Tickets are still available for the Watsonville debut performance of RosaAzul, an ensemble that will perform music and songs from Mexico and abroad. RosaAzul is made up of Jose ‘Chuy’ Hernandez, vocals, guitar and vihuela, Saul Arteaga, guitarron and Adam Bolaños Scow, violin. It will be held at Studio Judy G—Judy Gittelsohn’s new art gallery at 430 Main St.
The show is Sunday at 4pm. Seating will be spaced and RSVPS are required. The gallery requires that attendees are vaccinated and wear masks.
Wine will be available or bring a bottle to share.
RSVP at [email protected].
St. John’s Helpful Shop accepting grant applications
St. John’s Helpful Shop, a ministry of St. John’s Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist, is now accepting applications for 2022 grants from Santa Cruz County nonprofits.
Applications can be picked up at the Helpful Shop 246-A Center Ave. in Aptos daily between noon and 4pm, or downloaded at [email protected]. The deadline for filing is Nov. 22.
Aptos school choirs to present concert
For the first time in two years, the Aptos High School and Aptos Junior High School choirs will perform in front of a live audience for their annual winter concert Saturday.
“Rise Up Singing!” will present a variety of songs, which choral director and music instructor Holly Ota described as an “everything bagel” of a setlist: Jazz, pop, inspirational, spiritual, Christmas and Hanukkah songs will be sprinkled “generously” throughout.
The show will be held at the outdoor stage at Aptos High School, 100 Mariner Way, Aptos. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students, and will be sold at the door.
Grants awarded to traffic safety programs
Nearly half a million in grants was awarded to help improve the safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and child passengers in Santa Cruz County.
The California Office of Traffic Safety awarded $448,000 to the Public Health Division, which will direct the funds to a variety of community-focused activities.
$170,000 will go towards bicycle and pedestrian safety, and be used to support initiatives such as distributing bicycle helmets to low-income community members, and bicycle and pedestrian safety in presentations in schools.
Child passenger safety initiatives will receive $53,000. This money will go towards distributing child safety seats to parents, and setting up car seat checkup events, among other safety measures.
The rest of the money, $225,000, will go towards preventing impaired driving. Efforts will focus on providing bilingual safe driving education to youth and adults, among other preventative measures.
Amah Mutsun Land Trust hires new executive director
The Amah Mutsun Land Trust (AMLT), an organization that protects the Amah Mutsun ancestral land, has selected a new leader.
After an extensive search, Catherin Griffin will serve as the new Executive Director for AMLT. Griffin worked with the California Indian Legal Services for eight years, and has held leadership roles in both rural and urban nonprofits. She will focus on improving the well-being of Native people, and providing mentorship to Tribal members.
AMLT has undergone multiple staff changes in the past year. Raymond Hitchcock was hired as the Executive Director in April of 2021 and left a few months afterward, and the organization’s Director of Programs also departed this past year.
AMLT was created in 2014 to protect sacred land and share the Mutsun culture.
Griffin started her position on Nov. 15.
