Growing Up in Santa Cruz June 2023

HOW DOES THIS SCOTTS VALLEY HIGH GRADUATE MAKE 100K A MONTH?

New

Summer at Mathnasium is a great way for kids to keep up their math skills so they’re ready to go in the fall. They’ll receive:

• A c omprehensive assessment and customized learning plan that details summer goals for long-term success

• Live, face-to-face instruction, whether they learn in-center or online

• A p roven teaching method that results in true understanding and increased confidence

Mathnasium of Aptos Mathnasium of Santa Cruz (831) 621-5978 (831) 440-7574 mathnasium.com/Aptos mathnasium.com/SantaCruz 24 Rancho Del Mar, Aptos 1642 Mission Street, Santa Cruz

www.mathnasium.com

EDITOR | PUBLISHER

Brad Kava and Steve Dinnen

ART DIRECTOR | MANAGING EDITOR

Nathan Mixter

DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein

CONTRIBUTORS

Jeanette Prather, Lisa Catterall, Nicole

M.Young, Daniella Blomquist, Laura Maxson, Jaime Mcfaden, Erik Chalhoub, Daniella Blomquist, Heidi Nyburg, Amanda Rotella, Sarah Savasky

AD REPRESENTATIVES

Ann Fitts BobbiJo Palmer Linda Kay Sophie Veniel Advertising@GrowingUpSC.com

Even small changes can make a BIG

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.

We are deeply disturbed by the fact that some UCSC students held a birthday party for Adolf Hitler complete with a cake filled with Nazi symbols.

It’s something we didn’t think could happen in this time and place and it’s seriously frightening that it did—and that the university has done nothing about it.

But it also tugs at our gut in another way. We believe in freedom of speech at almost all costs. It’s one of the things that makes this country a bastion of liberty. The right to speak freely is protected in the Constitution and the protection isn’t for speech we agree with but for all speech, especially that with which we disagree.

But where do you draw the line between speech that can incite violence or spew hatred in a university that is a temple for the exchange of ideas? And what should the school’s administration do about it?

We suspect in part that it’s more acceptance of antisemitism, something that frankly, we have witnessed at the school before. If students dressed as KKK members and feigned a lynching of a black person, would that be accepted?

Years back while I was working for Santa Cruz Patch, I covered a Hanukkah celebration on campus and while waiting in line at the ATM heard a group of students behind me use the most disgusting epithets to describe Jews, in plain sight of the celebration. It was chilling and heart-wrenching to hear from people who are supposed to be on the top of the educational food chain, admittees to one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Years later, it still hurts.

The best writing we’ve seen about the issue came from a UCSC student who wrote an editorial for Lookout Santa Cruz.

“UCSC Chancellor Cynthia Larive put out her own May 5 statement,” wrote Bodie Shargel. “In contrast to the clear,

honest and deeply human message from Provost Abrams and other members of UCSC’s Jewish community, the chancellor’s statement was bland, naïve, and to me, infuriating.”

He calls the missive, which said the university was investigating the incident in relation to the school’s conduct and procedures, “rote” and “vapid” because it doesn’t explain what happened nor what the school may do. And he points to the growing amount of antisemitism on campus, including swastikas painted on buildings, and the lack of response from the school.

“I want Nazis off my campus,” Shargel wrote.

“Students should expect more from their university when their identity — whether it be ethnicity, religion, race, sexuality or gender — is under attack. We should be talking openly about this; I expect to see the administration doing things.”

We agree with his suggestions:

“Administrators should make clear the repercussions for such acts. I haven’t even heard the chancellor commit to expelling the students who celebrated Hitler’s birthday. Steps like these are key in showing the will to address this problem. The university has the right to expel students, regardless of whether they committed a crime, as long as the students violated UCSC’s principles of community, which the chancellor indicates they did. Whether it’s a class, a club, a dining hall or a dorm, students shouldn’t be forced to share spaces with Nazis.”

What do you think? Is this hate speech or protected speech? Should the University, in its lack of action be held accountable for condoning something so harmful?

Thanks for reading and please send your thoughts to editor@growingupsc.com

Brad Kava, Editor and Publisher

Letter to the Editor

Cover Picture a Poor Choice

Hello, As a grandmother of 3 granddaughters and 2 grandsons, all under 10, growing up in Santa Cruz, I look forward to new issues of your publication. I’m writing to express my dismay at the cluelessness of your May 2023 feature article and cover.

I acknowledge the importance of movement and a healthy lifestyle, but to publish a cover very similar to a Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition perpetuating the mostly impossible female ideal is disappointing at the least. The constant bombardment of this expectation has damaged generations of women and girls, and I find it totally irresponsible that a child-focused publication would consider this photo and story.

I hope you receive other comments on this inappropriate feature and consider issuing some kind of a retraction or apology. Please join the effort to encourage inner beauty and body positivity for growing kids.

Susie Durant

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 Jeanette Prather

Where’s the Best Place to Celebrate Graduation?

With graduation on the horizon for many school-aged Santa CruzIans, celebration plans and graduation goodies are underway. And while most of these teens and preteens projected a family dinner to celebrate, a few of them had their hearts set on very specific gifts or trips. Read on to discover where these kids’ favorite places are to celebrate and what they might hope to receive to ring in this new transition in their lives.

My 5th grade class came up with a weird graduation song that we sung to everyone. The entire 5th grade sung it and it was pretty fun. We also bought plants and had a party. The food at the party was my favorite part. I want to have good food again for my next graduation.

My family and I are probably going to go eat somewhere, maybe Otoro Sushi. If I get a graduation gift, it might be new shoes.

I think I’m going to have a party at my house to celebrate graduation, and I’d love to eat some ribs for dinner. I’m looking to get some Nike Sb Dunks if someone gets me a graduation gift. That would be lit!

Highlands Park Early Education Center is Now Enrolling

I’ll probably go eat somewhere downtown with my family to celebrate graduation. I want to go to Betty’s Burgers because it’s my favorite restaurant. And, my parents might get me an e-bike as a present. That would be hype.

