APTOS

Chamber luncheon features county updates presentation

Enjoy lunch with Santa Cruz County Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios at the Aptos Chamber Luncheon March 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive. He will bring the latest county updates. Don’t miss this chance to hear important news straight from the source. There will be time for questions and community reports.

General admission is $35. Reservations are required, and no walk-ins, please. For more details, call 831-688-1467 or visit aptoschamber.com.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

De Serpa to host constituent office hours

Santa Cruz County Supervisor Kim De Serpa is pleased to announce upcoming office hours to connect directly with constituents and address community concerns. These sessions provide residents with an opportunity to discuss issues, ask questions and share feedback with their elected representative in an informal setting. All community members are encouraged to attend.

The office hours will take place at various locations throughout the district to ensure accessibility for all constituents. No appointments are required, but if you wish to reserve a specific time, contact the office. Topics of discussion may include local government services, public safety, housing, infrastructure and other community concerns.

Upcoming office hours: March 17, 10 a.m. to noon at Capitola City Hall Community Room, 420 Capitola Ave., Capitola. April 1, 3-5 p.m. at the Aptos Library Conference Room, 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos. April 11, 10 a.m. to noon at the La Selva Beach Library, 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.

For more information or to reserve a specific time at office hours, please contact second.district@santacruzcountyca.gov.

WATSONVILLE

Discussion on building community held at library

Housing Matters is hosting Neighbors for Neighbors: At the Intersections, in partnership with Santa Cruz Public Libraries March 24 at the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Ste. 100. The event will be 6-7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. It will focus on building community. Join experts and people with lived experiences in an open discussion format with attendees.

For more, visit housingmatterssc.org/event/neighbors-for-neighbors-at-the-intersections-watsonville.

APTOS

Annual corned beef dinner to-go fundraiser

The Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, located at 125 Canterbury Drive, will be holding its 4th Annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner to-go on March 16 from noon to 2 p.m., in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. A vegetarian/vegan option of Guinness Irish vegetable stew will also be available.

Suggested donations are $15, with all proceeds supporting the ministries of St. John’s. Attendees are welcome to sit outside to eat with the church (weather permitting). Volunteers are also needed for this fundraiser. For more information and to pre-order, visit st-john-aptos.org.

SANTA CRUZ

Peripheral neuropathy support group to meet

A support group for people dealing with peripheral neuropathy will gather March 19, at 1 p.m., at the Trinity Presbyterian Church, 420 Melrose Ave. The program will be peer sharing, and what treatments help and don’t help. This is a great source of information about what people with peripheral neuropathy can experience and how others are able to deal with it.

Statistics show that almost 8% of people over 50 have peripheral neuropathy, which causes balance issues and may also cause shooting pains, cold feet or uncomfortably warm feet and numbness. There are many causes including diabetes, cancer treatments, heredity and surgery. The social hall is at the far end of the church, on the corner of Melrose and Poplar avenues. This is an in-person group and is not available online. For more information, contact cvfaad7@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

OLLI to host environmental scientist Karen Holl

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at UCSC invites the public to an in-person presentation from 10 a.m. to noon on March 16, at Colleges Nine/Lewis Multipurpose Room, 615 College Nine Road.

Join for a social hour followed by a presentation by UCSC environmental studies professor Karen Holl, titled “Can We Save the World by Planting Trees?” Holl will discuss what we can and cannot achieve from tree-planting projects and ways to improve outcomes. She studies restoration of rain forests in Latin America and coastal ecosystems in California.

Admission is free and open to the public. Bring a friend. Coffee and nibbles will be available. For directions and free parking information visit olli.ucsc.edu/monthly-gatherings/location-directions-and-parking.

SANTA CRUZ

Nonprofit to throw a gala fundraiser

Kesem, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children through and beyond a parent’s cancer, is having its biggest fundraising event of the year, Make the Magic, on April 5 at the UCSC Hay Barn on Ranch View Road. Make the Magic is a formal gala that includes a catered dinner and cocktails, paddle raise, silent auction, programming and more.

The goal is to fundraise enough to be able to send 70 kids to a free, weekslong summer camp this year. Admission starts at $85. To purchase tickets, visit tinyurl.com/mr2ns9rc.

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 information, contact 831-457-0206 or contact@sczc.org.

APTOS

Chamber luncheon to host Rep. Jimmy Panetta

Get the inside scoop on all things Washington, D.C., straight from Rep. Jimmy Panetta at the Aptos Chamber Luncheon March 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Seascape Golf Club, 610 Clubhouse Drive.

Enjoy a delicious lunch while gaining exclusive insights into the latest from D.C. General admission is $40 for chamber members and $50 for non-members. Reservations are required, and no walk-ins, please. For information, call 831-688-1467 or visit aptoschamber.com.