WATSONVILLE

Bike Santa Cruz County community bike rides

Join Bike Santa Cruz County, District 4 Supervisor Felipe Hernandez and Watsonville Mayor Maria Orozco on a family-friendly bicycle ride around Watsonville April 13 at 11 a.m. and May 25 at 10 a.m., with routes designed to cater to all levels of cyclists, including beginners. Meeting location will be at the East Lake Village Shopping Center, 936 E. Lake Ave. Participating will be Community Bike Collective, Watsonville Cyclery, SC Community Traffic Safety Commision, Cabrillo Bike Co-op and more.

Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to biking, the Watsonville Community Bike Rides offer something for everyone, bringing together cyclists of all ages and abilities for fun and exercise. Riders will explore local parks, scenic trails, and other hidden gems throughout the city, all while learning about the benefits of cycling and safe riding practices. Participants are encouraged to bring their own bikes or use one of the available Community Bike Collective, making it accessible to all who want to get involved. For more information, please visit bikesantacruzcounty.org/events or follow Bike Santa Cruz County on social media.

SANTA CRUZ

Classical guitar concert at UC Santa Cruz

Attend an evening of classical guitar, featuring acclaimed artist Connie Sheu at the UC Santa Cruz Music Center Recital Hall, 1156 High St., April 18 at 7:30 p.m. Known for her expressive performances, and deep commitment to the guitar’s rich tradition, Sheu brings a dynamic program showcasing works from the classical repertoire. Sheu serves on the faculty of the Colburn School and Pomona College. The concert is free and open to the public.

Go to arts.ucsc.edu for information.

APTOS

Presentation on hospice care at the library

Join an insightful talk by Cathy Conway, CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County, about beyond end-of-life support April 19 at the Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Drive, starting at 10:15 a.m. Conway will cover HSCC expansion of the county’s only nonprofit hospice services, as well as showing the strong leadership and compassionate care of women within the organization. This is a free event.

SOQUEL

Meet the Author series presents Nancy Lynn Jarvis

The Porter Memorial Library, 3050 Porter St., is holding its final talk in the popular Meet the Author series on Wednesday at 10:30-11:30 a.m. Local author Nancy Lynn Jarvis will hold a panel discussion with authors from “Santa Cruz Ghost Stories,” about what influenced them to write their tales and whether all of the ghosts in the book are real or imaginary. This program is free of charge and open to the public. For more information, contact the library at 831-475-3326 or visit porterlibrary.org/upcoming-events.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

Seeking volunteers to write cards for seniors

Family Service Agency and I-You Venture are currently asking for volunteers to write Easter and Thinking of You cards to seniors in assisted and skilled nursing facilities. Many residents feel lonely and isolated and a card can help brighten their day. Some suggestions to help with stress and loneliness include crossword puzzles, word search books and adult coloring books. Items for warmth and comfort are also appreciated, including new slipper socks and lap blankets.

Please drop off cards/items by April 10 to: FSA/I-You Venture, 104 Walnut Ave., #208, Santa Cruz, or Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, Attn: FSA/I-You Venture, 1740 17th Ave., Santa Cruz.

APTOS

Joby Aviation to present at chamber luncheon

Join the Aptos Chamber Luncheon for an informative presentation by Joby on April 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Seascape Golf Club 610 Clubhouse Drive. This event presents a unique opportunity for local business leaders and community members to engage with one of the most innovative companies in the aviation industry and learn how Joby’s advancements could shape the future of Aptos’s transportation.

General admission is $35. Reservations are required, no walk-ins please. For further details and to register, call 831-688-1467 or visit aptoschamber.com.

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY

After-school classes at Santa Cruz Shakespeare

Santa Cruz Shakespeare launches ShakesEDU, a year-round education program for local youth. Enrollment is now open for spring classes, running April 14 to May 15, and Summer Shakespeare Intensive in July. ShakesEDU provides students aged 10-18 with a wide variety of opportunities to learn about theatre, playwriting, acting and improv. The program represents SCS’s commitment to community-building and investing in future fans of local theater productions. Learn more at bit.ly/ShakesEDU.

CAPITOLA

Poetry writing class hosted at the library

The Capitola Branch Library, 2005 Wharf Road, presents Happy Ink: Crafting Poetry from Simple Pleasures workshop Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. What’s something every poet and writer uses for inspiration? Heartbreak, the past, and pain. But maybe you want to build a writing practice that doesn’t rely on ultra highs and crazy lows to create. If you’re ready to mine inspiration from simple pleasures and the everyday, then this workshop is for you.

You’ll get inspiration from other writers and dive into some sensory-driven writing prompts. Writers will walk away with both a new poem, as well as writing exercises to dive into after the class to keep the creative energy flowing. Led by Kimberly Gomez. Registration is recommended and drop-ins are welcome. Register at bit.ly/HappyInk1.

FELTON

Vector control talk at the library

Come to a free talk on vector control specific to Northern Santa Cruz County by the Santa Cruz County Mosquito and Vector Control at the Felton Library, 6121 Gushee St., on Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. The county provides free services to all county residents for problems with mosquitoes, ticks, rodents, yellowjackets, mites, bats and more. Presenters will cover services offered as well as information on septic tanks breeding mosquitoes and home rodent infestation inspections. For more information, email feltonlibraryfriends@gmail.com.