I think I’m going to go to Oahu with my family and some friends to celebrate graduation. And if I get something, my parents might get me a Surron electric motorcycle.

I’m looking forward to summer! For graduation, my whole class will have a pool party with some other fun activities. For a gift, I’d love it if my dad would say yes to me getting my septum pierced.

Nestled in the magnificent redwoods and adjacent to the San Lorenzo River, our center serves infants through TK. Built from the foundational dreams of local early childhood legends, we extend our vision with an emphasis on the importance of play, equity and social emotional learning as key foundations for academic skill and the development of a lifelong love of learning. As the only Quality Counts program in SLV, we are dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing space to ensure access to outstanding early learning opportunities for all. Like the redwoods that surround, we invite you to stand tall and thrive with us!

This program offers low teacher-to-child ratios of 1:8 for preschoolers and 1:4 for toddlers.

Visit communitybridges.org/eed

Gibson, 12, San Lorenzo Valley Middle School

Tatum, 13, Scotts Valley Middle School

Nash, 14, Branciforte Middle School

Jake, 14, Scotts Valley Middle School

Kauka, 14, Acton Academy

Charlie, 14, Nature Academy

19-Year-Old Has Got Social Media Wired

BY BRAD KAVA

Scotts Valley High graduate Austyn Crispell is the founder of Santa Cruzbased Makhai Media, a company that helps other companies do their social media marketing.

He spoke at a recent local business forum, where Growing Up was amazed at his successes, as was everyone in the room.

Growing Up: Your bio says you make $100,000 per month…really? You might be the top earning teen business person in the county or the whole country.

My business revenue at the moment is $100,000 per month but that will increase within the next few months. I don’t live a lavish lifestyle so I just reinvest all of the money back into the business.

Growing Up: How did you pick the name for your company and what does it mean?

In high school I started a fitness apparel brand called “Makhai Strength.” In Greek mythology, “Makhai” is the spirit of war, so I thought it was a fitting name for a fitness brand. I used to make my own shorts, sweatpants, and tank tops in high school with the “Makhai Strength” brand, then when I graduated and started this social media business, I just decided to go by the name “Makhai Media.”

Growing Up: At what age did you decide to become an entrepreneur? From where did you get that spirit? Your peers were serving coffee or working menial jobs. What separated you from them?

I’ve been an entrepreneur my whole life, people have even joked and said that I was “born in an entrepreneurial lab.” The earliest entrepreneurial thing I remember doing is drawing comics in third grade and selling them during recess.

Then in middle school I started doing people’s homework and selling Bass Pro Shops hats during lunch. Into high school I tried drop shipping, day trading, started a vending machine business, and did pretty much every side hustle you could think of.

A lot of the side hustles I did didn’t make me a lot of money, that was until I decided to start reselling on eBay. At age 16 I started driving to garage sales and thrift stores in Santa Cruz and would buy things that nobody wanted for a few dollars and sell them on eBay for way more. There were times were people would give away things like books for free, and I could sell those same books on eBay for $300!

In my first year of reselling on eBay and Amazon I did $200,000 in sales, and during this same time I would film a lot of TikToks that would go viral and eventually lead me to start the business that I run today.

Growing Up: What kind of grades did you get in high school? What were your favorite subjects? Did you consider college?

My freshman and sophomore year of high school I was a really good student. I had a 4.3 GPA and wanted to go to college just to play football so I wouldn’t have to work a normal job. I didn’t have a favorite subject, but I did have favorite classes.

In some of my classes my teachers would let me go on my phone or laptop since I finished work early, so I would be in class trying to script out new YouTube and TikTok videos or trying out new side hustles.

I also really liked lunch period because that’s when I could go around school and sell my clothing brand inventory to other kids. When my junior year of high school hit, I started making money reselling on eBay or Amazon, so I didn’t have to worry about working a normal job anymore.

As a result of this, I started doing really bad in school because I would ditch class to drive to thrift stores or Walmarts to source product for my reselling business. Since I would go on to make $300,000 in my last two years of high school, I didn’t think it was worth it for me to go to college because everything I was interested in I could learn on the internet.

Growing Up: What did your parents think of the unconventional directions you’ve taken?

My parents didn’t support it at first because they wanted me to go the college route. I can see where they’re coming from, because in their eyes I was a kid who had a 4.3 GPA who all of the sudden started getting D’s and F’s.

They knew I had my own side hustles but I never told them how much I made. So of course they would be upset because they thought I was throwing away my opportunity to get into a good college. Once I showed them how much I was making they became a little more supportive.

It’s hard being an teenage entrepreneur because our parents just want the best for us, and the truth is most businesses fail. Our parents are just trying to protect us, but sometimes you have to let their dreams of you die for your own to live.

I told my parents I wasn’t going to college. That did upset them for a bit. I had to stay true to what I wanted. Otherwise I would have resented them my whole life for not following what I truly wanted to do, which was be an entrepreneur.

My dad actually passed away when I was 17, a few days before I was supposed to graduate high school, so he never truly got to see how everything unfolded… but at his funeral, his co-workers told me how much he would brag about me and the things I was doing. If you’re taking the unconventional

route, you have to understand your parents love you, but you have to build the strength to go against what they want if they don’t fully support what you want.

Growing Up: You said you did people’s homework to earn money and also snuck vending machines into school. Did you get in trouble? Were those things legal and ethical?

None of the teachers or principals knew I was doing other people’s homework. If they did I would probably have been expelled but I didn’t mind. I was a really smart kid so I actually enjoyed writing essays and doing math.

As for the vending machines, I put up a bunch around town and then would put them in classrooms at my high school. I would donate 10% of all the money I made to a charity of the teacher’s choice, and everyone loved those machines.

Growing Up: How did you go from small business to founding an internet company?

I started Makhai Media as a local company. We would run social media accounts for businesses in Santa Cruz County. Then one day I decided to take the same system I created and apply it to businesses in San Jose and San Francisco. Once I figured out it could work in other cities, I went all in and built out teams all across America. This was only about four months ago… Now we’re just on a massive scaling journey.

Growing Up: How many people work for you and how big is the area you cover?

