Community Calendar • Arts & Entertainment – Pages 28

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.

First Sunday Every Month

WESTSIDE MARKETPLACE

11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Old Wrigley Building Parking Lot, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz Come by on Sundays and shop at over 40 unique & wonderful artists, makers & vintage sellers — there’s something for everyone at the Westside Marketplace!

Rain dates are scheduled for the following Sundays.

The Market is free to attend and is 100% local!

April 3 features Pana, Three Waves Coffee & Aunt LaLi’s, Mattia Pizza and Taquizas Gabriel — along with 40 vendors & live music with Cement Ship.

All local and state health guidelines will be followed. Please wear your mask, maintain social distance while you shop and stay home if you don’t feel well. Hand sanitizing stations will be available. For more info, go to the event page: https://www.facebook. com/scmmakersmarket/

DATED EVENTS

FUTURE OF WATSONVILLE HOSPITAL

Noon, Online Discussion Join the Aptos Chamber for a virtual lunch meeting via Zoom with State Sen. John Laird, County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios, and Pajaro Valley Healthcare District CEO Mimi Hall.

They will cover the successes and challenges for the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District and its potential effect on county healthcare as a whole. There will be time for questions and community updates.

General admission is $15 per person and $10 for chamber members. Reservations are required. Call the Aptos Chamber at (831) 688-1467 with your credit card and email address or send a check and email address to 7605 Old Dominion Court, Aptos CA 95003, or online at aptoschamber.com. A Zoom link will be provided after your reservation. The presentation will be recorded so if this time does not work for you, you can get a link to listen later.

Friday April 1 Saturday April 2

MOANA JR

7 p.m. (2 p.m. Saturday), Monte Vista Christian School, 2 School Way, Watsonville The talented 8th-grade students of Monte Vista Christian School will present “Moana Jr.” at the Don Price Performing Arts Chapel.

The community is invited to watch this heartwarming coming-of-age story, which follows the strong-willed Moana as she sets sail across the Pacific to save her village and discover the truth about her heritage. Tickets are $12 at https://www.mvcs.org/eventtickets

Saturday April 2

RECREATIONAL OCEAN SALMON SEASON OPENS

California’s recreational salmon fishery will open April 2 in ocean waters from Point Arena (38° 57’ 30” N. lat) south to the U.S./Mexico border, with a minimum size of 24 inches.

Anglers are advised to check for updates when planning a salmon fishing trip. Season dates, bag/possession limit information and gear restrictions can be found at www. wildlife.ca.gov/oceansalmon or by calling the Ocean Salmon Regulations Hotline at (707) 576-3429.

Public notification of any in-season change to conform state regulations to federal regulations is made through the National Marine Fisheries Service ocean salmon hotline at (800) 662-9825.

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS CHALLENGE

Early Registration is open • Prices increase April 15

The Santa Cruz County Cycling Club presents the 23rd annual Santa Cruz Mountains Challenge road cycling event Saturday, July 23, with the start and finish at the UC Santa Cruz Baskin School of Engineering courtyard.

Riders can choose among 4 different routes, the 45-miler with 3,000 feet of climbing, 62 miles with 7,000 feet of climbing, the 100-mile Century route with 10,000 feet of climbing and the Double Metric route (125 miles) featuring 12,500 feet of climbing.

Each ride will feature coastal views and gorgeous scenery, delicious food and hydration throughout. Support vehicles and SAG wagons will assist riders. Riders are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Early bird entry fee is $70; for the 45-miler, $55. For details, including routes with ridewithgps, see: http://www.santacruzmountainschallenge.com

Proceeds will go towards the grants program, which supports local cycling initiatives. Register at https:// www.bikereg.com/scmc2022

Photos from 2019 challenge • by Tom Pennello

PERSPECTIVES: CAPITOLA IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER RECEPTION

Noon-2 p.m., Capitola Historical Museum, 410 Capitola Ave. “Perspectives: Capitola in the Eye of the Beholder” exhibit is open at the Capitola Historical Museum. The museum is open every Friday through Sunday noon – 4 p.m. Entry is free and family-friendly.

