‘Lightning Talks’ touches on Watsonville history
WATSONVILLE — A group of community members will speak on immigration, local history and more during “Lightning Talks: 150 Years of Watsonville” on Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. at the Watsonville Main Library Meeting Room, 275 Main St. suite 100.
• Olga Fuentes will share her story in LGBTQ+ community organizing.
• Joaquin Barreto will speak on the immigrant experience.
• Carlos Palacios will describe the history of land use in Santa Cruz County.
• Delia Mendez, an activist and educator, will take about her experience during the Watsonville Cannery Strikes.
To register for the free event, visit tinyurl.com/y7cx5bny.
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Poets’ Circle reading series returns
WATSONVILLE — The Poets’ Circle Poetry Reading Series will welcome Jean Walton Wolff on Nov. 8.
The event will take place from 7-9 p.m. at the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Suite 100, Agricultural History Room.
Walton Wolff is an award-winning writer and poet. Her work has appeared in several anthologies, newspapers and magazines, including the San Francisco Chronicle, West Magazine and Porter Gulch Review. She is the founder of Community Writers of Santa Cruz.
An open mic will follow the featured reader. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Watsonville Public Library and hosted by Magdalena Montagne.
For information, email ma*******@hu****.net, call 252-5776 or visit www.poetrycirclewithmagdalena.com.
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Veterans Day march and program is Nov. 11
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Veterans Day march and program will return Nov. 11.
The veterans will meet in the Moreland Notre Dame parking lot on Brennan Street at 9:45 a.m., with the march taking place at 10:15 a.m. The program will begin at 10:45 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial Building, 215 East Beach St.
This year, the Pajaro Valley Historical Association, 332 East Beach St., will hold a Veterans Day open house from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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Theme announced for 2019 Fair
WATSONVILLE — “Round Up the Red, White and Blue” will be the theme for the 2019 Santa Cruz County Fair.
“A department head informed us during our wrap up meeting that the 2019 Fair would open on September 11,” said manager and CEO David Kegebein. “That helped the group narrow down a list of great theme possibilities to our overwhelming choice.”
The opening day of the 2001 Fair was held on 9/11, a day when a series of four terrorist attacks killed 2,996 people and injured more than 6,000 in the eastern United States.
The 2019 Fair will be held Sept. 11-15 at the fairgrounds located on Highway 152 just east of Watsonville. For information, visit www.santacruzcountyfair.com.
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Ag History Project to present Harvest Dinner
WATSONVILLE — The Agricultural History Project’s 33rd annual Harvest Dinner will take place at the J.J. Crosetti Building at the fairgrounds on Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
The event will feature a live and silent auction, and a dinner prepared by Monterey Bay Caterers. Mr. Banjo & The Lonesome Wailers will perform.
Tickets are $75. For information, visit www.aghistoryproject.org.
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Corralitos Woman’s Club to host wine tasting benefit
CORRALITOS — The Corralitos Woman’s Club is hosting a Wine Tasting Benefit event on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 35 Browns Valley Road in Corralitos from 1-6 p.m.
Local wineries featured include Windy Oaks, Sante Arcangeli, El Vaquero, Corralitos Ridge, Wagon, Lester family, Storrs, and sparkling wines provided by Deer Park Liquors.
Tickets for the event are $30, which will include wine tasting, musical entertainment and appetizers. Raffle prizes and auction items including two-night stays in Yosemite will be available. Holiday boutique items handcrafted by the club members will be offered for sale, along with items made by local merchants.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Corralitos Woman’s Club programs.
For advance purchase, visit corralitoswinebenefit.eventbrite.com.
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Sheriff to speak at chamber breakfast
APTOS — The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly breakfast meeting on Thursday from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Best Western Seacliff Inn, 7500 Old Dominion Court.
Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart will be the guest speaker.
Admission is $20 for chamber members, or $25 for non-members. For reservations, call 688-1467 or visit www.aptoschamber.com/event.
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Public service center closed in Aptos
APTOS — A public service center located in the Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center has been closed due to ongoing construction, the County of Santa Cruz announced.
Supervisor Zach Friend has temporarily relocated his constituent office hours, which occur Wednesdays from 9–10 a.m., to Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, 7807 Soquel Drive in Aptos.
Negotiations regarding a potential relocation of the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Aptos Substation are underway, according to county spokesman Jason Hoppin.
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Spots open in Smart Driver classes
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — AARP Smart Driver classes are still open.
The classes are designed to help maturing drivers maintain safe driving skills and keep their licenses longer. California insurance companies are required by law to give a discount for three years to seniors who complete this class.
The regular eight-hour class is offered in two four-hour sessions and 4.5-hour refresher class is taught in one day.
Regular eight-hour classes are available on Nov. 7/14 and Nov. 13/15.
The class fee is $20 per person, or $15 per person for AARP members. Registration is recommended as drop-ins may find the class is full.
For information or to register, contact Fred at 247-3097.
