Rio Unveils Banff World Tour Epic Bundle

COMMUNITY NEWS Rio Unveils Banff World Tour Epic Bundle

All the programs? All the programs! If you’ve been too busy getting after it outdoors, or just haven’t made the time yet, now’s your chance to catch all four Banff Virtual World Tour Programs in one epic bundle.

From mountaintops to wide open

12,000 KM: Swedish extreme skiers and snowboarders travel via train and boat from Stockholm through Russia to Japan, in search of deep powder. oceans, this bundle has adventure, sports, environmental, and cultural experiences for all to savor — over 8 hours of films for hard-core World Tour fans.

You have 14 days to watch all four programs.

One of the highlights is Piano to Zanskar, the 2019 Grand Prize Winner, which won a slew of awards after that.

Promoter Kathy Ferraro had hoped to bring this film to the Rio and then the pandemic hit.

“I am excited and thrilled that our community can now see this inspiring film, which has been edited for the World Tour,” she said. “It is an especially interesting story when juxtaposed against the piano that someone in Aptos abandoned and it landed on the beach as well as the cover of the Aptos Times.”

In Piano to Zanskar — what a more fitting end to a piano — to bring joy to the school children and community of Zanskar. Even better is to know Sir Desmond, 65 at the time of the film and journey, went back to Zanskar each year to tune the piano until his death.

“This film unites a set of lovely characters so individual and multi-faceted, even a seasoned Hollywood screenwriter would have a hard time coming up with them,” `said Joachim Hellinger, a member of the 2019 film jury. “It takes us on a quest that seems to be crazy and anachronistic but is actually full of purpose and symbolic Piano to Zanskar: Desmond Gentle, 65, must find a way to get this piano to a school in a remote village in the heart of the Indian Himalayas. power. Watching this film helps to restore the belief in a better world.”

While it’s not possible to replicate the experience of seeing the Banff films on the big screen of your local theatre, surrounded by friends and your community, these curated programs of amazing outdoor films are designed to inspire you to live life to the fullest — however that looks these days. The Epic Bundle is $52 or screen individual programs for $15. Buy tickets online through the Rio Theatre. See http://www. riotheatre.com/events-2/2020/11/26/ banff-centre-mountain-film-festivalworld-tour. n

“Build Week” from page 13

“We have a bold agenda to build more new homes in Monterey Bay than in any previous year,”said Kathy Arola, Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay board vice chair. “To achieve this goal, we need to strengthen our core, recognize the valuable work of women across our organization, and encourage others in the community to support our cause in any way they can.”

Habitat Monterey Bay has 11 units planned for construction over the next three years on Rodeo Creek Court in the Live Oak neighborhood, and expects to complete four homes for families in 2021.

In Watsonville, Salinas and other cities, Habitat is securing build sites and permits for 11 homes and three accessory dwelling units (ADUs) over the next five years, with construction on two due to be completed for families this year.

For the 15th consecutive year, Habitat for Humanity International is partnering with Lowe’s, which has awarded more than 300 grants to Habitat organizations in the United States, Canada and India, including $5,000 to Habitat Monterey Bay.

The Women Build theme was conceptualized by Habitat for Humanity International to recognize that strength, resilience and perseverance of women is at the foundation of the 45-year old organization.

“We are always working to align the stakeholders who can help us build homes for people,” said Debbie Arakel, executive director for Habitat for Humanity California, the state support organization for 41 Habitat affiliates in California. “We are excited to bring together these policy advocates, corporate leaders, and local community members in March who represent the promise and possibilities of our success.”

In the past 30 years, Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay has built 55 homes for families in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties. More than 5,000 volunteers have logged more than 75,000 hours in construction, at ReStore, and by providing administrative assistance. n

COMMUNITY NEWS Costume Shopping? Goodwill Can Help

Costumes aren’t just for Halloween anymore. That’s why Goodwill in Santa Cruz operates its costume shop year round.

The 1,000-square-foot store aims to be Santa Cruz County’s costume headquarters, appealing to kids and adults.

While gathering is on hold right now, it has been common practice to dress in costume for events such as Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Burning Man, Mardi Gras, Comic-Con, renaissance faires, public sporting events, fun runs and even weddings.

When gatherings are allowed, parties with themes like the 1960s, Western, luau, ugly sweater may see a comeback.

And there’s cosplay (a blend of the words costume and play), a performance art in which participants wear costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Participants are called cosplayers, and go above and beyond copying their character’s outfits by mimicking their mannerisms and gestures as well.

“Halloween is a great time to dress up,” said Evelyn Matthew of Goodwill Central Coast. “But Goodwill actually saves things we think might be costume worthy throughout the year.”

It’s her job to help Goodwill shoppers find the perfect costumes — no matter how big or small.

“We help all age ranges here,” she said. “There’s no limit to creativity and wanting to try something new and be someone else for a day.”

A short list of fashion pieces include: Overalls, coveralls, corsets, petticoats, tutus, lingerie, vests, Hawaiian shirts, ruffle tops, aprons, tuxedo shirts, gowns, capes, fake fur, feathers, wigs, cowboy hats, pinafores and belly dance coordinates.

“Have an idea of what you’d like to do, but if you don’t, we can help you,” she said. “And don’t worry about a specific color. Just because we don’t have the color you want, we might have the style you like.”

Another benefit is the ability to stay within a budget.

Evelyn Matthew (left), Goodwill’s costume maven, with a shopper (pre-COVID). “You get costumes at a decent price at Goodwill,” Matthew said. “If you want to look at it as a retail price as if you went to a department store, we have it here cheaper for you.” n

$2.75 Million to Aid Santa Cruz County Distressed Businesses

On Feb. 18, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration awarded $6.7 million in CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to help communities and businesses in California respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the four grants will benefit Santa Cruz County.

NDC Economic Development Lending, Inc., will receive $2.75 million to establish and administer a revolving loan fund to support coronavirus-impacted small businesses in Santa Cruz County, and in the target cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, and Capitola. The project, to be matched with $687,500 in local funds, is expected to create 18 jobs, retain 138 jobs, and generate $1 million in private investment.

Sacramento will be helped by two grants and the Ontario Convention and Visitors Bureau east of Los Angeles will receive $678,000.

Sacramento’s grants include a grant for $2.5 million to the West Sacramento region, while California Academy for Economic Development, Sacramento, will receive $782,788 to expand their Outsmart Disaster Campaign. This statewide education and training campaign is designed to provide the resources that businesses need to adequately prepare for and recover from all types of disasters. The project will be matched with $195,697 in local funds.

“EDA is committed to helping communities across the nation implement strategies to mitigate economic hardships brought on by the coronavirus pandemic,” said Dennis Alvord, acting assistant secretary of commerce for economic development.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated our local economies,” said U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (CA-03), “and this muchneeded funding will help local businesses keep the lights on and create and retain jobs.”

These projects are funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which provided EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This assistance, which is being administered by the office’s Economic Adjustment Assistance program, provides a wide-range of financial assistance to eligible communities and regions as they respond to and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. n