Santa Cruz Elks Adopt-a-Family Success

FEATURED COLUMNIST For the Love of … Podcasts About Water!

By Rebecca Gold Rubin

Here we are in February, the month of love! This pandemic Valentine’s Day may be a bit different so I hope everyone can find creative, safe, and socially-distanced ways to express their love and gratitude.

As for Soquel Creek Water District, we continue our traditional February article with a “For the Love of…..” theme. Over the years we’ve covered music, books, and movies.

This year we’d like to let you know about some water-related podcasts that may enhance your own love of water! Podcasts are digital audio files available on computer and mobile devices and can be very entertaining, educational, and even inspirational. A recent study in January 2020 identified more than 850,000 active podcasts being created, which is pretty startling growth considering there were just 500,000 active podcasts in 2018 (Podcast Insights, 2020).

With over 70% of the US population aware and listening to podcasts, we wanted to share a few water-related podcasts with you: • The Water Values Podcast series takes you on an exploration of water issues aimed at uncovering the true value of water. Each episode (there are over 180!) covers a different aspect of water, so you can pick and choose. Subjects include: Water Treatment; The Birth of the Western Water Market; Water Use

in Vertical Farming, Water Reuse; and more. • Words on Water series by Water

Environment Federation features conversations with people who work on water issues and discussions about the opportunities and challenges facing one of Earth’s most precious resources. Topics include infrastructure, innovation and technology, workforce, resource recovery, management, research, and public awareness. Words On Water is produced by the Water Environment

Federation, a nonprofit education and technical organization with over 170 podcast episodes. • Meet the Ocean is an educational podcast that improves science communication through storytelling. Its content is great for all ages. There are over 80 podcasts to choose from and topics and interviews provide journeys to the polar regions and other far-off destinations. A few of the highlights include: Blue Whales in Antarctica;

Becoming the Glacier; World Oceans

Day; and The Marine Mammal Center, among others. • WQA Radio, from the Water Quality

Association, focuses on residential, commercial, and industrial water treatment. You’ll hear leading voices in the treatment industry, and members of WQA. With almost 200 episodes, they have covered the Flint

water crisis, women in the industry, and treating water for beer. • Water You Talking About, is a podcast series of over 30 episodes that are produced by doctoral students researching urban water technologies. A recent episode focused on how the sewers of Paris have captured the imagination of writers, engineers and politicians; another featured stories of the water legends throughout time who have made water systems great.

Happy Valentine’s Day and while we focus on keeping our social pod small during this pandemic, may we keep ourselves entertained with some podcasts. n •••

As always, if you have any questions about this month’s topic or anything else related to Soquel Creek Water District, feel free to contact us at outreach@soquelcreekwater.org or visit soquelcreekwater.org. We also encourage community members to access our ‘Current and Upcoming Projects’ webpage www.soquelcreek water.org/NeighborhoodProjects and to sign up for updates on the Pure Water Soquel Project at https://tinyurl.com/pwsconstruction.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Santa Cruz Elks Adopt-a-Family Success

Despite challenges presented by COVID-19, the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge #824 Adopt-a-Family effort was a success.

More than $5,000 was spent on clothes, toys and food for local families in need.

Through the holiday program, the Lodge supported several local organizations including the Jesus Mary Joseph Home, Siena House, Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, and Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center.

Wrapped gifts were delivered to 19 families with 39 children, and unwrapped gifts of new jackets and toys were provided to Walnut Avenue Family and Women’s Center.

Founded on Feb. 16, 1868, the Elks are a charitable organization dedicated to helping veterans, giving scholarships, and all around bettering our communities. The Elks created the first veterans’ hospital and gave it to the US government. It is also the largest private provider of college scholarships in the United States. n •••

The Santa Cruz Elks Lodge, established 1903, is located at 150 Jewell St. in Santa Cruz. To learn more about the lodge and membership, visit www.santacruzelks.org.

WATSONVILLE BRILLANTE ARTISTS DEADLINE Local artists are invited to participate in the design process for Watsonville Brillante, mosaics celebrating cultural heritage on the Civic parking garage. The deadline to submit your art is Wednesday, Feb. 10. Download the application at https://communityarts empowerment.org/local-artists-invitation/. Email watsonvillebrillante@gmail.com or message Instagram @ watsonvillebrillante

SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION Fridays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Second Harvest Food Bank drive-through food distribution schedule into March:

Watsonville: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

Feb. 5 • Feb. 19 • March 5 • March 19 •••

Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Feb. 12 • Feb. 26 Food hotline: 831-662-0991.

