By LOWELL HURST, Watsonville Mayor
Special Concert Celebrating Watsonville’s 150th Anniversary: Join us on Sunday, Oct. 7 from 1-5 p.m. at the Plaza for a special concert celebrating Watsonville’s 150th Anniversary. We will have live music from the Groove Foundation, Pura Dinamita Con Rumba Café, Impacto 5 and the Ville Band. Make sure to go with an empty stomach and enjoy delicious food from our downtown restaurants and the Farmer’s Market which will be in full swing. Hope to see you there!
Public Workshops Unified Corridor Investment Study: The Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) is hosting a public workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Civic Plaza Community Room A located at 275 Main St., fourth floor. Your input is vital as the RTC moves forward with examining how well combinations of transportation investments on Highway 1, Soquel Avenue/Soquel Drive/Freedom Boulevard, and the Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line will provide the greatest benefit to the community and help ease traffic congestion. If you’re not available to attend the workshop, you can also provide feedback via email to
uc*@sc****.org
or by mail to the RTC at 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA 95060. Please visit the RTC website at www.sccrtc.org for more information.
State of the City: Please join us for the Third Annual State of the City address on Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. Come learn about current and future plans for Watsonville from City Manager Matt Huffaker and Mayor Lowell Hurst. The event will be held in the Watsonville City Council Chambers located at 275 Main St., fourth floor. For more information, please call 768-3010.
Watsonville Police Activities League 1st Annual 5K Halloween Run: Watsonville PAL is hosting a 5K Halloween Run on Oct. 28 at Pinto Lake County Park. You can join the fun for just $30! Plus, all kids under the age of 12 can participate in a free 1K Fun Run. By signing up, you’re helping PAL kids and teens better themselves and become positive role models in our community. Your help allows them to continue to offer crime prevention programs for students who are the future of tomorrow. For more information, call 763-4147 or register by visiting bit.ly/WatsonvillePAL5KRun.
Immigrant Experience through the Arts: The Watsonville Public Library will be holding various events throughout the month, which are made possible by the Library Innovation Lab grant they received from California Humanities. The grant was offered to encourage the development of creative and innovative programs that relate to the needs and circumstances of today’s immigrant communities. The following events were made possible by this grant and we invite each of you to join us:
• Mural and Art Reception: “Dignity of Labor” Medallions by Kathleen Crocetti – Wednesday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. at the Watsonville Main Library
• Film Screening: “The Wall by USA Network” — Thursday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. in the Main Library Meeting Room
• Lightning Talks:150 Years of Watsonville — Thursday, Nov. 8 from 6-8 p.m. in the Main Library Meeting Room
Please visit our website at www.cityofwatsonville.org for more information or call Alicia Martinez at 768-3400.
Callaghan Park Fall Festival: Get ready for spooktacular fun at the Callaghan Park Fall Festival. The event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 3-8 p.m. at Callaghan Park. The festival will feature an array of activities such as music, selfies with McGruff, children’s costume parade, games, contests and a lot of fun for all ages. Enjoy a delicious barbecue meal, meet our local police officers and enjoy watching an outdoor movie, “Coco,” to wrap up the event. This event is free to the public. Please call Imelda Negrete at 728-6084 for more information.
Annual Halloween Maze: The G.H.W.R. Youth Center will hold their annual Halloween Maze on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m. The G.H.W.R. Youth Center is located at 30 Maple Ave. For more information, call 768-3240.
Community Planting Event: Please join city staff and local nonprofit partners as we plant trees at Muzzio Park to take action toward a healthier Watsonville on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there! For more information, please call Rachel Kippen at 768-3165.
Seventh Annual Day of the Dead Family Crafts: Enjoy a family evening of culture and tradition by decorating sugar skulls and other crafts on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 6-8 p.m. at the Civic Plaza Community Room, 275 Main St., fourth floor. The event will also be held at the Freedom Branch library on Saturday, Oct. 27 from 1-3 p.m located at 2021 Freedom Blvd. For more information, call Susan Renison at 768-3414.
I love to hear from our community, so please feel free to email me directly at
lo**********@ci***************.org
.
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Lowell Hurst is the mayor of Watsonville. His opinions are his own and not necessarily those of the Pajaronian.
