Concert celebrates city’s sesquicentennial
WATSONVILLE — A concert in the Watsonville Plaza on Sunday from 1-5 p.m. will celebrate the city’s 150th anniversary.
Slated to perform are The Groove Foundation, Pura Dinamita Con Rumba Cafe, Impacto 5 and The Ville Band.
Food from the farmers market will also be available.
For information, call 768-3240.
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Congressman’s staff to hold office hours
WATSONVILLE — Congressman Jimmy Panetta’s (CA-20) staff will hold mobile office hours on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Suite 100.
To schedule a meeting, call Panetta’s Salinas office at 424-2229.
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Mayor hosting bike ride
WATSONVILLE — Watsonville Mayor Lowell Hurst will host the “Mayor’s Bike Ride for Health” on Saturday from 9-10:30 a.m. on the Pajaro River levee.
This short, family-friendly bike ride will follow the Pajaro River levee starting at the parking lot across from the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, 423 Bridge St.
There will be a bicycle powered smoothies and bike tips from Bike Santa Cruz County and warm up stretches lead by Watsonville Yoga.
Helmets are required for this ride.
Participants are asked to park in the Buddhist Temple parking lot.
This bike ride is supported by Friends of Watsonville Parks and Community Services.
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Soroptimists seek applicants for awards program
WATSONVILLE — Soroptimist International of Watsonville is seeking qualified candidates to apply for the 2019 “Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards for Women” program.
This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through additional schooling and skills training. The club’s first-place award recipient will receive $3,500, the second-place recipient will receive $3,000 and third place will receive $2,500.
To be eligible, a woman must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program or vocational skills/training program, be the primary financial support of her family, and have financial need.
The deadline to apply is Nov. 15. Applications, reference forms and additional information are available by emailing [email protected] or by calling Kathy Foxworthy at 320-0319.
Winners will be announced in early February and will be honored at the club’s annual awards dinner in March or April 2019.
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Tickets available for Be the Difference Awards Gala
SANTA CRUZ — The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County and sponsors will celebrate the 12th Annual Be the Difference Awards at the Cocoanut Grove from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Oct 24.
Community members are invited to RSVP for the Awards Luncheon by visiting the Volunteer Center website at www.scvolunteercenter.org or by calling 427-5070. Individual tickets are $40 per person or $320 for a table of eight. Individuals can RSVP and pay online, via the mail, or in-person at the Volunteer Center, 1740 17th Ave. in Santa Cruz.
Last year a sold-out crowd of more than 350 individuals, community leaders, and business representatives joined in honoring local service champions.
This year the top 50 nominees have been selected as honored guests and five will receive special highlights for their efforts.
“This event resonates with so many individuals and as such our number of event attendees has grown larger each year,” said Volunteer Center Executive Director Karen Delaney. “Each of us can think of a volunteer that has touched our lives in some way, big or small. The Be the Difference Awards provide the annual opportunity for the larger community to say thank you and to be inspired by the stories of our local change-makers. It is a powerful and touching event not to be missed.”
The 50 honorees come from every corner of Santa Cruz County supporting myriad causes.
“These nominees demonstrate that volunteerism and a willingness to giving back are at the heart of what makes our community a vital and vibrant place to live,” Delaney said.
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Drive for Schools underway
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The 14th Annual Drive for Schools, Santa Cruz County’s largest school fundraiser, is now underway.
Eighty-five schools in Santa Cruz County are selling tickets to raise money for their schools while giving the community an opportunity to win a new car, cash prizes, merchandise and gift certificates from local businesses. Each school keeps all the money they raise, with no overhead costs.
Sponsored by the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Toyota of Santa Cruz and Subaru of Santa Cruz, this year’s Drive for Schools Grand Prize winner will get to choose a new car (Toyota Prius C or Subaru Crosstrek) or $25,000 in cash. Other prizes include 10 $1,000 cash prizes and gift certificates and merchandise.
The public can purchase tickets from school volunteers through Oct. 21. Tickets are $5 each or $25 for six. Drive for Schools tickets include a coupon to park for free at the Boardwalk on Oct. 28 for the prize drawing. Winners need not be present to win.
Drive for Schools has raised $5.4 million for local schools since 2005. Schools use the funds for art, music, and sports programs as well as field trips, science camp, and classroom supplies.
The largest school fundraiser in Santa Cruz County, Drive for Schools is sponsored by Subaru of Santa Cruz, Toyota of Santa Cruz and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk who share the cost of the new car and other cash prizes and donate employee time to organize the fundraiser. Tickets and posters are printed by Mission Printers in Santa Cruz.
Visit www.beachboardwalk.com/driveforschools for a list of participating schools, prizes, rules and ticket information.
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Animal shelter reduces cost of cat adoptions
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY — The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS) is experiencing an overload of cats and kittens, and will be offering an autumn “Pay it Forward” special to help find homes for the animals, as well as fund community programs and services.
All cat and kitten adoptions are $25 through Oct. 31.
SCCAS is also asking the community to “Pay it Forward” to the county’s animals by also donating at least $25 to one of the following funds:
• Planned Pethood Fund, which funds free spay/neuter surgeries.
• Extra Mile Fund, which allows medical rehabilitation for animals beyond what SCCAS’ budget permits.
• Healthy Pets for All Fund, which purchases pet food, toys, flea medication and other supplies for animals in the community.
• General Program Donation Fund, supporting animal adoption, animal enrichment, and public outreach and education programs.
The adoption fee includes spay/neuter, microchip (including registration), age-appropriate vaccinations, routine flea/worms treatment, a cat carrier, and a free wellness exam with a local participating veterinarian.
For information and a list of animals up for adoption, visit scanimalshelter.org.
