SCOTTS VALLEY

City hosts annual challenge

The 11th annual Mountain Charlie Challenge will be held May 4 at Skypark, 361 Kings Village Road.

Options include a 50K, 100K and 100-mile ride, all with staffed rest stops and support vehicles. New this year is a guided and supported 10-mile Family Fun ride around Scotts Valley. Anyone who wants to participate but doesn't own a bike should sign up at active.com or www.svef.net and can reserve a bike for free.

The all-day event also will feature live music, children's activities, obstacle courses, safety courses, bike and helmet fittings, arts and crafts, local artists, a barbecue lunch, beer, wine, raffles and a silent auction.

For information, go to www.svef.net.

County

Shadowbrook, Pizza My Heart host Habitat fundraisers

Shadowbrook in Capitola will donate 30 percent of proceeds to the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity from 5-9 p.m. March 26, when it hosts its weekly Community Tuesday fundraiser.

Proceeds will go toward the construction of a single-family townhome in the Beach Flats area of Santa Cruz. To make a reservation, call 831-475-1511 and be sure to mention Habitat for Humanity. The restaurant is at 1750 Wharf Road.

Pizza My Heart, at 1116B

Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, will also hold a benefit from 4-9 p.m. April 3, with 30 percent of proceeds going toward the same project.

For information about Habitat for Humanity projects, call 831-469-4663 or go to www.habitatsc.org.

APTOS

Cabrillo Gallery presents 'Tribute'

A reception for a new exhibition, "Tribute," at the Cabrillo Gallery will be held 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at 6500 Soquel Drive.

The exhibit honors the recent retirements of long-time art department faculty members Jamie Abbott and Ron Milhoan and features their sculptures and paintings. It runs Friday to April 26.

The artists will discuss their work during a talk slated for 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 17.

The gallery is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7-9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. The show will be closed for spring break April 1-6. For information, call 831-479-6308.

Soquel

Talk addresses carbon footprint

Jay Friedland, the legislative director of Plug In America, is hosting a discussion on electric vehicles 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 23.

Friedland will discuss the new Toyota RAV4 Electric Vehicle and how electric vehicles can reduce your carbon footprint.

The free event, hosted at Community Foundation, 7807 Soquel Drive, is sponsored by Electric Auto Association of Central Coast.

For details, call 831-426-1008.

DAVENPORT

April events at Rancho del Oso

Come see the spring flowers in bloom at the Rancho del Oso Nature and History Center and then visit them along the park's scenic trails at Wildflower Weekend from noon to 4 p.m. April 27 and 28.

Naturalist-led wildflower walks will be held from 12:30-2:30 p.m. both days.

There will be a wildflower hike at 10 a.m. April 14 where visitors can hike among the wildflowers in Rancho del Oso's Waddell Valley. The 4-mile hike will meet at the Nature and History Center. Bring lunch and plenty of water.

At 2 p.m. April 14 there will be a fireside story program at the Nature and History Center. Bring the whole family for a 30-minute program that will introduce children to the wonders of nature.

Rancho del Oso is 17 miles north of Santa Cruz off Highway 1. For more information, call 831-427-2288.

SANTA CRUZ

April events at Santa Cruz Mission

A family crafting workshop will be held 1-4 p.m. April 4 and 5 at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park. On April 4, visitors can create colorful layered paper

decorations; on April 5, visitors can create tin lanterns in the garden courtyard. Both events are free. Rain cancels the event on April 5.

From 1-4 p.m. April 6, come see a demonstration on how some of the major products of the mission, leather and tallow, were used in the early 1800s. Event is free. Rain cancels.

From 1-2 p.m. April 13 come tour the native plant beds, neophyte kitchen garden, and Mission olives and grapes. Event is free. Rain cancels.

From 1-2 p.m. April 20, you can get your hands dirty and make your own mini adobe brick. Visitors will work with the materials used by the Ohlone to build their homes and the materials that the Spanish used to build the missions. Event is free.

From 11 a.m. to noon April 27, there will be a guided tour of the mission grounds. Tours are free.

Santa Cruz Mission State Park is at 144 School St. For information on all events, call 831-425-5849.

SANTA CRUZ

HOPE Services hosts e-waste recycling event

A free e-waste recycling event will be held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at 220 Lincoln St. Proceeds benefit HOPE Services, a nonprofit that offers employment and independent living services to developmentally disabled residents.

Acceptable electronic waste items include computers, cables and mice, monitors, keyboards, scanners, printers, VCR/DVD players, fax machines, radios, TVs, cellphones and clothing packed in plastic bags. Batteries will not be accepted.

Donations are tax deductible. For information, call 831-600-1510.