SANTA CRUZ

City hosts Parking for Hope Campaign

The city of Santa Cruz, in partnership with the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, will host the 10th annual Parking for Hope downtown holiday parking campaign from Dec. 18 through Dec. 25. During the campaign, proceeds from downtown street meters and ParkMobile stations will be donated to Hope Services, a local nonprofit.

Hope Services has helped keep Pacific Avenue and other downtown Santa Cruz streets clean for over 25 years while providing training and support services to adults with developmental disabilities. To date, Parking for Hope has generated a total of $267,745 in funds for Hope Services. The funds are used to pay the nonprofit’s Downtown Litter Abatement Crew’s wages. The Downtown Litter Abatement Crew employs five part-time workers who have enjoyed working with Hope Services for many years. Last year’s campaign raised $26,670.66 and allowed additional crew working days to keep downtown clean and clear of debris. The greater the Parking for Hope contribution, the more hours the crew can clean downtown.

As of Dec. 17, all downtown street parking meters will be posted with placards describing the Parking for Hope campaign. For the 10th consecutive year, Parkmobile pay-by-phone parking fees of 40 cents per transaction will also be donated as part of the campaign. Please note that regular payment is still required to park at all city meters and ParkMobile stations during the Parking for Hope campaign.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Mobile Crisis Response Teams available 24/7

Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health recently announced that Mobile Crisis Response Teams are now available 24/7, 365 days a year to respond to behavioral health crises for youth and adults across Santa Cruz County, including the cities of Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley, Capitola, and all unincorporated areas. The Mobile Crisis Response Teams help remove barriers to crisis support access by meeting individuals where they are — whether that’s a park, school, or other safe location, including faith-based sites.

When a community member calls the 24-hour Access Line for a Mobile Crisis Response Team response, trained crisis call takers will assess the situation to determine if an individual is undergoing a behavioral health crisis. If appropriate, a team is dispatched to provide on-site evaluation and intervention. Once the immediate crisis is stabilized, the Mobile Crisis Response Team will assist with a transition to follow-up care by connecting individuals with services and community-based resources.

For information about the Santa Cruz County Mobile Crisis Response Team, visit santacruzhealth.org/CrisisResponse or call 1-800-952-2335. If you or someone you love is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please reach out for help. You are not alone. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Trained counselors are available 24/7 to provide free and confidential support.

CAPITOLA

The Daisy Store holds year-end sale

The Daisy Store at King’s Plaza Shopping Center, 1601 41st Ave., will hold a holiday and year-end winter sale, featuring 50% off everything in the store. To show appreciation for customers who made this past year such a success, the sale runs from Monday, Dec. 16 through Dec. 30. Store hours are Monday 1-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The store will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day, and will close early on New Year’s Eve.

The Daisy Store is a volunteer-run, upscale-resale store that offers top quality donated women’s clothing and accessories at bargain prices. The store accepts donations throughout our hours of operation. For details, visit fsa-cc.org/daisy. All proceeds support Family Service Agency programs, such as Senior Outreach, Survivors Healing Center, Suicide Prevention, WomenCARE and more. For information, visit The Daisy Store’s Facebook page.

SANTA CRUZ

‘The Things That Make for Peace’ discussion

The Center for Nonviolent Communication invites all to their “The Things That Make for Peace” talk on Monday, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. at London Nelson Center, 301 Center St. Santa Cruz is now home to peace activists Israeli Dana Peleg and Lebanese Rami Chahine, who are committed to a nonviolent resolution of the Middle East conflict. They will describe their journey and how they believe Americans can support peace. They want to engage participants in discussion. For information, see NVCsantacruz.org.

SANTA CRUZ

21st annual New Year’s Eve interfaith vigil

Observe New Year’s Eve at the Holy Cross Catholic Church, 210 High St., for their 21st Annual Interfaith Vigil for Peace “Return to the Mother,” from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the parish hall. Doors open at 7. Everyone is invited to join — people of different faiths, as well as those who claim no affiliation with any organized religion — for an evening of quiet meditation and walking the labyrinth. The vigil is sponsored by Sangha Shantivanam. There will be several brief periods of meditation interspersed with prayers from universal wisdom traditions. All are welcome to join for any time during the evening. Admission is free, and donations will benefit Siena House and Birth Network of Santa Cruz County, local organizations that support mothers and babies.

FELTON

Talk on coastal region mushrooms at library

“Mushrooms That Come up After the First Rains” will be presented at the Felton Library Community Room, 6121 Gushee St., on Dec. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to noon. This talk will introduce the audience, especially beginners, to common mushrooms found in the coastal region of Santa Cruz County soon after the first rains come. Photographs and descriptions will help identify the mushrooms. Discussions of edibility will help educate people on what should and should not be picked for consumption.

If desired, participants can bring mushrooms they find to be identified after the presentation is over. Community-led Learning presenter Phil Carpenter has been a member of the local mushroom club, the Fungus Federation, since its founding in 1984, and has acted as the Science Advisor for mushroom identification for the past 20-plus years.

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