Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28

served Santa Cruz County families of persons living with neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury and other conditions that cause memory loss and confusion.

Trained staff are tuned in to the experiences and issues caregivers face, ready and able to connect, listen and support. The center receives funds from the state Department of Health Care Services. For information, see https://www.delmarcaregiver.org/ or call toll-free (800) 624-8304.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays

BRIDGE CLUB

10:30 a.m.-Noon, Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays (except holidays).

Everyone is welcomed from beginners to social players. Make new friends and sharpen your mind.

Bridge Club is a partnership between Santa Cruz County Parks and Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Register at scparks.com or in-person the day of the event.

Tuesdays

PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM

6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated by a licensed grief counseling therapist. Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/ griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

Tuesday January 10

COUNTY HEALTH OFFICER TO SPEAK

6 p.m., Online Meeting Dr. Gail Newel, Santa Cruz County Health Officer, will be the guest speaker for the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County via Zoom. Dr. Newel will provide an update on the current status of Covid-19 cases in the county, as well as the uptick in flu and RSV cases. She will also discuss the most

Gail Newel common sources of exposure and precautions county residents can take to stay healthy and avoid contracting these viruses. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Visit www. svslvdemocrats.org for the zoom meeting link. Social time starts at 6 p.m. and the meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.

Saturday January 14

JUSTICE FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING SURVIVORS

1 p.m., Resource Center for Non-Violence, 612 Ocean St., SC The Santa Cruz County Branch of the American Association of University Women will present “Justice for Survivors of Human Trafficking” at the Resource Center for Non-Violence.

It is free and open to the public.

Rose Mukhar, founder of Justice at Last, a San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit law firm that provides free legal representation for survivors of human trafficking, is the featured speaker. She has experience in cases involving children, women, refugees, and survivors of domestic violence, torture, and human trafficking. For information about this event and human trafficking issues, call AAUW at (831) 425-1306. For information on AAUW, see https://santacruz-ca.aauw.net.

Friday January 20

BLM FIRE COMMENT DEADLINE

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on a plan to expedite fuels reduction treatments and fire protection efforts near high fire-risk areas on public lands in 44 counties throughout California and northwest Nevada. The BLM will consider all substantive comments received by Jan. 20.

The statewide Wildland-Urban Interface fuels treatments programmatic Environmental Assessment aims to facilitate projects on 900,000 acres of public land near rural communities.

“This initiative is designed to streamline on-theground projects to reduce hazardous fuels … and to protect local communities,” said BLM California State Director Karen Mouritsen.

Fuels reduction projects aim to reduce intensity, severity, and spread of wildfire on public lands by reducing overgrowth, creating fuel breaks and thinning forest density.

The goal is for reduced likelihood of loss of life, property, and community infrastructure from wildfires.

These treatments also aim to improve firefighting conditions when wildfires happen, allowing for greater success of fire suppression and fire perimeter control, increased safety for firefighters and decreased costs by reducing potential fire damage and fire size. To submit written comments on the plan, potential impacts, and alternatives in the preliminary environmental assessment and the Findings of No Significant Impact, see https:// eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2016583/510 or email: blm_ca_swft_ea@blm.gov.

Saturday January 21

BIG SUR FORAGERS FESTIVAL

9:30 a.m. Hike, Big Sur | 4:30 p.m., Online Festival The annual Big Sur Foragers Festival, buffeted by wildfires, road closures and the pandemic, will take place at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, a virtual experience with participants receiving items shipped to prepare and enjoy at home. The event ben-efits Big Sur Health Center, which provides holistic approaches focusing on patient needs. There will also be two “Wild Foraging Walk and Talk” hikes.

The festival will offer “foraging” by chef Gavin Schmidt from The Morris in San Francisco, who will assemble kits for participants to prepare a multicourse muchroom meal along with him in their own kitchens.

Moore will pair the menu with wines from Champagne Laurent Perrier, Chappellet Winery and Flywheel Wines. Acquire, founded by sommelier Haley Moore, who spent 15 years as a sommelier and wine director in San Francisco, will create a cheese and charcuterie board to give guests something to snack on while they cook.

Participants can choose from three packages, priced for two people: The entire ex-perience, $500; cheese and charcuterie board with Champagne, $150; wine only, $90.

There is a $75 charge to participate in the hikes. See www.facebook.com/bigsurforagersfestival/ for more details.

“Calendar” page 31

It’s time ... to add the space you’ve been dreaming of!