SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Singing Valentines delivered by barbershop quartets

Surprise your sweetheart with a Singing Valentine this year. The Gold Standard Chorus will send a quartet of barbershop singers anywhere in Santa Cruz County on Feb. 14 to sing two old-fashioned love songs, which are presented with a red rose, chocolates and a personalized message.

Singing Valentines can be delivered at home, work, restaurants, schools or other venues for a charming and memorable experience. Each Singing Valentine is $50 and can be ordered by visiting www.scbarbershop.org chorus website on the Upcoming Events page. Singing Valentines over the phone are also available.

Proceeds help support operations of the nonprofit Gold Standard Chorus, Santa Cruz’s chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. The mixed group of men and women singers of all ages is dedicated to bringing people together in harmony and enriching the community. Anyone interested in joining is invited to attend a Wednesday evening rehearsal, 7 p.m. at The Moose Lodge in Scotts Valley.

Visit www.scbarbershop.org for information.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Nonprofit to host photo management presentation

Village Santa Cruz County hosts Lisa Krisman of Start Here Photo Management, as she walks us through how to manage both your boxes of physical photos and countless digital photos. The online presentation runs from 11 a.m. to noon on Feb. 17. Register on the website calendar or email info@villagesantacruz.org to receive the Zoom link.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Monterey Bay Dog Training Club obedience class

Nonprofit Monterey Bay Dog Training Club Inc. is offering Dog Obedience training classes starting March 4 at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, 2601 E. Lake Ave. in Watsonville, and March 6 in Capitola at the Mid-County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave.

The training club offers all stages of obedience training from puppy to advanced. Check out the newest class offered in Watsonville, Trick Dog. Register for classes online. For detailed descriptions of classes, location details and costs, visit montereybaydog.org.

SCOTTS VALLEY

Santa Cruz Dance Theater holds ‘Cinderella’ auditions

Santa Cruz Dance Theater will hold open auditions for its classic spring ballet “Cinderella” at Agape Dance Academy 218E Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley. “Cinderella” will be performed at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium June 21-22.

Go to SantaCruzDanceTheater.org to sign up for an audition and for information.

SANTA CRUZ

Low-cost spay/neuter clinic registration now open

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter has partnered with Animal Balance to provide 200 owned pets (100 cats and 100 dogs) with low-cost spay/neuter surgery, core vaccines and a microchip Feb. 14-16 just around the corner from the shelter at 2260 7th Ave. First-come, first-served appointments. Registration is now open at bit.ly/SpayNeuterFeb2025.

Spay and neuter surgeries are $150 for cats and $300 for dogs. Those on public assistance such as CalFresh or MediCal can provide proof of that assistance to qualify for lower fees: $75 for a cat and $150 for a dog. To be eligible for surgery, pets must be healthy, between 8 weeks and 8 years old, and weigh between 2 and 80 pounds. Dogs and cats with very short noses (such as pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats), senior pets and those with known health problems are not eligible for this clinic.

Volunteer support is also critical for these events. If you’re interested in volunteering to assist with this event, or with regular shelter operations, contact the shelter’s volunteer coordinator, Megan, at 831-454-7209 or megan.carroll@santacruzcountyca.gov.

For more information about Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter and this event, please visit scanimalshelter.org or call 831-454-7200. The main shelter is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz, and the Watsonville location, 580 Airport Blvd., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed for the lunch hour).

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Calling artists for public art project

The Department of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Services is looking for artists to help beautify the Juvenile Hall at 3650 Graham Hill Road in Felton, with public artwork for new and renovated components of the facility. An artist will be selected to create site-specific art that should either enhance the experience of the residents and staff within the Juvenile Hall or the families and support persons visiting the facility.

Proposals for the exterior may be free-standing in the landscape areas by the facility entrance or teaching garden. Artists may propose murals, sculptural pieces or other ideas for the interior spaces, such as the kitchen/dining area, day-use rooms or the gym. Short-listed artists must pass a required background check should they wish to continue in the selection process.

The budget for the project is $135,000. For more detailed information about the proposal process, as well as plans/elevations and sample contract, visit the County Parks website at parks.santacruzcountyca.gov/Home/AboutUs/WorkWithUs/CalltoArtists.aspx. The deadline for submitting a proposal is Feb. 21.

WATSONVILLE

Gallery opens Annual Members’ Exhibit

The Pajaro Valley Arts Gallery, 37 Sudden St., will be hosting its annual member exhibition, “#whatever,” celebrating the unfiltered creativity of PVA’s artist-members. In a world where hashtags often impose classification, this show is free of a specific theme and invites artists to explore limitless self-expression. The collection offers a diverse range of perspectives and mediums, creating a vibrant mosaic of works. #whatever is intentionally open-ended, encouraging visitors to let go of expectations and embrace the unexpected.

The exhibit will feature 135 prominent local artists across various media, and over 200 additional pieces available for purchase in the PVA Gallery Store and throughout the gallery. Proceeds support local artists and Pajaro Valley Arts. The exhibit runs through Feb. 23. For more information visit pvarts.org/upcoming-events-exhibitions-2.