Limited tickets available for Progressive Dinner
WATSONVILLE — Agri-Culture is sponsoring its 22nd Annual Progressive Dinner on Oct. 27.
A hundred guests are transported by bus to three farm-related destinations not normally open to the public for hors d’oeuvres, dinner and dessert. Each stop is kept a secret until guests arrive.
This event is Agri-Culture’s major fundraiser of the year. Proceeds are used to fund the many community and educational programs sponsored throughout the year.
Individual tickets were sold out three months prior to the event, but special sponsorship tickets are still available at www.eventbrite.com (search for “22nd Annual Progressive Dinner” in Watsonville).
For information and/or reservations, contact the Agri-Culture office at 722-6622, email ag**********@sb*******.net or visit www.agri-culture.us.
•••
School bus safety day scheduled
WATSONVILLE — Michael’s Transportation Service will hold its School Bus Safety Awareness Day on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Target’s parking lot, 1415 Main St. in Watsonville.
The event aims to educate attendees about the danger zones around a bus and the importance of the bus’ red stop sign.
According to a survey done on May 8 by the California Department of Education/Office School Transportation, a total of 4,474 school buses participating found that 28,120 people violated the “Stop when the red lights flash” law.
The first 100 kids who attend Oct. 20’s event will receive a school bus safety participation souvenir.
•••
East Lake Village holding Halloween car show
WATSONVILLE — East Lake Village Shopping Center, 960 East Lake Ave., will hold a Halloween car show on Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The show is open to all makes and models. It will also feature a costume contest, raffle prizes and music.
Trick-or-treating will run from 1-3 p.m.
The entry free is $20 and a toy/can donation. For information, contact Ray Montoya at (408) 221-3084 or ra********@ya***.com.
•••
Soroptimist mixer scheduled for Oct. 30
WATSONVILLE — Soroptimist International of Watsonville will hold a mixer on Tuesday, Oct. 30 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Cilantro’s Restaurant, 1934 Main St. in Watsonville (in the Nob Hill shopping center).
Women who want to make a difference in the lives of women and girls in the local community are encouraged to attend. The event will include appetizers and beverages.
Soroptimist International is a global nonprofit volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. For information, contact Mary Kashmar, president, at 706-7289 or mk*********@gm***.com, or visit www.siwatsonville.org.
•••
Vendors needed for Elks Lodge’s Holiday Boutique
WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Elks Lodge is looking for vendors for its 23rd annual Holiday Boutique.
An eight-by-five-foot space is $50 for all three days of the event, Nov. 9-11. Vendors cannot sell food items of any kind.
Reservations are due by Nov. 7.
The event runs Nov. 9 from 1-6 p.m., Nov. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
For information, call Kay Ruelas at 728-1524 or the lodge at 724-2493.
•••
Health Trust solicits grant proposals
WATSONVILLE — The Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust announced the release of its 2018-2019 Request for Letters of Intent for organizations striving to promote good health.
The Health Trust’s current five-year strategic plan, through 2020, outlines a commitment to funding and advocacy in four areas: Access to Care; Diabetes and its Contributing Risk Factors; Health Professions; and Oral Health.
In all of its work, the Health Trust prioritizes investment in programs and projects that serve the following populations: children and youth (newborn–age 21); farmworkers and their families; and low-income, underserved and undocumented individuals.
With this year’s grantmaking cycle, the Health Trust plans to award $215,000 to the most promising projects proposed in its competitive grant application process.
For information on eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit the Health Trust’s website at pvhealthtrust.org/programs/grantmaking or contact grantmaking staff at 761-5695 or gr****@pv***********.org.
•••
Follies holding pancake breakfast
SANTA CRUZ — A benefit pancake breakfast will be held from 8:30 a.m.-noon Sunday at 222 Market St. in Santa Cruz.
Cost of the breakfast is $8 for adults, $4 for children under age 10. “Grannie’s Attic” will also feature household items and small gifts.
Proceeds will benefit Santa Cruz Follies, a local performing arts group for “over 50” Santa Cruz County citizens.
For information, call SCO at 423-6640.
•••
Job fair set for Oct. 18
SANTA CRUZ — Access 2 Employment will hold a job fair on Oct. 18 from 5-7 p.m. at the Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St. in Santa Cruz.
Disability access begins at 4:30 p.m.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will include top employers, staffing agencies, resume reviews and more.
For information, visit www.access2employment.com.
•••
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 Oct. 12/15, Nov. 7/14 and Nov. 13/15. A refresher class is available on Oct. 24.
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.
•••
Volunteers needed for residents in care facilities
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — I-You Venture’s Friendly Visitor Program is in need of volunteers.
I-You Venture helps connect seniors in care facilities to the community. I-You Venture volunteers are involved in a range of activities including one-to-one visits or assisting with group visits such as music, movement, games or reading.
Family Service Agency recently hosted its 21st annual I-You Venture picnic at the Aptos Village Park. The picnic caters to about 90 seniors from skilled nursing and assisted living facilities around the county.
The event included food grilled by The Surf City Kiwanis Club, and local music and theatrics by The Upbeats Take Two and NextStage.
For information, contact I-You Venture, Family Service Agency of the Central Coast, at 459-8917, extension 205, or Cl*********@fs****.org, or visit www.fsa-cc.org.
•••
Tire amnesty days return to local landfills
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — From Oct. 13-20, local landfills will be accepting up to five passenger and light-duty tires (less than 36 inches) from residents at no cost, part of a coordinated effort by local governments to protect the environment, reduce fire danger and reduce the spread of diseases by eliminating mosquito breeding grounds.
Tires will be accepted at the following locations:
• Buena Vista Landfill, 1231 Buena Vista Drive, Watsonville
• Watsonville Waste & Recycle, 320 Harvest Drive (Watsonville residents)
• Santa Cruz Landfill, 605 Dimeo Lane (Santa Cruz residents)
• Ben Lomond Transfer Station, 9835 Newell Creek Road
The Tire Amnesty Program is funded through a CalRecycle grant in coordination with the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works and Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control.
Should residents need to drop off more than five tires, call Santa Cruz County Public Works at 454-2160 to arrange for a voucher.
•••
Nonprofit launches pen and marker recycling program
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Live Like Coco Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on helping kids in the Santa Cruz area grow up healthy and pursue their dreams, is offering the community a way to recycle used art supplies through TerraCycle’s Zero Waste Boxes for pens and markers.
The foundation works with TerraCycle through the Tom of Maine’s Natural Care Recycling Program.
“The project encourages kids in our community to take small steps towards reducing their environmental impact, which is one of the goals of our foundation,” said Kate Pavao, executive director of Live Like Coco.
The program is being sponsored for another year by Seacliff Design & Construction.
“Last spring, we mailed back more than 50 pounds of used pens and markers to TerraCycle for recycling,” Pavao said. “Thanks to this community effort, we saved them from ending up in our landfill, and also helped our local kids think more about what they can do to reduce, reuse and recycle single-use plastics.”
The Zero Waste Box is placed outside of the Art Factory, an art store in Aptos, where people in the community can dispose of their old pens and markers. Once filled, the boxes are sent to TerraCycle for processing where the waste is recycled for use in new products.
