SCOTTS VALLEY

North County Dems to host Indivisible speakers

Guest speakers for the March 19 meeting of the Democratic Club of North Santa Cruz County will include Angela Marshall, Jenny Evans and Amanda Harris Altice from Indivisible Santa Cruz. Club meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. upstairs at Bruno’s Bar and Grill located at 230 Mount Hermon Road in the Kings Village Shopping Center. The speakers will discuss actions club members can take to resist the Trump administration’s efforts.

Come early at 6 p.m. to write postcards to support Abigail Spanberger, the Democratic candidate for governor in Virginia’s June primary. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to find out how to get involved. Attendees should arrive early if they would like food service. Meetings are free and open to the public. Visit svslvdemocrats.org for more details.

SOQUEL

Community drumming sessions set for March 21

Percussionist and educator Jim Greiner is continuing his Third Friday Community Drumming series through 2025 at the Congregational Church of Soquel, 4951 Soquel Drive, on March 21 from 7-8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:30. The cost is $10.

Greiner provides hand drums and other percussion instruments, but feel free to bring your own favorites. All levels of experience are welcomed. There will be a few fun and easy tips on playing the instruments for beginners, as well as how to use rhythm as a playful life practice to reinforce positive powerful life rhythms, and patterns of attitude and action to ground, focus and empower ourselves.

Contact Greiner through SantaCruzDrumLessons.com.

SANTA CRUZ

Portuguese Hall to host annual dance, luncheon

The Santa Cruz Portuguese Hall invites the community to its annual Queens Dance and Membership Drive Luncheon on April 6 at the hall, located on 216 Evergreen St.

Social hour starts at 1 p.m., followed by lunch, the 2025 Queens’ presentation, music and dancing. To become a member, you must be of Portuguese descent or married to someone that is of Portuguese descent. The cost for membership is $25 per couple/per household. For non-members, admission is $25 for food and entertainment. Donations are accepted. Your support and commitment allow the hall to preserve and promote their Portuguese heritage. Visit santacruzportuguesehall.org to RSVP. For more information, call 831-423-7753 or email infoscportuguesehall@gmail.com.

CAPITOLA

Family open house at middle school

New Brighton Middle School located at 250 Washburn Ave., will be hosting an Open House for current and prospective families on March 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. If you have a child of middle school age (grades 6-8) and are considering your options on where to have them attend in 2025-26, this is your chance to check out the school. New Brighton Middle offers a quality academic experience enhanced by many programs, including AVID, band, art, woodshop, interscholastic athletics and so much more.

A taco truck will be on-site. The school band will be playing at 6 p.m. in the NBMS Performing Arts Center, accentuated by a display of some of the students’ artwork. Come check out what it’s like to be an NBMS Viking.

SANTA CRUZ

Author talk with Marni Fylling

Join Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks for a book talk with author and illustrator Marni Fylling at Natural Bridges State Beach on Friday at 5:30 p.m. Attendees will be treated to a presentation, light refreshments and a Q&A session in addition to a book signing.

Members of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks will be able to buy Fylling’s new book, “Fylling’s Illustrated Guide to Nature in Your Neighborhood,” at a discount. Not a member? Become a Friend at the event. Parking at Natural Bridges is $10 and helps Friends support the park. Secure your free spot by RSVPing on Eventbrite at bit.ly/naturalbridgesbooktalk.

SANTA CRUZ

Free swing dance lesson, performance at Pono Hawaiian Grill

Stop by the Pono Hawaiian Grill, 120 Union St., for a free swing dance lesson and concert Sunday from 5-7:30 p.m. Swing instructors will lead the lesson from 5-5:30, then dance or listen to the band. The Plateau Jazz Band, a six-piece band from Santa Cruz, play New Orleans-style jazz inspired by Preservation Hall, with a mix of swinging hot jazz. There is no cover charge. For any questions, contact plateaujazzband@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

OLLI to host environmental scientist Karen Holl

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UCSC invites the public to an in-person presentation from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, 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. There will be coffee and nibbles. For directions and free parking information visit olli.ucsc.edu/monthly-gatherings/location-directions-and-parking.

SANTA CRUZ

Groups to host St. Patrick’s Day veterans dinner

Vets 4 Vets, Bivvy Corp and VFW Post 7263 are hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Veterans Dinner on Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at the VFW Post 7263, located at 2259 7th Ave. Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with corned beef and cabbage, potatoes carrots and more. Sing and dance to local band Sound Squad. Have a good time and wear some green. Dinner tickets are $15 and veterans eat free. For more info and to buy tickets, visit givebutter.com/StPatricksDay.

CAPITOLA

Mid County Senior Center benefit dance

The Mid County Senior Center will be hosting a benefit dance and concert featuring Country Feeling Band from 7-9 p.m. Friday at 829 Bay Ave.

Cost of admission is $10. Shanta Shenoy will teach Country Line Dance Class at 6, free with admission. Mid County Senior Center provides a variety of programs and activities for the local community. Ages 18 and over are welcome to participate in the dances.