Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28

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 Ongoing thru Aug. 8 The Capitola Branch Library will host Bridge Club sessions on Mondays.

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.

DATED EVENTS

Friday December 16

BCRPD’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY

6-9 p.m., Downtown Rec Center, 13333 Middleton Ave., Boulder Creek Boulder Creek Recreation’s Holiday Party will be at the Rec Hall.

There will be dancing, a DJ, music and fun for the whole family. Free.

There also will be a dinner fundraiser by donation, with pasta bar, gluten free options and vegan/veggie options. Register at Online at bcrpd.org

Saturday December 17

HOLIDAY TRIVIA

1 p.m., California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos Songwriter and KPIG DJ Michael Gaither returns for trivia at California Coffee.

Two rounds with gift cards to the winning teams.

Monday December 19 thru Friday January 6

PVUSD WINTER BREAK

Classes resume Monday, Jan. 9

Wednesday December 21

HOMELESS MEMORIAL SERVICE

10-11:30 a.m., Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building, 846 Front St., Santa Cruz The public is invited to share in the 24th annual Homeless Memorial Service at the Santa Cruz County Veterans Memorial Building in down-town Santa Cruz, next to the U.S. Post Office.

In conjunction with the National Homeless Persons Memorial Day, the event honors homeless community members who died in 2022.

Presenters are Housing Matters, the Santa Cruz County Homeless Persons Health Project, Wings, and the Veterans Hall of Santa Cruz.

To date, 90 persons experiencing homelessness have died on the streets of Santa Cruz County this year, along

ACTORS’ THEATRE: NEW 8 TENS PLAY FESTIVAL

January 20 thru February 19

8 p.m., Thursdays thru Saturdays • 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Santa Cruz Center Street Theatre, 1001 Center St. After nearly a year without new shows, the Santa Cruz Actors’ Theatre is kicking off the 2023 season with its popular 8 Tens @ 8 Short Play Festival — 16 new productions Jan. 20 through Feb. 19.

“We’re excited about putting on a fresh batch of 10-minute plays,” said the theatre company’s president Suzanne Schrag, in contrast to its recent brief “reboot” of previously done short plays this summer.

The new plays, selected from nearly 260 submissions coming from across the country, will alternate Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., with additional Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The weekend shows will feature one line-up at 2 p.m., and another selection at 8 p.m., allowing theater fans to see all 16 plays on the same day.

The reading committee that selected the plays received them anonymously to avoid any chance of favoritism. Directors for each production are local and well known in the theater community. All performances will be in the Santa Cruz Center Street Theatre, 1001 Center St.

Playgoers will be required to wear a mask in the theatre and lobby areas, but proof of vaccination is not required.

Tickets are $32 general, $29 for students and seniors. Thursday performances offer a discount: Two tickets for the price of one. A package deal for both shows is $58 general, $54 students and seniors. For the play lineup and tickets, see: www.santacruzactorstheatre.org/tickets ••• Photo: Actors Sarah Cruse (left) and Avondina Wills, pictured here in a past show, both return to the 2023 8 Tens @ 8 Festival.

with another 45 housed individuals who previously were homeless.

People experiencing homelessness have much shorter life expectancies and are more likely to suffer violence, trauma and health issues, according to the county.

Wednesday December 21 Thursday December 22

AGAPÉ DANCE’S THE NUTCRACKER

2:30 & 6:30 p.m., Cabrillo Crocker Theater, 6500 Lower Perimeter Road, Aptos The magical holiday ballet comes to life at the Cabrillo Crocker Theater! The most amazing production of the Nutcracker right here in Santa Cruz County! Our show features the full traditional storyline with highly trained dancers, honored local guests, gorgeous scenery, and the majestic score by Tchaikovsky. Tickets: AgapeDance.com or Crocker Theater box office 831-479-6154.

Saturday December 24

SIXTH ANNUAL REINDEER RUN 5 K

9 a.m. Start (check in 8:30 a.m.), Junction Park, Boulder Creek The 6th Annual Reindeer Run will take place starting at Junction Park. Runners start at 9 a.m., joggers at 9:30 am and walkers at 10 am. The price: $20 comes with T-shirt; $25 after Dec. 10. Register at Online at bcrpd.org n

Thursday December 29

HABARI GANI! HONORING KWANZAA

6 – 8 p.m., Museum of Art & History, 705 Front St, Santa Cruz Curated by Santa Cruz Black Health Matters Initiative, this community at the Museum of Art & History honors the annual celebration of Kwanzaa.

Since 1966, Kwanzaa has been recognized amongst the winter holiday classics. However, many lack understanding of its significance and practice.

Habari Gani! welcomes the community for: Kinara lighting ceremony, traditional dance, music, and a gift-giving ceremony.

Featuring a pop-up by black-owned bookstore, BlknPrint, plus a Kwanzaa market. 10% of sales will be donated to the Santa Cruz Ofrenda.

VOLUNTEER FOR 2023 PIT COUNT

5 p.m.-10 a.m., Location TBD The County of Santa Cruz is moving to conducting the Point in Time homeless count annually and needs community support.

The 2023 PIT count will be done using an app-based data collection tool, and will cover the entire county in one morning. Sign up at https://asr.sjc1.qualtrics.com/ jfe/form/SV_2f3KayP7qtQJNdk

Volunteers will work in groups, meeting their team members either at a central deployment center location or a convenient location before walking/driving their assigned routes and aiding with data collection.

Volunteers are asked to bring their vehicles to use in the count if they are able. Contact Alex Werner at alex@appliedsurveyresearch.org. for more information.

•••

The Housing for Health Partnership and Applied Survey Research will host com-munity meetings to gather input and volunteers for the count Friday, Dec. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon and Thursday, Jan. 12, time TBA. Meetings will be in person. RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ santa-cruz-county-2023-point-in-time-count-planningmeeting-tickets-464743970727

Saturday February 11

25 YEARS OF HOPE & HEALING DINNER

6 p.m. (Dinner at 7 p.m.), Cocoanut Grove, 400 Beach St., SC Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services will celebrate 25 years of hope & healing at a gala at the Cocoanut Grove. There will be food, drinks, music, dancing, and inspiring stories. Tickets are $125 per person (other options available) at https://jacobsheart.ticketspice.com/25years

Friday February 24 thru Sunday February 26

2023 BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR

7 p.m. each night, Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz Get off the beaten path, stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you at the 2023 Banff Centre Moun-tain Film Festival World Tour, brought to you by UC Santa Cruz Adventure Rec.

Tickets are $23 for Aspen (Fri) and Juniper (Sun), $25 for Willow (Sat), with each night featuring completely different films. A special $10 rate is available for UCSC students for the Juniper show.

This event supports UCSC Adventure Rec student programs, affording UCSC stu-dents the chance to share in the magic of outdoor adventures.

Film ratings and advisories are included in the descriptions. Consider checking be-fore purchasing tickets for the young adventurers in your life. For tickets and list of films visit https://recreation.ucsc.edu/ adventure/banff.html n