This Week on the Central Coast…
Jane Goodall comes to town, Legos on display, baby hummingbirds are rescued, and Watsonville celebrates National Poetry Month
Monterey
Jane Goodall Coming to Sunset Center
Jane Goodall is best known for her work as a primatologist, particularly for her 60-year study of chimpanzees. Now, the central coast will have the chance to meet her for a special event at the Sunset Center in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
The event will be split into halves. The first will be an intimate conversation with Jane Goodall where she “will share her passion for conservation and her inspiring message of hope for the planet.” The second will focus on a new initiative to reintroduce sea otters to Northern California and Oregon. She, along with other experts, will discuss the significance of this project and how they plan to get it done.
This is all in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Network, whose mission is to “protect endangered wildlife by supporting conservationists who ensure wildlife and people coexist and thrive.”
This event will be held on April 7. However, it is already sold out.
Lego Art Expo at the Monterey Conference Center
BrickUniverse 2025 Imagine Tour came to the Monterey Conference Center to present its Lego Art Expo over the weekend. The event showed off the many creative possibilities that can be made with Lego bricks, as well as offered the chance to purchase and build exclusive sets.
Some highlights from the event:
“World-Class Lego Art” created by internationally renowned Lego artists.
Meet-and-greets with professional Lego builders, such as Paul Hetherington, who shared their tips for crafting expert creations of your own.
Building stations where adults and kids could play with assorted lego pieces.
Exclusive Lego products for sale.
If you didn’t get a chance to go, I would keep an eye out for this event to return next year.
SPCA Caring for Baby Hummingbirds
“Every spring, the SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center rescues hundreds of baby birds.” Hummingbird babies are some of the first to arrive. The small birds make small nests, about the size of a golf ball or walnut, and their babies are even smaller - about the size of a jellybean. Because of this, many of their nests and babies are blown from trees during storms or when trees are trimmed.
“You can help by avoiding trimming trees and shrubs during baby bird season,” SPCA says. This is the best way to avoid accidentally harming the babies, since the nests are so hard to see in trees.
The SPCA also advised to avoid trying to feed the babies if you find them. They shared an example of a couple rescued babies whose finders tried to feed them sugar water. It took weeks for the rescue center to remove crystallized sugar from their feathers. Instead, you should report any injured, sick, or orphaned wildlife in Monterey County to the SPCA.
Call the Wildlife Center at (831)264-5427 or visit their website.
The SPCA Wildlife Center rescues thousands of animals every year. They can only do this thanks to donations made by the community. If you would like to help, you can visit their donation page to contribute.
Santa Cruz
Watsonville Public Library Hosting Poetry Reading and Panel Discussion
April is National Poetry Month and Watsonville Public Library is ready to celebrate with a special event. Círculo de poetas & Writers is “a coalition of poets and authors dedicated to promoting multicultural and multilingual poetry and stories.” The group is promoting the book “Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home” with a special reading and panel discussion. The book is a compilation of works by over 150 poets from the 17th century to present day, all presented in both English and Spanish.
The event features two components meant to accommodate anyone who wants to attend. An in-person reading by local poets Aideed Medina, Christopher Rendon and Sara Santistevan will take place at the library. At the same time, a zoom event will take place featuring readings by writers Aldo Amparán, Natalia Treviño, and Laura Villareal
The in-person event is 1 to 3 p.m. April 5 in the meeting room of the Watsonville Public Library, 275 Main St., Suite 100.
The Zoom event can be accessed via this access link.
Use the meeting ID: 872 5017 7078
Passcode: 785656.
Both events are free and can be reserved here.