Dear America:Book to Action Program Covers Jose Antonio Vargas

Dear America

Book to Action Program Covers Jose Antonio Vargas’ Story About Living as an Undocumented American

Community Conversation • Thursday June 24 • 7-8 p.m.

The Santa Cruz and Watsonville Public Libraries invite teens and adults to participate in Book to Action, an initiative for libraries to tackle important issues and encourage reading, discussion, and action in their communities.

This summer, the series examines equity, immigration, citizenship, and identity with everyone reading Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by journalist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas, who was born in the Philippines and raised in the U.S. from the age of 12.

Print copies of the book in English, Spanish, and Young Reader’s versions are available at library branches with ebooks and eaudiobooks in the collections. Visit bit.ly/WPL-B2A, santacruzpl.org, or bit.ly/SCPL-Book2Action.

Summer reading events for adults and teens will take place in June and July, including a conversation with Vargas 7-8 p.m. June 24, presented with the Sunnyvale Public Library with simultaneous Spanish language interpretation. Visit santacruzpl.libcal. com/event/7659544 (https://bit.ly/ B2A-Vargas) for more information about the event. For the Book to Action Brochure see bit.ly/B2APrograms or pick up a print copy at branch libraries. Other events include: Book discussion groups in English and Spanish, the documentary “Documented” produced by Vargas, a presentation of “Watsonville is in the Heart,” a storytelling workshop and Pastures of Plenty Radio Recap with KSQD Community Radio 90.7 FM, and a panel discussion with the Community Action Board and Thriving Immigrant Collaborative.

Santa Cruz Public Library’s County Correctional Facility Team and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office are bringing Book to Action to incarcerated individuals in the re-entry and rehabilitation facility with an SCPL volunteer leading two book discussions. Learn more at: bit.ly/SCPLCCF. n

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Book to Action is a program of the California Library Association, supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. Jose Antonio Vargas

Caltrans Cleans Up Highway Litter

On Earth Day, Caltrans District 5 crews were out on the highways picking up trash.

Caltrans invests significant time and resources collecting, recycling, and disposing of litter and hazardous waste each year. In 2020 alone, highway workers statewide collected 287,000 cubic yards of litter, enough to fill 18,000 garbage trucks.

“We ask the public to do its part to keep our beautiful Central Coast litterfree,” said Caltrans District 5 Director Tim Gubbins.

California Highway Patrol Officers actively enforce anti-littering laws, ticketing motorists seen littering or driving with unsecured cargo loads. Last year, CHP officers issued more than 3,100 citations for littering.

In 2020, the Special Peoples Program, a Caltrans work mentoring program providing temporary litter collection jobs and life skills training to parolees resulted in removing 86,000 cubic yards of litter from state highways -- about 5,4000 garbage trucks.

Adopt-A-Highway Volunteer partners consist of conscientious individuals, organizations and businesses that remove litter from their “adopted” sections of roadside. Since tis effort began in 1989, litter has been Caltrans crews clean up litter in Shendon and Santa Barbara. removed from more than 15,000 miles of highway shoulder.

Currently, nearly 13,000 volunteers participate, saving taxpayers an estimated $16 million annually in litter removal costs. Cigarette butts are the number one item littered in California, discarded by the millions, often causing roadside fires, clogged storm drains and threatening water quality.

Much of the trash comes from illegal dumping and improperly secured and uncovered loads. n

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To become a volunteer or support the program with a paid sponsorship, call 1-866-ADOPT-A-HWY or go to http://adopta-highway.dot.ca.gov

PVUSD SUMMER PROGRAMS Pajaro Valley Unified School District’s summer programs run from June 14 thru Aug. 4.

The programs are separated into two sessions:

Session 1 (June 14-July 9) includes Camp Connect for incoming 3rd- to 8th-Grades, Elevate Math for incoming 4th- to 9th-Grades, Credit Recovery (High School Students) and Family Engagement Activities.

Session 2 is available at all PVUSD school sites and includes all in-person instruction, with standard transportation, nutrition and food services provided. Visit http://bit.ly/PVUSDSummer21 for more details.

