Gardeners hosting free class on strawberry growing
WATSONVILLE — The UC Master Gardeners of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties will hold a class titled “Grow Great Strawberries” on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at the UCCE Extension Office, 1430 Freedom Blvd., Suite E in Watsonville.
UC Master Gardener Dawn Avery will describe the different types of strawberries to grow, optimum site selection and preparation, and best watering and fertilization practices. Integrated pest management for strawberries will also be discussed.
This free class will begin in the auditorium and proceed to the demonstration garden.
For information, visit mbmg.org.
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Input needed on park plans
WATSONVILLE — The City of Watsonville is hosting interactive workshops to develop a Strategic Plan to improve parks and recreation services, as well as create a master plan for Ramsay Park and the City Plaza.
The workshops will be held Feb. 28 from 6-8 p.m. and March 2 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Civic Plaza Community Room, 275 Main St., fourth floor. Another workshop will be held March 7 at Ramsay Park, 1301 Main St.
Translation and free child care are available. For information, visit www.watsonvillerec.com or call 768-3240.
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Safe Schools Project to hold workshop on gender
WATSONVILLE — A free workshop for parents, guardians and other adult allies will be offered on March 2 by the Safe Schools Project Santa Cruz County, Gender Spectrum and TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County.
The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lakeview Middle School, 2350 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville.
Subjects to be covered include:
• Understanding the dimensions of gender
• Common terms and how the understanding of gender is changing
• How youth see gender communicated in society
• Affirmative parenting practices about gender
• How adults’ experiences affect parenting
• Suggestions for talking with youth about gender
Also included will be a presentation by Jen Hastings regarding the medical aspects of gender transition in youth.
A light breakfast, snacks and lunch will be included. Simultaneous Spanish translation provided.
To register, visit safeschoolsproject.org.
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NAMI support group meets monthly
WATSONVILLE — NAMI Santa Cruz County offers a no-cost, drop-in family support group for Spanish speakers with a family member living with mental health challenges.
The support group is held the first Tuesday of the month from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Mariposa Center, 10 Carr St. in Watsonville.
For information, contact Maribel Alvarez at 707-5339 or
mw***********@cc*********.org
.
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PVUSD fills administrator positions
WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Unified School District recently filled two administrator positions.
Lauren Adcock was promoted to manager of Payroll and Benefits. She began her career with PVUSD as a payroll technician in 2012 and moved into a payroll analyst position in 2017.
Ruth Gonzalez has been appointed to manager of Risk and Safety. She completed her Juris Doctorate from the Monterey College of Law and has worked for a local law office, where she performed legal research and analysis.
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Wine tasting benefits Second Harvest
APTOS — “Sip for Second Harvest” will take place on Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at the Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos.
All proceeds from the wine tasting event benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.
Admission is $40 per person, or $70 for two. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.thefoodbank.org/wine2019 or calling 498-4119.
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Rose Society holding meeting
WATSONVILLE — The Monterey Bay Rose Society’s February meeting topic is “Feeding and Caring for Roses to Get the Best Blooms.”
The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Alladin Nursery & Gifts, 2905 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville.
Attendance is free. No reservation are needed.
For information, call Janey at 722-7958.
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National Agriculture Day luncheon returns
WATSONVILLE — Doron Comerchero, founder and executive director of Food What?!, will be the featured speaker at the 2019 National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon on March 13.
The title of his speech will be, “Agriculture, a Learning Tool for Youth.”
The Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, in conjunction with Agri-Culture, will host the luncheon in the Heritage Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds.
One of the highlights of the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon will be the presentation of the Al Smith Friend of Agriculture Award. Smith was the founder of Orchard Supply Hardware and donated 3,000 acres (Swanton Pacific Ranch) in the north coast to Cal Poly. This year’s award will be presented by last year’s honoree, Santa Cruz County Bank, represented by Fred Caiocca.
Farm Bureau and Agri-Culture co-sponsor a poster contest (grades K-6) and poetry contest (grades 7-12) in Santa Cruz County and Pajaro Valley schools. The winning entries will be displayed during the luncheon and a placemat featuring the 2018 poster contest winner, Balam Landaverry, a second-grader from Holy Cross School in Santa Cruz, will be used on the tables.
