Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28

CALL FOR ARTISTS

The Mid County Senior Center is looking for artists to be a part of their May Day sale on May 1 at 829 Bay Ave., Capitola, behind Woodworm. If you are interested in a booth, email Cindy at MCSC4treasurer@gmail.com for details.

ONGOING EVENTS

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.

GOOD FRIDAY PADDLE OUT

DATED EVENTS

Tuesday April 19

EL MERCADO FARMER’S MARKET RETURNS

2-6 p.m., Pinto Lake City Park, Watsonville El Mercado, hosted by Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley, is a weekly farmers’ market now at Pinto Lake City Park.

The market provides families easy access to locally grown produce and other community resources that encourage a happy and healthy lifestyle. The El Mercado Farmer’s Market will be open every Tuesday, and will feature artisans, activities for the family and free health screenings.

Wednesday April 20

TEEN JOB FAIR

2-5 p.m., Laurel Park, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz Looking for talent as summer approaches?

The Access2Employment Teen Job Fair, sponsored by Santa Cruz Employment Access, will take place outside at Laurel Park. This event is free for employers and job seekers. Employers can call Amanda Ares at 831-420-5437 to register.

Wednesday April 20 and Tuesday May 3

MEDICARE 101

6:30 p.m., Online Class Whether you’re turning 65 or helping a family member navigate the system’s complexities, understanding Medicare can be overwhelming. At this virtual seminar, a registered HICAP counselor will help demystify Medicare. Topics include: The A, B, C’s (and D) of Medicare, original Medicare vs Medicare Advantage, when and how to enroll, choosing a drug plan, supplementing Medicare.

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program counselors are highly trained and registered with the California Department of Aging. HICAP is not associated with insurance companies, products or agents. HICAP of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties is a program within Senior Network Services, a community-based nonprofit organization. Class may be repeated. There is no fee. Registration is required; call 831-457-7099 or go online at www.dignityhealth.org/dominican/pep

Wednesday April 20 Friday April 15

6-7 p.m., Capitola Beach (to the right of Capitola Wharf) Santa Cruz means “Holy Cross,” and this Good Friday, surfers from many churches are uniting at Capitola Beach to gather for a message, reflections, songs, baptism, and a paddle out for Jesus Christ. During the paddle out, they will form a large surfer cross to remember Jesus Christ and His love for our community.

Joe McCrosky, from Christian Surfers, will coordinate the formation of the cross while Danny Bennett from The Coastlands will coordinate the paddle out ceremony.

Anyone who wants to know more about our hope in Jesus Christ and His awesome love is welcome to join in this unique building of the cross with surfboards this Good Friday.

For information, contact https://www.facebook.com/TheCoastlands/ and Joe McCrosky at 831-3481703.

Are you or is someone in your family interested in getting baptized, following Jesus’s direction in Matthew 28:18-20? Kids from 1st grade up and adults are welcome to sign up and take the next step in their faith journey. Please sign up by Thursday, April 14 by calling Coastlands church, 831-688-5775. •••

ABOVE: Christian Surfers come together to form a cross. This Friday they will form a cross at Capitola Beach. • Photo Credit: James Walton

Santa Cruz Stories, to spotlight dynamic entrepreneurs and business leaders sharing tales of inspiration, perseverance and success.

The meeting will take place at the Dream Inn.

This month’s panelists will share how innovation, flexibility and passion helped them defy the odds: • Anita Pedford, Wildseeds Utility Cream • Diego Felix, Colectivo Felix • Emmanuel Guzman, Santa Cruz Skateboards • Jen Zeszut, Goodles • Nick Pavlina and Taylor West, Humble Sea Brewing Co. • Sindy Hernandez, Queen’s Shoes & More

There will be live music from Mak Nova and networking. Tickets are $20 at https://bit.ly/SCStories_ April. Food and drinks will be available for purchase. For more information, see santacruzchamber.org or EventSantaCruz.com or facebook.com/eventsantacruz.

Saturday April 23

CLIMATE CHANGE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Online Seminar UC Santa Cruz scientists and community leaders in conservation, climate resilience, and sustainability will explore the local and global challenges brought on by a warming world, discuss ways we all can adapt and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate, and respond to questions from the audience.

