News Briefs

Meeting set for wildfire protection plan
Fire and conservation authorities plan to create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties.
The plan, which addresses ways communities can reduce the risk of wildland fires, is a project of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the two counties’ resources conservation district and financing from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
A public meeting soliticing community input is scheduled for 7 p.m. June 9 at the Zayante Fire Station, 7700 E. Zayante Road.
For information: http://wildfireplan.blogspot.com.
SV to have summer swim program
The Siltanen Family Swim Center in Scotts Valley is gearing up for the summer swim season with lessons scheduled to begin June 15.
Lessons are taught in three-week sessions conducted two days per week, with a choice of Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Classes will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
In addition to group lessons with a maximum of four students per class, private instruction will be available.
Group parent-baby lessons also will be offered for children ages 6 months to 3 years and their parents.
Recreational swimming will be every day June 15 to Aug. 30 from 1 to 4 p.m. at $3 per person, 5 years and older (kids 4 and younger are free). The pool is also available for rent. Heading up the aquatics program is Scotts Valley native Heidi Sussman, a 20-year veteran of swim instruction.
For information: 438-3251.
Group bike rides planned
The Scotts Valley Recreation Division will offer a program of free group bike rides for beginners Wednesday mornings June 3 through July 8. The group meets at 9:30 a.m. at the Siltanen Park barbecue area.
The program is intended to build endurance, skill and road savvy. It is open to anyone 18 or older with a bicycle and helmet.
For information: 438-3251.
Japanese cultural program seeks teachers
The two-week Japan Summer School is looking for teachers with Japanese cultural knowledge for its June 22 to July 3 session in Watsonville.
The school needs teachers to teach bamboo, nature and family crests to fourth graders, and Japanese history and the World War II internment for fifth and sixth graders.
For information: 335-6503.
Computer classes for seniors
Scotts Valley Senior Center will conduct a two-day file-management computer class for senior citizens on Mondays, June 1 and 8. It will cover storing and viewing documents, creating folders, getting organized and backing up files.
Cost is $30 for center members, $40 for non-members.
For information: 438-8666.
Rotarians, students clean up
Scotts Valley Rotary Club members and local college students collected several hundred pounds of trash and debris from city creeks May 9 in a project overseen by Save Our Shores.
Among the artifacts uncovered were a 1932 license plate and an axle believed to have come from the train at the long-closed Santa’s Village amusement park.
Student exchange host families sought
Aspect Foundation is looking for area families to host high school exchange students — who hail from one of 50 countries — interested in studying in Santa Cruz County.
DeeDee Barrios of Ben Lomond, the foundation’s international coordinator, can be reached at 336-8827.
‘Lassie’ star guest at Woof to Woof
Jon Provost, who starred as Timmy Martin in the 1960s TV series, “Lassie,” will appear at the annual Woof to Woof dog play day and expo at Skypark in Scotts Valley from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 6.
Provost is scheduled to judge a collie-only Lassie lookalike contest, which is just one of numerous events during the day. Others include demonstrations, microchipping and adoptions by Santa Cruz SPCA, licensing and adoptions by the county Animal Services Authority, a vaccination clinic and vendor booths.
Woof to Woof is the primary fundraiser for the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Santa Cruz.
For information: www.wooftowoof.com.
Strawberry festival at women’s center
It’s strawberry time at the Walnut Avenue Women’s Center, 303 Walnut Ave., in Santa Cruz.
The 21st annual Strawberry Festival, featuring a barbecue, strawberry shortcake, chocolate-dipped strawberries, strawberry ice cream and strawberries, will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6.
There also will be carnival games, music, a bounce house and drawings for more than 100 prizes.
The center helps children and families affected by domestic violence.
For information: 426-3062.