SANTA CRUZ

Welcome home dinner, presentation for veterans

Vets 4 Vets and VFW Post 7263 are hosting a Salute to Vietnam Veterans welcome home presentation and dinner Saturday from 5-9 p.m. at VFW Post 7263, located at 2259 7th Ave. Join in welcoming home Vietnam veterans. All are welcomed, this is a free event. Please RSVP if you can at givebutter.com/vietnamvetdinner.

SANTA CRUZ

Book fest, silent auction at Branciforte Library

The newest branch of the Friends of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries is hosting a book sale along with other activities at the Branciforte Library at 230 Gault St. on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. Used paperbacks and children’s books will sell for $1 and hardbacks for $2. There will also be a silent auction of 15 vintage first edition classic books.

Also featured will be a bookmark crafting table, art exhibits by children and adults, refreshments and an interactive “Why I Love my Library” project. All proceeds benefit the Branciforte Friends of the Library programs. Email friendsofthebrancifortelibrary@fscpl.org for more information.

SANTA CRUZ

Qingming Festival celebration held at cemetery

A vibrant celebration of the traditional Qingming Chinese festival will be held at the Museum of Art and History, 705 Front St., and Evergreen Cemetery, 261 Evergreen St., on Saturday. The event begins at 9 a.m. with refreshments at MAH and remarks by historian Traci Bliss, author of “Evergreen Cemetery of Santa Cruz.” Bliss will share why her ancestors gave the Evergreen land as a burial ground open to all and how they were able to support Chinese residents amidst vicious racism.

The group will then walk to Evergreen Cemetery as was typical of the Chinese funeral processions in the late 1800s. At Evergreen, George Ow and Sandy Lydon will discuss the importance of the Chinese community in Santa Cruz and Ow’s donation of the award-winning Chinese Gate at Evergreen. At 11:30 a.m. Evergreen volunteers will provide participants with supplies for helping with gravestone cleaning and cemetery maintenance. Please join in honoring the pioneer cemetery and all those buried there.

For questions please contact Sophie Cornish at sophieocornish@gmail.com or at 831-251-5119.

CAPITOLA

Mid County Senior Center benefit dance

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

Cost of admission is $10. 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.

APTOS

Scam, fraud prevention workshop

Are you an older adult who would like to learn how to avoid scams? Learn how to protect yourself and avoid becoming a victim at the free scam and fraud prevention workshop for older adults on Friday at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, 807 Soquel Drive, from 11 a.m. to noon, presented by the Volunteer Center AmeriCorps Seniors and Village SCC in partnership with Shandra Handley from County of Santa Cruz Consumer Fraud and EP Unit.

The workshop will be presented in a hybrid format, both in-person and on Zoom. A limited number of in-person seats are available for those who register. Call today to reserve your in-person or Zoom seat at 831-427-5070.

SANTA CRUZ

Jazz at the downtown library

Join the Downtown Branch Library at 224 Church St. and enjoy free jazz music by West Coast musicians April 4 noon to 1 p.m. In memory of her husband, bassist and jazz singer, Betty 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. The concert will feature the dynamic vocal/guitar duo Miranda Perl and Adam Astrup with Dan Robbins on bass and Ben Sibley on drums. Rooted in the jazz tradition, the duo will perform the best of the “Great American Songbook,” including “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” and Thelonious Monk’s “Bye-Ya.” Mark your calendar and join for a music-filled afternoon of melodic ballads and jazz.

For additional information contact Betty Nadeau at 831-438-2242 or the Downtown Branch Library at 831-427-7713. This program will run on the first Friday of the month through May.

SANTA CRUZ

SIR April speaker highlights Western legend Wyatt Earp

SIR welcomes biographer and featured speaker Casey Tefertiller, a former writer for the San Francisco Examiner and the author of “Wyatt Earp: The Life behind the Legend,” at the monthly meeting April 2, starting at noon, at the Elks Lodge on 150 Jewell St. Casey will uncover the history and world around one of the American West’s most remembered lawman in this deeply researched book, a must read for “Wild West” history and Western movie fans everywhere.

An 11 a.m. optional social hour will take place prior to the general meeting. The meeting will wrap up with a chef prepared luncheon, concluding at about 2 p.m.

SIR promotes Social Activities for Enhancing Life. Branch 20, comprised of Santa Cruz and surrounding local areas, is one of many statewide, non-affiliated nonprofits dedicated to offering men over 50 — retired or not — a variety of programs and activities designed for socializing, making new friends and enjoying their free time. Email Jeff Ustick at jeffustick@gmail.com for an invitation to this event or visit sirinc2.org/branch20 for more information.

SANTA CRUZ

Police invite public to AB 481 Zoom meeting

In accordance with AB 481, the Santa Cruz Police Department will host an online community meeting on Thursday, from 5 to 6 p.m., to discuss and answer questions about military equipment used by the unit. The virtual meeting will start with a brief presentation about AB 481, which mandates a law enforcement agency’s governing body to acquire a written military equipment use policy through a public forum, and a summary of their equipment. Then, attendees will have an opportunity to speak with Santa Cruz police staff and ask questions. To submit questions ahead of time, please email cbrothers@santacruzca.gov. The link to join the webinar is us06web.zoom.us/j/83628915901.