I have about four full time employees and around 20 part time employees/contractors. We have a local division, an ecommerce division, and an influencer division but we operate all across America

Growing Up: Can social media marketing really help small businesses? Is old world marketing, such as print and television ads, dead?

Social Media Marketing is the best form of marketing for small businesses today for a number of reasons, but here are some of my favorites.

1. Customers can see your brand’s messages FOR FREE through the organic algorithm! You don’t need to pay to get the word out to your customers.

2. It attracts MUCH BETTER talent and gets them bought into your vision way easier. My best employees all followed me on social media. I didn’t have to do much convincing on why they should work for me,. They saw what I was doing and were eager to work because of the vision, not just the money.

3. You build an audience on multiple platforms (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube) that you can retarget in ad campaigns. If you buy a billboard or TV ad, people might see it, but they have no direct contact to you… They cant directly message you from the billboard or TV, they can’t

click a button and be updated on all the new things your business is doing. If someone sees your ad on social media, however, they can directly click to your website or follow you to stay up to date with everything your business is doing.

Growing Up: What have been your most successful promotions and your biggest failures?

The thing that brought me the most success was bringing on a partner who had an opposing skill set as me. I’m really good at marketing and product but I suck at sales. So the moment I brought on someone who was good at sales, my business went from making $24,000 a month to $100,000 a month.

My failures have been plentiful. Like I said, I’ve tried a bunch of side hustles and failed most of them. I haven’t had any huge failures because I cut my losses short and weigh the risk of every situation. I don’t look at a lot of my “failures” and failures, I just see them as lessons and I learn from them.

Growing Up: It’s graduation season: What advice can you offer high school grads?

If you’re unsure about college or what you want to do in life, don’t take on a huge amount of debt to go to college just because society tells you it’s the right thing to do. Give it some time to think your decision through, or attend a cheaper community college so you can maybe transfer in the future.

Growing Up: How did you feel when you graduated high school? What were your biggest concerns?

I didn’t necessarily know what I wanted to do, but I knew I didn’t want to go the traditional route. I’m just glad that I kept doing my entrepreneurial ventures and never quit.

Growing Up: What makes Makhai better than its competitors across the country?

We honestly don’t have any competitors. No other company in America is scripting, filming, editing, and managing social media for more than a handful of businesses if any. What makes us different from most marketing agencies is my creativity.

I’ve amassed over 450,000 followers for my own social media accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube due to my creativity, and that’s definitely a rare trait.

On top of that I’ve spent hundreds of hours perfecting systems to ensure that we’re able to make more than 1500+ TikToks every single month… nobody else in the world can handle that amount of volume at the production level we’re at.

I’m good at marketing because I’m young and grew up with social media my whole life. While most people who run marketing agencies only do it for the money, I do it because I genuinely love making videos and marketing.

Online makhai.us

Twitter: @autsyn Facebook: facebook.com/autsyn

Summer Self-Care for Families

BY JAIME MCFADEN

Summer means: school’s out, kids are home and routines can go out the window. One of the greatest things you can do for your family this summer is map out some FUN ways to practice self-care. Just a refresher: self-care is all about taking responsibility for our wellness. It’s about making time to nourish our body, mind and spirit every day. As a parent, I believe the greatest gift we can give to our kids is leading by example when it comes to our health and well-being. The good news is you can still have all the FUN this summer and practice self-care. Not to mention, all of these tips are a perfect way to bond with members in your family. Here’s my 5 tips to embrace summer self-care!

DAILY DANCE PARTY!

Create a family playlist where everyone gets to pick their favorite songs and each morning pick one and everyone can dance around the house. Spending just 5 minutes moving our bodies is a great form of exercise and when we do it together with our family, we are cultivating connection. Dancing can feel “silly” to some family members so another idea is going for a walk after a meal together, a family plank challenge or even create an obstacle course in the yard! Most of all, have FUN while you move your body.

HOMEMADE POPSICLES

This is a favorite of my kid and all her friends. All you need is 2.5 cups of your favorite fruit, 5-6 tbsp honey, ½ tsp vanilla, ¾ c yogurt and ½ tsp lemon juice. Blend all ingredients up and pour into a popsicle mold. You can experiment with all sorts of flavors and colors to taste the rainbow AND get some nutritional value to your hot summer day!

STRESS

LESS ZONE

Use a calming breathing technique to chill ANYONE out this summer. When things get heated (not in the good way) choose a calming code word (ours is PINEAPPLE). Whenever someone says the word, anyone around takes three super deep breaths. Fully inhale through the nose and exhale out of the nose or mouth. See if you can lengthen the exhale longer and slower. This adds to the calming effect by activating our parasympathetic nervous system. Often times this ends in a bout of hysterical laughter which is the best part

QUALITY TIME RITUAL

Create ONE family ritual you can stick to most days of summer that is focused on QUALITY TIME. One of my favorite ways to do this is having NO electronics at the table when we eat. In our current culture almost every kid has a tablet/ipad at the table. I hate to break it to you, but this is feeding a bigger problem for a “quick fix.” If we don’t have any discipline around electronics, they will take over. Self-care is about cultivating discipline for our wellness in all areas. Quality time is so important for families and with all the stress in our lives often we skip it because we are burnt out or exhausted. The truth is, quality time can sometimes be a daily practice.:) Some other ones are: family walk around the block, or gratitude practice.

SAVE UP FOR A FUN

SUMMER ADVENTURE!

This one is definitely a favorite activity of mine and helps me to teach my daughter about MONEY! We love adventure and during the summer there are so many fun activities we want to go do. There are many which are free: beach, hiking, etc. But it’s also really fun to start a summer savings jar and plan a special activity you want to do as a family so everyone can help reach the goal. What I love most about this as a parent is teaching kids about what things cost, how to earn, save, redeem and get rewarded for planning ahead. So often we forget that finances are tied to self-care and money touches on ALL areas of our lives. Why not educate our kids while we plan some fun activities!

Many of us feel like self-care is selfish or something we are supposed to do alone. Let’s put that old theory behind and start working on our health

WITH the ones we love.

