A Day of Community for Scotts Valley Schools

Mark your calendar and gear up for a big day that's all about community with Scotts Valley's annual Community Day taking place on Saturday. The day will mark the event's second year of bringing together residents, local businesses and organizations to benefit the four public schools in town.

Sponsored by the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation, the event raises money to help operate the schools' libraries and counseling programs, after counseling services had nearly disappeared at the elementary and middle-school level, according to Gina Johnson, Community Day co-chairwoman and Vine Hill Elementary mom.

“We didn't have counseling services at the elementary schools prior to this year, because they had been cut and were cut back at the middle and high school, too,” Johnson said. “This year, counseling services have either been reinstated or the money [raised last year] helped increase the hours.”

Johnson said teachers and principals were regularly filling the school counselor role, because of such severe budget cuts, and that there used to be a lot more resources when she went to Vine Hill as a child, which ultimately sparked the realization that something needed to be done to resurrect some of the district's cut services.

With friend and mom, Lori Gentile, by her side serving as co-chairwoman, the pair ventured to Cupertino and returned with a new idea of community.

“Lori and I had heard that the Cupertino schools raised a lot of money, and one of the things they did was have a Community Day where they asked local businesses to participate,” Johnson said. “So we decided to have one to support the public schools in Scotts Valley, all through the . We didn't think that community day could solve all the problems [facing schools], but we thought it could do something to help.”

And Johnson and Gentile were right. Last year, the Educational Foundation, a volunteer-run organization that raises money for Scotts Valley schools, raised $14,000 on Community Day—a figure that the moms hope to beat next weekend.

To help ensure that this year is a hit, Johnson and Gentile have increased their advertisements in a number of ways, including a pullout in the that details the numerous events taking place. Johnson said many of last year's businesses are participating, along with several new ones.

It's undoubtedly going to be a packed day full of activities ranging from a flea market to an e-waste collection event. Numerous residents will hold yard sales to help drive traffic to Community Day, and local businesses are pitching in by donating a portion of the day's sales to the educational foundation. Participating merchants can be identified by red balloons tied outside each business, and attendees should mention Community Day to ensure discounted prices on items.

Below is a list of some anticipated activities to help potential attendees plan their Community Day itineraries.

• City-Wide Garage Sales from 8 a.m. to noon. Neighborhood garage sales will take place at Granite Creek Estates, Green Hill Estates, Scotts Valley Heights and at Skypark. Individual yard sales will also be held at the residences of 1 Mountain Valley Dr. (off Glenwood Drive), 18 Sherman Ct. and 241 El Sereno Dr. To have your yard sale listed for Community Day, contact Trish McGrath at 831-438-5854. To join Community Day’s yard sales and bake sales, contact Kathy Hormel at khormel22@yahoo.com.
• Flea Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the parking lot of, 257 Glenwood Ln. This is going to be the largest community yard sale, and will be holding a bake sale at the event as well. Residents can hold their own yard sale at the flea market for $25 for a four-space spot. Participants are not required to donate any proceeds to the SVEF. To reserve a space, contact Lisa Fletcher at 831-588-3132 or Michael Rein at 831-440-9835.
• E-waste collection event hosted by the city of Scotts Valley and Scotts Valley Rotary Club from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. across the street from the on 7 Erba Lane.
• Tour of the Erba Lane fire station led by Scotts Valley fire personnel from 10-11 a.m.
• Tour of the headquarters at One Civic Center Dr. from 1-2 p.m.
• Tour of the new from 3:30-4 p.m.

For a list of deals being offered by participating merchants, such as the , and Scotts Valley Artisans, visit the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation's website. Local merchants who want to participate in Community Day or residents who want to volunteer their time should contact Johnson at 831-334-1640 or Gentile at 831-430-9680.