County hosts forums to shape future behavioral health services
Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health Services is hosting community forums to help shape the County’s First Behavioral Health Integrated Plan for 2026-29.
Funded by the Behavioral Health Services Act, these forums aim to gather community input on mental health and substance use services. Residents, families and partners are encouraged to share ideas and needs.
The forums will be held on Nov. 17 from 4-6pm at the Aptos Public Library in Central County, on Nov. 18 from 4:30-6:30pm at Santa Cruz County Behavioral Health in North County, and on Nov. 20 from 10am-12pm at NAMI Santa Cruz County in South County.
Registration is required at surveymonkey.com/r/5XV3RLS. Interpretation services are available with at least 72 hours’ notice.
Participants will receive a $25 gift card in appreciation of their input. For more information, visit santacruzhealth.org/BHSA.
Santa Cruz Shakespeare’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ returns this season
Santa Cruz Shakespeare (SCS), a nationally recognized professional repertory theatre company staging imaginative productions for more than a decade, has announced that tickets are on sale for its annual adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
The production opens on Sunday, Nov. 30, and runs through Christmas Eve at the Veterans Memorial Hall at 846 Front St. in downtown Santa Cruz.
Directed by Charles Pasternak and Alicia Gibson, “A Christmas Carol” stars Mike Ryan as Ebeneezer Scrooge, with returning favorites Julie James, Charlotte Munson and Andrea Sweeney Blanco. Luke Shepherd provides music direction for the production.
With 26 performances and shows at 2 and 7pm, “A Christmas Carol” is a festive holiday tradition for the whole family. Preview performances begin on Nov. 26. Full performance schedule is at santacruzshakespeare.org/christmascarol.
Tickets are available at santacruzshakespeare.org or through the seasonal Box Office, 831-460-6399, open Tuesday through Friday from 12-4pm. The show is 90 minutes with no intermission.
Santa Cruz METRO honored with budget award
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO) has been honored with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) in recognition of its annual budget.
This prestigious accolade highlights METRO’s dedication to transparency, accountability and excellence in public financial management. It is considered the highest honor in governmental budgeting and marks a significant milestone for METRO’s Board of Directors and staff.
To receive this award, METRO’s budget document met rigorous, nationally recognized standards established by GFOA. These guidelines assess how effectively a budget functions as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide and a communications tool. To qualify, each budget must earn a “proficient” rating in all four categories and meet 14 mandatory criteria.
METRO joins a select group of more than 1,900 government entities across North America participating in GFOA’s Budget Awards Program. Recipients of the award are recognized for their innovative efforts to improve the quality of government budgeting and to set a benchmark for others in the public sector.
The GFOA, which supports over 25,000 members, aims to promote excellence in government finance through best practices, professional development, and research. Santa Cruz METRO expressed pride in receiving the award and reaffirmed its commitment to fiscal integrity and delivering high-quality service to the communities it serves. More information about METRO can be found at scmetro.org.
