Come Volunteer at the Scotts Valley Art, Wine & Beer Festival V
olunteering at the Art, Wine & Beer is a meaningful way to get involved in your community, with benefits that go far beyond free stuff. People volunteer because they want to help make the event happen, connect with others, and have a real impact on the experience for festival goers and families. People also volunteer because they want to support the community. Helping run the festival strengthens local arts, culture, and neighborhood spirit, while also making sure visitors feel welcomed, safe, and well taken care of throughout the day. Many volunteers also enjoy the friendships and sense of belonging that come from working with others who care about the event. It is also a great way to build real world experience. Volunteers gain teamwork, customer service, communication, and leadership skills, and they have opportunities to connect with local businesses, vendors, and sponsors. Plus, many people
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like knowing they are part of something bigger that brings the whole area together. For some, volunteering is personal. It can support a cause tied to the festival, provide a meaningful social outlet, and offer a behind the scenes look at how big events run, which helps future careers in event planning, hospitality, marketing, or similar fields. It is also a way to give back through reciprocity, showing gratitude for the community support that makes the festival possible. High school students who need volunteering hours often find this an ideal option. The roles are structured and supported, making it easier to complete required hours while building skills and experience you can talk about later. Volunteer roles include many different jobs, so you can choose what fits you best. Options include festival set up on Friday, meet and greet festival goers, explain ticket pricing and hand out
programs, general upkeep, helping our festival visitors, check IDs and drink bracelets, artist assistants, Kid Zone, Wellness Day, Cops N Rodders Car Show, Dog Day and tear down on Sunday afternoon, and more. Volunteers receive appreciation during the event, including a festival T Shirt, food and drinks during your shift, and for volunteers over 21 a festival glass and a drink ticket. There is also an invitation to a Volunteer Appreciation Party. We could not pull the Art, Wine & Beer Festival together without the amazing volunteers who join in to help; we’re forever grateful. To sign up, svartfestival. com/volunteer/ or scan the QR code. Prefer in person help? Come into the Chamber office and we will help you sign up.
Scotts Valley Commissions 60T H Birthday Glasses
s Scotts Valley celebrates its 60th birthday this year, the Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival Planning Committee wanted to create something truly special to mark the milestone. The result is a beautiful, limited edition commemorative tasting glass that celebrates the city’s rich history while giving festivalgoers a keepsake they can enjoy for years to come. The custom designed glasses will be available as part of the festival tasting kits, and organizers are encouraging attendees to purchase their tasting kits early. While advance tasting kit sales are available, the exclusive 60th Anniversary commemorative glasses will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Once they are gone, they are gone. Festival organizers recommend
arriving early on Saturday, August 15, to have the best chance of taking home one of these collectible glasses. The Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival has long been one of the community’s most anticipated annual traditions, bringing together outstanding artists, award winning wineries, craft breweries, delicious food, live entertainment and family fun. Behind the scenes, the Planning Committee has spent months pre-
paring this year’s festival, with the goal of making Scotts Valley’s 60th birthday celebration one to remember. “We’re so excited to share these commemorative glasses with the community,” said festival organizers. “This year is especially meaningful as Scotts Valley celebrates its 60th birthday, and we wanted to create something that reflects the pride we all have in our city. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to another incredible festival.” Beyond the celebration, the festival serves an important purpose. Proceeds from the Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival help fund the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting local businesses, community programs and events throughout the year. “We’re honored to bring the cel-
We’re Ready for the Festival!
ebration that our community looks forward to every year,” organizers said. “This festival is made possible by countless volunteers, sponsors and supporters who believe in making Scotts Valley a vibrant place to live and work. We hope everyone comes out to celebrate with us, enjoy an amazing weekend, and don’t forget to come early to get one of the special 60th Anniversary commemorative glasses.” ••• The Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival takes place August 15 and 16 at Skypark. Organizers promise an exciting weekend filled with art, music, food, wine, beer and community spirit as Scotts Valley celebrates six decades of history and looks ahead to an exciting future.
