SCOTTS VALLEY

Hitchcock Festival lineup announced

The third annual “Scotts Valley: Alfred Hitchcock Festival” March 14-16 will take place at The Landing (Scotts Valley Cultural and Performing Arts Center), 251B Kings Village Road, and show “Rope,” “The Wrong Man,” “The Lodger” and three of his TV shows, with discussions of the films. Hitchcock bought a 200-acre estate off Canham Road in 1940 and kept it as a retreat from Hollywood for 30 years.

Opening night will feature a talk starting at 7 p.m. about the director’s time at his Scotts Valley estate, with his granddaughter, Tere Carrubba, of Aptos; Aaron Leventhal, author of “Footsteps in the Fog,” about Hitchcock’s Northern California connections and local historian Jay Topping. Subsequent days will include a gala reception, a filmmaker presentation and a light brunch.

The festival is a benefit for the Scotts Valley Community Theater Guild. Tickets for the entire festival are $110. Individual tickets are $30 for March 14; $25 for March 15 afternoon, $50 for gala and evening movie; $40 for March 16. Tickets are available at hitchcockfestival.com or 831-566-9411.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

PG&E safety tips for metallic balloons

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, PG&E reminds its customers to let hearts soar, not metallic balloons. If you are celebrating with helium-filled balloons, please be very careful not to let them float into overhead lines, as they can knock out power to thousands of customers and create public safety hazards. Make sure metallic balloons are always tied to a weight, as required by California law.

Unlike latex helium balloons, metallic balloons can stay inflated and floating for two to three weeks — posing a hazard to power lines and equipment even days after being released outside. Other safety tips include: when done with balloons, do not release them. Puncture them several times or cut the knot and throw them in the garbage to prevent them from floating away. Do not attempt to retrieve a balloon — or any foreign object — tangled in power lines or inside a substation. Instead, leave it alone and call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000 to report the problem. Lastly, never go near a power line that has fallen to the ground or is dangling in the air. Use caution and avoid celebrating with metallic balloons near overhead electric lines to help ensure everyone can safely enjoy their Valentine’s Day.

SANTA CRUZ

Film screening on how to solve homelessness

Housing Matters invites the community to attend a screening and panel discussion with the filmmakers of “Beyond the Bridge: A Solution to Homelessness,” at 6 p.m. on Thursday, at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave. A Bigger Vision Films team traveled more than 40,000 miles around the U.S. to answer this question: How can this country solve homelessness in a comprehensive way? Filmmakers found a solution that surprised them with its straightforward but simple approach from two large cities that proved solving homelessness is within reach of any community.

In collaboration with the City of Santa Cruz Economic Development Department, Community Action Board of Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Mayor Fred Keeley and former mayor and Housing Matters board member Don Lane, the screening event includes post-screening panels and Q&As, calls-to-action and follow-up activities for audience members. There will also be an opportunity for community members to collectively discuss how they can begin addressing homelessness locally. Tickets are $12 and are available online. For more information visit, housingmatterssc.org/event/beyond-the-bridge-a-solution-to-homelessness.

APTOS

Meet the new sheriff at chamber luncheon

Enjoy lunch with the Aptos Chamber and the new sheriff in town, Chris Clark. He will discuss all things Aptos and county. There will be time for questions and community reports. Come out to the Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive in Aptos on Feb. 20 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. General admission is $35, and reservations are required. No walk-ins please. For information, call 831-688-1467 or visit aptoschamber.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Women in Business Lunch

Join the Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce for an inspiring “Women in Business” luncheon featuring guest speaker Bonny Simi, president of operations at Joby Aviation, on March 13, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Joby Aviation, 345 Encinal St. Simi brings a wealth of experience, from her leadership roles at JetBlue — where she founded and led JetBlue Technology Ventures — to her career as a pilot, flying Boeing, Airbus and Embraer aircraft at United Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

In addition to her aviation career, Simi is a three-time Olympian in the sport of luge and an Emmy-nominated sports reporter. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, leadership and innovation. Come to network, learn and be inspired. Tickets are $75 for members and $95 for non-members. For information and to register, visit web.santacruzchamber.org/events/Women-in-Business-Lunch-6447/details.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Assemblymember virtual talk to North County Dems

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin will be the guest speaker for the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County on Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. upstairs at Bruno’s Bar and Grill, located at 230 Mount Hermon Road in the Kings Village Shopping Center. Pellerin will discuss the state’s plans to fight back against the federal administration’s policies to take away the rights of vulnerable population groups, and actions that can be taken at the local level to resist these efforts. She will also provide highlights of the governor’s 2025-26 budget.

There will be time for a Q&A following her presentation. Pellerin will be in Sacramento so her attendance will be via Zoom. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Attendees should arrive early if they would like food service.

SANTA CRUZ

Introduction to Zen meditation

The Santa Cruz Zen Center, 113 School St., will host an introduction to the body and mind of Zen meditation and the forms used, on Saturday from 1-2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Free of charge. For more information, contact 831-457-0206 or contact@sczc.org.