Growing Up in Santa Cruz August 2023

SUpport Young Musicians

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DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN AND TEENS

DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN AND TEENS

New patients welcome!

DENTISTRY FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN AND TEENS

New patients welcome!

Dr. Jackson likes to see children early to help assure healthy smiles later on. In fact, we recommend a first visit around the time of your child’s first birthday.

Dr. Jackson likes to see children early to help assure healthy smiles later on. In fact, we recommend a first visit around the time of your child’s first birthday.

New patients welcome!

Dr. Jackson likes to see children early to help assure healthy smiles later on. In fact, we recommend a first visit around the time of your child’s first birthday.

Call Us!

Call Us!

Call Us!

EDITOR | PUBLISHER

Brad Kava and Steve Dinnen

ART DIRECTOR | MANAGING EDITOR

Nathan Mixter

DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein

CONTRIBUTORS

Laura Maxson, Jaime McFaden, Suki Wessling, Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, Addie Mahmassani, Elise Cline

AD REPRESENTATIVES

Ann Fitts BobbiJo Palmer Meghan Gruss Sophie Veniel Advertising@GrowingUpSC.com CONTACT

Even small changes can make a BIG difference.

Triple P is a scientifically-proven, world-renowned positive parenting program available to families in Santa Cruz County.

Triple P strategies address a wide range of parenting challenges by providing a toolbox of easy-to-use tips.

Find a full schedule of Triple P tips and classes at triplep.first5scc.org.

Everyone is a Winner When Kids Have the Supplies They Need to Start School

There’s nothing better for kids than the first day of school. It’s like the first day of the baseball season: everybody’s a winner.

They’ve got the shiny new backpack, be it Spiderman, Roblox or Barbie (probably not Oppenheimer). There are the fresh new pencils, crayons, notebooks, book covers. And there are endless possibilities. They strut into the classroom that first day so proud and colorful.

But what if your kid can’t afford all that new stuff? How would that feel? It’s too sad to even think about.

Luckily, people in Santa Cruz have taken up the challenge to help the 2,000 or so students who are unhoused or living in shelters or temporary quarters. They started a program called “Stuff the Bus” to supply those kids with new necessities and brighten their lives.

They’ve turned a disaster into a feelgood story and we are proud of them for it. We should all be proud of what this county can accomplish when people set their minds to help.

“Stuff the Bus” isn’t difficult to join. You can donate $25 to cover the expenses for one child (check United Way Santa Cruz’s website for how you can help). They are already filled with 150 volunteers who will go to Kaiser Permanente Arena to literally stuff the yellow school bus. But you can check the United Way site to see if there are new openings. Kids and families can really

get a feel there for how important and gratifying it is to help other kids in need. They’ve turned it into an event with music and great vibes for all.

We salute the people and businesses behind it. Check out our story about “Stuff the Bus.” You’ll want to help next year if you aren’t able to this year. Families need the help year-round.

In other back to school news, we’ve got a health column with tips about how to keep in shape with the new school schedule. We have a hugely important column with advice for minorities about how they should fill out college applications now that the Supreme Court has disallowed racial considerations for college entry.

And we’ve got some great local profiles of people who’ve grown up in Santa Cruz, including a young female surfer and a 93-year-old tennis pro.

On a separate note, we are very sad to lose the Seascape Resort free Sunday concerts, which brought a large community of music lovers to Aptos. Noise complaints sank it.

Please send in your suggestions and requests for what we should be writing about in the future. Write me at brad@ growingupsc.com

Thanks for reading!

Check Out Our New Videos

Brad Kava, Editor and Publisher

Look at our new video series on Instagram, Facebook reels, YouTube and TikTok. Just search and sign in to Growing Up in Santa Cruz. We did a quiet roll out and we are getting tens of thousands of views a month. We’d love to make videos for our sponsors and we can possibly get some of your kids into them. Please like the videos or let us know what you think.

About the cover

Comcast is proud to partner with United Way of Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for their 13th Annual Stuff the Bus backpack and school supply drive.

The Aug. 5 Stuff-A-Thon Event will support over 2,000 K-12th grade students who are experiencing homelessness or extreme hardships in the region. These backpacks will provide students with the supplies they need to advance their educational experience, encourage positive self-esteem, and ensure they stay in school.

This program is made possible through a partnership between First 5 Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (MHSA – Prop 63 funds) & Santa Cruz County Human Services Department.

By Addie Mahmassani

What’s The Best Thing You’ve Done This Summer?

Summer is in full swing, and the kids are living their best lives on land and at sea throughout Santa Cruz. We considered asking them what their favorite thing about the season is, but we realized quickly that everyone would answer the same: NO SCHOOL! So, instead, we asked them to detail some highlights of these warm months free from desks, tests and homework. Their answers were brief this time because they were all very busy (obviously!).

Our values and services:

• Low teacher-to-child ratios (1:8 for preschoolers and 1:4 for toddlers)

• Outdoor, hands-on learning that inspires curiosity, exploration, and creativity

• Developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate playbased programs

• Free or affordable costs for most families on a sliding scale

Levi, 4

Milo, 4 The

BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE ENRICHMENT

All About Theatre

325 Washington St, Santa Cruz

831.345.6340

allabouttheatre.org

Celebrating 20 years of theater, and over 160 productions in Santa Cruz County. Offering training in the performing arts for children aged (3-6), Youth (6-10), Pre-teen (10-13) & Teens (13-17) and Adults. Our upcoming Fall Season includes three musicals; Disney’s Frozen Jr., You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown and The Addams Family. We will also be offerings training and advancement classes in broadway dance, voice and more. There’s a role for everyone and everyone will leave with skills that they didn’t have when they arrived. We rehearse predominantly at our downtown Santa Cruz. Come be a part of the magic!

Cabrillo Youth Chorus

831.824.4023

Directed by Cheryl Anderson, the Cabrillo Youth Chorus offers a comprehensive vocal music program for children 8-18, providing instruction in musicianship and theory along with exciting performance opportunities.

CYC offers four levels of instruction from beginning to advanced. CYC students sing with the Santa Cruz Symphony and other performing groups, and have performed in Carnegie Hall! Rehearsals take place weekly at Cabrillo College from 4:00-5:30pm; the beginning class meets on Tuesdays, and the intermediate/advanced class on Wednesdays. More information is available online at CabrilloYouthChorus.org, or you can email cyc.staffers@gmail.com.

Cabrillo Youth Strings

6500 Soquel Drive

VAPA5000 Music Building, Aptos

831.479.6101

cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings

9-week String Orchestra Program, ages 6-18, begins September 8, with 3 groups: 1) 4th-6th Grade Beginning Strings, 2) Festival Strings (note-readers), 3) Cabrillo Strings (older students with intermediate to advanced levels, and good note reading skills). The program will end with a Concert November 3. For those interested in auditioning, please call (831) 479-6101 for audition materials. You may register on our website or Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331, before the first class. Our 5-Week Chamber Music Program will begin on November 10, concluding with a Recital on December 15. See website for full details, class times, and to register.

City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department

educational, and engaging classes for all ages. Fall registration begins online on August 14. Scholarships for qualifying households are available. Check out our fall lineup of classes and events at santacruzparksandrec.com.