The reception will feature the unveiling of a new painting by Aptos muralist Ann Thiermann. The painting depicts Indigenous people fishing and foraging at what we know today as Capitola Beach and Lagoon. Ms. Thiermann will speak about her research and method of creating the piece, which was commissioned by the City of Capitola. Her painting will be part of the 2022 exhibition.

Tuesday April 5

SALLY BAHO TO SPEAK

1 p.m., Online Meeting Retired Teachers Association Division 7 will meet on Zoom to hear. Sally M. Baho speak on “My Work at the Naval Postgraduate School.”

A Syrian-Californian writer and bon vivant, she works fulltime at the Naval Postgraduate School as a research associate and associate editor of the journal, Combatting Terrorism Exchange. In her free time she loves to be outdoors, read, travel, and enjoy life on the Monterey Bay. She is working on a novel. See her website www.sallybaho.com Contact Mary Dixon at mary@baymoon.com for the Zoom link.

Wednesday April 6

VOLUNTEER VISITORS Q&A

12:30 p.m., Online Seminar Join this virtual Q&A via Zoom with Forbes Ellis, director of volunteer services, at Hospice of Santa Cruz County to learn about this volunteer opportunity.

Volunteer Visitors provide companionship to hospice patients in their homes or in the care facilities where they live. As a willing listener, a hand holder, and supportive presence, these special volunteers are vital members of the hospice team.

Volunteer Visitors may also provide caregivers with much needed respite. Other duties include simple snack preparation, running errands, and other practical tasks. Register at https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAoceChqD0jHdPp1lT6pOfmlDQhHGHVs1Ch

Thursday April 7

‘FIGHTING FOR HOUSING’ AUTHOR TO SPEAK

6:30-8 p.m., Online and Santa Cruz Public Libraries, downtown branch, 224 Church St, Santa Cruz The Santa Cruz Public Libraries, with the Homeless Garden Project, announce the kickoff for the Book to Action program, featuring Conor Dougherty, author of “Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America,” and Santa Cruz author Jonathan Franzen talking about the factors driving homelessness in America.

In-person attendees will be able to write questions for the authors. The event is free and registration is required via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/ housingconv

Through the Book to Action project, Santa Cruz Public Libraries is providing copies of “Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America” to in-person attendees free of charge while supplies last.

This Book to Action program is 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.

Tuesday April 12

CAPITOLA SOROPTIMIST CLUB MEETING

4 p.m., Michael’s on Main, 2591 Main St., Soquel Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea will meet at Michael’s on Main.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Club members will hear follow-up reports on the club’s gourmet dinner fundraiser and the Live Your Dream celebration as well as designating members who will attend the region conference in Milpitas in May.

Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. For information, see www.best4women.org.

Saturday April 23 Sunday April 24

SPRING DANCE FESTIVAL AT EASTRIDGE CENTER

11 a.m.-6 p.m., Eastridge Center Mall, 2200 Eastridge Loop, San Jose (off Capitol Expressway and Tully Road) The Spring Dance Festival, featuring local dance companies, is presented by sjDANCEco at Eastridge Center Mall,.

The event celebrates National Dance Week (April 15-24 and includes free dance classes at 11 a.m., 1, 2 and 5 p.m. both days on the main level of the mall.

Flying Colors Dance & Fitness of Hollister will present a new work by choreographers Amy Redmond Waran and Hilary Sharp titled “Villains,” set to music inspired by classic evil-doers: Cruella DeVille, Captain Hook, The Evil Queen from Snow White, and Maleficent on Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Performing Sunday are: DanceCenterBestDanceCrew of Ben Lomond, at 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Ballet Rep of Boulder Creek, 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. Shakti Bhakti (Classical Indian dance) of Santa Cruz, noon, and Tannery World Dance & Cultural Center of Santa Cruz, 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. All performance times are approximate. https://www.sjdanceco.org

Photo by Steve Bartolomeo

Sunday April 24

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. n