WATSONVILLE

El Pájaro CDC holds fundraising party

El Pájaro Community Development Corporation (El Pájaro CDC) will celebrate its 45th anniversary with a festive Tacos & Tapas Fundraising Party from 6-9 p.m. Oct. 17 at the El Pájaro CDC Kitchen Incubator, 412 E. Riverside Drive, Watsonville.

This event will showcase the best in local food and drink, featuring over 20 food entrepreneurs who have launched their businesses through El Pájaro CDC’s Commercial Kitchen Incubator Program. Guests will enjoy an exclusive selection of tacos and tapas, crafted by talented local food producers, alongside brews, wines and ciders from local breweries and wineries. Dance to the lively sounds of Flor de Caña, whose energetic beats will keep the atmosphere buzzing all evening long.

Admission is $75 per person at tinyurl.com/tacosandtapas and includes five food and/or drink tickets. Send an email to marketing@elpajarocdc.org for sponsorship or ticket information.

Founded in 1979, El Pájaro CDC supports economic development and entrepreneurship through training, technical assistance, and access to resources. Their Kitchen Incubator program has launched numerous successful food businesses, contributing to the economic and cultural vibrancy of the region.

SANTA CRUZ

Tickets on sale for outdoor Celtic concert

The Community Music School of Santa Cruz will be hosting their annual fundraiser at El Vaquero Winery in Corralitos from 3-6 p.m. Oct. 20. The first two hours will feature some of Santa Cruz County’s best acoustic musicians, followed by a traditional Irish session in the last hour, where audience members are encouraged to bring their instruments and join performers in playing Celtic tunes. A selection of wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase, as well as snacks. All proceeds from ticket and food sales will support the Community Music School’s youth programming. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit CommunityMusicSchool.org or call 831-471-5184.

SANTA CRUZ

Banff film and book festival returns

After a two-year hiatus, the fall screening of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour Adventure Night is back with all new films 7-10 p.m. Oct. 12 at the Rio Theatre, 1205 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz.

Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival is one of the largest and most prestigious mountain festivals in the world. Hot on the heels of the festival that is held every fall in beautiful Banff, Alberta, the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour hits the road. With stops planned in over 600 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, the Banff World Tour celebrates amazing achievements in outdoor storytelling and filmmaking worldwide.

Traveling to remote vistas, analyzing topical environmental issues, and bringing audiences up-close and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports the 2023/2024 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. For list of films and tickets visit riotheatre.com.

WATSONVILLE

Castro Adobe’s October Open House

Join Grupo Folklórico Raíces Mestízas for a performance at the Castro Adobe Open House at 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Enjoy live music from Cisco Jim on his horse Taza, and Bob Gomez, the poet laureate of Watsonville, along with his wife Denise, as they sing the colorful Castro Garden. The event also offers the opportunity to see the Adobe’s completed restoration and the newly installed interpretive exhibits. Discover the rich history and stories of early Californian Hispanic families in this historic two-story adobe hacienda, built in 1849.

The Castro Adobe is located at 184 Old Adobe Road, Watsonville. For information, call 831-226-9669. Event made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

Reservations for free self-guided tours are recommended at: www.santacruzstateparks.as.me/CastroAdobeOpenHouse.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Local History Research Roundtable

Local history research group, Researchers Anonymous, will hold an online roundtable discussion at 10 a.m., Saturday. Participants will have the opportunity to share their current local history projects, provide feedback, and help one another with their work. The public is invited to attend. Whether you want to ask questions or just simply listen and learn about local history, all are welcomed. To obtain the Zoom link or any questions, please contact Dan Model at drmodel99@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Presentation to focus on Medicare plans

Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) counselors will offer a free presentation on how to navigate the Medicare.gov website to discover the most affordable plan for your prescription medications at 10 a.m. on Friday at Senior Network Services, located at 1777-A Capitola Road, Santa Cruz. Another session will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at the London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz.

Participants are encouraged to bring laptops or tablets to follow step-by-step instructions on how to use the Medicare.gov website, as the Medicare Part D prescription drug plans change every year. You may be able to find a more affordable plan each year between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7. Attendees must register. To sign up, please call 831-462-5510. For more information, visit the Senior Network Services website at www.seniornetworkservices.org.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Each day, the Sentinel will document the domestic violence calls in Santa Cruz County received by emergency dispatchers.

Figures are compiled by the District Attorney’s Office and include reports of domestic violence, restraining-order violations and other domestic disputes.

The 24-hour domestic violence hotline is 888-900-4232.

Calls for Saturday: 19.

Total for month: 79.