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The 40th Annual Mountain Affair

A Celebration of San Lorenzo Valley community

Thank you for joining us at the 40th Annual Mountain Affair at Highlands Park Senior & Community Center in Ben Lomond. It was a wonderful evening of connection, celebration, and community spirit—all benefiting Mountain Community Resources (MCR).

Together, we raised critical funds to support essential services that strengthen families and uplift our San Lorenzo Valley neighbors. From food distributions and counseling to housing navigation, parent education, and disaster recovery, your generosity ensures that more than 1,200 local residents each year have a trusted place to turn when times get tough.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, and sponsored this milestone event. Your support keeps our community strong and ensures that MCR can continue building safe, healthy, and compassionate mountain communities for generations to come.

With Gratitude to Our Sponsors and Partners

Event Sponsors: Abbot’s Thrift • Felton Veterinary Hospital • Liberty Bank • Santa Cruz Community Health • Santa Cruz Moose Lodge • Ken Meshke & Barbara Sprenger of Satellite Telework Centers • Wedeen Hammer Locatelli Group

Media Partners: Lookout Santa Cruz • Press Banner • Santa Cruz Voice

Wine Sponsors: Alfaro Family Vineyards • Armitage Winery • Kissed by an Angel Wines • Tere Carrubba • Cathe Race • Ray & Trisha Cancino

Thank you for helping us celebrate 40 years of community resilience.
Learn more about our ongoing work and how you can stay involved at communitybridges.org/mcr.

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A Feast Worth Celebrating

Carrying on three generations of local culinary tradition, Chef Marina Camarlinghi of Barbara & Company Catering will bring an Italian-inspired feast to the Mountain Affair’s 40th celebration. Known for her artistry in blending rustic flavors with refined presentation, Chef Marina has designed a multi-course menu crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients sourced from our local farms and producers. Each dish will be paired with wines from Alfaro Family Vineyards, highlighting the rich flavors of our region. Guests can look forward to a dining experience that is not only delicious but also a tribute to the land and community we share.

Music Among the Redwoods

No Mountain Affair is complete without music to bring us together, and this year we are thrilled to welcome back a local favorite. Celebrated singer-songwriter Gary Blackburn will once again fill the redwoods with his signature blend of country, rock, folk, and blues — what he proudly calls “Americana with an Edge.” Gary’s soulful voice and heartfelt storytelling have made him a beloved performer throughout the Central Coast, and by popular demand, he returns to the Mountain Affair stage to help us celebrate 40 years of community. His set promises to keep the dance floor lively, the energy high, and the spirit of San Lorenzo Valley shining throughout the evening.

Honoring Our Green Heart

The Green Heart Award honors individuals whose compassion, resilience, and dedication help keep our valley strong. This year, we are proud to recognize Tonje Switzer as the 2025 recipient. When the CZU Fire tore through the San Lorenzo Valley, Tonje lost her own home — yet even in the face of personal loss, she turned outward to help others. From supporting evacuations to lending a hand in the long road of recovery and rebuilding, Tonje’s leadership and generosity embody the very best of community care. Her story is a reminder that the strength of our valley lies in the neighbors who show up for one another when it matters most. Join us in celebrating Tonje’s remarkable contributions and honoring her as this year’s Green Heart Award winner.

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Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad

1 week ago

Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad
HAPPENING TOMORROW!Thank you to all the families who attended our last event — and if you missed it, we’d love to see you at this one!🌱 In honor of Positive Parenting Awareness Month, Community Bridges warmly invites families to join us for a FREE Positive Parenting Program & Resources Fair. This family-friendly event is a space to learn, connect, and grow together. Families can meet trusted local agencies, connect with Triple P Parent Educators, and learn about counseling and family support services available in our community.🎉 Enjoy an afternoon filled with fun activities, snacks, games, and prizes for the whole family — all in a welcoming and supportive environment.📍 La Manzana Community Resources📅 Saturday, January 31⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM🎈 Free and open to all families ... See MoreSee Less

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Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad

1 week ago

Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad
When a parent is detained, families don’t have time to wait.Rent is due. Kids need food. Stability is at risk.Puentes Para Familias turns community care into immediate action—providing up to $2,500 in emergency aid to families in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties facing sudden crisis due to immigration detention.This program launched with $10,000 in local seed funding, a response to fear felt right here in our region. That early support helped create a trusted, rapid-response fund so families don’t face crisis alone. With this seed funding and other small donations, six local families received immediate help. Those funds are now fully distributed, and additional support is urgently needed so families continue to have a trusted place to turn in moments of crisis.When you give: ✔️ 100% of your donation goes directly to families ✔️ Assistance is capped at $2,500 so support reaches more households ✔️ Aid is prioritized based on urgency and greatest needYour gift provides more than financial help—it delivers dignity, stability, and hope when families need it most.👉 Stand with families today: Give.CommunityBridges.org/Puentes ... See MoreSee Less

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Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad

1 week ago

Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad
Community Bridges is excited to welcome Erin Carlson-Jones, LCSW, as our new Clinical Director. With more than 20 years of experience in addiction treatment, mental health, crisis response, and community-based care, Erin will lead the growth and strengthening of behavioral health and counseling services through our Family Resource Collective (FRC).The FRC serves more than 10,000 children and families each year across Santa Cruz County, North Monterey County, and San Benito County. Under Erin’s leadership, we’re deepening our commitment to ensuring that cost, insurance status, language, or cultural background never prevent someone from receiving the mental health care they need.Her leadership arrives at a time when access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care is more important than ever—and we’re grateful to have her guiding this work. To read more about Erin here: bit.ly/ECJ-MentalHealth👉 Learn more about FRC counseling services at communitybridges.org/frc#CommunityBridges #MentalHealthForAll #BehavioralHealth #FamilyResourceCollective #CompassionInAction ... See MoreSee Less

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Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad

2 weeks ago

Community Bridges / Puentes De La Comunidad
🎉 Congratulations to Elena Ambrosio for being our January Employee of the Month!Elena is our outstanding Administrative Assistant at Elderday Adult Day Health Care. Time and again, she has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the success of our program. Her strong work ethic, professionalism, and respect for the team set a shining example for us all.Thank you, Elena, for your hard work, support, and for being such an integral part of the Community Bridges family! 🙂🤗 ... See MoreSee Less

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50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

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Support Local Seniors
50th Anniversary Meals on Wheels for Santa Cruz County - Community Bridges / Puentes de la Communidad logo

Celebrating 50 Years of Support

Join us at Food From the Heart to honor this legacy and support the future of senior care.

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Support Local Seniors

Every Family Needs a Plan

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