Community Bridges Early Education Division 831.400.1110

communitybridges.org/eed

Community-Based Universal Preschool Programs:

• Fairgrounds: 2667 East Lake Avenue, Watsonville

• Vista Verde: 1936 Freedom Boulevard, Freedom

• Sycamore Street: 121 Sycamore Street, Santa Cruz

• Nuevo Dia: 135 Leibrandt Avenue, Santa Cruz

• Redwood Mountain: 7103 Highway 9, Felton

• Highlands Park: 8500 Highway 9, Ben Lomond

Providing FREE (California State Preschool Program) & tuition-based early education, from the redwood mountains in the San Lorenzo Valley to the vibrant fields of Watsonville. We serve infants through TK with the guidance of highly experienced, bilingual/bicultural staff who understand the importance of play and social-emotional learning as the key foundation for academic success and ignite a love of lifelong learning. We honor the rich cultural backgrounds that have given Santa Cruz County its historical place as a change-making community, with core values to provide access to quality early care and learning to create empowered futures. Together we’re better.

Drawn 2 art Studios

19C Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, Aptos 831.661.5652

drawn2artclasses.com

Aptos@Drawn2ArtStudios.com

Drawn2Art is devoted to teaching skill-based fundamentals. Students, ages 4-12, teens and adults, begin by using drawing mediums, then move onto painting. Drawn2Art’s philosophy is “creativity follows mastery,” and that a strong foundation of artistic skills will enable students to eventually follow any artistic path they choose. Drawn2Art uses a step-by-step method to build skills. Beginning, intermediate and advanced students no longer experience boredom or frustration, as they are taught from individualized, written programs according to their personal abilities and proficiencies. Join Us for a Trial Art Class. Classes scheduled ahead of time, based on availability.

323 Church Street, Santa Cruz 831.420.5270

santacruzparksandrec.com

Back-to-school is just around the corner and Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation is ready to round out your family’s activity schedule. This fall, we are excited to offer several fun,

“They are helping my daughter with her growth and development. She is always learning new things.”

Community Bridges

Early EducationDivision Parent

First 5 Santa Cruz County 831.465.2217

First5scc.org

First 5 Santa Cruz County promotes the healthy development of children from birth to age 5. Parents and caregivers of newborns can contact First 5 to receive a free “Kit for New Parents” with parenting videos, children’s books, information on caring for babies and local resources. First 5 also offers parenting support through the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, a world-renowned program that strengthens families by building positive relationships. To find Triple P classes or quick tips, visit triplep.first5scc.org or facebook.com/triplepscc

International Academy of Dance

320 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz 831.466.0458 IADance.com info@IADance.com

Dance For JOY! Classical Ballet - Lyrical - JazzTap - Hip-Hop - Acro ~ Ages 2-Adult Providing world class instruction in an encouraging and supportive community ~ Inspiring students of all ages to develop a lifelong love of dance ~ Honing each individuals artistry, technique, focus and musicality ~ Finding balance, agility, strength and flexibility in dance and in life ~ Generating energy and growth ~ Bringing joy to every class and performance! Determination. Discipline. Perseverance. Resilience. Passion. Come to every class…because you love it! We can’t wait to see you in the studio and on stage!

Jim Booth Swim School

Watsonville indoor pool and coming soon to Toadal fitness

831.722.3500

JimBoothSwimSchool.com

Be a water wonder! From our Little Otters swim class for parents and their babies to Aquaphobics, our adult beginner class, the whole family splashes together at Jim Booth Swim School. Little Otters is a gentle introduction to our 94-degree pools that will make you confident that you are guiding your infant to a happy water experience. Our group lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers. Soon offering a non-competitive swim team to help develop strength, endurance & technique. The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School!

Junebug’s Gym

3910 Portola Drive, Suite 2, Santa Cruz 831.464.BUGS (2847)

junebugsgym.com

JuneBug’s Gym is a place where your child can experience a fun-filled adventure in movement. We have a caring, respectful, and supportive staff that encourages every child in their growth of large motor skills and gymnastics along with social, emotional and cognitive development. Our goals for our students are to help them feel control and empowerment in their bodies, to build self-esteem through success, and learn

FUNdamental motor skills. Besides classes for ages crawling-8 yrs old, we also offer birthday parties, Parents Night Out, Open Gyms and camps. Come join the Fun.

Mon Ami Art Studios

245 Sea Ridge Rd, Aptos Monamiartstudios.com

Mon Ami Art Studios, as found in the name, is friendly to all; the growing young artists and the more experienced can find an environment where celebrating one’s own creativity is the priority and will be nurtured. For the child artists, creating a foundation of play and exploratory approach to creativity is supported, each at their own pace and their development. Fall classes are open for enrollment. Check out our fall sessions on our website Monamiartstudios.com

Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center, Inc. 2750 B Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831.462.0655 scgym.com

Celebrating 50 years in business, Santa Cruz Gymnastics nurtures children’s exploration of movement, fostering well-rounded development through the synergy of physical and cognitive growth. Our carefully designed classes build strength, flexibility, problemsolving skills, and focus, laying the foundation for future success. From soaring into the foam pit to swinging on the bars, our cutting-edge facility offers thrilling activities that keep kids engaged and eager to learn. With classes for all ages and skill levels, our expert instructors provide personalized attention to help children reach their full potential. Witness your child embrace the joy of gymnastics and unlock their true potential. Join the Santa Cruz Gymnastics family today! Visit our website for the perfect class.

Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL)

Boulder Creek: 13390 West Park Ave, Boulder Creek

Branciforte: 230 Gault St, Santa Cruz

Capitola: 2005 Wharf Rd, Capitola

Downtown: 224 Church St, Santa Cruz

Felton: 6121 Gushee St, Felton

Garfield Park: 705 Woodrow Ave, Santa Cruz

La Selva Beach: 316 Estrella Ave, La Selva Beach

Live Oak: 2380 Portola Dr, Santa Cruz

Scotts Valley: 251 Kings Valley Rd, Scotts Valley

Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) is your partner for student success. SCPL provides

“My child has never been good at making friends. We’ve been looking for a safe space for them to connect with like-minded peers. This summer they participated in several camps with AAT, as well as a production. We are so grateful. They found that place and their community. “ Sara, All About Theatre parent

on-line and in-person educational resources and K-12 homework help. Students can access research databases, take practice tests, check out a laptop or tablet, or join one of our programs (like chess club or the diverse youth meetup). SCPL also provides early literacy resources and educational programs for toddlers and young children. Find a book to share with your child, stop by for a storytime, or check out one of the online resources. Visit SantaCruzPL. org and follow us on social media @santacruzpl.

Seven Directions Creative Learning Center

831.713.9392

sevendirections.org

sevendirectionsinfo@gmail.com

Seven Directions is Santa Cruz’s premiere creative center for kids and teens! Offering instruction in various arts, sciences and more in a lively studio with over 30 live exotic animals, we are committed to helping to nurture students’ self esteem, building lasting friendships and empowering them as artists, learners and creative thinkers.

HEALTH

Alison K. Jackson, DDS

Children’s Dentistry

7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos 831.662.2900

santacruzkidsdentist.com

We provide comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children of all ages. We are preventive-dentistry oriented and very thorough in our evaluations and consultations. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and are able to treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably under a general anesthesia. We have a 24-hour emergency service available for all of our patients.

SCHOOLS

Freedom Schoolhouse and Farm freedomschoolhouseandfarm.com

Freedom Schoolhouse and Farm offers a unique program in a beautiful setting. Our curriculum is emergent with a strong emphasis on creating a connection to the natural world. We seek to promote and maintain basic principles of Freedom, with the goal of educating our children to be critical thinkers. Our open classroom creates a warm environment, and we encourage freedom of choice and relationship building. Set on several acres, every day is filled with the beauty of nature, joys of friendship, and fun activities geared toward artistic expression, physical movement, and the development of a lifelong love of learning

Gateway School, K-8 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz 831.423.0341 ext 302 admissions@gatewaysc.org gatewaysc.org

Gateway School, founded in 1970 is an independent, co-ed day school in Santa Cruz for students in grades Kindergarten through 8th. Children’s innate curiosity and

sense of wonder are nurtured daily through exploration, discovery, and hands-on learning. Our graduates have an inquiring spirit, are confident, act with grace and self-possession, and flourish in challenging academic settings. If you’d like to learn more, we invite you to visit our website or schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer!

