Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28

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.

Third Fridays

LEGO ENGINEERING CHALLENGE

3-5 p.m., Scotts Valley Branch Library, 251 Kings Village Rd Are you looking for fun, and competitive challenges? Do you like building stuff with LEGOs? Are you 8 to 12 years old?

If you answered yes, you are invited to join the Lego Engineering Challenges! The Challenges are a fun way for tweens to learn about basic engineering, teamwork, and leadership by completing Lego projects.

Challenges take place every third Friday of the month in the Fireside meeting room at the Scotts Valley Branch Library.

Space is limited and registration is highly encouraged but walk-ins are welcome if space is available. Questions? Contact Iván Llamas at llamasi@santacrupl.org or (831) 427-7700 Ext 7752.

Second and Fourth Saturday

GLIMPSES OF WORLD HISTORY

1-2:30 p.m., La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave. and Online Dr. Robert Strayer, Ph.D of European and African history, presents a series of six illustrated talks dealing with topics in world history and implications for the present. These free events take place in January, February, and March via Zoom and at the La Selva Beach Library.

Jan. 28: Commerce, Culture and Connection: Early Globalization

Feb. 11: The Industrial Revolution: Origins and Outcomes

Feb. 25: Fascism and Communism: Comparing Revolutionary Movements in the 20th Century

March 11: Religious Fundamentalism in the 20th century: Christian, Islamic, Jewish, and Hindu

March 25: Feminism in the Modern World: Challenges to Patriarchy Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85086826725 See: santacruzpl.org/calendar.

DATED EVENTS

Saturday January 14

SATURDAY SHAKESPEARE BEGINS WITH JULIUS CAESAR

10 a.m., Zoom Meetings “Julius Caesar” has been selected as the first of three plays for the Saturday Shakespeare Club to read over the course of the year, beginning Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. on Zoom.

The first speaker for “Julius Caesar” will be Michael Warren, UC Santa Cruz profes-sor of English literature and dramaturg for many Santa Cruz Shakespeare produc-tions. He’ll give an overview of the play and establish its setting and background during the first session, beginning at 10 a.m.

Jan. 21: Two half-hour DVD lectures by Dartmouth College Professor Peter Saccio, focusing on Rome and Julius Caesar’s history in it.

Jan. 28: Gary Miles, professor emeritus in UCSC’s Humanities Division, will discuss the play’s historical background.

Feb. 4: Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s founder and former

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.

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.

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.

artistic director Mike Ryan will talk about staging the play and theater itself.

Feb. 11: A film version of the play (not yet selected) will be shown.

There is some possibility the film may be shown at a local venue, but that is not yet confirmed.

The group, which has been meeting for the past year, will also examine “King Lear” and “As You Like It.” Attendance is free, although the Saturday Club urges participants to donate $2 per session to Santa Cruz Shakespeare: https:// santacruzshakespeare.org/donate/ If sending a check, indicate the gift is on behalf of the Saturday Shakespeare Club.

Tuesday January 17 Wednesday January 18

FINAL AFFAIRS

Tues: 5:30 p.m. / Wed 1:30 p.m., Live Oak Grange, 1900 17th Ave., Santa Cruz Is Green Burial for you?

Learn about how to get your final wishes affairs in order and green burial as a natural option.

See a slideshow of what your options are, who offers them and how to make the process enjoyable.

Both sessions at the Live Oak Grange. Attendance is free. Light refreshments with your RSVP to Patricia at 831-756-1381 or www.PrePlanWithPatricia.com. Next Purissima tour is on Wednesday, Jan. 25. Prescribed Burning: Under-standing NWCG Qualifications and the California Rx Fire Burn Boss Program” will take place 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 19. To sign up: https://spranch.calpoly.edu/wildland-qualificationmanagement-webinar

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.

Sunday January 22

SANTA CRUZ HARP FESTIVAL

3-4:30 p.m., Resource Center for Nonviolence, 612 Ocean St, Santa Cruz Community Music School of Santa Cruz presents the return of the annual Santa Cruz Harp Festival at the Resource Center for Nonviolence.

Featured performers include Jesse Autumn (double-strung harp); Shelley Phillips (folk harp) with Robin Petrie (hammered dulcimer); Jennifer Cass (pedal harp) with Rob Watson (guitar); and the all-ages Community Music School Harp Ensemble. A harp petting zoo will be available during intermission for the “harp curious,” along with snacks and beverages.

Doors open at 2:30 p.m.; masks will be required indoors.

Tickets for adults are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. (Kids under 18 get in for $10 in ad-vance/$15 at the door.) http://CommunityMusicSchool.org • susan@communitymusic school.org

Monday January 23

ROTARY COMMUNITY SERVICE SOCIAL

5:30-6:30 p.m., The Hideout, 9051 Soquel Dr. Aptos Meet Capitola-Aptos Rotary members and learn about community projects.

Enjoy no-host beverages at the Hideout Cocktails and Dining – join the table in the back. Members have served Santa Cruz County for 58 years, providing opportunities for connection, community service and leadership.

Capitola-Aptos Rotary is part of Rotary International, a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem solvers where people unite and take action. All are welcome to attend. For information see https://capitolaaptosrotary.org/, or contact co-president elect lowry.fenton@gmail.com.

WILDR WOMEN

6:30 p.m., Online Seminar WILDR will celebrate successes from the November 2022 election and talk about the challenges in electing diverse candidates ahead on Zoom.

Topics will include plans for 2023. For the Zoom link, register at: https://bit.ly/WILDR01232023

Wednesday January 25

LUNCH WITH SUPERVISOR ZACH FRIEND

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive, Aptos The Aptos Chamber of Commerce will have a lunch meeting at Seascape Golf Club, featuring Second District Supervisor Zach Friend as the speaker. The price is $30 for members in advance, $35 non-members and at the door. RSVP at 831-688-1467.