Fall 2024: Moving Forward
Republic Cafe and Chinatown Revitalization, MCGives, Archive and Member Updates, Fall Upcoming Events, Get Involved with ACES!
The Fall 2024 season has started off on several positive notes for ACES and Chinatown:
Escrow has finally closed on the Republic Cafe! It took awhile, but sale of the RC to the City of Salinas is now a done deal—signed off by all parties including the Ahtye family. Thanks to all involved for their hard work and patience! In partnership with the City, ACES is now tasked to renovate the interior of the building and create the Salinas Chinatown Museum and Cultural Center. This will be a huge undertaking for us; we will need your help, and will be updating you on this project, soon.
The City of Salinas has also purchased the Ahtye and Chin properties (including the gas station lot and pool hall) located on Soledad St., across from the Republic Cafe. They have hired San Francisco firm TEF Design to research and render plans for a new Chinatown housing and commercial development. TEF’s founding principal is Salinas native, Douglas Tom.
ACES was accepted into 2024 MCGives! We are thankful for the historical collections that we continue to receive—but we need more archival storage space! Help us purchase a large, secure container space to outfit with shelving, insulation, and climate control. Eventually, our archives will be moved into the future Chinatown Museum and Cultural Center.
—Fill out a Challenge Gift Form or go to to MCGives! to donate to ACES and help us attract more donors. Deadline: October 31st, 5 p.m. Challenge Gift Donors ($500 or more) who contribute by the Oct. 31st deadline will be listed in the Leaderboard of the MCGives! print edition beginning Nov. 14. Donations will ensure that the history and culture of Salinas Chinatown is properly preserved as part of our neighborhood legacy.
—Go to the MCGives! website on November 14 to view campaign updates until the closing date of December 31st.
Archival Update
ACES most recent acquisition is the Jess Tabasa Collection. Jess Tabasa was our dedicated board member and friend, a tireless educator and historian for Filipino American history in both Watsonville and Salinas Valley. The Tabasa archive includes a fascinating collection of old family and community photographs, banners, documents, and books, as well as traditional clothing and objects from local Filipino American history. We were excited to receive this donation, which is now going through the accession process.
Membership Update
We recently held our first member breakfast at the Flying Artichoke Restaurant in the Salinas Airport. Thank you to our new and continuing members who attended, and thanks also Jonathan Saguil and team for the yummy breakfast! While the event was only an hour and a half, we received some great ideas from attendees. We are planning yet another member event where we will talk more about member benefits, volunteer opportunities, and more.
UPCOMING FALL EVENTS
Paraluman Art Show—Friday, Oct. 18, 4:30-8 p.m., Urban Arts Collaborative, 21 Soledad St., Suite C, Salinas:
Paraluman Fil-Am Festival—Saturday, Oct. 26, 12 noon - 6 p.m., Filipino Hall, 250 Calle Cebu, Salinas:
ACES Tri-Tip Takeout Sale—Reserve your meal now!
Filipino Community of Salinas Valley Fundraiser & Dinner with Comedian Rex Navarette—Friday, Nov. 15, 6:30-10 p.m., Filipino Hall, 250 Calle Cebu, Salinas
Panda Express Fundraiser for ACES—Tuesday, Dec. 2nd, 2024 (all day):
Fil-Am Unity Christmas Party, Saturday, December 7, 2024. More information TBA.
GET INVOLVED!
ACES continues to receive grants for historical, cultural, and neighborhood projects; we work with service-learning students and partner with many local organizations, presenting opportunities for historical pop-ups and exhibits; and we continue to work for revitalization of Chinatown and a community based cultural center and museum in the Republic Cafe building.
If you are a member of ACES, don’t forget to renew your membership every year. If you are not yet a member, please join!
Questions? Contact us by email at acesalinas2014@gmail.com. Your input is greatly appreciated!
