BLVA Newsletter – November 2026
Dear Friend,
As autumn settles into the San Lorenzo Valley and the days grow shorter, we’re reflecting on what makes Ben Lomond such a special place. From lively markets and community gatherings to local traditions and ongoing efforts to make our village safer and more welcoming, the past few months have given us plenty to celebrate and be thankful for.
And there’s still more to come! Don’t miss our upcoming Contra Dance on November 13 and the Village Holiday Party and Food Drive on November 29—both great ways to celebrate the season with your community!
Here’s what’s happening around the village.
UPCOMING BLVA EVENTS 🗓
FALL CONTRA DANCE
Fri, November 13 | 7–9 PM
Park Hall Community Center, 9400 Mill Street
Join us for an evening of contra dancing! Live music by Against the Grain with caller Cheryl Graubart, easy-to-learn dances, and a welcoming community make for a great night out. Beginners are encouraged. No partner or experience needed—just comfortable shoes and a willingness to have fun!!
Sign Up to Volunteer (and dance for FREE!)
VILLAGE HOLIDAY PARTY & FOOD DRIVE
Sun, November 29 | 4:30–6:30 PM
Ben Lomond County Park
We’re bringing the holiday festivities to the park this year! Join the Ben Lomond Village Alliance for an evening of twinkling lights, festive treats, local shopping, cozy beverages and a food drive for Valley Churches United.
PARK FESTIVITIES
- Live music, caroling, and local performances
- Holiday gift market featuring local makers
- Crafts and games for kids, including snowball toss
- A visit and photo opportunity with Santa!
- FREE hot cocoa bar, plus food and sweet treats
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP
- 4:30–5:15 | Live Music: Woodmill
- 5:15 | Santa’s Arrival
- 5:30–5:45 | Local Performances
- 6:15 | Raffle (Tickets given to everyone who donates a food drive item!)
- 6:00–6:30 | Caroling
FOOD DRIVE
Help us stock the shelves at Valley Churches United, which provides essential food assistance to families and individuals throughout the San Lorenzo Valley. With food pantry supplies running low, our neighbors need our support more than ever. Bring a nonperishable food donation and receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win a prize!
Most-needed items include: Cereal, soup, beans, canned vegetables and fruit, canned tuna, pasta, and pasta sauce.
We still need volunteers! Help decorate, donate to our bake sale, serve cocoa, and more. Plus, all volunteers will get a $20 voucher for the holiday market!
HOLIDAY MARKET AT FELTON COVERED BRIDGE PARK
Sun, December 13 | 11 AM–3 PM
Felton Covered Bridge Park
The Ben Lomond Village Alliance is pleased to be a sponsor of the SLV Chamber’s annual Holiday Market held at the Covered Bridge Park in Felton, where the historic 1892 Felton Covered Bridge becomes a twinkling winter marketplace filled with handmade gifts from local artists and makers, live music, caroling, and holiday lights.
SUPPER CLUB: COOKIE EXCHANGE
Sun, December 20 | 2–4 PM
The Howden Castle
Join us for the second annual Cookie Exchange, a fundraiser for Valley Churches United. Make a donation when you register, and then bring at least 30 of your favorite holiday cookies to share! Your hosts, Tia and Will, will provide beverages and appetizers.
Pre-registration is required!
COMING IN 2027!
We’ve got another exciting year of community gatherings planned for Ben Lomond.
- Monthly Community Dances: Square dancing, line dancing, contra dancing, and more!
- Supper Club Soup Social: Warm up with neighbors over delicious soups this January.
- Supper Club Cake Social: Celebrate spring with sweet treats and good company.
- Ben Lomond’s 140th Birthday Celebration: Join us in May to celebrate our village’s history and community!
- Village Markets: Shop local makers, artisans, and small businesses from June through October.
More details coming soon!
OTHER LOCAL EVENTS 🗓
THE GIFT OF ART
Thur, November 5 through Tues, December 22
Santa Cruz Mountains Art Center, 9341 Mill St
The Annual Holiday Gift Exhibit is always one of the most popular shows at SCMAC. Everything in the gallery is for sale, so it’s your chance to find unique gifts of art for everyone on your list and support local artists too!
Don’t forget to check out the many upcoming art classes avaialble for adults and children!
MURS TRAINING: WHAT’S NEXT?
