Events

Blood Drive at Aptos Library on April 14th

March 29, 2018 by Seb Frey

The Santa Cruz Public Library System (SCPL) has created a new partnership with the Stanford Blood Center (SBC) and will host a blood drive with the Center’s Bloodmobile in the parking lot of the Aptos Library on Saturday April 14^th from 10:00am to 3:00pm.

Every two seconds someone in the U.S. Needs blood. SBC is a leader in the fields of transfusion and transplantation medicine who encourage first time donors to become real-life heroes through mobile blood drives, education and partnerships. Library Director Susan Nemitz says, “When you give blood, you give life. This is a wonderful way to connect with our community and become everyday heroes.”

SBC supplies blood products, testing, and transplant matching services to several Bay Area hospitals, including those in Santa Cruz. Many County residents also travel to SBC to use their services. Help those in need of blood in our community by becoming a donor.

The Blood Drive takes place at the Aptos Library, 7695 Soquel Dr. in the parking lot. The Bloodmobile will be there from10:00am until 3:00pm. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, visit sbcdonor.org and use sponsor code 2557. Or call 650-723-7831.

Search for a Home in Aptos

Micro Business Summit returns to Aptos

March 28, 2018 by Seb Frey

The Santa Cruz 82% Micro Business Summit – billed as “Santa Cruz County’s biggest small business conference” – returns to Aptos in 2018! 82% of business in Santa Cruz county is done by small business, so collectively it’s really the biggest business in the county. As in years past, the event will be held at Cabrillo College, this year on May 4th.

“We’re building on the success of last year’s Micro Business Summit with even more exciting speakers and topics,” says Barbara Mason, Economic Development Coordinator for the County of Santa Cruz. “Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. We want to support these entrepreneurs because their success lifts our entire community.”

This year’s event features a range of speakers on topics including social media marketing, startup technologies, managing cash flow, working with millennials, lead generation and much more.

Tickets for the “82% Micro Business Summit” are on sale now for only $49 (use this link to buy tickets) thanks to the generosity of their sponsors. Participants will be able to choose from a range of dynamic speakers and breakout seminars, receive a complimentary breakfast and luncheon and have access to an afternoon mixer as well as fantastic raffle prizes.

Enrollment is limited to 300 participants, so if you’re interested in attending, you better sign up soon! Visit the event’s web site for more details.

Read a good book lately?

If you have some room on your reading list, I invite you to read my book Get It Sold! It's an easy read (just 110 pages!) and it tells you everything you need to know about selling your home quickly, easily, and at absolute peak pricing. I'll send it to you for free - no shipping charge either!

OK Send me a Copy!

Move for Mar Vista is Back in 2018

March 28, 2018 by Seb Frey

For the past several years, the Mar Vista Elementary School Parent’s Club has been putting on a 5K race through the beautiful forest of Nisene Marks State Park. The race begins in Aptos Village Park and goes up through the Nisene Marks for a couple of kilometers before runners head on back to the finish line. The race will be held Sunday, April 29th, starting at 9:00 AM.

This year, it’s got a 1980’s theme! Runners are encouraged to dig deep into their closets to pull out their finest 1980’s attire to wear during the race. It’s a great opportunity to get outdoors with your family and pass on the love of running to the next generation. The event is open to the whole community, and all ages and abilities are welcome.

All proceeds go to benefit Mar Vista Elementary School and their efforts to build a running track on the lower field. They’ll be awarding prizes for the best dressed runners. You can sign up using this link: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Aptos/MoveforMarVista5k. Registration is $25 for kids 12 and under and $35 for everyone else.

What's YOUR Aptos House Value?

Aptos Home Prices — Find YOUR Home's Value!

Interested to know what your Aptos house is worth in today's real estate market? Then head over to SellForSure.com for an instant, on-line evaluation of your Aptos home's value.

Yearly Aptos Rhododendron Garden Tour

March 26, 2018 by Seb Frey

On Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 1 PM, the Monterey Bay Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will feature a tour of the Monte Toyon Garden of Maury and Fran Sumner, that is located at the Monte Toyon Camp and Conference Center, 220 Cloister Lane, Aptos.

From the parking lot located in the area of 36°59’46.7″N 121°53’51.5″W, please walk up the trail to the Observation Platform of the Rhododendron Garden, which is located at the top of the hill.

The tour will be led by Mike McCullough, who knew the Sumners from 1975 until they passed away.

What's YOUR Aptos House Value?

Interested to know what your Aptos house is worth in today's real estate market? Then head over to SellForSure.com for an instant, on-line evaluation of your Aptos home's value.