Kirby School

425 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz admissions@kirby.org kirby.org

Kirby School is dedicated to nurturing academic excellence and personal growth in each student. With a legacy spanning 30 years, Kirby offers a vibrant and inclusive learning environment for curious and motivated students. Our dedicated faculty and staff make a lasting impact–steadfastly empowering students to explore their passions and design fulfilling lives. Our graduates are poised to prosper in a world that is increasingly complex and dynamic.

Live Oak School District- Child Development

Del Mar Lic #444400352

Green Acres Lic #444403585

Live Oak Lic #440710379

984-5 Bostwick Lane, Santa Cruz 831.462.1116

losd.ca (click on departments and then Extended Learning)

The Live Oak School District- Child Development Program offers families a Free or Low Cost Quality State-Funded Preschool program for 3-4-year-olds at the Del Mar, Green Acres and Live Oak Elementary School sites. We provide morning (8:45-11:45) and afternoon (12:45-3:45) preschool classes. NEW this year, we are offering a Full Day & year round program (7:30-4:30pm). The State’s new higher-income guidelines allow so many more families to qualify. You may come by our office or call us to begin the process for enrollment. If space is still available we enroll year-round.

Mount Madonna School Preschool12th grade 491 Summit Road, Watsonville 408.847.2717

MountMadonnaSchool.org

Mount Madonna School (MMS) provides preschool through grade 12 education emphasizing students’ academic success, creativity and college preparation. The fully accredited program features a Montessoriinfluenced preschool, an elementary and middle school, and a college-preparatory high school with UC-ready graduates. Mount Madonna nurtures students’ curiosity and love of learning, sense of belonging and intellectual inquiry through small class sizes, experiential learning, advanced math, engineering and science curriculum, Spanish, visual and performing arts, and competitive athletics. MMS supports its students in becoming kind, self-aware, and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared for 21st-century success and can meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity.

Orchard School, K-6

2288 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos

831.688.1074 orchardschoolaptos.org

Orchard School, established over 30 years ago, provides a unique, yet comprehensive K-6 education. At Orchard, we weave together the magic of an extraordinary faculty, a 14-acre campus and a down to earth philosophy that nourishes and honors the natural growth and development of children. Small class sizes, an organic garden and an animal farm create enriching “whole child” learning experiences that are hands-on and individualized. We provide Strong Core Academics, Excellent Science Curriculum, Art, Music, Physical Theater/Circus Arts, Electives, Ceramics, Archery, Swimming, Leadership, Field Trips, Drama Productions, and more.

Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool

Lic #444400117

4134 Fairway Dr, Soquel 831.462.2702

We offer morning, afternoon, and full-day sessions. Our three beautiful acres offer room to explore, including swings, slides, trees to climb, a ninja course, a zipline, a bike track, and a giant sandbox! Kids also enjoy our farm animals and grazing on food from our organic garden and orchards.

Santa Cruz Montessori

Ages 18 months – 14 years

Main Campus (Primary and Elementary)

6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos Winston Campus (Young Children’s Community and Jr. High)

244 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel 831.476.1646 scms.org

Established in 1964, Santa Cruz Montessori is a non-profit school serving children 18 months to 14 years. Our beautiful classrooms and outdoor environments engage the children’s senses as they learn. Based on a deep understanding of child through adolescent development, our programs meet the interests and needs of our students, engaging and challenging them to do their best. We offer a supportive community of learners and an exciting Montessori curriculum including humanities, math, sciences and arts. Our mission: as a Montessori learning community, we inspire life-long learning and a more peaceful world by nurturing the natural.

Santa Cruz City Schools

Sam Rolens samuelrolens@sccs.net 831.419.2927 sccs.net/enroll

At Santa Cruz City Schools, students find belonging, room to explore & high expectations. In Transitional Kindergarten & Kindergarten, students are welcomed into education with a play-centric, curiosity-driven experience. In Elementary, students learn in classrooms, gardens, kitchens, art studios, and in the field–and in our after-school enrichment programs. In Middle School, we encourage independence and emotional development as students push themselves academically. In High School, we provide countless opportunities: more AP classes, more athletics, more artistic and performance

outlets, more leadership opportunities, more community connections and more supports to launch students into their next adventure in college or career excellence.

Santa Cruz Waldorf School, PreK-8 2190 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz 831.425.0519

enrollment@santacruzwaldorf.org

Santa Cruz Waldorf School nurtures the whole human being in every individual, cultivating the capacity of head, heart, and hands. We offer a rich and balanced curriculum in which intellectual and artistic development are both vital and fully integrated. Specialty teachers work alongside class teachers to provide students with diverse experiences in language, movement, music, arts, games, and gardening. Our magical, rural campus is nestled in the redwoods above USCS. Our community is warm and joyful. We are committed to protecting childhood, supporting each individual, respecting nature and all life. Santa Cruz Waldorf School cultivates self-directed, empathetic, and free-thinking individuals with the courage and capacities to serve an ever-evolving humanity.

Simcha Preschool

Lic #440710119

3055 Porter Gulch Road, Aptos 831.479.3449

caitlin@tbeaptos.org

simchapreschool.org

Come experience our thriving, nurturing, playbased program that features an emergent, anti-bias curriculum tailored to your children’s passions and interests! Simcha (meaning “joy” in Hebrew) Preschool is known for its dedicated and knowledgeable teachers who foster children’s social emotional skills, independence, and creative ideas. Everyone loves our beautiful outdoor and indoor facilities. Thank you for voting us Best Preschool Runner Up in 2023! Fullday and half-day schedules, low child/teacher ratios, and 3, 4 or 5-day schedules are offered for children ages 2-5. Welcoming to all, we are proud of our over 40-year tradition of sharing Jewish values. Come join our Simcha Preschool family! Open year-round, 7:30am-5:20pm. Call 831.479.3449 or email Director Caitlin Clancy at caitlin@tbeaptos.org to learn more!

Tara Redwood School

5810 Prescott Road, Soquel 831.462.9632

office@tararedwoodschool.org

tararedwoodschool.org

Since 1989, Tara Redwood School has been empowering children to make a positive difference in the world by educating the heart & mind with mindfulness practices. Our curriculum is an integration of Tara’s signature pedagogy Creating Compassionate Cultures (CCC) and Montessori methodology academics. We offer a strong focus on global studies, sciences, hands-on earth ecology studies, creative arts, social emotional learning and compassion in action. Preschool 2 – 5 years and Elementary ages 6–11. Classes are multiage with a low student to teacher ratio. We provide small classroom spaces for our students and educators. Classes are situated both outdoor & indoor on 108 acres of lush forest.

Santa Cruz Turns Out to Stuff the Bus

BY BRAD KAVA

When word got out that hundreds— no, thousands—of students didn’t have the money for school supplies, Santa Cruz residents, businesses and charity groups got in gear.

They came up with a program called “Stuff the Bus,” which literally filled a giant yellow school bus with backpacks stuffed with the needed supplies, including pens, pencils, notebooks, crayons, erasers, glue, highlighters, staplers and index cards.

The good news is that the project has gathered some 2,000 backpacks so far. The bad news is that so many kids truly need them and they are struggling through homelessness and poverty.

Among the groups sponsoring the program, which got going some 14 years ago, are United Way, Comcast, the County Office of Education, DoorDash and the Santa Cruz Warriors.