Sun, November 8 | 1–3 PM
Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Hwy 9, Felton (across from Ace Hardware)
This class is intended for folks who have been using their MURS radios, and now have specific questions based on that use, seeking suggestions for improving their MURS experience. Information about neighborhood organizing and Countywide exercises will also be included.
Advanced registration is required.
INTRODUCTORY MURS TRAINING
Sun, December 6 | 1–3 PM
Mountain Community Resources, 6134 Hwy 9, Felton (across from Ace Hardware)
This is a class for folks just becoming familiar with MURS radios and their use for neighborhood emergency communications. Pre-programmed MURS radios will be for sale at this event. Please come early for radio setup.
Advanced registration is required.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOWN HALL
Saturday, November 14 | 1 – 3 pm
Highlands Park Senior and Community Center, 6191 HWY 9
For 25 years, the Valley Women’s Club Environmental Town Hall has brought the community together to learn about environmental issues, share concerns, and connect with the people and organizations working to protect our region. This year, Assemblymember Gail Pellerin returns to share updates on environmental legislation and issues affecting the San Lorenzo Valley, Santa Cruz County, and California.
Following her presentation, bring your questions for a live audience Q&A — an opportunity to hear directly from your state representative about the issues that matter to you.
SENIOR CENTER GALA: HERALDING THE HOLIDAYS AT HOGWARTS
Sat, November 14 | 4–7 PM
The Highlands Park Senior & Community Center
The Highlands Park Senior & Community Center invites you to a magical evening at its annual fundraising gala! Step into the world of Hogwarts for live music, themed food and drinks, a silent auction, raffles, and plenty of Harry Potter-inspired fun.
All proceeds support the Senior Center’s 34 vital community services and help keep this beloved local resource thriving in 2027 and beyond.
DOUGH AND DAHLIA’S POP UP
November 22 | 10 AM – 12 PM or Sell Out!
Mountain Feed and Farm Supply, 9550 HWY 9
Head over to Mountain Feed for a pre-holiday pop-up with Dough and Dahlias Sourdough! Freshly baked, sourdough bread will be available as well as stuffing kits, herbed butters and more goodies. Perfect for your holiday meals
EMERGENCY PREPARATION: SAND & SANDBAG LOCATIONS
Winter storms can bring heavy rain, flooding, and other challenges to the San Lorenzo Valley. Now is a good time to prepare your home and property before the wet weather arrives. Free sand and sandbags are available at designated locations throughout Santa Cruz County.
LOCAL SPOTLIGHT 🔦
VALLEY CHURCHES UNITED: HELP STOCK THE PANTRY
Valley Churches United provides essential food assistance to low-income residents throughout the San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley. With reductions in food assistance funding and contributions from Second Harvest Food Bank, VCU is facing shortages of staple pantry items and needs our community’s support.
Most-needed donations include:
- Cereal
- Soup
- Beans
- Canned vegetables and fruit
- Canned tuna
- Pasta and pasta sauce
Attending the Village Holiday Party and Food Drive on November 29? Bring a donation of nonperishable food to help stock VCU’s pantry while enjoying an evening of holiday festivities with your neighbors!
GET INVOLVED 💪
BETTER STREETS & BEAUTIFICATION
Next meeting: Thurs, December 10 | 6:00 PM
Ben Lomond Fire Department Meeting Room
Join the committee that’s working to make Ben Lomond safer and more beautiful!
HOLIDAY EVENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Sun, November 29
Ben Lomond County Park
Help decorate, donate to our bake sale, serve cocoa, and more for the Village Holiday Party & Food Drive. All volunteers will get a $20 voucher for the holiday market!
SOCIAL COMMITTEE
4th Sundays | 6–7 PM
Ben Lomond Library
Come join the committee that’s dedicated to having fun times together! The Social Committee is responsible for the dances and Supper Clubs. Come help us plan and make more fun things happen in Ben Lomond.
Volunteers are needed at the Contra Dance Friday, 11/13. Sign Up to Volunteer (and dance for FREE!)
Reach out to Social@BenLomondVillage.org for more information.