I created over 365 ways to practice selfcare in the book I wrote last year “Waves of Self-Care: It Takes a Village” and these are a few of my favorites for families. Summer is my favorite season. I have found it to be extra important to continue our self-care journey with our family!

Jaime McFaden is an international self-care specialist focusing on raising awareness of what self-care really means. She is a best-selling author of WAVES of Self-Care: It Takes a Village, and works with busy burnt out mamas supporting them on sustainable selfcare. Host of Self-Care secrets podcast. In her free time she spends time with her family playing at the beach. You can connect with her on social media @ jaimemcfaden or jaimemcfaden.com

VIEW

Elemental Tree Network Offers Natural Help for Trees

BY DANIELLA BLOMQUIST

Over 300 years have passed since California first felt the effects of colonization, but a key victim’s story is still unsung. Siena King, 32, and Sprout Weinberger, 26, are tree specialists tending to Santa Cruz and the greater Bay Area with one thing on their mind: restoration.

Siena and Sprout founded Elemental Tree Network, a queer women-owned company, in 2021 inspired by regenerative action and traditional ecological knowledge.

Sprout, a soil scientist, oak specialist and arborist was born and raised in Malibu. She moved to Santa Cruz to study Biology and Horticulture at Cabrillo which led her to Santa Cruz Permaculture Program in 2018, where she met Siena: her partner in life and business. She later went on to earn a degree at UC Davis in Environmental Science and Management with a focus on Soils and Biogeochemistry.

Siena is a Santa Cruz local who has worked as a property caretaker for many years. Her passion for ecology and holistic health are the backbone of the organic principles that Elemental Tree

Network is based on.

“As women, we have intuition with how to nurture and be present in this work. It’s not about a bottom line, it’s about doing what’s best for the trees.” Siena said. Their knowledge, first-hand experience, and numerous mentors, have helped Siena and Sprout to implement

a natural, chemical free method of disease mitigation and treatment for various tree diseases including the seemingly incurable: sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum).

A key contributor to the ecological destruction we see today is the lack of land stewardship. “People do not know

they need our services… they don’t know their tree is sick or stressed.” Sprout said. Indications of imbalance include insect activity, bare soil, canopy dieback, and bleeding cankers on the bark.

Elemental Tree Network offers tree health care from a prescriptive approach: fertilization using organic amendments, soil remediation through compost and mulching, diagnosis of plant disorders and treatments including surgical removal of infections, cauterization with fire and application of a proprietary medicinal wood sealant.

Siena says, “Our approach is with the intention of inspiring a deeper connection with the landscape we are living with. We share our knowledge to maintain a healthy ecosystem and help others have a healthier relationship with the beings around them”.

Siena and Sprout can be contacted through their website, www. elementaltreenetwork.org, their Instagram @elemental_tree_network, or through their phone number 310.525.8201 to provide diagnosis, treatment, and education to your backyard.

Treasure Hunting in Monterey

BY ERIK CHALHOUB

Ready to hunt for some undersea treasure in Monterey?

Treasure Hunt: The Ride will soon open on Cannery Row, taking riders on an interactive, pirate-themed adventure as they battle not only friends and family to score the most booty, but also against ghosts, skeletons and other creatures that lurk in the “newly discovered” caverns.

Located near the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the ride will feature handcrafted set pieces, animatronics and special effects blended with interactive media. Riders will use onboard interactive “Treasure Collector” devices (think Ghost Blasters at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk) to rack up a score.

Treasure Hunt is the brainchild of manufacturer Sally Dark Rides, known for its attractions such as the Haunted Castle at the Boardwalk and Justice League at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and fabrication experts Daniels Wood Land, who were involved with the architecture on the Boardwalk’s new main entrance in 2017.

The ride at 700 Cannery Row is squeezed into an 8,145-square-foot area, which includes the queue and maintenance areas. Six four-passenger vehicles will traverse a track, which is expected to take about four-and-a-half minutes. A six-minute pre-show is also planned, featuring an animatronic pirate and parrot hoping to entice passersby.

“Cannery Row is an incredible destination, and it provides the perfect setting for us to weave a new story about a legendary pirate captain, hidden treasure, spooky caverns, a mythical kraken and even the rising tide of the Bay,” said Ron Daniels, president of Daniels Wood Land, in a press release. “Artisans have been working around the clock to craft the perfect environment for the experience. Wooden planks, cave walls, stalactites, skeleton bones, canons, treasure chests and countless gold coins have been strategically placed. The track is completed, and the ride vehicles are exploring the twists and turns. Thematic lighting is complete and we are well on our way to soon welcome our first guests.”

Treasure hunters can keep track of the ride’s progress and opening date by visiting treasurehuntride.com.

SUMMER RUSH BEGINS

It’s June, so that means summer is heating up and getting loud at the Boardwalk.

On Thursdays from June 15 to Aug. 10, bands from across the Bay Area will bring the party to the Colonnade Stage in front of the Pirate Ship. On tap to perform from 8:30-10pm are Santa Cruz favorite Extra Large, Man in Black, Tsunami Band and others.

The summer movie series kicks off June

16 with the screening of “The Lost Boys.” The series runs every Friday at 9pm through Aug. 11, featuring “Space Jam,” “Selena, “Top Gun: Maverick” and more.

Daily entertainment is also on tap from June 19 through Aug. 11, featuring two performances from magicians, acrobats, jugglers and comedians. Performances will take place on the Colonnade Stage in front of the Pirate Ship and near Logger’s Revenge.

More information on the summer entertainment lineup can be found at beachboardwalk.com/events.

CHAPERONE POLICY NOW IN EFFECT

Parents and guardians of younger teens, be aware of this change in operations at California’s Great America.

In late April, a new chaperone policy went into effect in an effort to curb the number of “unruly” incidents that have

plagued theme parks nationwide over the past two years, according to the park.

Under the policy, all guests ages 15 years old or younger must be accompanied by a chaperone who is at least 21 years old in order to be admitted to, or remain in, the park after 4pm to closing time. The chaperone must show a government-issued photo identification with date of birth at ticket entry. One chaperone may accompany no more than 10 guests ages 15 or younger per day, the policy states. For information on the policy, visit cagreatamerica.com/code-of-conduct.

