Font ResizeSanta Cruz
You, too, can marry on 12-12-12
There's high demand at the County Clerk's Office from couples looking to marry on Dec. 12, which is 12-12-12.
County Clerk Gail Pellerin will offer wedding ceremonies every half hour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pellerin said she will provide more time slots if needed.
If couples have called and were told the day was booked, Pellerin said they should call again.
The cost of a wedding ceremony is $100. Couples must have a valid marriage license and at least one witness. A marriage license, which is issue by the county clerk, costs $90. For information, call 831-454-2060 or go to www.sccoclerk.com.
WATSONVILLE
Alejo hosts holiday open house
Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Watsonville, will host a holiday open house and toy drive from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday at his office, 275 Main St., Suite 104.
A second open house will be 5-7 p.m. Dec. 13 at his Salinas office, 100 W. Alisal St., Suite 134.
Alejo will be joined at the Watsonville event by members of the Tri-County Association of Latino Elected Officials. He will collect unwrapped toys at both events for donation to the children of farmworkers living in the Camphora Labor Camp near Soledad.
For information, call 831-759-8676 or email Assemblymember.Alejo@asm.ca.gov.
Sutter earns nod as top hospital
Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center made the list of 67 top hospitals in the U.S. announced Tuesday by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit run by employers seeking safe, affordable and high-quality health care.
California had 20 hospitals on the list. Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center was one of three not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.
The "Top Hospital" designation recognizes hospitals that prevent medical errors, reduce mortality for high-risk procedures such as heart bypass surgery, and reduce hospital readmissions for patients being treated for conditions such as pneumonia and heart attack.
The Leapfrog Group contends its standards are the toughest and provides the most complete picture of hospital safety, quality and use of resources. The group reviewed data from four sources on all acute care hospitals and assigned grades of A, B, C, or F to 2,600 of them. Some had insufficient data and were not graded.
FELTON
Christmas boutique, concerts begin Thursday
The Mount Hermon Conference Center's 16th annual Christmas Crafts Boutique, which runs this week and next at 37 Conference Drive, will feature more than 25 exhibitors. Hours are 1:30-7:45 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit Mount Hermon's Campership Fund to provide scholarships for those who attend camps and conferences.
Christmas concerts are slated for 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in December, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. To register, call 888-642-2677. There is no charge for the concerts, but due to limited seating, guests who buy a buffet dinner get priority seating. A freewill offering is taken at each concert for Mount Hermon's expenses of bringing in performers.
Buffet seatings start at 5 p.m. and reservations are required. The buffet costs $19 for adults and $9.50 for children ages 4 to 12, while kids younger than 4 eat for free.
SANTA CRUZ
Museum events this weekend
Admission to the Museum of Art & History at 706 Front St. is free from 5-9 p.m. this Friday for First Friday. The schedule includes: 5 to 6:30 p.m., live readings of phren-Z's Fall 2012 issue from in the auditorium and a chance to help design the next exhibition in the Lezin Gallery; 6:30 to 9 p.m., Bob Burnett performing. There also will be sampling of Mexican favorites from Second Harvest Food Bank and a chance to make making Krampus Softie Monsters with Shay Barsabe.
Family Art Day, 2-4 p.m. Saturday, will feature "Family Funnies" with Elijah Pfotenhauer. He will demonstrate how to turn your family members into unique visual characters that tell memorable stories through comic strips.
Cost is $5 general, $3 members.
CAPITOLA
Teens volunteer for Recyclebank
Members of the Soquel High School Environmental Club are volunteering to join Capitola in the Recyclebank Challenge.
"Hopefully we can help Capitola move up in the competition and in its sustainability initiatives," said club president Justine Dice.
Capitola ranks 48th among 50 communities in the competition, which requires residents to sign up online at www.recyclebank.com and report their recycling efforts.
The club has about 20 members who have volunteered to get the word out at CVS, 809 Bay Ave. They'll be there from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday to register residents, hand out fliers and get pledges.