COMMITTEE UPDATES 📢
BETTER STREETS & BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE
Better Streets: Making Our Roads Safer for Everyone
A Safer Crossing on Glen Arbor Road
Good news for pedestrians on Glen Arbor Road! Thanks to the Santa Cruz County Community Development and Infrastructure Department, a new high-visibility crosswalk with push-button warning lights has been installed at the Madrone-Newell intersection. This popular crossing connects neighborhood walking routes and provides access to METRO bus stops on both sides of Glen Arbor Road. The improvement follows BLVA’s advocacy and collaboration with the County to identify locations where pedestrian safety could be improved. We’re grateful to the County for listening to community input and making this important investment. Please remember to use caution when crossing, even with the new warning lights in place.
Continuing the Push for Safer Highway 9 Crossings
BLVA continues to advocate for pedestrian safety improvements along Highway 9. We recently submitted a letter of support for the Regional Transportation Commission’s latest grant application, which seeks funding for flashing pedestrian warning beacons at the Highlands Park entrance in Ben Lomond and Larkspur Street in Brookdale. These crossings serve important community destinations, including Highlands Park, the Senior and Community Center, and nearby transit stops. We are hopeful the grant will be successful and bring additional protections to these busy crossing points. We also continue to advocate for improved bus shelters in Ben Lomond, including a replacement shelter at the southbound Highway 9 and Main Street stop, to make public transit more comfortable and accessible year-round.
A Few Seasonal Safety Reminders
As daylight hours grow shorter and rainy weather returns, pedestrians and cyclists can take a few simple steps to stay safe:
- Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially after dark.
- Make sure bicycles have working front headlights and rear lights.
- Watch for slippery leaves, wet pavement, and uneven road surfaces.
- Stay alert, avoid distractions, and be especially cautious when visibility is poor.
Meanwhile, BLVA’s Better Streets & Beautification Committee continues working with the County on additional improvements along Glen Arbor Road, including better walking access, clearing vegetation along paved shoulders, and repairing potholes. Residents can report non-emergency roadway maintenance issues directly to the County through its online Report a Problem portal.
Every improvement makes a difference, and we’re grateful to our community partners and residents who help make our village streets safer and more welcoming for everyone.
RECENT IMPACT 💥
SUPPER CLUBS GALORE
October was quite the month for the Ben Lomond Village Alliance Supper Clubs. This was our first time collaboration with the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club at Quail Hollow, and about 25 people came to enjoy snacks, hot chocolate and a fabulous presentation about astronomy by Jim Bahn. Unfortunately, the cloud cover prevented viewing through the telescopes brought by the club members, but we look forward to having another collaboration with the club in the spring!
Later in the month, there was an Art in the Park Supper Club held at Ben Lomond County Park. Farhana Basha volunteered her time to teach the participants how to draw mandalas and provided pre-drawn grids and pens. Everyone ate the delicious snacks brought by the participants and drew until it got too cold in the park!
Finally, there was the Games & Ghosts party at Jane and Steve’s house, which was loads of fun. Everyone came in costume, and attendees shared a potluck dinner and played board games together.
All in all, it was a fabulous month for meeting new people and trying new things together! The Supper Club members love building community one delicious shared meal at a time! If you’re intrigued and would like to learn more about hosting a Super Club, reach out to the Social Committee, and we’d be thrilled to work with you to realize your idea!
‘OUT AND ABOUT’ WITH THE BLVA 👠
VILLAGE MARKET COMMITTEE PARTY AT THE TROUT FARM
Our Village Market Committee came together at the Trout Farm to celebrate the end of the season and discuss next year’s vision. Stay tuned for next season’s schedule!
Interested in joining the committee and helping plan the Village Market for 2027? We’d love to have you!
THANK YOU! ❤️
As we head toward the holiday season, we hope you’ll continue finding ways to connect with your neighbors and enjoy all that our village has to offer. And if you know someone who would enjoy being part of the BLVA community, please share this newsletter and invite them to join our email list.
If you enjoy receiving this newsletter, please help us grow our community by sharing it with your friends and neighbors. Invite them to join our membership list, follow us on FACEBOOK , and fave us on NEXTDOOR so they can stay connected with everything happening in Ben Lomond.
Have a great photo from around town? Know about an upcoming event, a local business worth highlighting, or a story about a neighbor doing something wonderful? We’d love to hear from you! Send your Ben Lomond news, photos, and newsletter ideas to Secretary@BenLomondVillage.org.
Thank you for being part of the Ben Lomond Village Alliance family. We look forward to seeing you at the next Village Market, around town, and at the many community events still to come this year.
Cheers,
Ben Lomond Village Alliance