SAVE THE DATES

Lakeside Splash: Gilroy Gardens is debuting a new water area this summer. Taking over the former Bonfante Falls section, the area is equipped with new water slides, interactive features,

upgraded cabanas and a new restaurant, The Smokehouse BBQ.

CARNIVALE AT ORLEANS PLACE

California’s Great America’s annual celebration of Mardi Gras returns July 19.

Fiesta en la Playa: The Boardwalk will celebrate the Latino community with mariachi performances, folklorico dancers and a free beach concert on Sept. 9.

Fall Campout: Set up your tents overnight at the Boardwalk from Sept. 29-30. Registration will be available soon at beachboardwalk.com/BoardwalkOvernights.

Treasure Hunt is scheduled to open soon in Monterey.

Community Bridges’ Early Education Division is HIRING!

The first five years of a child’s life are critical to their health and success. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of Santa Cruz County’s young learners and empower them to succeed. With schools in WATSONVILLE, SANTA CRUZ, and the SAN LORENZO VALLEY, you can cut your commute and positively impact your community today!

Start Your Career in Education Today! Offering

• $1,000 hiring bonus (After completion of 6-month probationary period)

• Starting salary for teachers is $23.09-$29.75 per hour, and site supervisors start at $65,374 per year

• Robust package of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with 5% match and more

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

Celebrating Kids Helping Others

BY HEIDI NYBURG

Maybe it’s the salt air, the towering redwoods, or the sparkling ocean - who knows? But there is something about growing up in Santa Cruz that does a kid good. Santa Cruz kids know how to do good by contributing to their community and beyond.

Please meet Vivienne, a third grader at Santa Cruz Montessori and a kid who is growing up doing good. She recently started a month-long donation drive in her classroom and neighborhood to raise money and gather supplies for the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter and for the Santa Cruz SPCA. We had a chance to sit down with Vivienne and chat with her about her experience helping others.

Vivienne, what inspired you or gave you the idea to help animals?

I saw an ad where this kid had a van full of stuff to give out to people who didn’t have a place to live. He gave them toothbrushes and snacks and all kinds of things they needed, and it made everyone really happy. So, I wanted to try to help somewhere too, and I chose to help animals.

What kinds of things did you gather in the drive?

Harnesses, leashes, clean blankets and towels, dog food, cat food, and money. I raised $230.81.

How did you raise the money?

I made bracelets, custom bracelets with names on them and when someone donated money or anything I gave them

a bracelet. And my parents said they would donate and match how much money I raised. I made forty-three bracelets for the school donations and in my neighborhood, I made 12 bracelets.

What was your favorite part about running a donation drive? Helping the animals.

What did you learn along the way?

I got to see the animals at the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter, and I met Dana. And I met Pete at the SPCA, and he gave me and my mom a tour of the entire SPCA and I got to learn how everything works. The animals at the SPCA get to hear different music and sounds and smell different things every day to help them get ready to be adopted. It was so cool.

Who were your favorite animals that you met? At the animal shelter I liked Betty the cat and at the SPCA I liked Topsy and Turvy, they are sibling kittens.

What is your advice to other kids who want to help in their community? Do it well. Oh, and be organized.

If you know a kid who is out there working hard to make a difference and would like to share their story and inspire other kids please email your contact info to editor@ growingupsantacruz.com for a chance to be featured and to win a prize.

Mount Madonna School wishes you much success as you continue on your journey: California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo; Clarkson University; Purchase College, State University of New York; Tulane University, University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, San Diego; and University of California, Santa Barbara.

Vivienne and SPCA Development and SPCA Accountant Dana Morey.

Neurodivergent Student Shares Secrets of Success

BY JEANETTE PRATHER

Meet Abby. She’s an independent, kind and funny 26-year-old who lives in Santa Cruz and loves hanging out with friends. Abby was born very prematurely and underwent a slew of surgeries as a baby, which left her with a phobia of doctors and hospitals. Abby’s not the kind of person who would allow physical limitations to stop her. Her desire to help others like her has led her to write a book that she plans to publish later this year. What do you want to do when you enter the workforce?

Be a therapist for people with mental health issues.

I have to be in school and it’s a long road to become a therapist, but I want to help people. It would require counseling classes, specifically. I basically want to work with people who have mental health issues like trauma. For example, I have a counselor who works with me and specializes in trauma and PTSD, and it’s helping it go away. Whatever the trigger is, counselors can help lessen that. I want to become a licensed therapist for PTSD, too. I want to work with people and help them, especially if they had a traumatic birth like I did.

A couple of techniques I’ve used is rapid eye movement (EMDR) and

systematic desensitization. I love to research things that interest me and also to help people.

What is your origin story?

I was born three months early at one pound.

That resulted in me having a brain injury. My twin sister, Libby, has a severe brain injury, whereas mine’s milder.

That carved out my entire life, but despite my challenges I keep forging onward. Over the course of 26 years, my birth story has been my seed trauma. I discovered EMDR to help alleviate my

triggers. That’s been very helpful for me. I’ve adopted many ways to heal like working with a trauma release therapist, writing and journaling – although I haven’t done that in a while – and a lot of movement and exercise. I also listen to things that make me happy like music and podcasts. What is it like growing up and living with Neurodivergence

I grew up in Grass Valley. My mom homeschooled me, then I went to public school, and then I went back to the charter school and homeschool. It was easier for me to manage homework and the subjects at home rather than in school. Now I’m college-aged and taking a class at Cabrillo, which is a little challenging. I’m discovering that I have light sensitivity issues and the classroom has fluorescent lighting. Recently, I had to look away from the slides that my teacher was showing on a presentation because the mixture of the material and lights were triggering for me. I identify with having ADHD and on the autism spectrum. I never got tested but I think I have it.