CLIMATE ACTION MARKET

10 a.m.-2 p.m., Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz A family-friendly festival will take place at Seymour Marine Discovery Center.

Dozens of researchers, nonprofits, businesses, and public agencies will set up booths so you can learn what environmental work is happening in our community and how you can get involved. Food, music, and games plus science. Biking is encouraged; overflow parking on Delaware Avenue.

KIDS’ DAY IN SANTA CRUZ

4 p.m., Downtown Santa Cruz Kids’ Day will take place in downtown Santa Cruz. Exhibitors will be lined up on Cooper Street and Pacific Avenue between Church Street & Locust Street. Almost every exhibitor will have a free family activity.

Presented by Downtown Santa Cruz, the day will feature performances and demonstrations in Abbott Square — plus face painting, music, dancing, bubbles, foosball, and crafts. Many businesses will be offering discounts and specials just for kids.

EARTH DAY WEEKEND CLEANUP

10 a.m.-Noon, Along the San Lorenzo River Join Save Our Shores for a cleanup along the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz.

Registration is required at https://saveourshores. salsalabs.org/SanLorenzoRiverCleanupHWY1toWaterSt42322/index.html?page=register

Meet in the public exercise area along the riverwalk next to World Market parking lot on River Street in Santa Cruz. Parking is ample.

Wear closed-toed shoes, dress in layers, wear sun protection, and bring a filled reusable water bottle. Avoid single-use plastics.

All cleanup materials are provided, including buckets, grabbers, and gloves. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own.

Download the Save Our Shores Marine Tally App (Apple, Google) in advance of the cleanup and use it to record the debris you collect, or use the paper data cards provided at the event.

Every participant must complete a volunteer waiver at chrome-extension://oemmndcbldboiebfnladdacbdfmadadm/https://saveourshores.org/wp-content/ uploads/2021/09/NEW_CitySC_Participant-WaiverRiver-Levee-Creek-Beach-Cleanups_rev8.31.20.pdf Anyone under 18 will require a parent or guardian’s signature on this document. Volunteers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult (guardian) for the duration of the event.

Saturday April 23 Sunday April 24 Saturday May 7

SIX SHORT COMEDIES IN SEARCH OF 26 CHARACTERS

2-4 p.m., Various locations NextStage Production’s Readers Theater performs six short comedies directed by Sally Bookman of Soquel. In this show, nine actors play 26 parts — without memorizing scripts. Free admission. Performances take place at:

April 23: Capitola Public Library, Wharf Road, Capitola.

April 24: Mid-County Senior Center, Bay Ave., Capitola.

May 7: Santa Cruz Public Library, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz.

Sunday April 24

CARING 4 KIDS RHYTHM EVENT

1 p.m., Watsonville Plaza Park Survivors Healing Center invites you to attend the Annual Caring 4 Kids Rhythm Event at Watsonville Plaza Park.

Celebrate children & families and make music together — no music experience necessary.

Survivors Healing Center will have a booth with free treats and information about keeping kids safe in our community. Then join some fun drumming led by Don Davidson. For information or to make a donation, visit survivorshealingcenter.org or caringforkid-sevent.com .

DINING FOR PARKINSON’S

10 a.m.-8 p.m., Erik’s DeliCafé, 102 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos, 1475 41st Ave, Capitola, and 1664 Soquel Dr, Santa Cruz Erik’s DeliCafé in Aptos, Capitola and Santa Cruz will host the second “Dine for a Day” for the Santa Cruz County Parkinson’s Group.

Dine in-store, online for delivery, curbside, or pick-up and part of your purchase will benefit the Santa Cruz County Parkinson’s Group, a project of nonprofit EASEPD.

During the pandemic, most of the group’s classes and meetings needed to pivot quickly to Zoom. Thanks to donations and efforts of the all-volunteer group, most classes and support programs continued and membership grew.

The Parkinson’s Foundation provides a free Hospital Safety Kit to protect, prepare, and empower people with Parkinson’s while hospitalized. Order at https://www.parkinson.org or call: 800-473-4636.

Wednesday April 27

MEET YOLANDE WILBURN

4 p.m., Felton Branch Library Community Room, 6121 Gushee St. Meet Yolande Wilburn, the dynamic new director of Santa Cruz Public Libraries, at a gathering hosted by Felton Library Friends in the Felton Branch community room.