Pesticide meeting set for Monday
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation will hold a meeting Monday from 4-6:30pm at the Family Center in Ramsay Park regarding pesticide use and regenerative farming.
“It is a rare in-person opportunity for the public to demand pesticide reduction and elimination while increasing organic and regenerative practices in our state, county and valley,” said Woody Rehanek, a long-time resident of Watsonville.
Momentum has grown around the topic since the Oct. 21 screening of the documentary, “Common Ground.” in Santa Cruz. It was sponsored by local groups Center for Farmworker Families, CORA (Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture), Santa Cruz Permaculture, and Watsonville’s Esperanza Farm.
According to Rehanek, the film highlights offers five basic principles: Healthy living, pesticide-free soil rich with microbes that make nutrients available and capture carbon; protecting and enriching soil with cover crops, mulch, or other techniques; crop diversity and rotation; livestock integration when and where appropriate; and low-till and no-till methods, such as mowing and crimping.
“We want DPR to incorporate real environmental justice into their plan,” said Watsonville resident Kathleen Kilpatrick of CORA. “They’ve been mandated by the legislature and governor to form an EJ Advisory Committee. We don’t want a rush to approve new pesticide products, while slow-walking elimination of the ones already known to be hazardous. These chemicals are already harming our workers and ag communities.”
Halloween seeps into town
On Saturday the business community at East Lake Village Shopping Center will stage Halloween activities that are family- and pet-friendly.
The event includes the Trunk or Treat Car Show that will be in memory of Dave Toriumi to raise money for the Watsonville High Educational Fund and Trick or Treating at East Lake Village businesses.
- The Trunk or Treat Car Show runs from 11am-1pm and includes a raffle, trick or treating.
- Dark Market pop ups from noon-4pm hosted by Fruition Brewery
- Costume contest for pets and people, 3-7pm, with DJ music and drag performances.
In partnership with Pajaro Valley Prevention & Student Assistance, the public is invited Nov. 1, 5:30-8:30pm at the Watsonville Youth Center for the second annual Day of the Dead Celebration. Featuring family-friendly activities for all ages including: live performances, face painting, traditional Day of the Dead bread and more.
Science Workshop Día de Muertos celebration Nov. 2, 5-8pm. Altar Ofrenda, refreshments, LED candle-making and more.
Learn about a holiday tradition
Students in the dance class, Estrellas de Esperanza, taught by Ruby Vasquez, are hosting an information session for the public to learn about a Mexican holiday tradition called La Rama.
“It comes from Veracruz and I have Maestro Claudio Naranjos Vega coming to teach about it,” Vasquez said.
The session runs at 6:30pm at Cabrillo College Watsonville Center on Nov. 8. Topics in the course include: The purpose of La Rama; traditional songs and lyrics; and dance steps.
“All of this will come together on December 1st when we’ll do the Rama procession and have a community fandango,” Vasquez said.
The free Rama celebration takes place from 5-6:30pm at the Watsonville Certified Farmers Market at Peck and Main streets and the Fandango unfolds from 6:45-8pm.
Cabrillo Gallery prepares for fundraising exhibit
Cabrillo Gallery is accepting submissions for its annual exhibition, “12 x 12 (x 12): An Open Invitational.”
The exhibit is open to all California artists and showcases work from high school students to seasoned professional artists.
There is no restriction on themes and all fine art media and disciplines are accepted: drawing, printmaking, painting, photography, digital media and fabrication, sculpture, ceramics, fiber, woodworking, jewelry, metalworking, glass—as long as the work is 12-by-12 inches.
The exhibit is also Cabrillo Gallery’s annual fundraiser.
Submissions are accepted through Oct. 31. For information, visit cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-gallery/12×12-2023.
“12 x 12: An Open Invitational” opens for viewing on Nov. 6 and continues through Dec. 8. A reception will take place Nov. 18 from 3-5pm.
Cabrillo Gallery is located in the Library building, room #1002, in the center of the uphill side of the Cabrillo College campus at 6500 Soquel Drive in Aptos. Hours are Monday–Friday, 9am–4pm, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 6-8pm.
TEDxSantaCruz announces call for speakers and volunteers
TEDxSantaCruz organizers have launched a call for speakers, volunteers and sponsors for the next TEDxSantaCruz: Rising Together, slated for April 13 at the Crocker Theater on the Cabrillo College campus.
The call is open to everyone who lives or works in Santa Cruz County.
Event co-producer Nada Miljkovic, the University of California Santa Cruz program manager of the Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurial Development and continuing instructor, said the event aims to celebrate the community’s collective strength.
“Santa Cruz County has been through so much since we held our last TEDxSC event in 2019—the Covid pandemic, CZU fires, and back-to-back storms and floods,” she said. “Our community has literally risen together, disaster after disaster, to meet each challenge as it comes.”
TEDxSantaCruz invites prospective speakers to share ideas and solutions to challenges at the local, regional, national and global levels. Consuelo Alba, co-founder and executive director of the Watsonville Film Festival, is working with Miljkovic and Jenny Kurzweil of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County to produce the event.
“As a society, we are facing huge challenges such as climate change, preserving natural resources, racism, poverty, lack of health care, homelessness and educational disparities,” Alba said. “How do we rise together? How do we build effective and lasting collaborations?”
The theme was also inspired by the Rise Together coalition, a Community Foundation initiative that brings together local Black, indigenous and people of color leaders to advance racial equity.
“TEDxSantaCruz aims to be a joyful, inclusive and thought-provoking one-day conference,” Alba said. “As a community, we’ll foster learning, inspiration and wonder, honor perspectives, and spark conversations and connections that matter.”
More information on how to apply to be a speaker, volunteer or sponsor is available online at tedxsantacruz.org. Speaker nominations are due by Nov. 5 and speaker applications by Dec. 3. Detailed information and instructions are on the application forms. Tickets will be available for purchase in early 2024.