The Sumners lived in San Francisco, but in order to test and display their hybrids such as the Maddenii Series rhododendrons My Lady, My Guy, Mi Amor, Saffron Prince, Martha Wright and Owen Pierce; and to grow other rhododendrons, in the 1950s they established the three acre Monte Toyon Rhododendron Garden in Aptos.

Information on the rhododendrons of Maurie and Fran Sumner can be found here:

Information on what the tour would be like can be found here:

http://www.imagesforrenewal.com/weekly-image/ravishing-rhododendrons/

Hopefully the early blooming Sumner hybrids My Lady, Fran Sumner, Saffron Prince, Martha Wright, and Owen Pierce, shall be in bloom; as well as rhododendrons such as the Maddenii Series species Rhododendron cubittii, the Maddenii series hybrid Else Frye and several Grande Series rhododendrons, such as Rhododendron grande, Rhododendron macabeanum, and Rhododendron magnificum.

Grande series species are noted for their large leaves:

Some of the, Grande series and other species were grown from seed from England and other areas.

There is no charge for admission.

Information on the Monterey Bay Chapter, and the rest of the American Rhododendron Society can be found at:

Search for a Home in Aptos

Santa Cruz County Gun Buy-Back

February 19, 2018 by Seb Frey

The recent high school mass shooting in Florida has again sent shockwaves through the nation, and our community in Aptos is no exception. Many people in our community are outraged and concerned that something like this could happen in one of our local schools. And a recent news report on KION informs us that the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office is reporting an uptick in stolen firearms, with many of the thefts coming from guns not being stored properly.

To help reduce the amount of unwanted and improperly secured firearms in our county, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s office will be holding a gun buyback on Saturday, March 24th, 2018 from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. No I.D. is required to sell guns, and no questions will be asked. If you’ve got some unwanted or unused firearms you’re looking to get out of the house, here’s a great opportunity you can cash in on. They’re paying good money for these weapons, too:

Rifles and Shotguns: $50
Handguns: $100
Assault Weapons: $200

They’ll be having the gun buyback at two Locations: Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office at 5200 Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz, CA and at the Watsonville Fire Station #1 at 115 2nd Street Watsonville, CA. This buyback is being sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Law Enforcement Chief’s Association.

Please help spread the word to everyone in our community! Let’s get some of these unwanted firearms out of circulation.

Read a good book lately?

Update on Our Community Reads

February 19, 2018 by Seb Frey

Aptos is well known for being a beautiful place to live. Home to the “World’s Shortest Parade,” stunning coast and redwoods, Aptos is a special place to all who live and visit here.

Recently a rumor has been circulating that Aptos is being considered for “Reading Town USA.” We know our library is enormously popular, and the recent project, “Our Community Reads” has been widely embraced by the community. The events have been diverse in nature, packed attendance, and everyone is reading Trevor Noah’s, “Born A Crime.” Almost 70 people attended the kick-off film, “You Laugh but It’s True.”

County Supervisor Zach Friend was the emcee for a lively trivia night and they had Dr. Enrique Buelna, a Cabrillo College History Professor lead a great discussion with a big crowd at the high school….to name only a few of the recent Our Community Reads events.

Fortunately there are some remaining events left and it’s not too late to join in!

Upcoming Our Community Reads Events

This week on February 21st they will start the Speaker series featuring Dr. Cath Byrne: “Trevor was born a crime, I was not: reflections growing up under apartheid.” – Rio Sands Community Room, 116 Aptos Beach Drive, 6:30-8:30pm.

February 24th, Speaker Series, Reverend Deborah Johnson – “Making Sense of Racial Nonsense” at Inner Light Ministries, 5630 Soquel Drive, 3:00-4:30pm.

February 27th, Hidden Gems Film Club Series presents “The Color of Friendship” at the Aptos Library. Educator and Santa Cruz Superintendent of Schools, Michael Watkins will introduce the film and lead a discussion. 6:30-8:30pm at the Aptos Library.

March 1st – Poetry Slam and Art exhibit at Aptos High School, 100 Mariner Way, Aptos High Library Upper Campus. 6-8pm.

March 6th – Speaker Series features Dr. Tyler Stovall: “White Freedom: The Racial History of an Idea.” Rio Sands Community Room, 116 Aptos Beach Drive. Doors open at 6pm. Event is 6:30-8:30pm.

For more information and details about ALL the events go to:
http://www.friendsofaptoslibrary.org/

e-mail: friendsoftheaptoslibrary@fscpl.org

Like Our Community Reads on Facebook

Read a good book lately?