MANY MUSEUMS FREE IN MAY Museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions are finally able to reopen their doors safely since the COVID-19 pandemic began a year ago.

For Museums Month in May, many local museums and galleries in Santa Cruz County are celebrating with free or reduced admission and community members are encouraged to revisit the places that connect and inspire children and adults alike. Now is the time to celebrate their return as gathering places, reflective spaces, and hubs of learning and creativity.

Research conducted by Martin Kriegel and Anne Hartmann shows when open at reduced capacity, museums and galleries present half the risk of infection via aerosol particles as a visit to a grocery store. Along with vaccination rates and recent decreases in active infections locally, that is great news for local museums.

Participating organizations include the Agricultural History Project, Capitola Historical Museum, Curated by the Sea, Museo Eduardo Carillo, Pajaro Valley Arts, Pajaro Valley Historical Association, Radius Gallery, R. Blitzer Gallery, San Benito Historical Society and Museum, San Lorenzo Valley Museum, Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, Seymour Marine Discovery Center. Learn more at santacruzmuseummonth.org.

ROADMAP TO RECOVERY: CZU VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS

Survivor to Survivor Forums

Tues., May 18: 7 p.m. Register: www.uphelp.org/may18 Roadmap to Recovery Q&A Wednesday, May 19: 5:30 p.m.

Staff of nonprofit United Policyholders will answer pre-submitted and frequently-asked questions. Register: www.uphelp.org/may19 Submit a question at: www.uphelp.org/r2rhelp

RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES The American Red Cross urges individuals of all blood types to schedule an appointment now to give blood, and in most cases, those who have gotten a COVID-19 vaccine can donate. Knowing the name of the manufacturer of the vaccine is important in determining eligibility. Appointments can be made by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Those who come to give blood, platelets, or plasma in May will be entered for a chance to win a travel trailer camper that sleeps five, powered by Suburban Propane. The Red Cross will give people who donate May 28-June 13 a T-shirt, while supplies last. Donation dates are:

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Aptos

May 18: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Cabrillo College Cafeteria, 6500 Soquel Drive Ben Lomond May 21: 11:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 9545 Love Creek Road June 5: 10 a.m.–3 p.m. — Highlands Park Senior Center/San Lorenzo Valley, 8500 Highway 9

Capitola

June 4: 11 a.m.– 4 p.m. — Jade Street Community Center, 4400 Jade St.

Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by May 21

Santa Cruz

May 19 • May 25 • June 3: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. May 27: 9 a.m.– 2 p.m. — Hotel Paradox, 611 Ocean St.

Watsonville

May 28: 10 a.m.– 3 p.m. • June 1: 9 a.m.–2 p.m. — Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, 85 Nielson St. 20TH ANNIVERSARY BICYCLE FILM FESTIVAL VIRTUAL TOUR May 21-31, Online Film Festival The 20th Annual Bicycle Film Festival offers a virtual screening of short films curated for Santa Cruz County. The Festival is a fundraiser for local nonprofits Community Bike Collective and Bike Santa Cruz County.

Stories are chosen to appeal to a wide audience from film connoisseurs to avid cyclists and in between. Featured are Santa Cruz artist and chef Jim Denevan, who creates land art by bicycle, and Ashley Lloyd Thompson, a Santa Cruz surf shaper, who traveled to Mexico via fat bikes with her husband and son in search of quiet surf breaks.

Bike Santa Cruz County and Community Bike Collective are fundraising for a matching grant from The Outride Campaign to support summer bike camp for youth in need. Tickets have sliding-scale prices of $10, $20 and $30 and can be found at https://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/

ALZHEIMER’S ASSOCIATION CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS Alzheimer’s Association is offering video and phone meetings for caregivers throughout the month:

Second and Fourth Wednesdays Santa Cruz, 2-3:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitators: Jill Ginghofer and Laurie McVay. First and Third Wednesdays Santa Cruz, 5:30-7 p.m. via video or phone — Facilitators: Francie Newfield and Kathleen McBurney. Second Saturdays Scotts Valley, 10-11:30 a.m. via video or phone — Facilitator: Diana Hull. Register by calling 800-272-3900 or email ymflores@alz.org. ••• Second Wednesdays Spanish, 7-8:30 p.m. via phone — Facilitator: Yuliana Mendoza. Register by calling 831-647-9890 or email ymflores@alz.org.