Comcast stepped up during the floods and the pandemic, supplying free internet service (called Internet Essentials) to those in need and giving $50,000 cash to United Way programs to help flood victims. Its employees are among the 150 who are volunteering to stuff the backpacks and the bus.

“It’s an opportunity for the community to come together,” says Lennies Gutierrez, Director of Government Affairs for Comcast, whose family came out in public for the first time after Covid to stuff the bus last year. “We were all so happy to be out there in the community again. Our employees are really looking for stuff like this to do. That’s been a really important piece of getting out there. It’s a great showing of support.” Comcast also made a cash contribution of $2,500 to the effort.

The most recent data from the 202223 school year shows that nearly one in every 20 Santa Cruz County students are experiencing homelessness, a rate 45 percent higher than across California. That’s 1,761 students, out of 38,025 total in TK-12.

If you have a kid—or were a kid (ha)— you know how important having a fresh backpack with the right supplies is to feel good about school. And not having them discourages kids from wanting to go.

While the need is greater, there are signs that the targeted interventions—of which “Stuff the Bus“ is just one—are having an impact. In Santa Cruz County, students experiencing homelessness have a four-year graduation rate of 81.8 percent, compared to 72.9 percent statewide (average for all students is about 87 percent statewide).

Attendance data tells the same story. Santa Cruz County students experiencing homelessness have a

38.5 percent chronic absenteeism rate compared to 46.1 percent chronic absenteeism rate statewide

“Students experiencing homelessness are some of the least likely to make it to high school,” says Superintendent of County Schools Faris Sabbah. “We know the earlier we can intervene and support them and provide them the resources they need, like getting them a backpack every year, will help them and increase their likelihood of meeting those outcomes.”

Students face additional problems from natural disasters such as the CZU fire in 2020 and this year’s Pajaro floods, which left many more homeless. Thankfully, Santa Cruz has stepped up and the bus is already at 93 percent full and 150 employees of local businesses have volunteered to pack backpacks at Kaiser Permanente Arena Aug. 5.

“Santa Cruz really comes out for this,” says United Way CEO Keisha Browder.

“For ‘Stuff the Bus’ to have been here for over a decade, you may think it would decrease and people would become disengaged and some would say same old, same old, but really Santa Cruz County continues to show up and make sure this is one of the signature premiere events for back to school, for our young people. This community comes out every year.”

There are pick up spots for families to get the backpacks, and for those who can’t get to them, Door Dash has contributed a grant to drive them to locations for the families in need.

The Stuff the Bus group has worked with a vendor who sells $80 worth of supplies for only $25. People who want to contribute cash can do so at Unitedwaysc.org

Should the county raise more backpacks than are needed immediately, they can be stockpiled for kids who need help after natural disasters. Hundreds were already

distributed this year after the Pajaro floods that left many families without homes.

“That was a shining example of what this program can do,” says County Office of Education spokesman Nick Ibarra.

“We are vigilant in identifying people who are experiencing homelessness and that allows us to intervene quickly and maybe be preventative in our approach,” says Sabbah, the superintendent who has been working toward a community and school approach. “The districts and the schools are keenly aware of the needs of the students and the schools are moving toward being hubs for a variety of services from food and supplies and medical care and behavioral care.”

Browder, the United Way CEO says “It’s more than a backpack. It’s how we come together as a community with our COE to support those needs outside of the classroom. So that when a child is inside the classroom they can fully focus and live up to their greatest potential because those other needs are being met.”

She saw how important the program is when she saw a new first grade girl get her first backpack.

“She walked into the County Office of Education and they told her you could pick your backpack and she went up and picked a backpack and I remember her picking up the pencil pouch, smelling the pencil pouch.

“I thought there must be something wrong with the pencil pouch. But she smelled it because it was brand new. And she said, ‘This is mine. I don’t have to share. This is my backpack.’ And that moment stayed with me. This is the power of ‘Stuff the Bus’. The smell of new meant so much to that student.”

So many kids can’t afford school supplies, but locals are stepping up to help

Stuff-A-Thon

Aug. 5 10am-1 pm at the Kaiser Permanente Arena unitedwaysc.org/stb

ABOVE: Volunteers from Comcast help load backpacks during the Stuff the Bus donation drive. Comcast has been no stranger to helping people in need after stepping up after the floods earlier this year with the relief efforts. On Aug. 13, 2022, a vibrant display of unity and compassion was showcased at the Santa Cruz Warriors Kaiser Permanente Arena during the annual Stuff-A- Thon event. Students, families, and community members gathered with a common purpose - to make a difference in the lives of others.

LEFT: Even young volunteers were excited to do their part.

TOP LEFT: This school bus was filled with backpacks with essential school supplies to help needy children. More than 2,000 backpacks were collected last year.

MIDDLE LEFT: Comcast joined with other groups to help bring in much needed supplies for kids.

Photos by Comcast and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Calling All Singers Ages 8 to 18

Calling All Singers Ages 8 to 18

Cabrillo Youth Chorus

Cabrillo Youth Chorus

Fall Sign-Ups/ COVID PROTOCOL IN PLACE

PLACEMENT AUDITIONS, August 26, Thursday , 3:30 - 6:00pm Cabrillo College Visual & Performing Arts - Building 5000

A comprehensive vocal music program focusing on music literacy, tone development, and ear training.

CabrilloYouthChorus.org for Registration Four Performer Levels Scholarships Available

Beginning students meet Tuesdays 4:00-5:30pm Int/Adv students meet Wednesdays 4:00-5:30pm

More information at CabrilloYouthChorus.org, or email cyc.staffers@gmail.com

Recent Performances

Carnegie Hall, New York City

Santa Cruz Symphony

Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra Workshops with internationally recognized Visiting Artists

Educating, developing, and inspiring young singers for over 25 years

Cabrillo College

Cabrillo Youth Strings Music Program

Fall Semester 2023

In-Person Ages 6 to 18

Nancy Kvam, Music Director

9-Week Cabrillo Youth Strings Orchestra Program

Begins on September 8, with Auditions and Friday Rehearsals, offering 3 levels: Beginning Strings (4th-6th grade); Festival Strings (note-readers); Cabrillo Strings (older, intermediate-advanced levels). Concert on November 3.

5-Week Chamber Music Program

Begins on November 10 with a Recital on December 15. For auditions contact us at cabrilloyouthstrings@gmail.com or call us at (831) 479-6101.

Visit us at cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings for further information or call Cabrillo Extension at (831) 479-6331. Classes in Fall and Spring semesters.

Ramifications of Affirmative Action Ban in College Admissions

BY SUSAN TATSUI-D’ARCY

Who benefits from Affirmative Action?

Affirmative action policies were designed to address historical and ongoing inequalities by providing preferential opportunities to Black and Hispanic students that have been marginalized or disadvantaged. These policies were aimed to promote diversity, inclusion, and equal representation in education.

Who is targeted by Affirmative Action?

Critics of affirmative action argue that it is unfair to Asians and Whites who may be denied admission to as a result of these policies. They believe that affirmative action can result in reverse discrimination by favoring individuals based on their race or gender, rather than their individual merit. It undermines the principles of fairness and equality; students should be evaluated solely on their qualifications, skills, and abilities, rather than their demographic characteristics.

What about minimum admission requirements?

Most selective colleges claim that all students meet their admissions standards. However, I work with students who have been admitted to elite colleges through affirmative action and they often come to me because they’re struggling to pass their classes. When students don’t have the critical reading or essay writing skills needed to succeed at these top universities, they often feel like imposters or failures, and these negative experiences can haunt them for the rest of their lives.

