News briefs

Local filmmaker’s El Salvador documentary to air on PBS
Boulder Creek-based documentarian Bob Gliner’s newest film, “Learning From El Salvador,” a one-hour look at the dramatic changes and improvements taking place in the tiny, Central American nation, will air on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. on PBS station KQED Plus (Comcast Channel 10).
To film his documentary, Gliner — a former sociology professor at San Jose State University — spent two weeks in El Salvador, where he was granted total access to the government and people of the country — including its president.
He documents the improving quality of life in the country, which was wracked by a violent civil war in the 1980s and early 1990s, as well as the emergence of social programs, access to education, and medicine brought about by a new, more inclusive, government.
For more information, visit www.docmakeronline.com
Dance showcase to raise funds for aspiring local dancers
The First Annual Carrie’s Dream Dance Scholarship Showcase and Auction will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8, at the Aptos High School Performing Arts Center featuring a pair of shows from talented young dancers from the Santa Cruz County community.
The event’s organizers — Carrie’s Dream Scholarship Fund Project — are hoping to raise up to $20,000 in dance scholarships for Santa Cruz County dancers from this first year of fundraising, sponsorships and ticket sales.
Carrie’s Dream Scholarship Fund Project was founded in 2014 as a tribute to Carrie Dianda McCoid, the late owner of Steps Dance Studio in Watsonville and a San Lorenzo Valley native.
Before her passing in 2012, it was her goal to create a dance scholarship program so any student who wanted to dance would be able to do so, regardless of his or her financial circumstances.
The event will feature shows at 1 and 5 p.m., as well as a silent and live auction with products and services donated from the local community.
Tickets are $20 each, and for tickets and more information visit www.CarriesDream.org.
Felton Library Friends seek poetry submissions
Felton Library Friends invites submissions of poems on the topic of “What I Have Lost?” for the 11th Annual SLV Poetry Reading.
Poems must be submitted by Sunday, March 8, to [email protected]. One poem per poet will be accepted.
Poems will be selected from each of four age categories for reading by their authors at the Poetry Reading on Thursday, April 9, at 7 p.m., at the Felton Community Hall. The age groups are: 4 to 8 years (dictation is okay), 9 to 12, 13 to 17, and Adult.
Be sure to include your name, age category, and phone number with your submission.
For more information, visit www.feltonlibraryfriends.org.