STUDENT STORY CONTEST DEADLINE Stories Due Monday, May 31 The Palo Alto Humane Society invites 7th and 8th graders in Santa Cruz County to participate in a writing competition on the theme of animals and people helping each other. Stories can be fiction or nonfiction and should illustrate a sense of kindness in their characters.

The top prize is $500, with $200 each for two runner-ups. Winning stories will be published by Palo Alto Humane Society and highlighted during the 2021 Creating Compassionate Communities campaign.

Stories must be original and between 800 and 1,000 words. Competition guidelines — plus a submission form — are at https://tinyurl.com/paloalto-humanewrite-2021.

Vandana Ravi won the inaugural contest in 2019 with a story about a lonely girl who came across a donkey who also needed a friend. The 2020 winner was “The Sun,” by Aaron Huang, depicting the life of a mother dog trapped in a puppy mill from the dog’s point of view.

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:

May 20 and June 3. To register, email marisol.maciel@ pvpsa.org

SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS This new program from Community Bridges brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges. org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481.

SECOND HARVEST FOOD DISTRIBUTION Second Harvest Food Bank’s drive-through food distribution will continue operating at the county Fairgrounds throughout the summer with new hours beginning in May.

Upcoming dates and times:

Watsonville: Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds Fridays, 9 a.m.-Noon

May 7 • May 21 • June 4 • June 18 • July 9 • July 23 Aug. 6 • Aug. 20 • Sept. 10 • Sept. 24 Food hotline: 831-662-0991.

ONGOING EVENTS

Ongoing Through Labor Day LOCH LOMOND RESERVOIR OPEN Hours: May & August–Labor Day: 7 a.m-8 p.m. • June & July: 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m. • Closed Wednesdays Loch Lomond Recreation Area is owned and operated by the City of Santa Cruz Water Department, primarily storing water for Santa Cruz residents and offering boat rentals, picnicking, fishing and hiking.

After Labor Day, the Reservoir will remain open on weekends through the second weekend of October, open 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Vehicle entrance fee: $8 • Season pass: $80 Information: https://www.cityofsantacruz.com/ government/city-departments/water/watershed/ loch-lomond-recreation/park-map First and Third Monday Each Month SENIOR LIFE ONLINE 4 p.m., Online Meeting Join a local group of senior citizens for “Senior Life Online,” a free online (Zoom) program featuring a presentation by a local expert. Senior Life Online meets on the first and third Monday of each month at 4 p.m. View the schedule at scottsvalleyseniorlife.org/currentactivities/.

May 17: Darshana Croskrey, director of Scotts Valley Senior Center.

June 7: Scotts Valley Fire Chief Ron Whittle on Fire Prevention for Property Owners.

June 21: Piret Harmon, General Manager at the Scotts Valley Water District, giving an update.

To participate, you need an Internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. A one-time preregistration is required at https://tinyurl.com/SVSLA-5. Questions? Call George at (831) 334-7763. Senior Life Online is sponsored by Scotts Valley Senior Life Association (SVSLA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to promote healthy living for senior citizens. Information is at http://scottsvalleyseniorlife.org.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday NAMI RECOVERY SUPPORT 1-2:30 p.m., confidential Zoom meetings. National Alliance on Mental Illness Santa Cruz County offers the “Connection Recovery Support Group,” a free, peer-led support group for any adult 18 or older who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition (no diagnosis required).

You will gain insight from hearing the challenges and successes of others. Groups are led by trained leaders who’ve been there. It’s confidential and drop-in friendly.

