5 Things to Know About Watsonville: July 14-17

Today is the day to .

Second Harvest is in the competition to be one of 500 charities to get a free truck from Toyota. The car company's "100 Cars for Good" program will give away the cars daily, based on votes at Facebook.

The voting will take place only on Thursday. You can get to the voting page at carsforgood.com.

The homicide trial for two Salinas men accused of gunning down a Watsonville teen in March 2009 began this week.

Julian Escobar, 26, and Jose Avelino "Gordo" Sandoval, 27, both have pleaded not guilty of the gang-motivated slaying of Angel Escobedo, 19, in Watsonville's Apple Hill neighborhood.

The trial is expected to take several weeks. Both men face life in prison if convicted.

Assemblyman Luis A. Alejo, whose district includes Watsonville, is accepting nominations for the 2011 California Peace Awards.

Nominees should be residents of the 28th Assembly District who have, over the past year, significantly contributed to the promotion of peace in the community and who have not previously been recognized for their efforts. Ideal applicants will have a strong record of volunteerism and noteworthy accomplishments in their efforts to stop violence and create a safer community.

Applications are available online and will be accepted through July 25.

Also, one nominee will be named the 28th Assembly District’s California Peace Promoter of the Year and honored at a ceremony taking place Aug. 2 at El Sausal Middle School in Salinas.

Deborah Bresnick of the Santa Cruz Department of Family and Children’s Services won the Gary Proctor Excellence Award this year, a memorial tribute established by retired Superior Court Judge Robert Yonts following the attorney’s death in 2008. Proctor was a respected attorney who spent his career advocating for the rights of children and families caught up in the foster care system.

The award annually recognizes a professional in the field of child welfare and is accompanied by a $500 contribution to in honor of the recipient. Bresnick, a senior social worker, was chosen by a panel of CASA Board members and staff from a pool of nominees that this year included professionals in human services, public education and a judge.

The Gary Proctor Excellence Award will be presented Sunday as part of CASA’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Party, which honors .

Start the countdown to the annual Watsonville Strawberry Festival.

The 17th incarnation of the strawberry-centric event is Aug. 6-7 in the City Plaza in downtown Watsonville. That's less than three weeks until you can eat all things strawberry: shortcake, parfaits, quesadillas and more.