Calendar of Upcoming Community Events Saturday August 15
Cops N’ Rodders Car Show — 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Motorcade setup Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: 7 a.m.; Leaves: 8 a.m. Skypark 361 Kings Village Road
Saturday, August 15 Sunday, August 16
Scotts Valley Art Wine & Beer Festival Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. –5 p.m. Skypark 361 Kings Village Road
Call the Chamber Today or Visit www.scottsvalleychamber.com
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Scotts Valley Chamber News
SLV Tech Services Joins the Chamber with Tech
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Donates Marketing Expertise to Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival
alan Nunez of SLV Tech Services has officially joined the Chamber, and he did not stop there. He immediately stepped into the Ambassador program, and now he is volunteering to take over our social media marketing for the Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival. We’re delighted! With a background spanning both hands-on technology support and results-driven marketing, Zalan is poised to help the festival connect with the right community and communicate with clarity, consistency, and momentum. Based in Boulder Creek, SLV Tech Services brings professional tech help directly to homes and businesses across the San Lorenzo Valley and Santa Cruz Mountains. Instead of asking people to haul equipment down the hill or deal with the frustration of being told they are outside a service area, SLV Tech Services offers on-site house calls across Boulder Creek, Ben Lomond, Felton, Brookdale, Bonny Doon, and Scotts Valley. When a same-day fix is possible from anywhere, Zalan also provides remote screen-share support, giving clients a fast path to solutions without unnecessary delays.
SLV Tech Services specializes in computer repair and troubleshooting for both Mac and PC, Wi-Fi and home network setup, including the connectivity challenges many people face in the mountain areas; smart home device installation, printer setup and support, data backup, security cleanups, new device setup, tech tutoring, and tech consulting for home offices and small businesses. With over 25 years of technology and service experience, Zalan continues to stay trained in new and emerging technologies, bringing both practical experience and up-to-date knowhow to every request. Beyond technology, Zalan brings a second strength that many people may not realize. He is also a marketing and social media whiz through his other company, SLV Brand and Marketing, which is helping power outreach and advertising for the upcoming Art, Wine and Beer Festival. Branding, in his view, is not just the look of a business. It is the foundation of who you are, why you are different, and the
clear benefits you deliver. The story behind the mission matters. The visual package matters too; name, logo, colors, tone of voice, style of visuals, and consistency but Zalan emphasizes that the message must land clearly so people instantly understand what makes you worth choosing. In the social media world, Zalan helps turn ideas into strategy. That means planning what gets posted, how often, and what the posts are designed to accomplish. It also means leaning into audience engagement through thoughtful replying, meaningful commenting, relationship building, collaboration, and creating community. With so many content options available, it is easy to get lost in what to do next. Zalan brings focus to the mix; short videos, carousels, stories, live streams, posts, case studies, and testimonials, so the festival can show up in ways that fit each platform and resonate with the audience it is meant to reach. For businesses who love results backed by
data, Zalan speaks the language of metrics. He can help track reach, engagement, click-through, leads, and conversions, and then adjust to improve performance over time. That is exactly the kind of disciplined energy the Chamber and festival team are excited to have on board. We encourage everyone to like and follow the Scotts Valley Art, Wine and Beer Festival on Instagram and Facebook to see the difference firsthand and to stay up to date on what is coming next, and how the festival story is being told. Follow the festival on Instagram: @svartwinebeerfestival and Facebook: ScottsValleyArtWineBeerFestival. Also Mark your calendars to attend the festival at Skypark on August 15–16. With Zalan leading the social media effort, the Chamber community can expect more visibility, clearer messaging, and stronger engagement as festival plans move closer to showtime. For more information about working with Zalan, whether you need tech support through SLV Tech Services, branding and marketing help through SLV Brand and Marketing, or both, visit bookwithzalan.com.
Wellness Day at the Art, Wine & Beer Festival: An Idea Years in the Making
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he idea of creating a dedicated wellness experience in Scotts Valley is not new. For years, the Scotts Valley Chamber and TherapyWorks have continued to revisit the opportunity, recognizing how naturally it aligns with the needs, resources, and spirit of the local community. In fact, a standalone wellness event was already well into the planning stages and close to taking place in 2020. Unfortunately, those plans were brought to a halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the event could not move forward at the time, the vision never went away.
