Do you like pirate stories? Do you love enhancing your knowledge about the history of Monterey and the Lower Presidio Historic Park project?
Old Monterey Foundation will hold its second free event on Friday, July 15 as part of the 2016 Lecture Series sponsored by The Marcia F. Devoe Fund of the Community Foundation for Monterey County for the third year.
Author Michael Melzer presents his new biography of Hippolite Bouchard, The Patriot Pirate. Bouchard (January 15, 1780–January 4, 1837) was a French Argentine sailor and privateer who fought for France, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. Pursuing the war of rebellion against Spain, Bouchard was the first Argentine to circumnavigate the world when he attacked the Spanish ciudad of Monterey, California, raised the Argentine flag and held the town for six days in November, 1818. This was the only land-sea battle fought on the West Coast of the United States. Argentina remembers him as the South American equivalent of our John Paul Jones.
Following Mr. Melzer’s lecture, Frank Sollecito, President of the Old Monterey Foundation Board of Directors, will present a short overview of improvements planned for the Lower Presidio Historic Park and Vizcaino Park.
When: Friday, July 15, 2016 – 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Where: Irvine Auditorium, McCone Building, MIIS; 499 Pierce Street, Monterey
Free Admission – Reception and book signing to follow
About Michael Melzer
Michael Melzer has a passion for California history, and has published his first book, The Patriot Pirate. He has a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Maryland, after spending time studying film, and video production at the University of Wisconsin.
For more information, call (831) 346-3030.
1st place Christopher Axe 
2nd place Carol Silveira “Sunrise at the Park” 
3rd Place Benjamin Steel “Brute Bud”
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.
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.
Situated in a “hidden in plain sight” location, the park features spectacular views of the Monterey Bay and Harbor and will become a jewel of the City of Monterey’s park system.
s is a five-year commitment to raise the necessary funds and direct the construction of agreed improvements that will make Lower Presidio Historic Park a centerpiece of historic Old Monterey. What is largely an unknown public facility will be turned into what looks and feels like a park (Phase I) that welcomes the public, local and visitor alike. Pathways, interpretative signs, benches and tables, and an entrance that is easily located for even the most casual visitor. Later Phases will renovate some historic buildings located on site and develop interpretation of El Castillo and Fort Mervine. An amphitheater will be installed for concerts overlooking the Bay. This 25.3 acre site will become the jewel of Monterey, worthy of its description as the Most Historically Significant Site on the West Coast.
Old Monterey Foundation 