Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1502526
1777-A Capitola Road, Santa Cruz 95062 www.seniornetworkservices.org A Nonprofit Community Agency Santa Cruz County's Official Information & Assistance Provider call: 831-462-1433 email: info@seniornetworkservices.org Unbiased, No Cost Medicare Counseling Santa Cruz call: 831-462-5510 San Benito call: 831-637-0630 email: hicap@seniornetworkservices.org Shared Housing I Housing Navigation I Home Help call: 831-462-6788 email: housing@seniornetworkservices.org Respite Registry I Respite Grants call: 831-462-0880 email: respite@seniornetworkservices.org SENIOR NETWORK SERVICES Events...continued from page 1 Peggy Pollard, Teacher www.PeggyDance.weebly.com Join the funnest social dancing in Santa Cruz! Santa Cruz Waltz & Swing In-Person & Online Dances & Lessons Meet cool & sophisticated new friends! Santa Cruz Shakespeare at The Grove - contributed by SCS. and possibly purchasing various items. I know that many wine connoisseurs come specifically for tasting," she adds. Fereshteh has worked as a jewelry artist for about 20 years, and a glass artist for about five. The first time she remembers identifying as an artist is about 40 years ago. "That's when I started to design three-dimen- sional wall graphics on a large scale—as big as 30'x30'—for hotels and restaurants," she says. This was a natural transi- tion; previously, she had been a successful interior designer (specializing in hotels and restaurants) for over 20 years. In this career, she enjoyed planning the furniture layout for different spaces and selecting appropriate styles and finishes for each piece. She creates a variety of work; people with many different tastes will find something to love. Fereshteh currently makes jewelry in silver with gold accents, plus fused glass plates and platters (some of these have Asian influences and would make great sushi trays). She also paints watercolor mandalas. "I love seeing the beauty in nature and finding a flower in a field of weeds," says Fereshteh. "I like the creativity 'process' no matter what medium I'm working in." Fereshteh has online stores through her website www.ferangelika.com/ and Etsy www.etsy.com/ shop/ferangelika. She also accepts commissions. "Most recently, I finished a set of wedding bands for a very happy client!" She is thrilled to live locally in Santa Cruz; she moved here nine years ago and finds the art com- munity very supportive. If you don't get a chance to visit her at Bargetto, you can find her at Open Stu- dios from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. the weekends of Oct. 14- 15 (North County artists) and Oct. 21-22 (Encore weekend). John Gavrilis is a gifted photographer who is also excited to participate in Bargetto's festival. "My girlfriend Liz Lyons Friedman started the event when she worked at the winery," says John. "I continue to participate in this event to honor Liz's memory and our 23- year relationship. Even though our artwork was completely different from one another, we worked as a team, marketing our individual work." An Aptos resident in his early 70s, John has exhib- ited at various Bargetto events for over 20 years. Next month, he will have a variety of photos for sale—primarily seascape and landscape images—at the festival. "I am inspired by a love of nature," he says. John also sells work through his website www. GavrilisPhotography.com. "I enjoy the Bargetto Festival because it is a small, intimate setting and it attracts an appreciative crowd of art buyers and wine lovers," says John. Individuals of all kinds can have fun at the event. "People even into their senior years still collect artwork. Wine lovers come in all ages." John's first art exhibit was in 1976, but he didn't become serious about working as an artist until about 1980. His interest in photography dates back to when he was photo- graphing with a 4x5 view camera. "This analog pro- cess made me appreciate the basic fundamentals of composition and lighting," he says. "Even in today's 'digital world' I still try to use the same approach as I did years ago, when everything was done manually." John has been an Open Studios Artist for 25-plus years; you can purchase his work this fall during the South County week- end (Oct. 7-8). "I've also participated in the Capi- tola Art & Wine Festival longer that any artist: 38 out of 39 years!" (That event is Sept. 9-10). Santa Cruz Shakespeare It's the 10th anniversary of Santa Cruz Shake- speare. Theater lovers in Santa Cruz County are very lucky; SCS is a nationally recognized professional repertory theater company. In 2023, the season runs from July 8–Aug. 27 in the Audrey Stanley Grove at Santa Cruz's DeLaveaga Park, with productions of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew and King Lear, and Lauren Gunderson's The Book of Will. There is also a Fringe Show production (two evenings only) of Gunderson's Exit Pursued by a Bear that features SCS interns. Ticket prices range from $20 to $70. Senior tickets, for ages 62 and older, are discounted. For exam- ple, regular groundling tickets (for sitting on the ground, which is covered in woodchips) are $40; seniors