Scotts Valley and the surrounding Santa Cruz community are home to an incredible number of practitioners, clinics, studios, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses doing meaningful work in health and wellness. Yet there has never been one dedicated moment in Scotts Valley when the community could discover and connect with so many of these resources in one place. Over time, the Art, Wine & Beer Festival emerged as the perfect home for bringing that original vision
back to life. It is one of the few weekends when the entire valley comes together to celebrate local art, music, businesses, and community life. Wellness is already deeply connected to all those things; it simply needed a more visible place within the festival. This idea has been years in the making. It took the right timing, the right partners, and a shared commitment to reimagine it and finally bring it to life. “Welness Day” page 14
Celebrating 45 Years of Managing & Selling Homes throughout Santa Cruz County — 1981 – 2026 3BR/3BA 2-story Home at 25 Cooper’s Hawk in a quiet cul-de-sac in North Scotts Valley. Large livingroom with fireplace. Newer carpet & interior paint. 2-car attached garage with laundry hookups. Large patio with space to garden. 1 pet considered .............................................................................................................................. AVAIL NOW Extra Large Studio located at 11855 Alba Road in Ben Lomond. Lots of natural light! Full kitchen, bathroom & sleeping area. No pets. No onsite laundry. Co-signer ok ................................................................................ AVAIL NOW Quiet 2BR/1BA Upstairs Condo in Village Greens at 311 Bean Creek #402 near Downtown Scotts Valley. Large living room with fireplace & deck. Fully equipped kitchen with pass-thru to dining area. W/D in unit. Small storage area in shared storage building. No pets. ............................................................................................. AVAIL NOW Westside Santa Cruz 2BR/2BA 2nd floor Condo at 41 Grandview Street Unit #1504. Open concept floor plan with living room, dining area and kitchen. Each bathroom has tub/shower combo. Laundry closet with washer/dryer. 1 parking space in garage w/storage closet for bikes and parking lot/street parking. No pets. ................... AVAIL NOW 1BR/1BA 700+ sq ft Storybook Home in peaceful setting located at 7897 Empire Grade in Bonnydoon. This unique property is the ultimate get away from suburbia yet a quick drive to the ocean, forest and town. The living room features a fireplace. The kitchen is tastefully updated and fully equipped. The bedroom has an extra large closet and the bathroom has a tub/shower combo. Great outdoor space with large deck. ............................................... AVAIL NOW
12 / August 2026 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
NOW HIRING!
UTILITY SERVICE TECHNICIAN/
UTILITY SERVICE SPECIALIST
This role performs a variety of customer service functions such as processing customer requests for service, maintaining customer records, processing billing and payments, and addressing customer inquiries and complaints.
Pay range is $33.72-$52.20/hour. Learn more about this position at svwd.org. Applications are now being accepted, apply immediately.
Scotts Valley Chamber News
Visit Santa Cruz County Celebrates New Visitor Center T he Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce joined fellow county chambers, local dignitaries, and community partners in June for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating Visit Santa Cruz County’s new Visitor Information Center in downtown Santa Cruz, located next to the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History. The event marked an important milestone for Visit Santa Cruz County, the nonprofit organization and official visitor marketing entity for the county, which works to strengthen tourism, enhance the visitor experience, and promote Santa Cruz County as a year-round destination for leisure travel, conferences, and film production.
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During the celebration, Visit Santa Cruz County CEO Terence Concannon spoke about the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and creating welcoming spaces for all travelers. A highlight of the new center is its sensory-friendly quiet room, designed to support neurodivergent visitors and their families with a calm, low-sensory environment. Attendees toured the new location and celebrated the organization’s continued commitment to inclusive hospitality and regional partnership. Visitors are encouraged to stop by the new center at 705 Front Street in downtown Santa Cruz.
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Scotts Valley Chamber News
It’s Time For ‘Dog Day Sunday’
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Saturday August 15
August 16
im Pursley, Chamber Board Vice President and owner of Kalani Day Spa loves all the animals but became dog obsessed after she adopted her fox red lab Angel, the worlds sweetest dog. Then came Buster, a spunky little jack russel who has mellowed into his old man stage these days and now there’s Tallie, a 3-year-old white lab who loves to garden. Kim is excited to jump in to help manage Sundays Dog Day at the Scotts Valley Art, Wine & Beer Festival. Danielle Ratliff from the Good Times & Press Banner loves doing events and working with the community — it’s always been a passion for her. So when asked, she was happy to jump on board to help. This will be her first dog day, and she’s excited to see all the variety of dogs, their skills, and of course the costumes! Her Boxer Tucker will be celebrating his 13th Birthday on Dog Day, and he’s a very good boy! Along with a dedicated team of helpers, judges, local animal themed businesses &
“Welness Day” from page 12 We are incredibly excited that this is the year Wellness Day officially becomes part of the festival experience.