YOUNGER LAGOON RESERVE VIRTUAL TOURS Younger Lagoon Reserve, which is part of UC in Santa Cruz, is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as our behind-the-scenes hiking tour, and is led by a UC Santa Cruz student.

Visit https://ucanr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapTour/

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by Feb. 8

index.html?appid=7bf4b74490c444068a326c4c 89a9a560 or https://ucanr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ MapTour/index.html?appid=9e4aa7556bc24951a855cc3 bd4f6c473 (https://tinyurl.com/lagoon-reserve-virtual-tours) https://youngerlagoonreserve.ucsc.edu

NEW GROUPS STARTING FOR SURVIVORS OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE Survivors Healing Center, a welcoming place for survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters, is forming new eight-week support groups for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

There will be online groups in English and Spanish for men, women, mothers of survivors, partners of survivors, young adults and teens.

You are not alone. You are not to blame. Services are offered on a sliding fee scale. For more information: call (831) 423-7601, visit survivors healingcenter.org or email shc.program@fsa-cc.org.

EDUARDO CARRILLO: COMUNIDAD DE CALIFAS Virtual Art Exhibit, February 3 thru April 3 Reception: Feb. 3, 4 p.m. on Zoom with artist and culture critic Amalia Mesa-Bains and Philip Brookman, consulting curator with the National Gallery of Art. This virtual exhibition will showcase the breadth of Eduardo Carrillo’s work spanning from his early career after his studies at UCLA to his later life living in Santa Cruz, where he was professor of art at UC Santa Cruz. Register at https://ucsc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrcuyr rz0oH9CDLjkt6nHih0CFUYCUVHtM ••• The Califas Legacy Project is a multi-year, multi-medium, collaborative endeavor launched by Museo Eduardo Carrillo in Santa Cruz to document the legacy of our region’s Chicano/a cultural treasures. The project found its roots in a 1982 UCSC conference Carrillo organized with Juventino Esparza, Tom á s Ybarra-Frausto and Philip Brookman, which brought together innovative Chicano artists, intellectuals and visionaries, titled “ Califas: Chicano art and culture in California.”

SHOW US YOUR FOOD Watsonville Coast Produce, Inc. is launching a restaurant social media promotion called “Show Us Your Food” to support the industry.

You post pictures of your takeout meals from your favorite local restaurant in the Central Coast and Bay Area and post on Instagram @watsonvillecoastproduce with hashtag #showusyourfood for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to that restaurant.

Jacquie Roque of Skin Care By Jacquie is the first winner of a $50 gift certificate to Five Mile Buzz House The promotion runs eight weeks, with the first giveaway Wednesday, Jan. 6. Good luck! Fourth Thursday of the Month PARENT SUPPORT GROUP PVUSD, PVPSA and Kaiser Permanente offers support groups for Pajaro Valley families at 3 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month. The next dates are:

February 25: Finding Balance in Disorienting Times. Meeting ID: 823 7074 8744 Password: 757434 https:// tinyurl.com/y2y9455u

March 25: Topic to be announced. Meeting ID: 885 0351 4197 Password: 308147 https://tinyurl.com/ y26ablzk

DATED EVENTS

Tuesday February 2

DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF N. SANTA CRUZ COUNTY MEETING 6 p.m., Online Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Santa Cruz County health officer Dr. Gail Newel will be the guest speaker at the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County monthly meeting in February.

Dr. Newel will provide an update on local impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in our county. She will also discuss the science behind the vaccines, how the vaccination rollout plans are progressing and where people can get vaccinated. Members of the public are invited. Visit www.svslvdemocrats. org for zoom meeting link. Social time starts at 6 p.m. and club meeting begins at 6:30 pm.

FOOD DRIVE RESULTS Noon, Facebook Live Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County will announce the results of its annual Holiday Food & Fund Drive at noon Tuesday, Feb. 2 via a Facebook Live broadcast.

In January 2020, an ambitious goal of 4.5 million meals was established prior to the pandemic. Food drive co-chairs Megan Martinelli and Carlos Palacios asked the community to match the prior year’s goal, a task challenged by vastly greater food demand, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. To view the full story and food drive results, go to: https://www. facebook.com/SecondHarvestSantaCruz

Wednesday February 3

ADVANCE DIRECTIVE WEBINAR Noon to 1 p.m., Hospice of Santa Cruz Online Seminar Hospice of Santa Cruz County will host a free Advance Directive Webinar Wednesday, Feb. 3, focusing on how COVID-19 might impact your wishes, what options you and your loved ones may want to consider, how to explore your own values around healthcare at end of life, and how to navigate conversations with your loved ones about your preferences.

