Free gardening class scheduled
WATSONVILLE — On Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey Bay will present a free class on “Starting Your Summer Vegetable Garden” at the Demonstration Garden in Watsonville.
In this class, UC Master Gardener Carole King will cover the basics of vegetable gardening: what to plant this time of year, where to plant, spacing, companion planting, irrigation, stalking plants that grow vertical, keeping the soil healthy throughout the season, protecting your plants from pests and saving seeds at the end of the season. She will give some emphasis to growing successful tomato plants.
The class is part of a series of free monthly gardening workshops at the UC Master Gardeners’ Watsonville demonstration garden, located next to the rear parking lot at 1430 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville. Upcoming topics include integrated pest management, and straw bale and Hugelkulture gardening.
For information and advance reservation, visit the UCMBMG website at mbmg.ucanr.edu.
•••
Health program underway at library
WATSONVILLE — A program designed to help people with chronic health conditions is taking place weekly at the Watsonville Public Library.
“Better Choices Better Health” is a self-management program offered for two-and-a-half hours, once a week, for six weeks by two trained leaders. This program is for anyone dealing with a chronic health condition such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, heart disease, depression or high cholesterol.
The program is held at the Watsonville Public Library Meeting Room, 275 Main St., Suite 100, from 5-7:30 p.m. It takes place Mondays through June 12.
To register or for information, call (408) 961-9877 or email bc**@he*********.org.
“Better Choices Better Health” is provided by the Health Trust, in partnership with the Watsonville Public Library.
•••
Corralitos Woman’s Club awards scholarships
CORRALITOS — The Corralitos Woman’s Club presented three Pajaro Valley High School students with scholarships.
Jessie Rayburn, Darrien Lee and Rosa Noriega were honored during the May 9 meeting.
The application process includes an essay, as well as information on not only academics, but extracurricular activities and volunteer work.
•••
Mid-County Groundwater Agency mapping seawater intrusion
APTOS — The Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA) is currently mapping seawater intrusion in the groundwater aquifers offshore of the Mid-County area.
In partnership with SkyTEM and Ramboll, the MGA will be collecting and recording geophysical measurements for scientific research purposes using a low-flying helicopter, using technology originally developed and used in Denmark. The system allows the MGA to collect measurements needed to properly locate the offshore freshwater/saltwater interface, essential information in understanding the immediate risk to coastal wells from seawater contamination.
The survey, which began Monday and is expected to last for another two days, will require a helicopter to make several passes, in a uniform pattern and at an altitude of hundreds of feet, to measure the electrical properties of the earth. Data collected during this survey will assist scientists in mapping groundwater salinity, and is similar to a recently completed project near Marina.
SkyTEM, a specialty airborne geophysical company, is conducting the geophysical survey.
Staging is occurring at Seascape Park in Aptos, with flights over the Monterey Bay from the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor to the Seascape area and extending one mile off the coast.
For information, visit www.midcountygroundwater.org.
•••
Volunteers needed for Friendly Visitor Program
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — I-You Venture is seeking volunteers for its Friendly Visitor Program.
I-You Venture helps connect seniors and residents to the community. Volunteers are involved in a range of activities including assisting with group visits such as arts, crafts, board games, music or reading.
For information, contact I-You Venture, Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, at 459-8917, extension 205, Cl*********@fs****.org, or visit www.fsa-cc.org.