What about legacies?

According to Insider Higher Ed, University of Southern California (USC), Pepperdine University, and Vanguard University admitted some legacy students who did not meet the minimum admissions requirements. USC admitted eight students over the past 4 years who were related to donors or alumni but didn’t meet admission requirements. Two of these students hadn’t even taken Algebra 2 in high school and two others hadn’t graduated from high school. Over the past 3 years, Pepperdine admitted ten legacy students and Vanguard admitted nine students who didn’t meet the university’s standards.

When colleges select their incoming students based on family legacies and large financial contributions, they dumb down their incoming classes. When parents donate large sums of money to get their children into selective colleges, they send heartbreaking messages to their children that they don’t believe their children can get into college. Some parents involved in the Varsity Blues

Scandal went to prison when they were caught bribing admissions officers, paying off SAT proctors, and buying coaches to lie about their children’s athletic talents. Why would a parent want their child to be the bottom of the class and struggle to graduate because they don’t belong there?

Should top universities admit the best students?

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, and only a few are highly selective (acceptance rate lower than 10%). That means that most colleges will admit just about anyone who applies. But those elite colleges, should be allowed to enroll the smartest students to work with worldclass professors so these institutions can create innovative and inspirational think

tanks. Imagine the synergy in discussion groups and the solutions to major problems that these brilliant students and professors could solve. Here in the United States, we have produced more patents and started more innovative businesses than any other country in the world, but we may be losing our winning edge to China and Japan.

We shouldn’t lower the productivity of these institutions by focusing on ethnicity-based quotas, which reduce the space to enroll the best students. Seeking a diverse student body from various socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds makes this mix of students even more dynamic, but should only be considered for tie breakers when two students have equal talent and brilliance.

The key is finding a way to select students for these exceptional higher education institutions without having to

fulfill quotas and lower academic standards. I’ve addressed productive and realistic ways to make top colleges accessible to a diverse group of students in [this article]. Let’s keep this discussion going!

Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy is the founder of Merit Academy (one-on-one classes) and Merit Educational Consultants (college and educational advisory). She has written books on projects, free child care, education, and parenting. Susan hosts TEDxMeritAcademy for students to present their innovative projects and solutions. In 2019, she was California Mother of the Year.meritworld.com

Mama Bear Self Care Back to School

BY JAIME MCFADEN

It’s that time of year when we are hitting the stores to get our kids school supplies and enjoy the last few weeks of summer.

This is also the time when we may feel a bit sad that the summer is coming to an end as we’ve just been getting into the flow of the nonscheduled routines. Or maybe you are reading this so excited to get back to your kids’ school routine - either way, there is a transition coming up and I want to share a big tip on preparing for this change as a parent to keep it smooth for our kids. Everyone talks about the village needed for our children, but what about for the parents as we evolve and keep everything together through the changing seasons.

Whether your kids are starting a new school, new class or phase of life - one of the most important things we can do for ourselves as parents is line up our personal village.

These are the people that will be around to support you through each shift. Take a moment right now to think about your village - who are the people you spend the most time with? Who are the friends you could call for support if you need it? Who are your friends that keep you active? Who are the one that distract you or add chaos to your life?

Taking social self-care into account is incredibly helpful this time of year as we get back into the swing of things. It is easy shifting from summer to fall to let all of our personal self-care go out the window because we end up spending all of our energy prepping things for our kids and forget about ourselves.

This is where the village comes in! Social support is one of the biggest markers for well-being in any society. The relationships we have and the people around us are certainly going to influence our behviors and routines.

Three things to keep in mind when it comes to HEALTHY social self care and curating you village this season:

Take inventory - literally go through your phone, texts, social media - make note of who you spend the most time with, watching or around and notice how you feel with them. Are there people in your circle who are lifting you up or more

dragging you down.

As we shift into the end of summer - work towards cultivating a village that is supportive, encourages your growth and definitely loves your family! Taking space or setting boundaries with some of the friends who can be more distracting can be really helpful right now. Simple tip: Make a list of the people who FILL your cup - include them in your life more and pay it forward :)

Check in with what your family needs. Maybe you struggle with dinners or getting to your kids’ activities on time. As a busy parent, I have people in my village who are helpful in all sorts of areas. Learning to ask for help is a big one - as busy parents we tend to feel this need to do it all, but in reality - that’s not

ideal. If we can work together with our village we can end up feeling healthier and happier. The hardest part is just asking. The people around you are sure to want to pitch in and help. And of course - be sure to offer help to those around you when you can. It’s a collaborative effort. Join a mom group or hire some help where needed, it will be well worth the investment!

Just say NO. It’s ok to hide away for an hour with your favorite beverage to take some much needed QUIET time. One of the toughest things parents find with self care is learning to make their own time a priority.

It might feel hard at first but even putting your kids in front of a good movie every once in a while, so you can get much needed solo time to

prepare for the upcoming week can be actually very beneficial for the whole family. This is also a great time you can phone that friend or neighbor and drop the kids off for a bit to get organized.

Lastly, get the kids involved. Get to know their friends, activities and have them pitch in to build out the family back to school routines. Kick of nightly family dinner and family daily walks. There are social self-care activities your kids can help with at all different ages.

If you are struggling to find a supportive village - be sure to reach out! Join one of my weekly walks and I can support your curating your own self-care village. Enjoy the rest of summer and remember you are doing a fabulous job!

Something You Never Get Over

BY SUKI WESSLING

In early July, I interviewed Dr. Gail Newel, who was retiring from her position as County Health Officer, about her career. We talked about how Santa Cruz had just logged its first official death from “tranq,” an animal sedative called Xylazine that is extremely dangerous for humans.

I knew we’d talk about the opioid epidemic and I suspected what she would say about the causes. But one statement she made brought me up short: Santa Cruz has a bigger problem than most counties in the state and it stems in part from our local culture.

“We have a pretty active glorification of drug culture [in Santa Cruz],” Newel said. “I’m not abstinent myself—I’m not one to say, ‘Just say no.’ But it does make it challenging to message what’s happening with our population and substances.”

Newel made a point of rejecting the outdated attempt to deny that the allure of drugs was real. Those who remember the 1980’s will remember Just Say No coming from Nancy Reagan, hardly a relatable figure to young people, and the image of the frying egg on their television screens. It didn’t work then and it doesn’t work now.

But Newel stops short of saying that it’s OK to do drugs. She has a good reason.

ONE FAMILY’S STORY

I n 2016, Newel and her wife Kelli, also a physician, had an unexpected change in their family. Their son Nyeland, a dentist with a thriving practice and apparently everything to live for, moved back home. The official reason was that he’d just experienced a divorce and needed time back home to transition. But the reality was hidden from his mothers and brother.

Back when he was a student at UCSC, Nyeland tried heroin. It’s the sort of thing that a college student might do, and most would just bounce back and move on with their lives. But Nyeland wasn’t just any college student. Like many in the human population, he inherited genes that made him more susceptible to addiction of any kind. On top of that, his life was timed perfectly to coincide with a cultural wave that he had no control over.

WAVES OF DRUG POPULARITY

I would guess that many of us in Santa Cruz County might not be aware of the information that Dr. Newel shared about our statistics. I certainly didn’t realize this. When it comes to hazards related to drugs, both legal and illegal, Santa Cruz is faring badly.

Newel points out that the 1960s ethos of drug use took up firm roots in Santa Cruz, and ever since, as a local culture we’ve been fine with people turning to substances rather than other, often healthier practices to deal with pain, both physical and emotional. That cultural bent has translated to an unusually high rate of opioid-related overdose deaths. Looking at the state map

of deaths, you see dark red blotches over sections of the county, especially in Santa Cruz and San Lorenzo Valley.