To attend, complete the registration form. You will immediately get an email with the Zoom link. You will need to do this only once, and will be able to use the same link for all groups in the future. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/nami-zoom-register (Full URL: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMld6trTgjEtOukidbv3qCQQTitZ92kXFf)

If you are unable to register, do not have an email address, or have other questions, call the office at (831)-824-0406 or email anastasia@namiscc.org. For a recording of the March 18 speaker or more information on support groups and classes, https://www.namiscc.org/ Second Thursday Each Month GARDENERS CLUB MEETINGS 7 p.m., Aptos Grange, 2555 Mar Vista Drive, Aptos The Gardeners’ Club is looking for people who share their love of plants and want to know more about gardening.

The website is at http://www.thegardenersclub.org/ and there is a monthly newsletter. Dues are $15 per calendar year. Make check to “The Gardeners’ Club” and mail to P.O. Box 3025, Ben Lomond, CA 95005. Meetings are held when they are allowed. Call Cherry at 831-475-0991 for information.

Third Thursday Each Month 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, on the third Thursday of each month. Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport or call 831-471-7255.

Every Saturday SCOTTS VALLEY FARMER’S MARKET! 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Scotts Valley Square Shopping Center, Kmart parking lot, 270 Mount Hermon Road. Ongoing thru Thanksgiving

The Santa Cruz Community Farmers’ Markets in downtown Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley, Felton Westside Santa Cruz, and Live Oak are phasing out senior only shopping hour beginning in May. Senior-only shopping, one-half hour before the official opening, started last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Market staff says rates of COVID-19 remain fairly low in the county and many seniors have received vaccinations in recent months. Peak season is nearly here and most farms and food businesses have long days, some have long drives and it’s time to give them a break. https://santacruzfarmersmarket.org/markets/scotts-valley/

DATED EVENTS

Friday May 14 thru Tuesday June 15

GERBERA-N-GO PRE-ORDER WINDOW DEBUTS Pick up all orders Saturday, June 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., at Kitayama Brothers Farms, 481 San Andreas Road, Watsonville After a one-year hiatus, the Kitayama Brothers Farms Gerbera Festival is back as Gerbera-N-Go, a drivethrough flower sale at Kitayama Brothers Farms, next to Sunset State Beach.

Gerbera daisies are colorful flowers with large blooms and strong stems; when cut, they last up to 10 days in a vase. Kitayama Brothers Farms cultivates nearly 20 varieties in shades of red, pink, orange, yellow and white, with green, cream or dark brown centers.

Starting May 14, crates of 5 plants featuring a mix of colors can be ordered online for $10 each at www. thatsmypark.org/shop. June 15 is the last day to order. A limited number of day-of sales will be priced at $15 a crate.

Proceeds from Gerbera-N-Go benefit Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and the Santa Cruz Farm Bureau Agricultural Worker Vaccine Program, which made it possible for employees at Kitayama Brothers and many other farms to get vaccinated early and easily. As a result, a very high percentage of farm employees in Santa Cruz County are vaccinated.

“Just to the west of us is Sunset State Beach, which is a beautiful stretch of sand that Friends helps to care for,” said Stuart Kitayama, operations manager at Kitayama Brothers Farms and a Friends board member. “We have chosen to also include the vaccine program because the Farm Bureau did such an amazing job organizing and getting Santa Cruz County agricultural workers vaccinated, for which we are very thankful.”

AROMAS HILLS ARTISANS MONTHLY MEETING

First Saturday of the Month

1 p.m., Outdoors at Aromas Grange, 400 Rose Ave, Aromas Aromas Hills Artisans members meet to decide where that month’s “Paint Out” will take place. The excursion usually takes place on the third Friday of the month. April’s choice was Sierra Azul’s beautiful demonstration garden in Watsonville. May’s choice is Gizdich Ranch.

Aromas Hills Artisans was founded 20 years ago to bring together, support and encourage local artists working in many genres. The organization serves the tri-county area of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito. Interested artists and art supporters are welcome to join. Visit aromashillsartisans.com for details, or @AromasHillsArtisans on Facebook for announcements. ••• Photos: Aromas Hills Artisans report a productive session during their Paint Out at Sierra Azul Nursery & Garden. Artists (top, from left): JoAnne Andrews • Kati D’Amore • Linda Bjornson • Bill McQuary.

