Events

Aptos Holiday Craft Fair and Tree Lighting on Saturday

December 4, 2014 by Seb Frey

Help light up Aptos this holiday season!

The Aptos Chamber of Commerce is once again sponsoring the Aptos Holiday Craft Fair and Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 6 from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. The tree lighting and craft fair will be at the entrance to Aptos Village Park, near Kauboi Restaurant.

There will be a number of local vendors selling arts and crafts, and there’ll be singing of carols. There’ll also be hot cocoa and coffee, and a special visit from Santa Claus! It’s sure to be a good time to come out and meet your friends and neighbors and spread some holiday cheer.

Participating businesses include:

Allie Wilson Jewelry & Art
Belles N’ Balls
Bluestone Imports
Coastal Kettle Corn
EACO USA
Handmade Jewelry by Paul
Jan’s Jams
Knit Wits
Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant
McCollum Family Chiropractic
Sunshine Designs

Legalization Assistance Permit Program Meeting on November 17

November 13, 2014 by Seb Frey

Santa Cruz County is holding a public Legalization Assistance Permit Program meeting on November 17 at the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist in Seacliff. The meeting will be held from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM in the church’s cafe facility.

The Legalization Assistance Permit Program (LAPP) is designed to help property owners with unpermitted improvements (i.e. bedroom or bathroom additions, accessory units) bring them into legal compliance.

According to the county,

The program will apply to single family and multiple-family dwellings, commercial, industrial and agricultural structures which were altered, remodeled or constructed without required permits.

The LAPP program began on August 24, 2014 and will run only for a two-year period. Property owners who come forward to legalize unpermitted construction during this time will not be charged the “recover enforcement costs” fee but will have to pay regular permit fees, development impact fees, and possibly back taxes as well, and all improvements must comply with building, zoning, and environmental standards. The full LAPP program guidelines can be read here.

Rawhide Baseball Group Pasta Feed and Silent Auction

November 11, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Rawhide Baseball Group is having a pasta feed and silent auction at the Resurrection Catholic Community Church on December 6th. The festivities start at 6 PM, and feature the local band Soulwise, a local reggae/funk rock band from Santa Cruz. Two of the Rawhide Baseball Group coaches are in the band: Adrian deMar and Kevin Eichorn.

Tickets are $25 each for adults, and $10 each for kids, and you have your choice of vegan or meat sauce. They’ll be having a silent auction as well, and proceeds go to support the youth of Santa Cruz county. Rawhide Baseball Group is an organization that puts together a string of camps, clinics and teams for kids ages 8-14 run by current and former MLB players from the area.

To learn more and get tickets, visit http://rawhidebaseballgroup.com/pasta/

Fall Fitness Fashion Show

November 4, 2014 by Seb Frey

Fleet Feet Sports of Aptos is putting on a fall fashion show on Saturday November 8th, 2014 at 6:30pm. Tickets are $15.00 per person, or $20 for two, and come with
wine, Hors d’oeuvres, raffle tickets and if you register before November 6, you’ll also get a $20 Fleet Feet GIFT CARD with registration.

Proceeds from the fashion show will go to support Fleet Feet Sports’ Adopt-an-Athlete program. This program does a lot for people in our community, including:

Funds shoes for people who can’t afford them
Training programs and race entries for veteran’s transitioning out of homelessness
Provides sports bras for women escaping a violent environment
Provides spikes and cross country flats to youth in economically disadvantaged schools
Support wounded veteran athletes with gear to increase participation in an active lifestyle

Other sponsors of the event include the Precision Wellness Center, Seascape Foods, O’Neill, The North Face, Nike, and the Bike Station in Aptos. For more information, please visit the Fleet Feet Sports web site.

Mar Vista Elementary Harvest Festival October 25th

October 13, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Mar Vista Elementary Harvest Festival is scheduled for October 25th, from 11 AM until 4 PM. This is a annual event is public and all are welcome to come and celebrate the harvest season and help feed those less fortunate in our community.

The organizers have lined up some amazing food, entertainment and events, including:

Law Enforcement K-9 Demonstrations
Costume Parade
Raffle
Surfing Magician
PAC Dance Performances
Mad Scientist Movie Special Effects Spectacular
Bounce Houses
Obstacle Courses
Face Painting
Glow in the Dark Scavenger Hunt
Aptos Fire Truck
Santa Cruz Sheriff Swat Truck and Robot
Photo Booth
Lots of Games, Music, Food, and the Sugar Shack!

