News briefs

Easter Project heats up
Valley Churches United Missions has announced that food and donations are needed to provide Easter dinners to families and Easter baskets to seniors throughout the community. In 2010, Valley Churches United Missions helped 509 households with a total of 1,283 people during Easter time.
The nonprofit is accepting children’s baskets, plush animals, candy, toothbrushes and toothpaste and will need help delivering food and baskets in the upcoming weeks.
“It’s up to us who have a little to give a lot to those in need who have not,” said Annette Marcum, founder and director of Valley Churches United Missions.
Brown bags with lists of needed supplies are available at local grocery stores, and a donation of $40 is enough to buy a complete dinner for a family of four.
Checks marked “Easter” can be made out to VCUM, P.O. Box 367, Ben Lomond, CA 95005. Donations can be dropped off at the headquarters, 9400 Highway 9, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Nonperishable items may be taken to the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, 360 Kings Village Road, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and to the Ben Lomond Gas Station, 9500 Highway 9, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. daily.
For information: 336-8258.
Fund set up for abused kids in honor of valley resident
A fund has been set up in the name of Evelyn Nichols to support Royal Family Kids Camp Monterey Bay. Known as “Grandma Evie” to many, Nichols, a longtime Mount Hermon and Scotts Valley resident, died in January at 93 years old. She was instrumental in establishing Baymonte Christian School and hosted a weekly radio show talking about Christianity.
The fund was set up in her name to help Royal Family Kids Camp, a one-week overnight camp each summer for children in foster care.
Donations in Nichols’ name may be sent to Royal Family Kids Camp, Monterey Bay, Attn: Finance Chairman, 1009 Mission St., Santa Cruz. The camp is a 501c3 nonprofit, tax identification No. 94-1557021.
Dramatic stage reading planned
Coached by directors Trish Melehan and Lisa Kirk-Williams from Scotts Valley Performing Arts, 23 eighth-graders from Scotts Valley Middle School are preparing to present a dramatic staged reading reenacting the Second Continental Congress in 1776.
Students will play famous figures from that tumultuous gathering, including John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, John Hancock and Benjamin Franklin. The play will end with a dramatic reading from the Declaration of Independence.
The performance will take place at 7 p.m. April 13 at the Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road, in Scotts Valley. Admission is free.
Grocery store offers nonprofit grant
Raley’s stores and Frito-Lay are offering five $5,000 grants to nonprofits in Northern California and Nevada through an online application due no later than April 20.
Nonprofits, service groups and individuals are encouraged to share their ideas about how to make a positive change in their communities at www.raleys.com/reach. The five proposals that earn the most votes will receive $5,000 to implement the idea.
Voting will take place between April 22 and May 14 at www.raleys.com/reach.
Legislator launches art competition
Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) has launched the 2011 Congressional Art Competition, titled “An Artistic Discovery.”
High school students are encouraged to submit original artwork to her district office, 698 Emerson St., in Palo Alto, no later than 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 14
A panel of artists will choose the winners, whose work will be displayed in the nation’s Capitol.
For information: www.eshoo.house.gov or 335-2020.
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