The Vision: Bringing Wellness into Everyday Community Life
TherapyWorks’ vision for Wellness Day is to create a welcoming, approachable space where people can easily explore and connect with the many health and wellness resources available within their own community. Someone might walk through the event and discover that an acupuncturist, therapist, skin expert, fitness professional, or wellness studio is located just a few blocks from their home. A parent may have the opportunity to ask a real question about their child’s anxiety. Someone else may pick up a resource, learn about a service they did not know existed, or make a connection that supports their health in the future.
non-profits plus Phil Gomez to host it all, Kim & Danielle are excited to have the best day ever with the overwhelming amount of doggie cuteness headed their way. You should probably just go ahead and sign your pup up for at least one of these categories: • Best Costume • Best Trick • Best Look-a-Like • Best Pooch Smooch • Smallest Dog • Largest Dog • Fastest Fetcher • Best Voice — Sing, Talk, Bark EarthWise Pet is coming back after a hiatus to trim doggie nails for a donation to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. We’ll have great exhibitors who are signing up as we go to press! There will be pups available for adoption, prizes, ribbons and a secret party we’re not revealing yet. Stay tuned! Sign your doggie up here: svartfestival.com/ dog-day/
We want Wellness Day to feel personal and accessible, not overly clinical or intimidating. It is about making education, prevention, connection, and support part of a community experience that people are already enjoying. Art, music, connection, and wellness naturally belong together because wellness does not begin and end in a treatment room or waiting room. It is part of how we live, how we connect, and how we care for ourselves and one another every day. Ultimately, we hope people leave Wellness Day with a greater sense of what is available locally, and with the feeling that this is a community that truly takes care of its people.
Why TherapyWorks Said Yes: Awareness Is the Beginning of Access
At TherapyWorks, we have seen too many individuals and families wait until life becomes overwhelming before discovering
Advertise in the Scotts Valley Chamber Newsletter
Cops N’ Rodders Car Show Come Join the Fun
14 / August 2026 / Scotts Valley Times www.tpgonlinedaily.com
7 – 8 a.m. — Registered participants meet at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk for Check-in. 8 a.m. — Police Motorcycle Escorted Cruise will begin, traveling from the boardwalk along the scenic coast to Capitola and then back to Skypark in Scotts Valley. 9 a.m. — Car Show opens to the public! 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. — Judging takes place 2 p.m. — Winners Announced
that meaningful support has been available in their own community all along. Since 2009, TherapyWorks has been committed to helping people across Santa Cruz County and the greater Bay Area find the right support when it matters most. One of the most important lessons we have learned through that work is that access begins with awareness. People cannot reach out for help, take a preventive step, or connect with the right resource if they do not know what is available or where to begin. Wellness Day closely aligns with the heart of TherapyWorks’ mission: making care and support feel more approachable, personal, and easier to access. It gives us the opportunity to bring local resources directly into the community in a setting that feels comfortable, positive, and free of pressure. People can meet providers as real people, ask honest questions, and begin building familiarity and trust, sometimes long before they may ever need a service. If Wellness Day helps one family dis-
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cover the right provider a year earlier than they otherwise would have or helps one person realize they do not have to navigate a challenge alone, then every bit of the work will have been worthwhile. Collaboration has always been an important part of how TherapyWorks serves the community. We believe we are better together and that our collective impact becomes stronger when local providers, organizations, and businesses come together around a shared purpose. Rather than continue talking about this idea for another five years, we were ready to help build it alongside the Scotts Valley Chamber and our local wellness community. When the Chamber invited TherapyWorks to help bring Wellness Day to life, saying yes was easy. We’re excited to add Wellness Day to the Scotts Valley Art, Wine & Beer Festival. Come say hello & learn more about the incredible resources available in our area on Saturday, August 15th at Skypark, Admission is free.
Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce 360 King’s Village Road Scotts Valley, CA 95066