Community Education Coordinator Vanessa Silverstein will present the essentials of advanced directives and medical social worker Emily Lauri who will review the Physicians Order for Life Sustaining Treatment.

Advanced registration is required. To register and get dial-in information, visit: https://www. hospicesantacruz.org/event/plan-ahead/. For more information, call (831) 430-3000 or visit www.hospicesantacruz.org. RETHINK YOUR DRINK Food Smarts Pajaro Valley Parent Workshop: Discover tips for healthy eating and delicious snack recipes for your family. 6:15 p.m. arrival. 6:30 - 8 p.m. workshops. Use your child’s Chromebook. Funded by USDA CalFresh. For English workshops, click on meet.google. com

Meeting ID: qbb-wysh-wgm

Phone: 1-774-298-7003 PIN: 928 347 784# For information call, text or email: Jennifer Larkin at 831-5352239 or jennifer.larkin@santacruzcounty.us

Wednesday February 3 thru Sunday March 28

450 PIECES TRI-GALLERY ART SHOW Online Gallery R. Blitzer Gallery, Curated by the Sea, and the Radius Gallery, all in Santa Cruz, are hosting the work of 300+ artists in Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s Visual Arts Network. Information:infor@curatedbythesea.com or call1 (408) 250-2224 or email

Tuesday February 9 Wednesday February 10

CALTRANS CONTRACTORS BOOT CAMP 8:30 a.m. to noon, virtual event on WebEx. Day 1: Bonding and surety. Day 2: Estimating and labor compliance. Register at www.tiny.cc/bootcamp2021. For info: Bob Adams, Caltrans District 10, call 209-948-7855 or email bob.adams@ dot.ca.gov For 2021, the Friends of the Aptos Library will host virtual events centered on “The Great Believers,” by Rebecca Makkai, a novel set in Chicago at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and in Paris in 2015.

Due to the pandemic, this year’s Our Community Reads will take place remotely. All events are free and open to the public, but registration is required to access each event.

To register: Go to the Santa Cruz Public Library website at www.santacruzpl.org and scroll down to “Upcoming Virtual Events.” Scroll down the list of events until you find the one you want, and click “Register Now!” Feb. 1: HIV/AIDS in the 80’s: “Firsthand Accounts of the Santa Cruz Scene” with State Sen. John Laird leading a panel discussion with men who were living in Santa Cruz as the epidemic was exploding. No effective treatments were yet available, and misinformation was rampant. Audience Q&A will follow. Sponsored by the

Friends of the Capitola Library. • 7 p.m. Feb. 3: Capitola Branch Library Book Discussion, led by Lorena Lopez. • 10 a.m. Feb. 7: “HIV/AIDS, Activism, and the Politics of Pandemic,” with David Reichard, CSU Monterey Bay Professor of History & Legal Studies and Interim Associate Dean in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at CSUMB, describing the history of grassroots HIV/AIDS activism—especially in the 1980s and 1990s—and how it illustrates the ways marginalized groups advocating for changes in healthcare access, policy, and resources can shape the course of a pandemic. Audience Q&A will follow. • 5 p.m. Feb. 11: Aptos Library Book Discussion led by Judy McNeely. • 1 p.m. Feb. 13: Cut-Paper Art Workshop with Felton glass artist April Zilber leading a hands-on art project. Have colored paper (look in your recycling bin), pencil, scissors, and glue stick or tape. This is your chance to be creative, a small gesture of art in respect to The Great Believers. Sponsored by the Felton Library Friends. • 4 p.m. Feb. 19: Trivia Night with prizes and Supervisor Zach Friend returning as emcee. Come on your own, with friends, or with your book group (virtually of course) to show off your knowledge of The Great Believers. You supply your own cocktails and snacks. • 6 p.m. Feb. 21: “Memories: My Brother, a Quilt, and the AIDS Project.” Join this moving conversation with Dinah Davis, a local resident who lost her brother to HIV/AIDS.

She tells how the illness affected her family at a time when many members of the LGBTQ community remained closeted. The event, led by life coach Kris Franceschi, includes a short documentary on the San Francisco gay scene of the 1980s, narrated by Cleve Jones, who conceived the AIDS Memorial Quilt to which Dinah contributed. You can view the documentary at www.youtube.com/watch?v=hX0Ju8IhoXQ • 5 p.m. Feb. 24: Santa Cruz Public Library Book Discussion Group. April Zilber of the Felton Library Friends leads a thought-provoking group discussion. • 6 p.m. March 4: “Pandemics, Politics and Public Health.” An interactive talk with Dr. Ronald P. Hattis, MD, MPH, associate clinical professor of preventive medicine, Loma

Linda University School of Medicine, and past president and current secretary of the Beyond AIDS Foundation, discusses his history, beginning in the early ‘80s, in the fight against HIV/AIDS, which he calls a “slow-moving pandemic,” and connects this to the current faster-moving COVID-19 pandemic. • 7 p.m.

