Santa Cruz METRO and SMART to Host 2nd Annual Senior Celebration Dinner
For Immediate Release
Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2026
Contact: Danielle Frost
(831) 420-2550
dfrost@scmetro.org
Santa Cruz, CA (June 15, 2026)— Santa Cruz METRO, in partnership with SMART Local 0023, will host the 2nd Annual Senior Celebration Dinner on Sunday, June 28, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Harvey West Clubhouse, located at 326 Evergreen Street in Santa Cruz.
This free community event will bring local seniors together for an afternoon of food, entertainment, raffle prize drawings, and connection. The celebration will include a spaghetti dinner and opportunities for attendees to gather with friends, meet new people, and enjoy a welcoming community event.
Last year’s inaugural Senior Celebration Dinner welcomed more than 100 attendees. Following the success of the first event, METRO and SMART Local 0023 are pleased to partner again to help provide a special afternoon for seniors throughout Santa Cruz County.
Dinner and transportation to and from the event are free. Shuttle transportation will be provided from the Watsonville Transit Center, Capitola Mall, and River Front Transit Center. Registered ParaCruz clients may also receive free transportation to and from the event through ParaCruz. Reservations are required for ParaCruz service.
By offering free transportation from multiple locations throughout the county, the event aims to make it easier for seniors to attend, especially those who may not drive or may need additional transportation support.
Community members are encouraged to RSVP by the extended deadline of Friday, June 19, 2026. RSVPs may be submitted by emailing SeniorDinner0023@gmail.com or in person at the Watsonville Transit Center or METRO’s Customer Experience Center in Downtown Santa Cruz.
For more information, please visit TD23.smart-local.org.
About Us
Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District (METRO)
Established in 1968, METRO’S mission is to provide environmentally sustainable transportation to Santa Cruz County. METRO directly operates county-wide, fixed-route and Highway 17 commuter service, with connections to Santa Clara County and Monterey Salinas Transit at our Watsonville Transit Center. The agency also operates ParaCruz paratransit service. Today, METRO operates a fleet of 104 buses on 20 fixed routes and 32 paratransit vehicles.
Every ride on a METRO bus takes cars off the road, significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and supports economic opportunity and quality of life in our community. Moving into the future, METRO strives to increase transit ridership to 7 million trips annually within the next five years, transition to a zero-emissions fleet with a mix of hydrogen and electric vehicles, and increase affordable housing at METRO-owned transit centers to 175 units in the next 10 years.
For more information, visit scmetro.org.
SMART Local 0023
SMART Local 0023 is the union that represents fixed-route and paratransit operators at Santa Cruz METRO. SMART Transportation Division, formerly known as the United Transportation Union, is an AFL-CIO affiliate headquartered in North Olmsted, Ohio, and represents active and retired railroad, bus, and mass transit workers across the United States.
SMART represents members across a wide range of occupations, including bus operators, engineers, conductors, service technicians, sheet metal workers, welders, production employees, and more. SMART advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence at work, and opportunity for all working families.
For more information, visit TD23.smart-local.org.