I discovered that I’m neurodivergent during the pandemic. I found other people like that, which gave me the sense of

normalization. I’ve done a lot of internal healing and work recently, too. Despite not being diagnosed with PTSD, I think I have it from my birth story. I clearly do. I’m gathering the tools and resources to work through all of this. I plan to publish a book this year about my story. I keep going even though I’ve discovered sensitivities to light and sound. Like, I hate ambulances and sirens.

I recently did a whole paper on PTSD for my class at Cabrillo, and my teacher will be grading it. I researched it and even though I haven’t been diagnosed with PTSD, everybody has it. Everybody has some form of trauma. I watched a video on it, and I’m amazed at how common it is.

What do you like to do on your spare time?

I like A-Typical because it brings underrepresented perspectives forward and helps me understand what goes on with me from a different point of view. It shows me others out there who are neurodivergent with their own things going on. It also helps give me vocabulary to talk about this.

I like to run around and go crazy sometimes. I also hang out with my older sister, play with my fidget spinner and get lost in adventure stories.

COE Announces Educator of the Year Awards

BY SANTA CRUZ COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education announced the recipients of the 2023 Santa Cruz County Educator of the Year Awards, honors awarded to staff from across the county who exemplify educational excellence and embody the values of our school community.

Honorees received a plaque recognizing their service to Santa Cruz County and their names will be engraved in the Educators of the Year perpetual plaque hanging in the foyer of the Santa Cruz COE.

A selection committee reviewed nominations using the California Standards for the Teaching Profession, the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders, and the following criteria:

• Ability to create a passion for learning

• High expectations for all students

• Strong communication and collaborative skills

• Strong sense of values, integrity, and professional ethics

• Knowledge of subject and curriculum content

•Commitment to the community they serve

Typically a single individual or organization is selected for each award category. However, this year the selection process resulted in a tie for the Administrator of the Year Award, leading to two recipients sharing the honor of 2023 Santa Cruz County Administrator of the Year.

2023 TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Recipient: Maria Ferreira, Special Education Teacher, Post Senior Class, Santa Cruz County Office of Education

spending countless hours doing and coordinating therapy for her boys. Her two sons with autism are now young adults and although they have many needs, they are both thriving young adults.

Maria has dedicated her teaching career to supporting students with special needs to have full access to the community and learn crucial safety and life skills while having a positive experience.

2023 CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR

Recipient: Paige Lynd, Administrative Assistant, Happy Valley School, Happy Valley Elementary School District

At a young age, he learned the importance of working hard and having the resiliency to overcome many obstacles while learning the values and struggles of a first-generation immigrant family.

Like any young man of his generation, Jose had to make difficult choices to stay engaged in school. The Cabrillo Advancement Scholarship Program was an eye opener to his full potential which led him to discover his passions which paved a path to higher education.

After graduating from San Jose State University with a BA in Sociology and Mexican American Studies, he returned to his community to work as an assistant Social Worker.

cycling, music, woodworking, and spending quality time with his daughter Milan and partner Nancy.

Maria has been teaching special education for 18 years, from Early Intervention to adults ages 18-22. She joined the COE in 2017 and currently teaches a Post Senior Class. An immigrant from Paraguay who moved to the U.S. as a young adult, Maria learned English while attending Fresno City College and eventually transferred to Fresno State University where she earned her teaching credential.

She developed a passion for special education after her first son was diagnosed with autism at age 2. Soon after, her second son was also diagnosed with autism and she decided to make special education her career while also

Paige has served as an Administrative Assistant at Happy Valley for over 15 years and prior to that was a parent volunteer for over 5 years as both of her children attended the school. Being a small, one school, school district, the role of Administrative Assistant can be summed up as everyone and everything. Her background in bookkeeping and as a registered nurse helped prepare her to take on the many roles required in the position at a small, one-school district. Some days that can consist of payroll, HR, accounts payable, attendance, and state and federal reporting, while other days it’s everything from maintenance, snakes in classrooms, and flooding buildings to band-aids and first aid to students. “The students are definitely the best part of my job,” she says. “No day is the same, and I never get bored!”

2023

Recipient: Jose G. Morelos, Academic Counselor, Pajaro Middle School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District

After a few years of working in the medical field, Jose returned to his true passion, teaching, and he went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Counseling Education and PPS credential. Jose has worked as a counselor for 15 years, 11 of those at Pajaro Middle School. He also serves his community of Pajaro as an advocate, leader, and mentor for families, colleagues, and students, working to inspire and guide future firstgeneration professionals.

2023 -ADMINISTRATORS OF THE YEAR

Recipients: Craig Broadhurst, Principal, Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School, Soquel Union Elementary School District

Melissa is in her third year as the Assistant Principal at Shoreline Middle School, where she has proudly worked for 18 years as a math teacher, instructional coach, and administrator. She is recognized by colleagues for demonstrating the highest level of commitment to serving each student, staff member, and parent through an equity lens. Melissa is married with two amazing children, ages 12 and 9, and has been part of the Santa Cruz community for almost 30 years.

2023 COMMUNITY PARTNER OF THE YEAR

Recipient: NAMI Santa Cruz County

youngest of seven children to a widowed mother, who worked day in and day out to be the sole provider to her children.

Craig is an accomplished educational professional with over three decades of experience. He currently serves as Principal of Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary School, before which he taught upper elementary and two years of middle school physical education from 1988 to 2007 – including a two-year position at the Vienna International School in Austria.

Craig then embarked on a sixteenyear administrative career, starting as an assistant principal in Pajaro Valley Unified School District and later serving as the principal of Main Street Elementary andNew Brighton Middle School. During his time at New Brighton Middle School, Craig successfully implemented the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) elective program to enhance college and career readiness for students.

Alongside his dedication to education, Craig enjoys an active lifestyle through sports and hobbies such as soccer,

NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Santa Cruz County deeply values inclusion, empowerment, and equity, striving for well-being for all through education, support, and advocacy for those with mental health conditions, their loved ones, and the surrounding community. Its programs include evidence-based support groups and classes for students, their caregivers, and school staff, as well as Help Lines for those looking for oneon-one support in connecting to local resources. NAMI programs are offered in both English and Spanish, are always free of cost to participants, and require only self-identification to join. NAMI aims to help transform isolation into community, stigma about mental illness into compassion and understanding, and a lack of resources into abundant and high-quality care. Find out more at namiscc.org.