Recreational drug culture in Santa Cruz County has centered on cannabis for many years. But there has always been an undercurrent of more addictive drugs such as heroin and methamphetamine. Drug use and overdoses came in waves. But then something changed.

FROM DRUG WAVE TO DRUG TSUNAMI

The current epidemic didn’t arise organically in our culture the way that cannabis use did. Newel remembers when she was a practicing physician and modern opioids like OxyContin were being aggressively marketed as “safe” and “non-addictive.”

“I think many of us were skeptical, but it just permeated the whole healthcare culture,” Newel explains.

Soon, the drugs were everywhere. And Nyeland’s body, triggered to want more and more, intersected with his profession as a dentist, where legal opioids were freely accessible.

At first, Nyeland managed his addiction quietly. Though his family knew that he’d had trouble with substance abuse, they assumed the substance was alcohol.

Then the feds asserted control.

“[Nyeland’s story] is the story of many, many people who got addicted to prescription opioids,” Newel explains. “As the DEA started cracking down, then it was impossible to get them mail order in the US and then mail order in Canada. [So Nyeland] turned to China. And when that got harder, he invested in Bitcoin and was buying them on the dark web. And finally, when he was having trouble getting access to opioids that way, he turned to the street.”

The current situation with street drugs in the US is unprecedented. In the past, there were always overdoses, and there were always tainted drugs, and there were always products sold as one drug that actually contained another. It goes without saying that an unregulated black market will have these problems.

But today’s drug market has unique characteristics that Dr. Newel—a mom named Gail who lost her son—wants every parent to understand.

FIRST: THE EASE OF ADDICTION

“We know now that a certain significant fraction of the population, if they’ve taken opioids for five days, they’re already addicted,” Newel explains. “I don’t think we’ve recognized how quickly the addiction can develop in some people.”

Like many teens, my own teen was given a prescription for opioids after he had his wisdom teeth pulled. Recently it occurred to me to take the leftover pills to the pharmacy for safe disposal. When I pulled them out of the medicine cabinet, I was shocked to see that he had been prescribed enough pills to easily start an addiction.

For my kid, graced with genes that helped him shrug off addictive drugs relatively easily, it was no big deal.

But the message here is clear: You don’t know how your teen is going to react. Even a well-meaning doctor can start them on a path toward addiction.

SECOND: THE FUN

Let’s face it: a lot of people find opioids extremely pleasurable. And our kids are growing up in Santa Cruz, a county you enter with a billboard advertising a cannabis dispensary. Gail’s son was initially drawn by the fun and ease of access.

“That’s certainly what my son found: They were there. They’re fun,” Gail explains, further pointing out that it was even more convenient for healthcare providers. “They were just in big boxes, easy for him to grab and take home for recreational use.”

Though our teens don’t necessarily have the ease of access that a dentist had, they are growing up in a world distinctly different from our own teen years. You might remember finding out that another teen at your school was a dealer, or you might remember how you found out through the grapevine how to find a dealer.

These days, your teen can buy drugs on TikTok and other social media. Dealers use coded language through emojis that your teen may recognize. Some dealers even feature home delivery.

THIRD: THE DANGER

As Dr. Newel pointed out, we know that scare tactics don’t work. I know that in my generation, we loved the frying egg commercial—“This is your brain on drugs”—because it was funny. Little did we know that one day, that commercial might be almost literal.

The statistics are staggering. As I wrote in this publication in our February, 2022 issue, what you buy on the street—or through social media, delivered in a cute package to your home—may not contain what’s advertised. A single grain of fentanyl in half a Xanax bought on the street killed Sophie Véniel’s son.

Users are dying or being hospitalized in unprecedented numbers due to drugs laced with other, stronger drugs, drugs that

are hundreds of times more potent than expected, and drugs that simply aren’t what the user expected they were buying.

Tranq, the newest kid on the block, causes hideous sores that result in tissue loss and can require amputation as treatment.

WHAT’S A PARENT TO DO?

So let’s take stock: Fear mongering didn’t work for us and it won’t work for our kids. Preaching abstinence didn’t work for us and it won’t work for our kids. It sounds like we have an impossible job.

Newel says that it’s of utmost importance—really, a life-or-death matter—that our schools, religious institutions, coaches, and anyone else who works with our kids start to talk to them early. They need to talk not only about the dangers of drugs, but also about the reality that turning to substances is not the only path we can take.

Newel stresses that she knows that this is a hard road.

“The preventative aspect of the opioid epidemic is certainly not decided,” she acknowledges. “But I think most of us can agree that if we can find other ways to be comforted and feel a sense of well-being that we can avoid some of this. So I think practices like meditation and just anything that helps us live more in the moment.”

Newel also suggests that as a culture, we need to reincorporate some understanding that many of us left behind as we advanced into the promise of the modern age. We expected that drugs could be made safe and effective and we were easily duped by the promise of modern opioids.

We watch YouTube videos on meditation and think that it should be easy for us to change our habits and our lives. We see the apparent perfection of other people’s lives on social media and wonder what’s wrong with us that we are still living in some sort of old-fashioned analog imperfection.

“I think it’s important for all of us to understand that life is hard,” Newel explains. “We can’t avoid pain all the time and discomfort, and that’s normal and it’s OK to feel that sometimes.”

She should know. Though it’s been seven years since they lost Nyeland, Newel’s family still grieves. Gail Newel hopes that by telling her story, she can save another parent, another sibling, or another child from experiencing this grief.

“Mothers have been losing their children for all of time, but it’s a horrible grief and something you never get over.”

Suki Wessling is a local writer, teacher, and radio host on KSQD. Subscribe to her podcast, the Babblery, at www. Babblery.com.

What every birthday needs, party planners.

Choosing the right foods. Deciding on a safe exercise routine. Creating a birth plan. As a mom-to-be, you have a lot of planning to look forward to. Fortunately, Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center has a whole team of specialists ready to safely guide you throughout your journey—from the support of our midwives to the added security of the only Level III NICU in the Monterey Bay area standing by. We even have live virtual classes to help you prepare for the big day.

Take a virtual tour of our Birth Center at DominicanBaby.org

Time to Celebrate Breastfeeding

BY LAURA MAXSON, LM

It’s clear that working parents are more successful with their breast/ chestfeeding goals when they are given adequate support. Pressures to get back to earning a paycheck often compete with the ability to get breastfeeding firmly established Not enough parents qualify for paid maternity leave, with some back to work even before the typical six weeks given by state disability. While there are supportive employers out there, many workplaces ignore the needs of their breastfeeding employees, making pumping and storing milk at work difficult. While the California Breastfeeding Coalition works with parents who feel their employers are ignoring state and federal guidelines for lactation support at work, not every parent is motivated to push back. This is one reason that each August is designated Breastfeeding Awareness month in the United States. Parents and the public, including employers, can become more aware of ways to support breastfeeding families. Each week focuses on a different aspect of lactation support. Not all the themes for the individual weeks were available in time to make it into this article, but updated information can be found at www. usbreastfeeding.org.

•Week 1, (August 1-7) is the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action’s World Breastfeeding Week. This year’s global theme is, Enabling Breastfeeding: Making a difference for working parents. There are many ways to support lactating parents at work. It is well known that parents with supportive maternity leave of three months or more experience a longer duration of breastfeeding. Workplace

challenges are a common reason for breastfeeding to end prematurely or to not be initiated at all.

•Week 2 (August 8-14), is Indigenous Milk Medicine Week

•Week 3 (August 15-21) is Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breastfeeding Week.

