Winter 2025/26
Seth Pollack, Republic Cafe Renovation, Events, & Project Updates
Greetings to Members and Friends of ACES,
We hope you have had a pleasant and productive autumn. It’s now the season for winter breaks, holidays, and bundling up for cool and possibly stormy weather.
We are sad to report the passing of our friend, Seth Pollack. A beloved professor and Director of CSUMB’s Service Learning Institute from 1997-2022, Seth was always an advocate for Salinas Chinatown and its residents. We will miss him, and send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.
This winter, ACES is preparing for a few year-end events and for the 17th Annual Salinas Asian Cultural Fair on April 25, 2026.
We are excited to see renovation projects begin for the Republic Cafe Museum and Cultural Center, and Chinatown revitalization. See our updates, below.
CHINATOWN REVITALIZATION
Republic Cafe/Lotus Inn: As part of the project to renovate the Republic Cafe and Lotus Inn properties, ACES, the City of Salinas, and TEF Design1 have been moving forward with our plans. The City of Salinas has begun cleaning and stabilization of the Republic Cafe and Lotus Inn structures. ACES will be responsible for interior design of the Museum on the lower floors. In early January, the Design Committee will meet with potential local designers for the interior of the Republic Cafe museum, “the ‘cornerstone’ of a greater and much-needed revitalization of Chinatown,” according to Larry Hirahara. The City has proposed inclusion of six affordable housing units within the properties.2
Chinatown Revitalization: We are happy to report that some historic items have been saved from the recent building fire on Soledad St., including the iconic Arre’s Pool Hall sign and the Asian-style balcony railing. Like the renovated Chop Suey neon sign from the Republic Cafe, we hope to renovate these historic items.
As reported in the Summer 2025 issue of this newsletter, concept design and planning continues for properties at 34-38 and 40 Soledad Street.
EVENTS
New Year’s Eve Service (Joya-e) and Bell Ringing: This event is scheduled for Wednesday, December 31, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, at the Buddhist Temple of Salinas. The short service consists of sutra chanting and an end-of-year message. After that, which everyone goes to the outdoor bell tower to ring the large bell 108 times. The 108 represents our human shortcomings. We then bring the year to an end by eating soba noodles together.
17th Annual Salinas Asian Cultural Fair: The 2026 Salinas Asian Cultural Fair is scheduled for Saturday, April 25. We are now accepting reservations for nonprofit and vendor tables. Sponsorship opportunities are now available! See our Asian Cultural Fair page to sign up and learn more.
Members gather to watch students perform the Tinikling (bamboo) dance at the member meet up, Spring 2025. Photo: Jean Vengua. Spring 2026 Member Meet up: We had a blast at the ACES member meetup! There were Chinatown updates, a presentation about Filipino American history, good food, skillful dance performances by students (to boisterous applause), karaoke singing and jenga, a chance to meet new and long-time members and Rev. Hibiki Junkyo Murakami of the Buddhist Temple of Salinas. Thanks to the Filipino Community of Salinas for hosting the event.
A New Years Eve Dinner and Dance will be presented by The Filipino Community of Salinas Valley on December 31, 2025. Enjoy tasty food, music, and socializing. Your donations will benefit the ongoing Filipino Community Building Renovation:
Filipino Community of Salinas Valley’s 90th Anniversary & Installation of Officers: This milestone celebration will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026:
2026 Lunar New Year Presentation: ACES is preparing our 2026 Lunar New Year presentation for after-school Salinas elementary students. We enjoyed the 2025 presentation, and look forward to the next one. The 2026 Lunar New Year animal is the Fire Horse (also known as the Red Horse Year). It will begin on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, and will last until February 5, 2027. Keep an eye out for Lunar New Year events next February!
PROJECT UPDATES
Jess Tabasa Trust Scholarship Fund: ACES is delighted to announce that the Jess Tabasa Trust Scholarship Fund will become available for applicants on January 1, 2026. ACES members will be on the Selection Committee. Scholarship recipients must be Monterey, Santa Cruz or San Benito County High School currently enrolled seniors or graduate students, pursuing academic research in Asian American or Filipino American Ethnic Studies or a
related degree, with preference given to students of Filipino descent. For updates, please check the Scholarship page of the Community Foundation for Monterey County in 2026.
ACES Archives: We have now catalogued, identified, and uploaded over 205 historical images on ACES’ Omeka archival site, and our work continues. We have now begun the accession process for the Jess Tabasa collection. There are many more images and objects to be documented.
GET INVOLVED!
ACES continues to work with local organizations and students, presenting opportunities for historical pop-ups, exhibits, and tours. Revitalization of Chinatown and creation of a community based cultural center and museum in the Republic Cafe building remains our top priority. Learn more about the organization at our ACES website.
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 info@salinasace.org. Your input is greatly appreciated!
Thank you for reading ACE Asian Cultural Experience. If you haven’t yet subscribed to receive our newsletter by email, please do so—it’s free!
TEF is a San Francisco-based staff of 50+ architects and interior designers. Its founding principal, Douglas Tom, has family roots in Salinas Chinatown.
From the article “Salinas’ strategy of making loans to developers is paying off with more affordable housing” by Pam Marino, Monterey County Weekly, 12/11/2025.