COUNSELOR OF THE YEAR

Jose is an academic counselor at Pajaro Middle School. He was raised in the Community of Watsonville and is the

Melissa Nix, Assistant Principal, Live Oak Elementary School, Live Oak School District

Nurse-Family Partnership Provides Support

BY LAURA MAXSON, LM

Being pregnant with a first child comes with lots of changes. In the best of situations it can be a challenge for expectant families to find their way through the many decisions that need to be made. And when the situation isn’t optimal?

It can feel like a wild ride, as new issues come up faster and faster. An expectant parent can quickly become overwhelmed with so much new information to absorb and situations to work out.

Luckily, Santa Cruz County provides a wonderful program to help first-time mothers/pregnant people navigate the sometimes complicated new world a pregnancy can bring. The NurseFamily Partnership (NFP) is a free and voluntary program that provides incredible value to mothers, babies, parents, families, and society.

The NFP focuses first on the pregnant person, then continues support up to two years after the baby’s arrival. Although focused on the mother and baby, it is often the entire family that benefits from the program’s influence.

The first-time, low-income pregnant

parent needs to sign up during pregnancy before 28 weeks. NFP provides a specially trained nurse to meet with them. Every parent/nurse partnership is a little bit different and is designed to be flexible.

Generally, consultations are more frequent during pregnancy, meeting every week or two. After the baby arrives monthly meetings are common depending on each family’s individual needs. Some people may initially be skeptical of joining up with a county home visiting program, worried about feeling spied upon. What participants find however, is a marvelous safety net of information and resources tailored to their specific needs.

While nurses often do meet up in their clients’ homes, appointments can also take place in local coffee shops, during a lunch break from work or wherever else the client feels comfortable.

An informative video about the NFP program with comments from professionals and parents is available on YouTube at this url: youtube.com/ watch?v=rn8V784A6tE.

Letter to the Editor

Thanks for the Advice on Overscheduling Children

For decades now, through children and grandchildren, we’ve been fielding every kind of question you pose regarding how best to support and enhance children’s love for learning and life. In every case it turns out the answers lie in presencing with where this particular child meets you and what structure will best serve them.

I never forgot the late Professor William Irwin Thompson saying our high ideal must be a “robust intergenerational transmission”. In his case he told the story of his 11 year old son coming home one day from school in complete meltdown and saying to his father, “If you loved me you wouldn’t send me to that school.” Thompson was shocked to realize, he knew in that moment, that this was not the histrionics of a young boy but the cry of an ancient soul. Together they figured out what to do next. His son’s emergence through his teen years was astonishingly rich and today he is an esteemed professor of philosophy.

One piece of wisdom I very much appreciated seeing in Growing up in Santa Cruz years ago was about the very real problem in our day and age of overscheduling children. Our 13-year-old recently, as we were going over her upcoming schedule asked, “But is there me time?”

Yes! There is. And I’m heartily glad you know to inquire!

Corrina McFarlane

While every new baby brings change, a first pregnancy can bring questions and worries to the anticipation of becoming a parent. Although everyone’s situation is different, most appreciate this additional support. The NFP nurse can often help navigate issues dealing with relationships, housing, finances, health, or other life situations.

Pregnancy is a time when families are motivated to make positive changes in their lives. The NFP can give them the opportunity and resources to really sort things out for the better. The nurses provide a wealth of information assisting with logistics such as arranging prenatal appointments and new baby visits, nurses can also assist in understanding postpartum recovery and baby’s developmental milestones.

When meeting in the homes of their clients, nurses can better assess current and upcoming needs each family may have. Well versed in community programs and available resources, NFP nurses can help navigate the paperwork to get signed up for classes and programs families might not know exist.

Denny Post, board member of NurseFamily Partnership says, “Nurse-Family Partnership’s intervention offers a multi generational effect; strong moms raise strong children, strong children become strong parents.” NFP works hard to follow the heart’s desire of each client. They are there to support, not to direct or preach. Potential clients or practitioners looking for more information can call 831.454.4339 or text 831.566.3592. The county of Santa Cruz Website also has information about the NFP, here is a shortened link to the webpage tinyurl.com/3v9jnuvt.

With over 40 years of evidence-based, documented positive outcomes, the Nurse-Family Partnership continues to grow in popularity. Santa Cruz County is one of the lucky communities to offer this incredibly successful program.

Tips for Dads and Father Figures

BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW

I have many happy childhood memories of my dad playing the guitar and singing, instigating highly competitive family croquet tournaments (which my dad usually won), and teaching my siblings and me how to use tools then creating a “workshop” in the garage so we could experiment with wood scraps — just to name a few.

Other childhood memories involve events that were stressful then but hold a special place in my heart now – like the time my dad convinced me to go on an amusement park ride with him and I ended up crying in terror every time the ride dipped and my stomach dropped. I buried my face in my dad’s chest while he held me tight and reassured me it would be over soon (laughing and enjoying the ride the whole time).

Whether those memories are filled with joy or fear, I recall how my dad’s words and presence made me feel safe, secure, loved, and cared for. During this month of celebrating and supporting dads, I hope that every child has a dad, stepdad, uncle, papá, foster dad, or other father figure who makes them feel this way, too.

This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is raising children, based on

the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have questions for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole,

My partner and I just adopted two siblings – a 5-year old boy and an 8-month old girl. We’ve always wanted to be dads but we’re total newbies. Neither of us had good role models when we were growing up. We want things to be different with our kids, but we don’t know what we’re doing. Got any tips for us? -Sergio

Dear Sergio, Congratulations on becoming dads! Fathers and father figures play a critical role in children’s well-being, but it still takes time, practice, and patience to be the kind of dad you want to be. That’s because parenting is hard work and children don’t come with an instruction manual! Here are some tips to try: Spend quality time with your children every day. Find moments throughout the day to give them your undivided attention and affection. Turn everyday tasks such as changing diapers,

eating meals, and getting dressed into quality time by giving a hug, smiling, or talking with them. This kind of brief and frequent quality time lets your children know you love and care for them, and that you’re available when they need you. This is the foundation for positive relationships throughout life.

