Soroptimist club hosting plant sale
WATSONVILLE — Soroptimist International of Watsonville will hold a plant sale on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on the corner of East Lake Avenue and Martinelli Street.
The sale will benefit Soroptimist, an organization that aims to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
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Presentation addresses rail trail
WATSONVILLE — The Campaign for Sensible Transportation will present “Both Rail and Trail: Visions of Transit on the Rail Corridor,” on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St.
The County Regional Transportation Commission is coordinating the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian trail alongside the railroad tracks.
During the event, Bruce Sawhill will give a presentation on light rail, and Stan Sokolow will speak on bus rapid transit.
For information, visit sensibletransportation.org.
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Vacation Bible School begins
WATSONVILLE — Watsonville Seventh-day Adventist Church will hold a free Vacation Bible School for children ages 6-13.
The theme is “Superheroes of the Bible.”
The school runs from June 19-23 from 6-8 p.m. at 700 South Green Valley Road in Watsonville. Children ages 3-5 will also be accepted.
For information, call Daniel King at 254-3389.
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JACL’s annual Community Picnic approaching
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League’s annual Community Picnic is scheduled for June 24 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road.
Watsonville Taiko will be the featured entertainment. Senior bingo, races, scholarship presentations, a raffle and more round out the event.
Lunch includes barbecue chicken, hot dogs, chili, rice, salad, French bread and beverages. Lunch costs $8 for teens and adults, $5 for seniors 70 and over and children 6-12 years old, and free for children under 5.
For information, email ws******@gm***.com or visit www.watsonvillesantacruzjacl.org.
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Cabrillo Chorus heading to Carnegie Hall
APTOS — Cabrillo College’s choral groups have been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City on June 26 to premiere “Sunset In My Hand — Ancient Voices of the Wild Pacific Coast.”
This six-movement composition for Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus and Children’s Choir is a commissioned work from world-renowned Latvian composer Eriks Ešenvalds.
Cabrillo College will present a “Send Off Concert” that is open to the community on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Samper Recital Hall, Cabrillo College Aptos Campus, 6500 Soquel Drive. All proceeds will benefit the Cabrillo Choral Program.
The commissioned work and concert is in celebration of Choral Director Cheryl Anderson’s 25th anniversary of teaching at Cabrillo. “Sunset In My Hand” features the Cabrillo Youth Chorus, comprised of children from the Santa Cruz area led by Cabrillo students as part of their instructional program in conducting and teaching, under the direction of Anderson.
The adult choir includes students enrolled full-time at Cabrillo and singers from the community at large.
The work’s lyrics center on poetry from Californians including California State Poet Laureate Dana Gioia, John Steinbeck, Grace MacGowan Cooke and Joseph Stroud.
General admission is $20, students with SAC Card are $17 and seniors are $15.
For information, visit www.cabrillovapa.com/events/cabrillo-chorus-goes-carnegie-hall.
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METRO participating in Dump the Pump Day
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) will join with other public transportation systems nationwide to participate in the 12th Annual National Dump the Pump Day Thursday.
The slogan of this year’s National Dump the Pump Day is “Dump the Pump. Ride Public Transit.”
Sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), the 2017 National Dump the Pump Day is a day to encourage people to ride public transportation to take them where they need to go, rather than driving a car. Dump the Pump Day originated in June 2006 when gas prices were $3 per gallon.
The January APTA Transit Savings Report, shows that individuals in a two-person household can save an average of more than $9,700 annually by downsizing to one car and riding mass transit.
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Green Business Academy registration opens
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The County of Santa Cruz Green Business Program announced the 2017 Green Business Academy, which gives local businesses the knowledge and tools to become certified as a “Green Business.”
The academy kicks off July 14 at Chaminade Resort & Spa, and is free to participating businesses. Over three sessions, business owners will learn about pollution prevention and waste reduction, energy and water conservation, and employee engagement and transportation.
Participating business will be eligible for free promotion, get referral to programs to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy bills, and receive access to a Sept. 27 networking event at New Bohemia Brewing Co. in Capitola.
“Businesses that complete the Green Business Academy will save money, reduce their impact on the environment, receive community recognition and attract customers,” said Green Business Program Coordinator Ana Maria Rebelo.
To sign up, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/green-business-academy-kickoff-tickets-34268107833. For information, email SC**************@gm***.com or visit www.montereybaygreenbusiness.org.
