News briefs (April 10, 2015)

Air pollution district announces community meeting
The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District announced that it will be hosting a public meeting on the wintertime air quality in the San Lorenzo Valley on Wednesday, April 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the multipurpose room at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary School.
The community open house event will discuss the chronically poor wintertime air quality in the San Lorenzo Valley caused by wood smoke. The public is invited to help discuss solutions to cleaning up the air.
In a press release, the district asked for the participation of those who use wood to heat their homes, residents concerned with the wintertime air quality, those with any ideas, and other homeowners and landlords.
For more information, call 647-9411 or visit www.montereybaycleanair.org
Hospice of Santa Cruz honors volunteers
April 12 to 18 is National Volunteer Week, and organizations across the country are celebrating the gifts of time and talent that individuals selflessly give to help others.
In honor of National Volunteer Week, Hospice of Santa Cruz County issued a press release thanking its numerous volunteers for making the organization so successful in its efforts to assist those facing the end of life.
According to the release, Hospice of Santa Cruz County enlists more than 200 trained volunteers to bring care, compassion, and hope to patients and families facing life-limiting illnesses.
“We are so fortunate to have several hundred volunteers who touch our mission in so many important ways,” said Michael Milward, CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County. “We have those who are trained to visit our patients and families at the bedside, we have those who are trained to accompany community members who are grieving, we have those who work in our two office locations, we have our treasured “Friends” of Hospice who raise critical funds for our programs, and, finally, we have a wonderful board of directors who oversee this work that we are so privileged to do. Our volunteers are a vital part of the HSCC family.”