•Week 4 (August 25-31) is Black Breastfeeding Week. Theme: We Outside!: Celebrating Connection & Our Communities

• Week 5 (September 5-11) is Lactancia Latina

Many local organizations and agencies in Santa Cruz County enthusiastically work to support breastfeeding families yearround, but especially during Breastfeeding Awareness Month. After missing a few years due to the pandemic, everyone is eager for the Community Bridges WIC sponsored Breastfeeding Health Fair and Walk, to resume once again this year. Families typically have a blast at the free breastfeeding awareness celebration.

The 16th Annual Breastfeeding Health Fair and Walk event takes place on Friday, August 11, at the Watsonville Plaza (Main St. & East Beach St.) from 3-6pm. Local agencies and nonprofits will provide information and fun activities for the public incorporating education and support around breastfeeding and other health/baby related topics. The drawing for door prizes is a highlight of the day. Everyone gets a free T-shirt while supplies last.

Families are then invited to join agencies and organizations in a short but lively “Walk for Breastfeeding” through downtown Watsonville to raise breastfeeding awareness. Of course, every situation is different and not everyone is able to breastfeed their baby. Human milk donations help many babies to thrive. As a new addition this year the event will also serve as a donor human milk drive. San Jose’s Mother’s Milk Bank will collect donated milk and provide information to those interested

in becoming a donor or receiving human milk for their baby. Frozen breast milk may be brought to the event for donation. Those interested in getting pre-screened for donations can call donor services at 1-877-375-6645, choose option 3, or connect at www.mothersmilk.org/ donate-milk.

Each year, in honor of World Breastfeeding Week and Breastfeeding Awareness, Community Bridges WIC and the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition put out a call for nominations of local employers that are making working and breast/ chestfeeding easier for families in our communities. Those employers chosen for recognition will be announced at the event. Together we can help build a supportive breastfeeding community.

L VED PR TECTED MMUNIZED

Ensure your peace of mind and your child's safety by making sure they are up to date on all recommended vaccinations before the school year starts.

At 93, Owen Hand is the Golden Conqueror of the Courts

BY ELISE CLINE

Owen Hand, 93 years young, steps off the court victorious. He’s just won three sets of tennis against competitors 30 years his junior. Celebrated by a chorus of congratulatory calls from players and friends across the Tennis Club of Rio Del Mar’s courts, Owen bashfully jests to me how his on court running really isn’t quite what it used to be.

Born on July 4th, 1930, Owen always had athleticism coursing through his veins. “I was always the first kid playing at the park and the last kid to go home… I played any sport I could but baseball was really my thing.”

His passion and skill for baseball lured him away from his home in Alameda to compete for San Jose State College before graduating from Cal Poly SLO. He ultimately made his home in Santa Cruz County, moving to Freedom in 1960 where he taught 5th graders at Freedom Elementary for over 25 years. While at Freedom he loved engaging his students with creative class projects and he also coached the Junior High basketball team. One of his former pupils, Scott Taylor (now 71) recalls, “Everyone wanted him as their teacher because he was a super friendly guy and a good teacher... at

recess he would go out on the field and throw balls, playing with the students” However, Owen admits this period in his life was sadly tainted by vices he now regrets: cigarettes and beer. This began to change at the age of 35 when one of his co-workers convinced him to play his first game of tennis. After a few sets, the ever-competitive Owen took a liking to tennis and endeavored to hone his tennis skills to a competitive level.

“I was determined to get better,” Owen recalls. “But the bottom line was I had to quit smoking, I had to lose weight, I had to get healthier to have a chance at beating anyone.”

Motivated by his new found love of tennis and burning desire for victory, Owen began jogging and working out in addition to regularly practicing and taking lessons. After years of consistency, and playing in tournaments all over the USA, Owen says “I was in my tennis prime in my 60’s.” This was when

Owen and his tennis partner beat the former US tennis champion, Whitney Reed, becoming the Over 60’s Doubles Champions of Northern California.

Tennis had more than just a positive impact on Owen’s health. It also motivated him to give back to the Santa Cruz community and share the game that in many ways saved his life. He coached tennis at both Watsonville High and Aptos High for two years. One of his Watsonville High students from 1977, John Zivanovich, recalls “Owen was always very encouraging and supportive.”

After retirement, Owen started his own tennis summer camp on a court he built in his yard and then, from 1986, continued to teach both boys and girls tennis teams at Harbor High School for nine years.

Nowadays, Owen is a busy man: for over 20 years, he’s organized the Tennis Club of Rio Del Mar’s popular ‘Nooner’s’ program four times a week; five times a week he runs stretching sessions; he regularly bikes and swims; he plays the banjo in his band, The

years of competing in national tennis competitions, Owen finally brought home the illustrious “Golden Ball”.

How does Owen do it? What is his secret to his seemingly unrelenting vivacity? Simply put: his love of tennis. Owen believes his joie de vivre has continued because “tennis was always my incentive to keep me in shape, to keep improving.”

Owen believes tennis is a great sport for all ages but particularly ideal for school-aged kids. “Tennis is year round, you only need one other person to play with, the equipment is relatively cheap, and the courts are a lot more accessible than they used to be!”

If Owen is any testament, anyone can start playing tennis at any age. Nonetheless, Owen believes that “it’s never too early to get kids on the court… If someone had given me a tennis racket and took me out there, I might have excelled at tennis when I was a kid.”

Like others his age, you might think that Owen would start to take it easy? No, not Owen Hand! He’s busy planning his next big adventure - biking 33 miles around

Writer Elise A. Cline is a political science major and journalism and disability minor at U.C. Berkeley

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Don’t miss the Growing Up in Santa Cruz videos on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. In this recent video, host Parker Kava breaks down places kids can dance. To promote your business to thousands of viewers in the area each week, email editor@ growingupsc.com or call (408) 656-1519.

Riding High in Rough Seas

BY ELISE CLINE

Bianca Dootson is a 22 year old full-time student and professional longboarder who, despite her relatively short time on the waves, is swiftly riding her board to competitive heights.

Unlike many of her peers who were surfing since infancy, Bianca didn’t come from a surfing family. Despite growing up around the ocean in Monterey and Santa Cruz, she only discovered her love for the sport at eleven years old, after taking a lesson while on vacation in Hawaii.

“Generally, if your parents are surfers, you start surfing before you can even walk. I started a lot later than a lot of the kids… So I surfed twice as much and really just tried to be the best I could be.”

From her first lesson, Bianca was hooked and quickly reeled into the world of competitive longboarding. She went from taking lessons, to surfing for Aptos Middle School then Aptos High School, before endeavoring to demonstrate her surfing prowess on the world stage.

Bianca says longboarding feels like “dancing with the waves,” creating “a weird cross between adrenaline and… pure bliss.” She loves nothing better than to be in Santa Cruz, surrounded by Norcal’s oceanic wildlife and her friends, while surfing the breaks she’s come to know like the back of her hand.

Bianca hopes that longboarding will soon join shortboarding as an Olympic sport, giving the discipline more respect and offering her a chance to fulfill her dreams of competing in the Olympics.

“Longboarding is such a good contrast to shortboarding. It shows the two different sides of surfing,” Bianca says. “A lot of people forget that longboarding is how surfing began in Hawaii… I think it’d be really good to honor [that].”

When shortboarding became an event in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Bianca began to quest for a potential path to the Olympics. Because she could not try out for the US longboarding team, she utilized her mother’s heritage and her own dual citizenship to compete and win a place on the German National Team, who she now represents in global competitions.

Bianca is not only a committed surfer but a diligent student. She successfully balanced her early educational priorities with the support of Oasis High School and Cabrillo College, who enabled her to continue her studies remotely while traveling the globe.

