News briefs

Scam seminar planned
Assemblyman Bill Monning, D-Carmel, will co-host a free seminar for seniors about how to detect and avoid scams.
The free workshop is from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 9, a Saturday, at the Santa Cruz Police Department, 155 Center St., in Santa Cruz.
The seminar will include presentations on fake auto-warranty extensions, banking scams, e-mailed appeals for money and phony ads for insurance, auto and home repair and identity theft.
Those who wish to attend are invited to call to RSVP.
For information: 425-1503.
Kids visit imprisoned parents with churches’ help
San Agustin Catholic Church, in conjunction with Star of the Sea Catholic Church and with financial support from the Santa Cruz County Chapter of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, sponsored a bus for the Get on the Bus program.
Get on the Bus takes children with their guardians and caregivers from throughout the state to visit their mothers and fathers in prison. The children and caregivers receive free transportation, meals for the day and gift packages.
San Agustin and Star of the Sea churches collected teddy bears, cameras, picture frames, note cards, stamps, and pens for 24 kids who rode their bus.
Three members of San Agustin spent June 18 greeting the kids and caregivers as they left the bus, taking pictures and helping at the event.
$44K raised for hospice
The Friends of Hospice raised $44,000 at the Fairways for Kids Golf Classic to benefit the Healthy Understanding of Grief program for children through Scotts Valley-based Hospice of Santa Cruz County.
Hospice runs more than 1,000 individual and group sessions for children in the community who grieve the loss of a loved one.
Museum seeks children for parade
San Lorenzo Valley Museum still seeks children to participate on the museum float in the Boulder Creek Fourth of July parade.
The museum’s theme is “Fun and Games,” and the float will demonstrate an old-fashioned maypole. Children can walk around the maypole, walk with hula hoops and take part in other old-fashioned games. The parade begins at 10 a.m.
For information: Karin Park, 338-3848; or Lisa Robinson, 338-4152.
Free Fourth of July swimming
The Simpkins Family Swim Center, 979 17th Ave., in Live Oak will host a free community swim from noon to 4 p.m. July 4 at the county pool. Entrance is first-come, first served, and barbecued food will be sold to benefit the Supporters and Helpers of Arts, Recreation and Parks.
For information: 454-7960.
Crop report released
The office of the state’s County Agricultural Commissioner has released its annual crop report for 2010 and strawberries lead the way in Santa Cruz County.
The total gross production value of Santa Cruz County agricultural commodities for 2010 was $532.5 million. This is an increase of more than $40.89 million from the 2009 production value of $491.6 million.
The commission attributes much of the increase to increased acreage and production per acre for strawberries. Raspberries are the second-highest valued crop followed by blackberries, vegetables, cut flowers and landscape plants.
The gross values do not reflect the net income or loss of the producers and do not take into account the costs associated with farming. The large majority of the large farms are in the south end of the county away from Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley.
For information: www.agdept.com.