Esselen Nation (OCEN) on August 12 at the Park. The City permits this group (and only this group) to camp out at the Park for this four-day event, which is held annually. About 150 members (out of an estimated 600) were in attendance, some in traditional tribal garb, and that Saturday was the focal event of the Gathering, with tri-tip barbecue and a feast at 2 pm.
I expected to simply sit at a table to pass out brochures about our Phase I Plan for the LPHP, but Louise Miranda Ramirez, Tribal Chairwoman of OCEN, introduced me to the Gathering and invited me to speak. I described our Plan and solicited questions and comments in about a 30 minute presentation. The OCEN considers the Lower Presidio to be sacred ancestral land and the comments I received were of concern that we treat the land with due respect. I described our designs for trails and signs that would not penetrate the earth or in any way disturb the evidence from the past 10,000 years which is buried in the ground at LPHP.
I am pleased to report that the response from the members was positive and supportive of our efforts. We also talked about celebrating our local Native Americans at a festival to be sponsored by OMF sometime next year. It is unfortunate that our local tribes are not better known among the citizens of Monterey and Monterey County, but hopefully the work of the Old Monterey Foundation will begin to rectify that situation. They were here long before European explorers arrived and deserve proper historic recognition in our community.
I was also struck by the strong sense of injustice the members feel about not being among the federally recognized tribes in California. They were once so recognized, beginning in 1883 as the San Carlos Band of Mission Indians, and later as the Monterey Band of Monterey County. The discovery in 1905 that 18 treaties between California Indians and the U.S. had never been ratified by the U.S. Senate, led to the Monterey Band being formally recognized in 1906. Unfortunately, the Monterey Band and OCEN were erroneously dropped from the list of federally recognized tribes in 1923. Compared to many other California tribes who ere compensated with land grants from the Federal Government, OCEN has only been offered the paltry sum of less than $1,000 for the loss of many million acres of land to American settlers. This injustice is still paramount in the minds of members of OCEN.
I was followed in my talk by Col. Laurence Brown, Commandant of the Presidio, and then by Senator Bill Monning. Although the day was a bit chilly and overcast, a good time was had by all.
For more information about OCEN, go to http://www.ohlonecostanoanesselennation.org .
1st place Christopher Axe 
2nd place Carol Silveira “Sunrise at the Park” 
3rd Place Benjamin Steel “Brute Bud”
In honor of Monterey’s 246th Birthday, Estéban Restaurant located at historic Casa Munras Garden Hotel & Spa will be donating 10% of all food sales to 
The next Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking tour will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016: “Lower Presidio Historic Park Walking Tour: Focus on the infamous Hipolite Bouchard.” In addition to other interesting history of the Park described as “The Most Significant Historic Site on the West Coast”, Thomas will discuss Argentinian Hipolite Bouchard’s raid in 1818 when he attacked and sacked the City of Monterey, which is the only land and sea battle ever to occur on the West Coast of the United States.
The Tea Room serves both Afternoon and High Tea (by advance reservation) and has become a favorite for locals and tea travelers who enjoy English born and raised Chef Karen Anne’s traditional scones and teatime fare. Karen Anne Murray of Eddison & Melrose Tea Room, Catering & Granola has provided catering, personal chef services and her award winning Karen Anne’s Granola to the Monterey Peninsula for over a decade.
agreed to become a major sponsor of the Lower Presidio Historic Park with a significant grant to fund the construction and installation of the custom signs on site.
and received an enthusiastic response. The presentation was followed by a tour of the Park so that the members could see firsthand the beauty and potential of the Park to become the jewel of the Monterey Park system. 
After threatened rain, the afternoon turned out to be sunny and dry, and a good time was had by all with wine provided by the Club.
February 2016. Monterey, CA. Save the Date! The community is invited to the first ever “Pilates Party in the Park: Bagpipes, Serra and Fusian” at the Lower Presidio Historic Park in Monterey, CA. This special free event will be coordinated by the Old Monterey Foundation on Saturday, April 2, 2016 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. to raise awareness of this beautiful park. “Pilates Party in the Park: Bagpipes, Serra and Fusian” will feature a Pilates demonstration and 30 minute classes by Pilates Monterey, a performance by the award-winning Pipe Major Michel d’Avenas, plus delicious food for purchase from the popular Fusian Street Food Truck. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own mat for Pilates, towel or folding chair for watching the demos and listening to the bagpipe performances.
turn right on Corporal Ewing Road and follow it to the Presidio of Monterey Museum in the center of the Park against the hill; from Pacific Grove, take Lighthouse Avenue in New Monterey, turn right on Private Bolio Road, quickly turn left on Corporal Ewing Road and follow it to the Presidio of Monterey Museum. 
They also have the Peninsula Pilates Project which is a not-for-profit organization devoted to restorative Pilates classes for survivors of cancer or other debilitating diseases. The trained professionals at Pilates Monterey offer, free of charge, 4 weeks of classes and guide women and men recovering from cancer, enduring chemotherapy and/or radiation through a gentle and effective Pilates method mat exercises. For more information, go to 
and is a full time professional bagpiper for weddings, funerals, and other events in the area. He is the Piper Major of the Monterey Bay Pipe Band and the leading bagpipe instructor in Monterey County. He is also a piping competition judge at Scottish Festivals and other events. A Monterey County native, Michel’s family came from both Great Britain and France, and he has a musical heritage that extends through many generations. After graduating from Robert Louis Stevenson School, he served in the U.S. Army Military Police during the Vietnam War era as part of the European Command Honor Guard. He then attended U.C. Berkeley where he studied music theory and composition. For more information, go to 
They will also feature six flavors of Bubble Tea, a tea-based flavored drink that uses sugar in the raw syrup or stevia, low fat dairy creamer and Jasmine green tea. The flavors will include Thai tea, horchata, mocha tea, mango, green tea, and taro. For more information, go to 
Old Monterey Foundation is now also seeking funds to restore the Father Serra statue that was recently vandalized.
Old Monterey Foundation 