This year they are partnering with the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriffs Association, along with Second Harvest Food Bank and Grind Out Hunger to kick off the Holiday Food Drive at the Harvest Festival! Please join us in supporting some amazing causes and Mar Vista Elementary! Bring a can of food to receive a raffle ticket and a chance to win some amazing prizes!

Run for Rio 5K Race – September 14

September 7, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Second Annual Run for Rio 5K Race will be held this year on Sunday, September 14, 2014. The run begins at 8:00 AM in Seascape Village, and the course winds its way through nearby neighborhoods. The fee to participate is $30 per runner or $120 for a family of up to 5. Proceeds from the run will directly benefit Rio Del Mar Elementary Parent Alliance which funds many important programs at Rio del Mar Elementary School.

Seascape Village Fitness and Physical Therapy is hosting both pre- and post-run gatherings at their Fitness Center, with healthy snacks and beverages and guided warm-up and cool-down periods. Seascape Foods will also be providing a post fuel station.

See also:

Gourmet Grazing on September 27 in Aptos Village Park

August 28, 2014 by Seb Frey

Get ready for Gourmet Grazing on the Green on Saturday, September 27 from 12:00 to 4:00 PM at Aptos Village Park! This event is in its 11th season, and it’s a fantastic day of excellent wine, delicious food and, of course, live music! While away the day savoring the rich flavors from dozens of the most acclaimed local restaurants and wineries.

This event is put on by the Santa Cruz Cancer Benefit Group, and all proceeds from the event go to support the cause. Tickets for the event can be purchased here.

Hidden Beach Cleanup, September 20

August 21, 2014 by Seb Frey

The Rio Del Mar Improvement Association is joining Save Our Shores for a Hidden Beach Cleanup, September 20. Volunteers will meet at 9 AM at Hidden Beach Park to get cleanup supplies, and will clean Hidden Beach from 9 until 11 AM. Anyone who likes their beaches clean is invited to join in this important neighborhood event.

Special note to all you high schoolers! High school students seeking community service credit can bring their forms for signature to the event for “sign offs” and credit! Those looking for more information are encouraged to contact Fay at fayjoe1@yahoo.com.

Walk Through Seacliff’s Amazing Past

July 28, 2014 by Seb Frey

The folks down at the Seacliff Visitor Center are putting on an event dubbed Walk Through Seacliff’s Amazing Past. It’s a 50 minute walk held on Sunday August 10th and 24th, and it starts at 11:30 AM down at the visitor’s center. Participants will learn about the history of the SS Palo Alto, and how efforts by big business to create Seacliff Park “a paradise of land and sea” were crushed in the 1920s and 30s.

You’ll learn about the beginnings of Seacliff State Beach, and how the local Native Americans, the Castro Family, and the Spreckel’s sugar cane empire all helped shape modern day Aptos. They’ll also talk about the notorious past of former Aptos resident, “The Madam of Seacliff.”

Who knew Seacliff ever had a madam? Sounds like a great way to get out and learn more about how Seacliff and Aptos came to be.

Teens on "China Beach" — Teens on “China Beach”

Aptos Hosts California Beer Festival, August 9-10

July 12, 2014 by Seb Frey

The 4th Annual California Beer Festival is coming to Aptos Village Park, Saturday and Sunday, August 9th and 10th 2014 from 12:30 to 5:00 PM.

On Saturday, craft beers will be featured with Craft Beer Heaven with over 85 craft beers on tap (free samples available!), live music, and a variety of foods available. On Sunday, festival goers will enjoy “Hamburger & Hops Music Festival”, featuring music from a number of tribute bands: “Unauthorized Rolling Stones”, “Petty Theft” San Francisco Tribute to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and “Foreverland”, a 14-Piece Tribute To Michael Jackson.

Proceeds will benefit the Gen Giammanco Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides financial support to student athletes to assist in their pursuit of both scholastic and athletic success in Santa Cruz County.

Should be a great day out in Aptos Village Park! Tickets are on-sale now, with a variety of ticket options, including a $70 two-day VIP pass. You can buy tickets on-line, and also from Whole Foods in Santa Cruz and Capitola.