Wednesday February 10

CASA VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER 4 p.m., CASA of Santa Cruz Online “For the Love Of Children” virtual fundraiser. Registration is free, and any donations go to the Children’s Fund to help support children who have an immediate need. To register, visit https://casaofsantacruz.org/fortheloveofchildren/fortheloveofchildren.html

Wednesday February 10 thru Saturday February 13

RESURRECTION CHURCH ONLINE “FUN”-RAISER 5 p.m. Wed., virtual auction opens for bidding; closes Sat. at 10 p.m. 6-8 p.m. Sat.: Virtual Cocktail class and Trivia Resurrection Church will be hosting its annual “FUN”raiser event, this year a virtual silent auction beginning Wednesday and on Saturday a virtual cocktail class and a trivia game.

Items are available for bidding starting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Bidding closes 10 p.m. on Saturday. Items will be available to preview at www.32auctions.com/ resurrectionchurch after February 3rd.

Saturday evening activities include a Cocktail Mixology class from 6-6:45 p.m. and “A Taste of Team Trivia” from 7-8 p.m.

Log-in information for Saturday’s events will be emailed to you after payment. You will also receive the ingredient list for the cocktail so you can make your own at home. To purchase tickets: https://resurrection-aptos.org and click on the Donate Now button. Choose Event Tickets More information is available on our website about the festivities at https://resurrection-aptos.org. This event will benefit Resurrection Church and our many ministries at the church and in the local community. Cost is $30 per login (i.e., buy a ticket). There is no cost to just view items and make bids. Visit https://resurrection-aptos.org, call 831-688-4300 ext. 10, or e-mail kmvictorino@sbcglobal.net for more information.

Monday February 15

ART GRANT APPLICATIONS OPEN Artists and organizations will be able to apply for the Arts Council Santa Cruz County’s next round of Cultivate Grants supporting creative projects and professional development beginning Feb. 15. Virtual grant workshops will take place. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. March 15. More info at https://www.artscouncilsc.org/ for-grantseekers

Tuesday February 23

WALLACE STEGNER LECTURES*: ERIN BROCKOVICH 7 p.m., Online Lecture Erin Brockovich was working as a file clerk at a Los Angeles law firm in 1992, where she uncovered documents that ultimately led to more than 600 residents of Hinkley, California filing a lawsuit against utility giant PG&E. Since then, Erin has worked on a host of environmental issues across the country. She has been

Erin Brockovich involved in dozens of legal cases and campaigns over the past three decades, including a variety of groundwater contamination issues, oil and natural gas pollution, fracking and pharmaceuticals. During her talk,

Erin will share inspiring stories of how bringing people together to address environmental issues can have an enormous impact. Cost: $30. https://openspacetrust.org/wsl-2021/

Tuesday March 9

WALLACE STEGNER LECTURES*: DR. MICHAEL E. MANN 7 p.m., Online Lecture Climate scientist and author Dr. Michael E. Mann will address how we move forward together on climate change. Dr. Mann is Distinguished Michael E. Mann Professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State University.

Dr. Mann is author of more than 200 peer-reviewed and edited publications, numerous op-eds and commentaries, and six books. https://openspacetrust.org/wsl-2021/

Tuesday April 6

WALLACE STEGNER LECTURES*: JOSÉ ANDRÉS 7 p.m., Online Lecture Chef, restaurateur and humanitarian José Andrés will appear in conversation with Bay Area food personality Jesse Ziff Cool to discuss his work as founder of World Central Kitchen, helping to feed those in need throughout the course of the pandemic.

Andrés is a Michelin-starred, James Beard Awardwinning Spanish-American chef, as well as the author of three cookbooks and the New York Times best-selling We Fed an Island, which describes how Andrés and his team cooked for thousands of hungry people in Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria.

Andrés advocates for sustainability in the restaurant industry. https://openspacetrust.org/wsl-2021/ n ••• *Cost for the Wallace Stegner Lecture Series is $30. The price gives you access to four lectures, plus the ability to watch recordings until April 30. This includes last month’s Dolores Huerta & Luis Valdez lecture.