COMMUNITY CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENTS GIVING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON With the heart of the holiday season is upon us comes the biggest time of giving of the year. Santa Cruz County has always been a place that supports local businesses, local nonprofits and local causes. With supply chains in upheaval and the need greater than ever due to the persistent pandemic wreaking havoc, there has never been a better time to give back to the local Santa Cruz County community. For those looking for ways to connect and make their holiday celebrations more meaningful, the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County can help. Each year, the Volunteer Center posts an online Holiday Volunteer Guide, which is available at www.scvolunteercenter.org. For more information see www.scvolunteercenter.org, call 831427-5070, or email connect@scvolunteercenter.org. RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES The Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region has experienced a 48 percent decrease in new blood donors this year as fewer blood drives took place due to the pandemic. As the holidays approach and the need for blood increases, you can make a difference. ••• Santa Cruz November 27: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Live Oak Grange #503, 1900 17th Ave. December 2: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. December 15: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 220 Elk St. Scotts Valley December 3: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. — Scotts Valley HS, 555 Glenwood Drive Ben Lomond December 4: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. — Highlands Park Senior Center/San Lorenzo Valley, 8500 Highway 9 ••• Those who come to give Dec. 1-16 will get a $10 Amazon. com Gift Card by email, and be automatically entered for a chance to win a private screening of the new film, The Matrix Resurrections, for 50 people. SENIOR CENTER WITHOUT LIMITS This new program from Community Bridges brings enrichment activities like yoga, art, music, tai chi, cooking, tech and support groups to seniors age 60 and up in their homes at no cost. To participate, you need an internet connection and a computer, tablet or smartphone. To participate, view the calendar at https://communitybridges.org/SCWOL/ and find a class. That day and time, click on the link in the calendar to be connected. If you have a problem connecting, call Clara Munoz at (831) 458-3481. STATE PARKS FRIENDS SALE The Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks once-a-year ParkStore Holiday Sale will take place over the first two weekends in December. The first weekend — Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 4-5 — will be exclusively at the ParkStore Online at https:// thatsmypark.org/collections/. The second weekend, Dec. 11-12, will be in-person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following locations: • Seacliff State Beach, 201 State Park Drive, Aptos • Natural Bridges State Beach, 2531 W. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz • Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, 144 School St., Santa Cruz
Have a virtual or live event you want to promote? Send your information to info@cyber-times.com by December 10 • Wilder Ranch State Park, 1401 Coast Road, Santa Cruz Members will receive 30% discounts on select iconic Michael Schwab illustrated apparel, plus maps, nature guides, local history books, and educational toys. Non-members receive 20% off. Proceeds benefit local state parks.
women (and their children) facing life controlling issues such as drugs and alcohol. Hours at Rustic Table, a professionally trained studentrun restaurant with dine-in and pick-up options, are Monday through Saturday 8 am-3 pm. Hours at Lighthouse Treasures Shoppe, a secondhand retail store run by Teen Challenge students and staff, are Monday through Saturday 10am-5pm. The phone for both places is 831-761-3191.
PROPERTY TAX BILL DUE The Santa Cruz County has mailed out property tax bills, and the first due date is approaching. Your bill can be paid in two installments. The first installment was due on Nov. 1 and becomes delinquent after Dec. 10, and a penalty is charged. The 2nd installment is due Feb. 1 and becomes delinquent after April 10. Penalties will be incurred if not paid before becoming delinquent.
ONGOING EVENTS
SUPPORT FOR MOTHERS OF SURVIVORS Survivors Healing Center is offering online women’s support groups and mothers of survivors of childhood sexual abuse support group. The goals are to empower through a healing process and prevent sexual abuse of children and youth. You are not alone. You are not to blame. More information: (831) 423-7601 or www.survivorshealing center.org LA SELVA BEACH LIBRARY ACTIVITIES The La Selva Beach public library is now open Tuesday thru Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday). Tues-Thurs: 11-6 • Fri-Sat 12-5. Book drops open 24/7. Contact us by phone: 831.427.7713; text: 831.264.0647; online chat: https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/?display=chat; or send a question at https://www.santacruzpl.org/contact/ Preschool Storytime: Tuesdays, 11 am – noon outside on the patio. Dress for the weather. R.E.A.D Reach Every Amazing Detail: Wednesdays 3- 5 pm. One-on-one reading comprehension instruction for readers 2nd through 12th grade with California credentialed teachers. Sessions last 25 minutes. By appointment only.. Call 831-427-7717 or email pro@santacruzpl.org Stories for Bedtime: New programs every other Wednesday at 7 p.m. on Facebook, presented by SCPL Librarian Jackie. The episode then is added to the library’s YouTube Channel after that. See Storytimes for Children playlist at the SCPL YouTube page: https:// www.youtube.com/user/santacruzpl Passionate Readers Book Discussion: 4th Thursday at 10:30 am. In-Person Tech Help: Fridays 10 am to noon. Techsavvy staff will help you troubleshoot your issue with a 25-minute (or less) appointment. Make an appointment: https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/appointments/laselva Advance appointments are prioritized. Visit information desk or call 831-427-7713 for help making an appointment. Arriving later than 5 minutes after scheduled time may result in appointment cancellation. Visit https://tinyurl.com/la-selva-library-events for more details and future events. TWO NEW GRACE HARBOR SHOPS The Rustic Table Restaurant and Lighthouse Treasures Shoppe are open at 55 Brennan St., Watsonville, sharing space with Grace Harbor Women’s Center, a satellite of the nonprofit faith-based Teen Challenge Monterey Bay and Pajaro Rescue Mission. Grace Harbor is a shelter and recovery program for
28 / December 1st 2021 / Aptos Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
Proceeds help fund community outreach. Participating artisans: Barbara Coy-Bulicz, Bluebird Creek Art & Design, Cards by Andi, Crecia Munson, Elegant Braid, Greek Goddess Handknit Designs, Handcrafted by Jerry, Kit and Caboodle Homestead, Laughing Wolf Creations, Midwestern Pottery, One of a Kind, Racing the Clouds, Radiance Art & Glass, Rockin’ Rose Creative, Rose Giannetto, Seaglass Creations by Monica, Shirley Anderson, Sky to Sea, Snuggle Up and Read, The Crafty Fox, Therapy Beads, Toes by Clydesdale, Whimsical Works. Watch for signs from Highway 1.