Santa Cruz Greenway Aptos Presentation

February 19, 2018 by Seb Frey

Santa Cruz County Grenway

By now, you’ve probably heard about the great controversy surrounding the future of the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor. There are competing visions for the future use of the corridor, with a number of ideas being debated in the public space. One leading vision for the rail corridor is being championed by Santa Cruz Greenway: a “trail only” use, where the existing tracks are removed and replaced with a wide trail designed primarily for pedestrian and bicycle use.

Santa Cruz County Greenway has been making presentations around the county for some time, and now they’re doing a presentation in Aptos. Greenway is hosting a meeting to help the Aptos Community learn why a train won’t help Aptos, but a trail will. Their goal is to fill the room with newcomers to the conversation and people who want to better understand our options for the corridor.

A recent meeting in the Capitola City Council Chambers on the future of the rail corridor was standing room only, which shows the intense interest the community has in the future of this priceless asset. Please plan to attend if you want to learn more and/or help spread the word to friends and neighbors who are new to the conversation or undecided on the issue:

7-8 PM, Thursday, February 22nd 2018
at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County
7807 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003

Santa Cruz County Greenway will also be holding a short informational track walk!

10 AM, Saturday, February 24th 2018
meet at the railroad tracks by 790 Estates Dr. (off McGregor Dr.)

Both of these events are sure to be informative and enjoyable and it’s a great way to get out, meet some of your neighbors, and become more engaged in the future of our community. We hope to see you there!

Castro Adobe Open House January 27, 2018

January 25, 2018 by Seb Frey

Castro Adobe in Watsonville (Larkin Valley)

Explore Castro Adobe State Historic Park during the first public open house of 2018, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, January 27th. The event will focus on the early period of the Adobe and the Castro family’s prominent role in local and California history.

Visitors can enjoy homemade nopales (aka prickly pear – a cactus salad) and fresh tortilla-making while getting the chance to share stories of their own family’s beginnings in California. Guided tours will be offered at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. A short presentation on the Castro family’s participation in the historic De Anza Expedition will start at 2:15 p.m.

The event is free. The Castro Adobe is at 184 Old Adobe Road in Watsonville. Parking is limited; please carpool. Leashed dogs are allowed only in the parking area.

If you have never been to see the Castro Adobe, this is a great opportunity – it is an amazing structure in a beautiful setting, and loaded with early Santa Cruz history. Bring your entire family, invite your friends – but please carpool, because parking is limited.

Read a good book lately?

Vision Santa Cruz Meeting in Aptos

November 13, 2017 by Seb Frey

Santa Cruz County is embarking on its first-ever strategic plan, and they want you to come along for the ride. What kind of community do you want? How can we do better? Where should the County focus its efforts?

Called “Vision Santa Cruz County,” the strategic planning process will be completed by June 2018. Between now and then, the County will engage residents, businesses, nonprofits, youth groups, churches, local governments, parks officials, libraries, schools and more to help establish a common vision and set of goals for the future of Santa Cruz County.

Your input in this process matters. In the coming months, the County will be conducting surveys and holding community meetings in various locations to solicit feedback. You may also see county staff out in the community, so stop by and help educate them about what you want Santa Cruz County to be.

This is an upcoming meeting in Aptos on Saturday, November 18th 2017 from 10 AM til noon in Monschke Hall at Twin Lakes Church. Learn more about Vision Santa Cruz on the project’s web page: http://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/VisionSantaCruz.aspx

Read a good book lately?

Third Annual Capitola Plein Air Returns November 4th & 5th

October 26, 2017 by Seb Frey

Do you love art? How about local artists? And do you love hanging out in Capitola? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you’re encouraged to have fun and participate in the Capitola Plein Air Festival, returning this November.

En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air” and is particularly used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

Beginning November 1st, you may spot artists around Capitola painting the scenery. But on November 4th, 40 Artists from all over will be painting throughout Capitola Village. The exhibition, sales and awards will be November 5th at New Brighton Middle School between 11 AM and 4 PM. At the exhibition, you’ll be able to meet the artists, do hands-on activities, enjoy live music, and vote for your favorite piece in the People’s Choice Award. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of artwork will go to benefit art education.

The festival needs volunteers for all kinds of fun stuff. You can sign up to volunteer using this link. Whether you serve as a volunteer or not, make sure to put this event on your calendar – it’s going to be a lot of fun for all!

Events

Read a good book lately?

What's YOUR Aptos House Value?

What's YOUR Aptos House Value?

Read a good book lately?

Upcoming Our Community Reads Events

Read a good book lately?

Related Posts On AptosCommunityNews

Read a good book lately?

Read a good book lately?

Read a good book lately?

Read a good book lately?