La Selva Beach Branch Library

Join us for an author talk with Craig S. Harwood, author of Bridget's Gambit: A Saga of Family Enterprise in Gold Rush California, and discover the remarkable life of Bridget Evoy.
Bridget Evoy was a pioneering woman who, together with her daughters, built a potent business empire and "broke glass ceilings in the fields of real estate and commerce" during the tumultuous years of the California Gold Rush. Harwood shares the compelling story of Bridget's journey: from escaping the Irish famine and leading a wagon train across the Overland Trail, to her emergence as a fiercely independent business leader breaking barriers for women in the patriarchal world of “El Dorado.” As the publisher states, Harwood's spirited biography of an audacious, persistent woman brings to the forefront the largely unheralded contributions of women in the forming of California statehood—and restores a lost chapter to the history of the American West.
Registration is recommended, but not required.&nbsp;
About the author: Craig S. Harwood is the multi-award-winning author of two university-published biographies. His newest book, Bridget's Gambit, received the 2026 Silver Medal in the Independent Publisher Book Awards, a prestigious national honor. A professional geologist, Craig works throughout California's Central Coast and Bay Area. He is a fourth-generation Californian who grew up in the area and lives in Santa Cruz County.
The views and opinions expressed by presenters in Santa Cruz Public Libraries programs are their own and do not constitute an endorsement by Santa Cruz Public Libraries or its member jurisdictions.&nbsp;
Los puntos de vista y opiniones expresadas por los presentadores de programas en las Bibliotecas Públicas de Santa Cruz son propias y no constituyen en un respaldo o reflejo de la postura de las Bibliotecas Públicas de Santa Cruz ni de sus jurisdicciones miembro.

Local Event: Bridget Evoy: Trailblazer in the California Goldrush Economy

Santa Cruz County

La Selva Beach

California

Bridget Evoy: Trailblazer in the California...

Join us for an author talk with Craig S. Harwood, author of Bridget's Gambit: A Saga of Family Enterprise in Gold Rush...

Bridget Evoy: Trailblazer in the California Goldrush Economy

Santa Cruz

Bay Area

Watsonville

Capitola-Soquel

Scotts Valley

Santa Clara County

Gilroy

Los Gatos

Campbell

Saratoga

Cupertino

Los Altos

Santa Cruz, CA, 95060

🎬 Five days of films. A whole lot of Santa Cruz.October 14–18 | Santa Cruz Film Festival 2026
<a href="https://www.santacruzfilmfestivals.org/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">santacruzfilmfestivals.org</a>
Clear your calendar for independent films, filmmaker conversations, local flavors, and plenty of reasons to stay out after the credits. Here’s how the week unfolds:
MOVIE VENUES: The Del Mar, Santa Cruz Cinema, The 418 Project, The Colligan, The Rio Theater.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Go to our website for our full film guide and schedule for all 5 festival days!&nbsp;
After parties each night!
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14 — LET’S MAKE A SCENE We open with Lunar Sway at the Del Mar Theatre, then head to the Museum of Art &amp; History for our Opening Night Party. Think music, cocktails, culinary bites, and a room full of people ready to celebrate independent cinema.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15 — SIP HAPPENS Discover fresh voices on screen, then keep the conversation flowing at Big Basin Tasting Room. Wine, bites, and fireside conversations bring filmmakers and film lovers together.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16 — POUR DECISIONS Make a day of discovering films, then join us at Woodhouse Blending &amp; Brewing for live music, custom SCFF brews, and a Friday night with a few surprises.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17 — THE S’MORE THE MERRIER &nbsp;Spend the day exploring the film lineup, then trade your theater seat for some ocean air. Our beachside gathering with Dream Inn brings the community together for fire pits, s’mores, and conversations under the Santa Cruz sky.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18 — BRUNCH WITH BENEFITS + CUE THE APPLAUSE Start with brunch and industry conversation about Ai in FILM at Hotel Paradox, catch more festival films, and join us for our Closing Night screening at the Rio Theatre. Then it’s back to Hotel Paradox for the awards celebration and one final toast.
Every day is an invitation to discover artists, support local businesses, and connect with your community. Your support also helps SCFF provide workshop scholarships and a matching ticket and pass program for film students.
🎟️ Bring your curiosity. Bring your people. Explore the schedule and get your tickets.
Thank you to our Luminary Sponsors: The Dream Inn and Bella Babot + Richard Baer

Local Event: Santa Cruz Film Festival 

Santa Cruz Film Festival 

🎬 Five days of films. A whole lot of Santa Cruz.October 14–18 | Santa Cruz Film Festival 2026
santacruzfilmfestivals.org
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Bridget Evoy: Trailblazer in the California Goldrush Economy

OCT

17

1:00 PM

La Selva Beach Branch Library, 316 Estrella Ave, La Selva Beach, CA

Santa Cruz Film Festival