Poster and poetry contests entries being accepted
WATSONVILLE — Agri-Culture and the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau are currently accepting entries for the Annual National Agriculture Day Poster and Poetry contests.
The theme for both contests is: “Grown in Santa Cruz County and the Pajaro Valley.”
The poster contest is open to grades kindergarten through six with the top entries in each grade level advancing to the final judging. The overall winner will receive a $200 award and will be a guest at the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon.
The poetry contest is open to grades seven through 12. The top entries in grades seven through nine and grades 10 through 12 will advance to the final judging. The overall winner will receive a $200 award and will be a guest at the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon.
The winning entry published on 20,000 placemats and distributed to restaurants county-wide next year.
Entries must be postmarked or delivered to 141 Monte Vista Ave., Watsonville by Feb. 21.
The National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon will take place at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds’ Heritage Hall on March 14 from 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
To obtain flyers containing contest rules, contact the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau at 724-1356, Agri-Culture at 722-6622, email sc***@sb*******.net or visit www.sccfb.com. They can also be picked up at 141 Monte Vista Ave. in Watsonville.
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Forum presents information on Temporary Protected Status
LIVE OAK — On Feb. 2 from 6-8 p.m. at Live Oak Elementary School, 1916 Capitola Road in Santa Cruz, Community Action Board and the Live Oak Cradle to Career Initiative will present a TPS Forum for nationals of El Salvador and other countries who have Temporary Protected Status.
This event will be held in Spanish, with a focus on clarifying the future of TPS and exploring people’s options for themselves and their families.
All are welcome at this free event.
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Forum highlights water efforts
CAPITOLA — On Feb. 1, the public is invited to a discussion of local water resources planning and management, featuring leaders from across Santa Cruz County and the California Department of Water Resources.
“Connecting the Drops: Working Together for Water” will bring together a variety of voices for a discussion featuring keynote speaker Taryn Ravazzini, Deputy Director of the California Department of Water Resources. It will include information stations on groundwater management, stormwater management and aquifer recharge, conservation, planning for water supply, and fish and watershed management. The public can speak with the staff working on these topics.
The forum will be held at the New Brighton Middle School auditorium, 250 Washburn St. in Capitola, from 6:30-9 p.m.
In response to the passage of California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act in 2014, efforts are now underway to develop comprehensive groundwater sustainability plans with measurable objectives and interim milestones that set a course toward achieving the goal of sustainable groundwater management within 20 years.
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Red Cross seeking Hero nominations
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The American Red Cross of the Central Coast is currently seeking nominations for the 2018 Heroes Breakfast, which recognizes members of the communities of Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties who have shown courage, dedication, and character through acts of heroism and kindness.
Nominees could be people you don’t know personally, but they could also be your neighbors, co-workers, friends or family members.
The community is encouraged to nominate a hero at redcross.org/centralcoastheroes for one or more of the 11 categories.
The deadline to submit nominations is Monday, March 12. Any of these categories can be awarded as a posthumous honor.
A committee of local community leaders will select the 2018 Central Coast Hero Award recipients based on the degree to which nominees’ acts of heroism uphold the values of the American Red Cross and leave a lasting and positive impact on the residents of the Monterey, San Benito and Santa Cruz counties. Heroes may not be selected in all categories.
Selected heroes will be honored at the 2018 Red Cross Central Coast Heroes Breakfast on Friday, June 15, at the Twin Lakes Church in Aptos. This annual Red Cross breakfast recognizes recipients of the Heroes Awards while also supporting the life-saving programs and emergency services provided by the local Red Cross Chapter.
Criteria for nominations:
• All nominees must work or reside in Monterey, San Benito, or Santa Cruz counties. Their heroic actions may have occurred elsewhere.
• The heroic acts must be either an ongoing commitment to the community for more than one year or have occurred between Jan. 1, 2016 and Jan. 15, 2018.
• Nominations must be received no later than Monday, March 12.
Visit redcross.org/centralcoastheroes for more details on each of the 2018 Heroes Award categories, to access the online nomination form, and for information on how to purchase tickets and/or help sponsor this event.
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County holding cannabis meetings
SANTA CRUZ — The County of Santa Cruz will hold two public meetings to present a path forward for the establishment of legalized cannabis cultivation and manufacturing industries in Santa Cruz County.
Interested parties and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meetings will be held as follows:
• Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., Governmental Building, 701 Ocean St., Santa Cruz, Fifth Floor Board Chambers
• Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Felton Community Hall, 6191 Highway 9, Felton
The Board of Supervisors will also hold a special public meeting on Monday, Feb. 5 at 9 a.m.
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Bridal Expo is Sunday
SANTA CRUZ — Santa Cruz County deputy clerks will be at the Bridal Expo at the Boardwalk’s Cocoanut Grove on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Bridal Expo will showcase the area’s photographers, florists, caterers, bakers, wedding and reception venues, entertainment, and other services, such as those provided by the Santa Cruz County Clerk.
The Santa Cruz County Clerk will provide information on the difference between a public and confidential license, how to obtain a marriage license, who can perform your ceremony, ceremony options offered by the County Clerk, and information on how to change your name after marriage.
“This is a unique opportunity for couples to get all the information they need prior to their wedding day,” County Clerk Gail Pellerin said.
For information, call the County Clerk’s Office at 454-2060 or visit www.sccoclerk.com.
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Bookshop Santa Cruz customers donate to local schools
SANTA CRUZ — Bookshop Santa Cruz reported that during its sixth annual Holiday Book Drive, customers and publishers donated more than $9,700 in books to local public schools.
Bookshop asked the community to purchase books for local schools between Thanksgiving and New Year’s and offered a 20 percent discount off of any books donated to the drive.
Three school districts — Santa Cruz City Schools, Pajaro Valley Unified School District and Scotts Valley Unified School District — received books from this year’s Holiday Book Drive.
Librarians at each school compiled a wish list of books that would update their libraries and that were in highest demand by the students. This year’s donations were the highest of any year of the book drive, according to Bookshop Santa Cruz. In total, more than $40,000 in books has been donated to local schools since the inception of the Holiday Book Drive by Bookshop Santa Cruz six years ago.