Also on the placemat will be the 2018 poetry contest winning entry by Kayley Batt, seventh-grader from Monte Vista Christian School in Watsonville. About 20,000 placemats will be distributed to restaurants throughout Santa Cruz County. This year’s contest winners will be introduced at the luncheon.
Another feature of the National Agriculture Day Spring Luncheon is the presentation of the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship. American AgCredit has again teamed up with the Jimmie Cox Memorial Scholarship to create a $4,000 scholarship for a student entering or currently enrolled in college and majoring in agriculture.
Tickets to the luncheon are $50 per person. Reservations and sponsorships for the luncheon are available at www.sccfb.com/news/national-agriculture-day-spring-luncheon or by calling 724-1356.
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Business Expo to add job fair
WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture will combine its Business Expo with a job fair for the first time this year.
Businesses who are interested in meeting potential new employees are encouraged to participate and accept resumes and job applications.
“Businesses throughout the county do a large amount of hiring during the spring and we want to help them find great employees while showcasing their business to attendees throughout the area,” said Shaz Roth of the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.
For many years, this has been a sold-out event in the Crosetti Hall at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds and this year will expand into the Arts Building to welcome new businesses to participate.
The annual event features prizes, food and Blackout Bingo, which encourages attendees to visit each booth.
It will take place April 25 from 4-7 p.m. This year’s event is themed after the 1986 film, “Top Gun.”
Businesses are encouraged to sign up early by registering on Eventbrite.
For information, call the chamber office at 724-3900 or email
In**@pa*****************.com
.
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Artist sought for La Selva Beach library project
LA SELVA BEACH — The Santa Cruz County Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services is seeking an artist to create a public art project for the La Selva Beach Public Library.
The proposed artwork should enhance the visitors’ experience and should also help create a unique identity for the library, according to the county. In particular, artists should consider the setting, context and history of the area and the town of La Selva Beach, as well as literary themes, as sources to draw from for their proposals.
The budget for the public artwork, which includes all costs associated with, but not limited to, design, materials, travel, insurance, fabrication, installation and documentation of the artwork, is $4,500.
The deadline to submit a proposal is March 15. For information, visit www.scparks.com.
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Orchid show scheduled
APTOS — The Santa Cruz Orchid Society’s annual show and sale is set for March 2 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and March 3 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Cabrillo Horticulture Center, 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos.
Co-sponsored by Cabrillo Horticulture, this free event will consist of an orchid show judged by American Orchid Society judges, orchid vendors, member sales and demonstrations.
For information, visit santacruzorchidsociety.org.
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Film to be screened at Cabrillo College
APTOS — “Island Soldier” follows the untold story of Micronesian soldiers fighting for their piece of the “American Dream” and the future of a small island nation.
The film will be screened inside the Samper Recital Hall, 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos, on March 19 from 2-5 p.m. Director/producer/cinematographer of “Island Solder” Nathan Fitch will be on hand to speak about the film and participate in discussion. Cultural Advisor for “Island Soldier” Dr. Vidalino Staley Raatior will give a brief contextual overview of the Micronesian islands.
The event is free, but tickets are required for entrance. The box office will open one hour prior to the event.
For information, visit islandsoldiermovie.com.
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County auditor named to state policy committee
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — California State Controller Betty Yee has appointed Santa Cruz County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector Edith Driscoll to the Committee on County Tax Collecting Procedures.
The purpose of the 10-member committee is to assist the controller in developing tax levying and collecting procedures to help instruct, advise and direct tax collectors in their duties. The committee may also advise the State Controller’s Office on policy development and tax matters.
“It’s an honor to be recognized and to help set policy for the rest of California when it comes to the duties of local finance officials throughout the state,” Driscoll said.
As defined by state law, the Committee on County Tax Collecting Procedures is comprised of two county auditors, four county tax collectors, two county assessors and two members of county boards of supervisors.
