SANTA CRUZ

Jazz at the downtown library June through August

Santa Cruz Public Libraries invites the community to join the Downtown Library at 224 Church St. and enjoy free jazz music by West Coast musicians with multiple shows running June through August. In memory of her husband, a bassist and jazz singer, Betty Nadeau has created the William H. Nadeau Memorial Fund promoting and rewarding excellence in jazz performance. In partnering with the library, the memorial fund is able to bring the wonderful sounds of live jazz music to the community. All concerts are from noon to 1 p.m. The next Jazz at the Library shows are as follow:

June 6, featuring a spotlight on Duke Ellington, with pianist Jon Dryden, bassist Dan Robbins, Jason Lewis on drums and Andrea Claburn, vocals.

July 5 stars the George Gershwin Songbook, presenting virtuoso pianist Martan Mann and saxophone and flute artist Paul Contos. Musical highlights include “American In Paris,” “Summertime,” “But Not For Me,” “The Man I Love,” “Oh, Lady Be Good!” and “Someone To Watch Over Me.”

Aug. 1 presents “Jazz Guitar’s Renaissance Cowboy” Bruce Foreman and Gary Meek, saxophone and flute artist, both musicians from the Monterey area. They have performed at Kuumbwa, Monterey Jazz Festival and throughout the U.S. as well as internationally.

Mark your calendar and join for a music-filled afternoon of melodic ballads and joyful jazz. For additional information contact Betty Nadeau at 831-438-2242 or the Downtown Branch at 831-427-7713.

SANTA CRUZ

Choral Evensong honors Pentecost

Join the Calvary Episcopal Church, 532 Center St., for a traditional Choral Evensong service June 8 at 4:30 p.m., featuring guest organist William Visscher. Music includes Healey Willan’s “Evening Service” in E flat and John Mitchell’s “Preces and Responses.”

An organ recital will follow the service, featuring works by de Grigny, Telemann, Bach, Guilmant, Bingham and Alain. Admission is free, and donations welcome to support recital expenses. More info can be found at calvarysantacruz.org or 831-423-8787.

SANTA CRUZ

Affordable housing webinar

Affordable Housing Now is sponsoring a virtual Affordable Housing Month event May 27 at 6 p.m. Speakers will include Don Lane, AHN member, who will explain the criteria used to define affordability and Tom Graham from Santa Cruz County Housing Authority will discuss how to access affordable housing information and how to apply for available and upcoming affordable housing opportunities.

The event will also highlight two local housing projects that demonstrate how community organizations have stepped up to become part of the solution to the county’s affordable housing crisis. Kyle Kelly will talk about the Santa Cruz City Schools’ housing development for teachers and school employees, and Jim Weller will provide information about Peace Village, a project supported by Peace United Church in Santa Cruz. To register for the free event, visit Housing Santa Cruz County’s Affordable Housing Month calendar of events and click on the link to the AHN event at housingsantacruzcounty.com/affordable-housing-month/affordable-housing-what-it-is-how-to-get-it.

SANTA CRUZ

50 Years of Feminist Studies at UCSC

UC Santa Cruz will host Through the Decades, celebrating Feminist Studies’ 50th Anniversary at UCSC at 3 p.m. June 6 at the UCSC Stevenson Event Center

Moderated by Feminist Studies professor Bettina Aptheker, Distinguished Professor Emerita, a panel of alums from five decades, including the first graduating class in 1975, will discuss the influence this pioneering department has had on their careers, their lives and society at large.

Feminist Studies was established as the Women’s Studies program at UCSC in 1974 and became the Feminist Studies department in 1996. Since its founding, the department has been home to some of the field’s most prominent thinkers and has produced scores of alums who have gone on to make contributions in a range of professions, including law, politics, policy, health care, the arts, and higher education.

The event is open and free to the public. Go to feministstudies.ucsc.edu for information.

SANTA CRUZ

1970s Gay Men’s Support Group sets reunion date

In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of Santa Cruz Pride, a reunion luncheon is being planned for the 70’s Santa Cruz Gay Men’s Support Group to be held 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 30 at the Crepe Place.

The group began meeting in 1978 and hosted hundreds of local gay, bisexual and questioning men over a four-year period. Facilitated by Patrick Meyer and Ken Sentner, it started with 15 participants and soon grew to 90 men each week.

This drop-in group served as a safe place where gay and bisexual men could meet each other, discuss common issues and experiences as they came out, and develop a sense of community that still exists to this day. Group members created several spin-off groups including the Wednesday Night Volleyball Gathering (still going), a Spanish speaking potluck, a Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, a hiking group, a monthly evening coffeehouse and more. In 1980, they won the Mayor’s Award for their float in the Begonia Parade.

For information and to RSVP, send an email to scgmreunion@gmail.com.

SANTA CRUZ

UCSC Annual Print Sale

The Elena Baskin Visual Arts Center on Baskin Service Road at UC Santa Cruz will be hosting its annual print sale featuring hundreds of original prints in a variety of media at this two-day event June 6-7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be woodcuts, lithographs, etchings, photo-based prints, screen prints and more. All proceeds benefit UCSC Art Department students, with 80% of proceeds going to the individual artists and 20% to support the Print Studio (and thereby back to printmaking students).

This once-a-year event presents an extraordinary opportunity for students to display and sell their work to the public. The event also offers an opportunity to see the exceptional quality of the printmaking program and facilities at UC Santa Cruz. More info can be found at arts.ucsc.edu.