SANTA CRUZ

Demo Day at Back Nine Grill & Bar

Join Santa Cruz Accelerates for the sixth annual Demo Day, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, at Back Nine Grill & Bar, 555 Hwy 17 at Pasatiempo exit. A program for startups on the Central California Coast, five new startups will deliver 5-minute presentations to a panel of judges and venture capitalists on tech, sustainability and more. The first through third place winners will receive cash prizes from Santa Cruz Ventures and Hawktower.

The audience will also have the chance to vote for their favorite startup to win a cash prize. Food will be provided, and beverages will be available at the cash bar. Tickets start at $17.58. For more details and tickets, visit eventbrite.com/e/santa-cruz-accelerates-6th-cohort-demo-day-tickets-1041264509177.

SANTA CRUZ

Free kazoo competition at Pono Hawaiian Grill

The Ukulele Club of Santa Cruz invites everyone to attend a free sing and play-along with the Trolley Drops Jug Band at Pono Hawaiian Grill, 120 Union St., starting at 5:45 p.m. Thursday. The eatery will host the Pat Tracy “No Invitation Necessary” Kazoo Competition. Trolley Drop kazoo experts will provide kazoo instruction and share advanced techniques during the meeting. The songs will be Hokum blues, folk jazz and novelty tunes from the 1920s and ’30s.

Chord and lyric charts will be passed out at the meeting. Everyone is welcome. Bring your ukes, jugs, kazoos, washboards, guitars, fiddles, etc. and your good humor. Full bar and Hawaiian barbecue is available. Lots of parking nearby. Visit ukuleleclubofsantacruz.com for more.

CAPITOLA

Mid County Senior Center benefit dance

To celebrate her birthday, Linda Baker and the Country Feeling Band will play for a benefit dance/concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Mid County Senior Center, 829 Bay Ave. Cost of admission is $10. Shanta Shenoy will lead a country line dance class at 6 p.m., included for free with the $10 admission to the dance. The cost for the lesson alone is $10. Enjoy snacks and birthday cake for all attendees. Mid County Senior Center provides a variety of programs and activities for the local community. All ages 18 and over are welcome to participate in the dances.

SANTA CRUZ

Bowling fundraiser for Vets 4 Vets

Join your friends and family for the Terry Plank Memorial Bowling Tournament with Vets 4 Vets at Boardwalk Bowl, at 115 Cliff St., at 1 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $15 for three games, which includes shoe rental. All fees are donated to Vets 4 Vets supporting veterans in Santa Cruz County. Please RSVP to Vets4Vets@Vets4VetsSantaCruz.org to reserve a lane or just show up.

SANTA CRUZ

Knitting Guild meetings

Join the Knitting Guild of Santa Cruz for their meetings at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 12 and 10 a.m. Nov. 21 at the Fellowship Hall of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 2500 Soquel Ave. Member Cheryl Vandeveer will introduce pine needle basket making from Ponderosa Pine needles gathered from the Santa Cruz mountains. For more information, call 831-475-5668.

SANTA CRUZ

Volunteer to write ‘Thinking of You’ cards for seniors

Family Service Agency and I-You Venture are calling for volunteers to write fall/Thinking of You cards for seniors in assisted and skilled nursing facilities. Many seniors experience social isolation, and receiving a heartfelt card can truly brighten their day.

A perfect project for families, groups and schools, it provides a meaningful way to spread kindness and lift spirits. Activity items can also help relieve some of the stress and isolation residents may be feeling. Suggestions include crossword puzzles, word search books and adult coloring books. Blankets are also appreciated for warmth and comfort. Donations also accepted.

Items can be dropped at the Family Service Agency/I-You Venture, 104 Walnut Ave, #208, or at the Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, Attn: FSA, 1740 17th Ave. (Hours are M-Th 10 a.m.-noon and and 1-4 p.m. Monday-Thursday.) Please submit items by Nov. 13. For more information, please contact Nancy Cleveland at 831-459-8917 or Cleveland.n@fsa-cc.org

SANTA CRUZ

City explains campaign sign disposal

In the wake of a spirited local and national campaign season, the city of Santa Cruz is asking residents to think twice before they recycle their lawn signs.

Signs may be properly managed when delivered to the City of Santa Cruz Corporation Yard, 1125 River St., between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Nov. 6-15. Yard signs may also be dropped off at the city’s Resource Recovery Facility, 605 Dimeo Lane, between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. any Monday through Saturday.

Most yard signs are made of mixed materials that are incompatible with the recycling collection system. These materials include paperboard, corrugated plastic and metal wire stands.

The metal stands pose a serious problem in the city’s recycling facility as they become tangled or jammed in the rotating machinery. The plastic signs are not accepted in the curbside cart because they are made of rigid plastic. Plastic signs and metal stands should be saved for reuse, delivered to the city’s Resource Recovery Facility or placed in the trash.

There are many options to reuse political yard signs. For example, a local school or nonprofit organization may be able to use them with a new message attached to promote an event. A quick internet search also offers many up-cycle projects for corrugated plastic, including birdhouses and lightweight model airplanes.

For information on what may and may not be placed in city of Santa Cruz blue recycling bins, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/recycleright.

SANTA CRUZ

Free hoop shoot contest at Elks Lodge

The Santa Cruz Warriors have partnered with the Santa Cruz Elks Lodge for its annual Hoop Shoot/Free Throw contest at the Kaiser Permanente Arena, 140 Front St., at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 16. Kids age 8-13 are invited to participate in this free and fun event.

During the event, participants will shoot hoops for a chance to win a trophy and other prizes. Registration is not necessary (just show up to play!). For more information or questions contact scelkshoopshoot@gmail.com.