are $38. SCS recommends that Ground- ling folks bring a blanket to sit on. Buy tickets at santacruzshakespeare.org/ season-2023 or by phone from noon-4 p.m. Tues- day-Thursday at 831-460- 6399. A few tips for seniors and those needing special accommodations: Acces- sible parking is close to the entrance of the theatre. There is plenty of acces- sible seating in the side boxes and the upper box at Classic seating prices. There are assisted listen- ing devices available for those that need them, free of charge Also, for extra comfort there are cushion rentals available ($4 each) and chair and blanket rentals for Groundling ticketholders (also $4 each). I chatted with this sea- son's co-artistic directors, Charles Pasternak and Mike Ryan. Charles is the incoming director, and Mike is the outgoing director. Charles refers to this summer as the "Season of Legacy" which honors the past and looks toward the future. "After 43 years of Shakespeare in Santa Cruz, and 10 as an independent organization, there is a rich, beautiful past to look back on—and a thrilling future ahead," he says. "I'm so excited to welcome Paul Whitworth to our boards to play King Lear. Charles plays "the vicious Cornwall" in this play. "I can't wait to share the stage with Paul—and as ever, to work with fes- tival favorite Paul Mullins as the director." He is also excited to share the stage with Mike Ryan in Lauren Gunder- son's The Book of Will. Charles. plays Henry Con- dell, "…one of the two actors of Shakespeare's company that led the charge in saving Shake- speare from oblivion. It's a beautiful part, and it's so wonderful to play with Mike Ryan as John Heminges. I also love the meta-theatrical aspect of sharing the Artistic Direc- torship of the company with Mike while we share this journey on stage." Mike is equally enthu- siastic. "I play one of the two actors who risks everything to collect and publish the first folio of Shakespeare's plays. It's rewarding and meaningful because the past 10 years of my life have been in service to Shakespeare and ensuring that his lega- cy and artistry continue to thrive in Santa Cruz. It's also joyful because I get to work with Charles." The theater company's roots go back several decades. It is coming full circle. "Ten years ago, Mike and I were on stage together in Henry V (as part of Shakespeare Santa Cruz, held on campus since 1981) when UCSC decided to close Shake- speare Santa Cruz," says Charles. "In the wake of that, Mike led the charge to save this company, now under the name Santa Cruz Shakespeare. Now he passes the torch to me." Mike emphasizes that celebrating the 10th an- niversary of SCS is "…a big deal. There was a lot of uncertainty when we first rebooted the festi- val about whether it was financially sustainable, and then an even bigger question a few years after that about whether or not it could survive off of the UCSC campus. This milestone not only answers those questions with a resounding YES but showcases a company that is thriving artistically and is in robust financial health." This season features quite a bonus: renowned actor Paul Whitworth playing King Lear. "He's one of the best actors I have ever had the pleasure of watching, a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company who moved to Santa Cruz to star in and build up the festival when it was on the UCSC campus," says Mike. "His performance is going to be a tour-de- force." Hopefully, no one will miss the festival due to lack of funds. "Our preview performances are 'pay-what-you-will,' allowing audiences to give what they can afford. We also offer inexpensive student rush tickets, and groundling seats," says Mike. "The best thing about the festival is that it is an 'event' to attend," says Mike. "Patrons bring picnics, and wine, and blankets, and sit outside under the stars within feet of some of the most incredible actors from all over the country. The ex- perience is not a tradition- al, stuffy indoor theatre experience, but one that invites interaction, noisy reaction, eating, drinking, and celebration." Charles adds, "Our festival is built around the greatest playwrights of all time. These stories are universal and necessary. And more so than ever, in the wake of Covid, we need the communal act of gathering, of storytelling, and of catharsis. Young and old and everything in between, please come join us in the Grove!" Food Options Attendees are welcome to pack their own picnic and dine outdoors at The Grove before or during the show. There is a wine bar open onsite. Also, pa- trons can pre-order boxed meals from The Grille at DeLaveaga 72 hours ahead at www.cgmarket- ingsystems.com/online- shop/?id=20366&course- id=3962. Volunteer opportunities Positions available in- clude ushers and parking assistants during the sea- son, and clean-up beauti- fication of Audrey Stanley Grove from 10am-2pm on Saturdays until the season begins. Contact volun- teer@santacruzshake- speare.org for details or to sign up. You can also find more info at signup.com/ group/557024027466182 08?utm_source=group- badge-volunteer-green. Audience at Santa Cruz Shakespeare - contributed by SCS. Photographer John Gavrilis.