APTOS

LGBTQ+ panel, Q&A at Community Foundation

On Friday, Jan. 24, Triangle Speakers from the Diversity Center, an age-diverse panel, will talk about their experiences as LGBTQ+ persons living in Santa Cruz County from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Community Foundation, 7807 Soquel Ave.

What does each person find positive and what are the challenges they face? What do the panelists want straight people to understand? A Q&A period will follow. The event is free and open to the public, hosted by Village Santa Cruz County. Coffee, tea and a light snack will be available. To RSVP, email villagesantacruz.org">info@villagesantacruz.org or call 831-400-6065. For more information, villagesantacruz.org.

CAPITOLA

Local author to share memoir at the library

Santa Cruz Public Libraries is thrilled to welcome local author Jeri Ross to the Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road, on Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Ow Family Community Room. Ross will be discussing her deeply personal memoir “See You in the Sky: A Memoir of Prison, Possibility and Peace,” a story of childhood trauma and parental incarceration, shared by millions of sons and daughters of the incarcerated across the country. “See You in the Sky” offers hope for all families affected by incarceration and for anyone who decides, at any age, to seek a more meaningful life.

A licensed health educator with a masters in public health, Ross is also a community organizer who has raised thousands of dollars for youth violence prevention programs and programs for children with incarcerated parents.

Registration for this event is not required, but recommended as it will help the organizers plan for refreshments. To register, visit santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13627983.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Soquel school district kinder registration to begin

The Soquel Union Elementary School District will begin kindergarten registration for the 2025-26 school year on Jan. 24. Registration information and procedures may be obtained from your neighborhood school (school of residence). To be eligible for kindergarten, your child must turn 5 on or before Sept. 1, 2025. If you have a child who turns 5 between Sept. 2, 2025 and Sept. 1, 2026, they are eligible for the Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to contact the district office at 831-464-5639 or visit suesd.org/enrollment.

APTOS

Dining for History fundraiser benefits museum

Erik’s DeliCafé, 102 Rancho Del Mar, is holding a Dine for a Day Fundraiser for the Aptos History Museum on Wednesday, Jan. 22 between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dine-in or order online at order.eriksdelicafe.com and choose the Aptos location. A portion of your order will be donated to the Aptos History Museum for rent and operational costs, to help keep their doors open and continue to serve the community. The DeliCafé features fresh sandwiches, hearty soups and crisp salads. Call 831-688-5656 for information.

APTOS

‘FOUR WINTERS’ documentary to screen at film festival

The Santa Cruz Jewish Film Festival opens its 2025 season with the award-winning documentary “FOUR WINTERS” on Monday, Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El, 3055 Porter Gulch Road.

The documentary tells the story of the 25,000 Jewish partisans who fought back against the Nazis and their collaborators from deep within the forests of Eastern Europe during WWII. Against extraordinary odds, they escaped Nazi slaughter, and evolved from young innocents to courageous resistance fighters, shattering the myth of Jewish passivity. The last surviving partisans tell their stories in “FOUR WINTERS,” revealing a narrative of heroism and resilience.

Admission is free and open to the public. Director Julia Mintz will be in attendance for a Q&A. For more information visit SCJFF.org and fourwintersfilm.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Our Community Reads field trip at Natural Bridges

Join Martha Nitzberg, interpretive ranger, and volunteer docent June Langhoff at a Monarch butterfly overwintering site Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the Natural Bridges Visitor Center, 2531 W. Cliff Drive (parking fee), at 1:30 p.m. Learn about the butterfly’s amazing migration and the Methuselah generation that winters on our coast. Weather permitting, participants will take take a short, guided walk to the Monarch grove. Binoculars will enhance the experience.

Coffee and snacks will be provided. There will be an optional stop at Lighthouse Field (another overwintering site) afterward. The event is free, but registration is required. This field trip is sponsored by Our Community Reads, a program designed to bring readers together around the themes of a single book. This year’s selection is “Flight Behavior” by Barbara Kingsolver.

Register at santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13810992. For more information, visit friendsofaptoslibrary.org/our-community-reads.html.

SANTA CRUZ

Portuguese Hall holds Crab and Shrimp Feed

Tickets are on sale now for the Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall Crab and Shrimp Feed on Feb. 15. Doors open at 4 p.m., feed starts at 6, at 216 Evergreen St. The cost is $80 per person, children 12 and under are $40. The price includes crab, shrimp, garlic bread, green salad and wine. Live dance music by the Digbeats. There is limited seating and tickets will not be sold at the door. For tickets, please call 831-419-5377.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Local nonprofit seeks volunteers for home repairs

Damians Ladder is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to make small home repairs to low-income seniors and people with disabilities at no cost by it fully vetted volunteer handymen.

If you are a retired contractor, handyman, plumber or electrician and want to help our seniors by giving a few hours of your time, Damians Ladder would like to meet with you. Since January 2024, Damians Ladder has helped over 220 seniors live more safely and comfortably in their homes.

Go to damiansladder.org for information, or contact atyourservice@damiansladder.org or Colly at 831-336-8098 with questions.