This is the 11th year for the Gerbera Festival. The event began in 2010 as part of the Monterey Bay Greenhouse Growers Open House, guided tours of five Monterey Bay greenhouses, which was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic. See www.kitayamabrothers.com.

Friday May 14

CABRILLO COLLEGE GRADUATION/TRANSFER DRIVE-THRU CELEBRATION 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Cabrillo College Parking Lot L (Near Crocker Theater), Aptos The Graduation Drive-thru Celebration will take place Friday. Participants can decorate their car or dress in graduation regalia. Graduates will stay in their car the entire time and staff will be following CDC guidelines. This is event is separate from the Virtual Graduation Ceremony at 4 p.m. on May 21.

Saturday May 15

WALK FOR CASA! 9 a.m.-Noon, Anywhere With the Human Race on pause this year, CASA of Santa Cruz County with the help of the Friends of CASA will host its own Walk for CASA! This event will be virtual, with a hybrid option on May 15.

Walk or run anywhere or any time or join with supporters for a socially distant walk at Elkhorn Slough, 1700 Elkhorn Road, Castroville, between 9 a.m. and noon May 15. In-person walkers will be notified of your walk time on May 3.

All proceeds support CASA of Santa Cruz County’s mission to match each foster youth with a trained volunteer advocate within 20 days. COVID has been especially hard on foster youth, with increased isolation, challenges with education, and homelessness. To register and/or donate: www.casaofsantacruz.org/walkforcasa Contact Michelle Keenan at events@casaofsantacruz.org or call 831-761-2956. For more information.

Saturday May 15 Saturday May 22

ROMEO & JULIET SATURDAY SHAKESPEARE 10 a.m., Saturday Shakespeare Club Zoom Session The Saturday Shakespeare Club is examining the tragic love story “Romeo and Juliet” throughout May.

These are the last two sessions. They include:

May 15: Abbey Heald, a lecturer in UCSC’s literature department, will offer a provocative perspective.

May 22: Franco Zefferelli’s version of “Romeo and Juliet” will be screened. The film won an Academy Award for cinematography and earned Zefferelli a best director nomination. All sessions are open to the public. Each Saturday Zoom session will begin at 10 a.m. To connect to the Zoom meetings, contact saturdayshakespeare@gmail. com

In lieu of the usual $2 per session suggested contribution, the group urges participants to send a donation to Santa Cruz Shakespeare at 500 Chestnut St., Suite #250, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, or to https://www.santacruzshakespeare.org/ donate/

Wednesday May 19

FOSTER CARE PANEL DISCUSSION 6-7:30 p.m., Santa Cruz Public Libraries Online Discussion The Santa Cruz Public Libraries Community Resilience Project, with CASA and Santa Cruz County child welfare professionals, celebrates Foster Care Awareness Month with a panel discussion via Zoom.

Join Jimmy Cook, program director of CASA, and Najeeb Kamil, senior human services analyst from Santa Cruz County Families and Children’s Services, for a discussion about the need for foster parents in Santa Cruz County to support teens and older youth. Panelists include former foster youth, a CASA volunteer, a foster parent, Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal, and professionals working with foster care youth in Santa Cruz County.

Participants will hear from youth with experience in foster care and learn more about the role of Child Welfare office and of judges. You’ll learn how you can be an advocate for foster care youth and come away with a better understanding of the foster care system, Santa Cruz County child welfare, and CASA volunteerism. Learn more at: santacruzhumanservices. org/SantaCruzFoster. Registration is required at santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/7634229.

Thursday May 20

FROM HOMELESSNESS TO MENTAL HEALTH 4:30-5:30 p.m., Interim Inc. Online Event Interim Inc. will host a free virtual event, “Housing, Healing, Hope: The Path from Homelessness to Mental Health,” to shine a light on its support services for local homeless living with mental illness.

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