Tuesday November 30
MUSIC STUDENT RECITAL 12:40 p.m., Samper Recital Hall, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos Ongoing Through Sunday December 12 Cabrillo College music students present a recital of solo music in a variety of styles at Samper Recital Hall. MI CASA ES TU CASA EXHIBIT Tickets available at the Box Office on the day of the event. Call Pajaro Valley Arts, 37 Sudden St., Watsonville Mi Casa es Tu Casa is Pajaro Valley Arts’ annual exhibit 831-470-6154 for more information. inspired by Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead, a traditional holiday in Mexico that remembers community Tuesday November 30 members and family who have passed away. thru Saturday December 4 Altars/Ofrendas are built in homes, churches, schools, HOLIDAY CASH MOB FOR APTOS BUSINESS cemeteries, and museums that honor and remember Times and Locations: See Below the dead. Live Like Coco is partnering with Aptosia, a Facebook group with 19,000 members, on a Ongoing thru December 17 Holiday Cash Mob Nov. 30 to Dec. SECOND HARVEST FOOD DRIVE AT MT. MADONNA 4 to support five local businesses Second graders taught by teacher Prema Gammons at along with plans to build a reading Mount Madonna School are leading a campaign to collect garden at the Aptos branch library in food for Second Harvest Food Bank to feed those in need. memory of children our community They put up posters they created to ask classmates to help. lost too soon. Coco Lazenby Collection barrels are at the upper and lower campus A cash mob occurs when people school offices. Donations will be accepted through Dec. show up at a pre-arranged time to make purchases at a 17. They’ve already raised $52. local business. To make a monetary contribution, visit https://give. Here is the schedule: thefoodbank.org/teams/16653-mount-madonna-school. Tuesday: Marianne’s Ice Cream, Seacliff, 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday: Pacific Coffee Roasting Co., Aptos, Tuesdays 1 to 4 p.m. GRIEF THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS Thursday: Cantine, Aptos, 3 to 8 p.m. Friday: Wonderland Toys & Classroom Ongoing thru December 14, phone or online. Resources, Aptos, 3 to 7 p.m. Hospice of Santa Cruz County offers individual grief support sessions (via phone or Zoom) and a special group, Saturday: Sockshop and Shoe Co., Aptos, 11 a.m. Coping with Grief though the Winter Holidays, to 2 p.m. meeting virtually via Zoom on Tuesday evenings. These local businesses have agreed to make donations Call (831) 430-3000 for more information and to register. to Live Like Coco, which is spearheading the library project as part of the rebuild, which is to begin soon. Third Thursday Each Month Live Like Coco will host a table at each event, PET LOSS AND GRIEF SUPPORT VIA ZOOM selling tickets for a drawing that includes a Little 6 to 7:30 p.m., virtual meeting Free Library. BirchBark Foundation’s Pet Loss and Grief Support “We have agreed to sponsor the Children’s Reading Zoom group offers a free support group, moderated Garden there, envisioning a special memorial that by a licensed grief counseling therapist, on the third honors Coco as well as the stories of other children our Thursday of each month. community lost too soon,” said Kate Pavao, Coco’s mom Register at https://www.birchbarkfoundation.org/griefsupport and executive director of the Live Like Coco Foundation. or call 831-471-7255. Sponsors who give $1,000 or more will be honored on a plaque in the library. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/ DATED EVENTS events/493936378410085 Saturday November 27 To learn more about Live Like Coco and Coco Lazenby, visit http://livelikecoco.org HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Aptos United Methodist Church, 221 Wednesday December 1 Thunderbird Drive, Aptos Aptos United Methodist Church will host its annual CABRILLO IMPROV FOLLIES Holiday Boutique the Saturday after Thanksgiving. 7 p.m., Black Box Theater at Cabrillo College, Aptos The boutique features hand crafts at reasonable Cabrillo College Theatre Arts Department presents prices, local artisans offering ornaments, greeting cards, an evening of improvisation in the Black Box jewelry, functional pottery, stained glass, children’s Theatre. Students in the Improvisation class will books, stuffed animals, home decor, candles, tote bags, perform fun and thought provoking skits as their woodworking, soaps, hand-knitted items, rugs, plus final exam. church booths selling homemade jams, baked goods, Tickets available the day of the event; box office at Crocker poinsettias, and cyclamen plants. Theater opens at 6 p.m. Call (831) 479-6154
