News briefs

Valley kids center throws summer carnival
The Children’s Center of the San Lorenzo Valley in Ben Lomond will host a summer carnival fundraiser and salute to local firefighters in Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 31.
The carnival will honor Ben Lomond firefighters and include family activities, pony rides, a petting zoo, puppet shows, face painting, games, a barbecue and a raffle. Proceeds from the carnival will benefit the nonprofit children’s center, and the center will make a donation to Ben Lomond firefighters in turn.
“It’s a fundraiser by the community for the community,” said Shandra Handley, the center’s executive director.
Admission is free. Tickets will be sold for activities and food.
For information: Lisa Whitworth, li************@gm***.com, 408-316-5120; or www.ccslv.org.
People, police plan annual get-together
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office will host the second National Night Out in the San Lorenzo Valley on Tuesday, Aug. 2.
The gathering, planned from 6 to 9 p.m. at Highlands Park, 8500 Highway 9, in Felton, is a chance for police and the community to partner against crime.
Visits from emergency crews, activities and demonstrations, food and drinks will be part of the free festivities.
National Night Out is sponsored throughout the U.S. by the National Association of Town Watch. It’s designed to heighten awareness and get communities involved with local anti-crime programs while strengthening neighborhood spirit.
For information: 461-7400 or www.scsheriff.com.
SmartMeter opposition forum on tap
A meeting titled “Wise Up to ‘Smart’ Meters” will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Louden Nelson Center, 301 Church St., in Santa Cruz.
Joshua Hart of Scotts Valley organized the forum. Hart is the founder and director of www.stopsmartmeters.org, a grassroots group that claims Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s SmartMeters are anti-consumer, a false solution to climate change and a health threat.
It will be moderated by Michael Zwerling, the owner of KSCO radio in Santa Cruz, and will feature Dr. Karl Maret of the Aptos Dove Health Alliance.
Water district celebrates 70th anniversary
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District celebrated its 70th anniversary, to the day, on July 21 and passed a resolution commemorating its anniversary.
The district’s board of directors first met July 21, 1941.
Local historian Randall C. Brown, who attended the meeting, recently completed a history of the district.
“The weather in the valley has always been unpredictable, but the board has always found a way of handling things as they come up,” Brown said.
The district’s first board president was Earl Lyon, a Ben Lomond businessman who was an advocate of preserving local water rights for the San Lorenzo Valley.
Cash awards offered in Constitution Day contest
The Santa Cruz County Board of Education will host a Constitution Day essay contest for all students entering ninth grade this fall in Santa Cruz County schools, including home-schooling programs.
Essayists can respond to either of two prompts in no more than 12,000 words: “How did the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights develop our nation?” or “Is there a particular part of the U.S. Constitution that means something special to you?”
The writers of the winning essays will receive $500 for first place, $300 for second and $200 for third, along with two books of U.S. history and an invitation to read their essays during a live radio broadcast.
Entries are due Aug. 31. Detailed contest rules are online.
For information: www.santacruz.k12.ca.us/ed_services/constitution_day.html.
H1N1 program to show
A consideration of “The H1N1 Flu: California’s Response” will show on KRCB Public Television Channel 22 at 11:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and at 10:30 p.m. Aug. 25.
The flu killed more than 550 Californians and sparked widespread vaccinations in 2009 and 2010. The film shows how doctors in the state identified and responded to the epidemic.
For information: www.krcb.org.