“That kind of flexibility at [Oasis & Cabrillo] let me travel a lot... I started traveling internationally at the age of 16… I was [studying] online even before COVID.”

She has now transferred to UCSC, studying Psychology and Earth Science. Additionally, although she receives some support from sponsors, Bianca still works

part-time at Sanderlings in the Seascape Beach Resort to personally finance her competitive travel expenses.

The more Bianca travels, the more she’s learned to appreciate her home in Santa Cruz. Traveling “makes me appreciate the community that I grew up in… my peers that I surf with, the waves at home.”

Bianca gives credit to Santa Cruz for encouraging surfers of all ages and of maintaining the ocean’s ecosystem. She does wish, however, there were more competitions in NorCal to expose young surfers to competitive surfing.

After many years of surfing, one of Bianca’s biggest obstacles has been how Santa Cruz’s rough, frigid ocean and climate clash with the tropical, bikinibased images perpetuated by surfing companies implying that “women don’t surf in rugged climates.”

Wetsuits may not “look the prettiest” and can make you “look like a seal,” but in the freezing Pacific, everyone must wear them. These aesthetic expectations often limit female surfers’ opportunities to acquire sponsors who frequently value womens’ appearances over their surfing skills. By displaying the true realities of this “forgotten part of women’s surfing,” Bianca believes the sport can begin to deconstruct these stereotypes insinuating surfing “is not a girls sport.”

Bianca hopes in the future, female surfers will be evaluated, acknowledged and respected for their surfing instead of their bodies.

“The best advice to young girls,” Bianca reflects, is to “know your worth, be proud of your surfing… [it] speaks for who you are… [and] don’t give up” when you encounter bad days on the waves.

“Everyone started from the bottom and made their way up” she says, adding that anyone interested in surfing, regardless of their background, should take a lesson. “Just get the basics down… learn etiquette and educate yourself on surf culture” to keep yourself and others safe in the water.

Bianca’s surfing journey shows how hard work, dedication, and a love of surfing has propelled her to great heights. She recently placed 5th place in the ProDivision Queen of the Point Longboard Competition in Malibu, putting her one step closer to her professional goals and accruing her invitations to other ProDivision championship competitions in the near future.

Writer Elise A. Cline is a political science major and journalism and disability minor at U.C. Berkeley

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Submit your coloring entry to editor@growingupsc.com for a chance to be in our next issue! You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Submissions due by Aug. 15. Please include the child’s name, age and address so we can send out a prize.

Baby Photo Contest

Do you have the cutest baby in Santa Cruz County?

If so, submit your picture online at growingupsc.com by Sept. 1. Then vote for your favorites by Sept. 15. Results will be published in the October issue.

Violet Age 10

Imara Age 6

Harlan Age 7

Meru Age 4 June Age 7

Tyler Age 7

Lyla, Age 8, and Brooklyn, Age 11

Lorenzo, Age 2, and Loki, Age 5 Months

Bay View DeLaveaga Gault Monarch Westlake Branciforte Middle Mission Hill Middle Costanoa High Harbor High Santa Cruz High Soquel High AFE Homeschooling ARK Independent Studies

THROUGH AUG. 13

Contemporary Music Festival Led by Grammy Award-winning Music Director and Conductor Cristian Macelaru, the Cabrillo Festival is all about “music of our time, for our time.” The Festival offers composers a haven to present contemporary music that speaks to the world around us, bringing together a community of artists and audiences to experience the creative process. Concerts are at 8pm Aug. 4, 7pm Aug. 5, 7pm Aug. 6, 7pm Aug. 12 and 7pm Aug. 13 at Cabrillo College. cabrillomusic.org

FRIDAYS

Midtown Summer Block Party 5:308pm The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 30+ local bands. In addition to live music, event goers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. Midtown Fridays runs through Sept. 29. Aug. 4 - The Dylan Rose Band w/opener Maddie & Jackie, Aug. 11- - Santa Cruda w/opener Yaya’s Kitchen, Aug. 18 - Mak Nova, Aug. 25Cowboy’s After Dark w/opener Corrina & Rick. eventsantacruz.com/event/midtownfridays/

THURS 3

Birds of the Arboretum Tour 9:1510:30am The Arboretum gardens provide a uniquely attractive habitat to a wide array of resident and migratory bird species. Come walk about, watch and listen to the birds with one of the birding guides! Bring your binoculars and wear comfortable walking shoes. arboretum. ucsc.edu/eventscalendar

WEDNESDAYS

Sailboat Racing 5:30-8pm Come out to the sail boat races held by the Santa Cruz Yacht Club. There is an exciting calendar packed with activities and a weekly regatta, which brings out even the biggest land lover to admire the race every Wednesday. santacruzharbor.org/events/

Twilight Concerts 6-9pm The Capitola Twilight Concerts are hosted on Wednesday evenings during the summer months. The Delta Wires perfom Aug. 2, Extra Large performs Aug. 9, Billy Martini Show is Aug. 16, Everyday People perform Aug. 23 and Digbeats perform Aug. 30. cityofcapitola.org/acc/page/2023twilight-concerts

THURS 3, 10

Evenings on the Colonnade 8:3010pm Enjoy free live music on Thursdays at the Beach Boardwalk’s Colonnade Stage. beachboardwalk.com/live-music-on-thecolonnade

FRI 4

First Friday Santa Cruz 5-8pm. On the first Friday evening of every month, Santa Cruz galleries, shops, and cultural venues open their doors to showcase the works of Santa Cruz County artists. With a block party-like vibe, the multi-venue event provides an opportunity to discover local creative talent in a fun and festive setting. firstfridaysantacruz.com/event.

FRI 4, 18

Summer Concert Series 6-8pm. The summer outdoor Music in the Plaza concert series will feature a variety of bands at the Watsonville Plaza. cityofwatsonville.org/1804/Music-in-the-Plaza

FRI 4, 11

Movies at the Boardwalk 9-11pm Catch your favorite movie on the sand at the Beach Boardwalk each week. beachboardwalk.com/movies.

SAT 5

Books & Brews Summer Fair 10am4pm Enjoy the outdoor craft fair with 42 vendor booths or find a good book at the Friends of the La Selva Library used book sale. There will be a vendor prize drawing. and bake sale to benefit LSB CERT. Enjoy live music on the lawn and local microbrew beers. Free admission lsbia.com

AUG 5-6

Strawberry Festival . Enjoy a full weekend of carnival attractions, live entertainment and delicious strawberry treats Shop a variety of local artisans, businesses and specialty vendors for a unique shopping experience in Watsonville. watsonvillestrawberryfestival.com

TUES 8

Summer Concert Series 6-8pm Every second Tuesday through September enjoy live music and games at the Santa Cruz Wharf. Sweet VooDoo will perform this month. cityofsantacruz.com

SAT 19

Museum Birthday Bash 11am-3pm Enjoy free family-friendly pop-ups in the park all summer long. There will be nature activities, community groups and food vendors. Enjoy free admission to the museum all day. August’s event celebrates the museum’s 118th birthday. santacruzmuseum.org/8-19-supersummer-saturday

SAT 26

Drawn2Art Grand Opening 2-5pm Drawn2Art is opening up a new studio in Aptos. Come and join us for a viewing of the student’s artwork, as well as food and drinks. They will be scheduling free introductory art classes for ages 4 through teens. drawn2artstudios.com/aptos

YOUR after school destination

Homework help, lendable tech (like laptops & hotspots), afterschool project-based learning, diverse youth meetup, chess clubs, and more!

Teen Resources

Kids Resources

SantaCruzPL.org