CAPITOLA

Lavender Wand Making Class

This annual workshop will show you this ancient technique of lavender wand making June 21 at the Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave., starting at 10 a.m. until noon. The wands are used in chests, drawers, hung in closets or just put in vases as decorations. The lovely lavender scent lasts for months, and longer if you continue to rub it to crush the leaves inside.

The cost of the class is $20. All materials will be provided for up to two wands per person. The class will be held outside in the gazebo area of the Mid County Senior Center garden. It is always a great deal of fun, so please join and bring a friend.

NORTH COAST

Campsites available at Rancho del Oso

Looking for a quiet coastal camping experience this summer? The walk-in campground at Rancho del Oso — the coastal side of Big Basin Redwoods State Park — offers a unique way to enjoy nature just north of Davenport on Highway 1.

This temporary campground, located at the rehabilitated Horse Camp, is open to non-equestrian campers while coastal equestrian trails remain closed. There are five reservable walk-in sites and one shared, non-reserved bike-in site available. To check availability and make a reservation, visit www.thatsmypark.org/parks-and-beaches/rancho-del-oso-unit.

Rancho del Oso is also home to the open Marsh Trail, where visitors can spot rabbits, dragonflies and songbirds among the creekside willows. Note, the nearby Skyline to Sea Trail remains closed due to CZU fire damage. Across Highway 1, Waddell Beach is a top destination for windsurfing and kite surfing.

The campground will eventually return to equestrian use once trail restoration is complete, but in the meantime, it offers a rare opportunity to camp in this recovering part of Big Basin.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Children’s Celtic music camp coming

The two-week Redwood Music Kid Camp is coming next month to Scotts Valley. The camp, for ages 7-13, provides young musicians with the opportunity to explore Celtic music. The camp is recommended for players of violin, flute, penny whistle, recorder, harp, guitar, ukulele, keyboards and cello.

Go to CommunityMusicSchool.org for photos, videos, playing ability requirements and registration.

BOULDER CREEK

Portrait art exhibit to debut

Now open at the San Lorenzo Valley’s Grace Episcopal Gallery, 12547 Highway 9, is the portrait exhibition “FaceTime,” which features artwork and photographs of local residents spanning 100 years from the 1870s through to the 1970s. Also, on display for the first time, is a painted portrait of William Waddell, who came to California in the early 1850s. Waddell was a lumberman and sawmill owner, going on to be the namesake of Waddell Beach and Waddell Creek in Rancho Del Oso, which is now part of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

The exhibition additionally showcases portraits of the beloved Lily the Cat Lady with works by Barbara Winner, photographic portraits by Fredda C. Carr, drawings by Historical Society founder John Holm, bubble glass portraits, daguerreotypes, family albums and more. A reception and guided talk are set for July 19 from 2-4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Visit slvmuseum.org for information.

SANTA CRUZ

Sanctuary invites public to monitor water quality

Help protect your local watersheds and monitor water quality in your area. Join Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary officials for the 25th annual Snapshot Day on July 12 and become an essential part of our water quality monitoring team.

Volunteers will have the unique opportunity to collect water quality samples and field measurements from streams that flow into the sanctuary. The data gathered helps create a “snapshot” of the water quality conditions in the area to help protect the health of local rivers and streams. In late June, sanctuary staff will conduct training sessions in Monterey, Santa Cruz and online. The one-hour training is required to participate in Snapshot Day and will cover sampling procedures and techniques. Training will also help volunteers better understand how their sampling efforts contribute to keeping our local waters clean and healthy.

Training sessions will be held 6-7 p.m. June 24 at the Sanctuary Exploration Center (35 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz), 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 25 via Zoom and 607 p.m. June 26 at REI in Marina (145 General Stilwell Dr, Marina).

Anyone interested in learning about water quality, including those under 18 with a guardian, can participate.

Go to shorturl.at/zFChP to sign up and contact katie@californiamsf.org for information.

SANTA CRUZ

Portuguese Hall holds Festa celebration

Join the C.P.D.E.S. Portuguese Hall for a weekend of tradition, music and community at the 97th Festa Celebration. The festivities kick off at the Portuguese Hall, 216 Evergreen St., with a Rosary Friday, July 4 at 7 p.m. July 5 at 8 p.m. will be a night of dancing, featuring music by Alcides Machado. The evening will also include the Grand March, the 2025 Queens’ presentation and the symbolic crown exchange between the outgoing and incoming queens.

The 97th Annual Holy Ghost Parade begins July 6 at 9:30 a.m. on Lincoln Street and Pacific Avenue, as fellow Portuguese societies from across California carry their flags and banners. The procession will travel down Pacific Avenue to Holy Cross Church for a 10:30 a.m. Mass, honoring the crowning of the Santa Cruz Queens. Following Mass, the celebration continues at the Portuguese Hall with a delicious serving of traditional Portuguese sopas, followed by an afternoon of community fun with a bazaar, auction and more dancing and music by Machado.

This tradition is open to the public, everyone is welcome! Donations are appreciated and help keep the community strong. For more information, please call 831-423-7753 or email infoscportuguesehall@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

36 North collective kicks off summer season

The Santa Cruz Playwrights’ Collective, 36 North, has opened its annual summer season of “New Works Mondays” each month at 7 p.m. at the Actors’ Theatre, 1001 Center St. There will be readings of new plays followed by a Q&A.

The remaining Mondays are July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8. These are free events, with donations gratefully accepted. Everyone is welcome to attend.