Do engaging activities together. This is another way to spend quality time together while encouraging learning, curiosity, creativity, and skill-building. Read books, play games, go on walks, make meals together – these are all things you can do with your children at any age that will become the basis of their happy childhood memories. Do activities that your children are interested in and follow their lead. And yes, this could mean playing endless games of peek-a-boo or reading the same book a million times.

Work as a team with your partner. Talk with your partner about the family rules and expectations that matter to both of you, including how you will handle discipline. This will help make sure you’re on the same page as a parenting team before challenges occur. Make time for you and your partner to

talk and connect.

Be the role model you wish you’d had. Your children are constantly learning by watching and listening to the way you communicate with others, handle emotions, and solve problems – even when it seems like they’re not paying attention to you.

Final Thoughts: Being a loving, nurturing, supportive father or father figure supports children’s self-esteem, emotional resilience, social skills, and school readiness, and increases their chances of success in school and other activities throughout life.

Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 19 and 23, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P - Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit triplep.first5scc.org, facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

Emmerson Age 6

Omie Age 7

Lily Age 7

Zoe Age 8

Liv Age 5

Henry Age 3

Lorenzo Age 2

Lana Age 6

FRI 2

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. Many venues entice attendees with yummy cheese-and-wine-filled spreads, while others have food trucks joining in on the fun.

Moonlight Madness 6-10pm Come spend an evening of astronomy and galactic greatness at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Enjoy live jazz music, astronomy arts and crafts, listen to a guest speaker, explore the redwood grove beneath the moonlight, and stargaze with the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club! Meet in front of the visitor center. Free event. Vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call 831.335.7077.

JUNE 3-30

Storywalk on the Patio 10am-5pm Fun for all ages! Follow the pages around the patio on this self-guided stroll and read a beautifully illustrated story along the way.

“The Keeper of Wild Words” by Brooke Smith is presented for your enjoyment by the Friends of the Scotts Valley Branch Library during the month of June.

SAT 3

First Saturday Tours 11am-12:30pm The first Saturday of each month, the Arboretum offers a docent or staff-led tour of the Arboretum. Sometimes you will see New Zealand, South Africa, California or Australia. Sometimes you might see combinations of several gardens, the developing World Conifer Collection, or Rare Fruit Garden. Tour length varies depending on what’s in bloom and what the participants request.

TUES 6

High School Youth Group 6:308:30pm Throughout the Summer on Tuesday nights, students entering 9th through 12th grades are invited to this casual group where friendships to last an eternity are fostered. For more information, email adam@bccchurch. org or visit the events calendar at www. bccchurch.org.

JUNE 12-16

STELLAR! Vacation Bible Camp 5-7:30pm Get those moon boots on and blast off for an out-of-this-world adventure! Each day will be filled with immersive Bible-learning, sciency-fun gizmos, games, music, and fantastic dinners as we learn how to see evidence of God in every day life. For kids entering kinder - 5th Grades (2023-2024). Register at www.bccchurch.org.

SUN 14

The Santa Cruz Antique Faire 8am6pmThe fair is held the second Sunday of every month. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles and more on Lincoln Street between Pacific and Cedar. downtownsantacruz.com/see/downtownantique-faire

SUN 18

10th Annual SCM Makers Market 10am-5pm Find one-of-a-kind handmade items from local artists and makers. Enjoy live music, food, beer and wine. At Hallcrest Vineyards in Felton. scmmakersmarket.com

Parent Child Classes

June 2

Broken English w/opener Soquel High Jazz Band

June 9

The Neverland Band w/opener Shoreline Middle School “Summer Band”

June 16

James Durbin & The Lost Boys w/opener Coffee Zombie Collective

June 23

Ribsys Nickel w/opener Joshua Cremer

June 30

Afrobeats Nite Santa Cruz w/opener Carolyn Sills Duo eventsantacruz.com/event/midtown-fridays-summer-block-party-2023

Fall Session

Sept 29th – Dec 8th Friday, 9-10:30am or 11-12:30pm

An introduction for you and your young child to the rich, developmental approach of Waldorf Education (walking to 3 years).

Register today!

SAT 17

Santa Cruz Juneteenth Noon-5pm

Juneteenth is a special day for anyone who believes in freedom and equality for all people. Enjoy music, poetry, dance, delicious soul food, arts & crafts, basketball skills contest and the annual sack race! In Laurel Park. Free

SAT 24

Summer Kick-Off Festival 11am-3pm

This annual festival promises to be a day of nature-filled family fun — both out in the sunshine and within our Museum galleries. Free admission to the Museum and outdoor festivities. At Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History Entertainment in the Amphitheater.

Woodies on the Wharf 10am-3:30pm

Come see the more than 200 “Woodies”, gorgeous, pre-1950s cars that feature wood bodies, line the Santa Cruz Wharf. Stroll the Wharf and enjoy dozens of shops and restaurants and stellar coastal views while you soak up the sun and beauty of Northern California’s premier “Woodie” show. At 3:30pm, be sure to take part in the Woodies Send-Off Parade! Alternative transportation available to the wharf including free bike valet and the Santa Cruzer Beach and Downtown Shuttle ($1)

SUN 25

Sunday Art at the Beach 11am5pm Enjoy an afternoon in Capitola at the Sunday Art at the Beach event this summer at Esplanade Park overlooking the Monterey Bay. Browse quality artwork including painting, photography, sculpture, jewelry, and mixed media from local artists. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public.

Summer Reading Program Encourages Kids to Explore

BY AMANDA ROTELLA

The theme at the Santa Cruz Public Libraries this summer is FIND YOUR VOICE! Our voices have power. We use our voices to share stories, express ourselves, and spark change. Our voices include not only the sounds we make, but the words we write, the art we create, the movements we perform, and the actions we take each day to impact our world.

The Library Summer Reading Program encourages children to explore the world of books during their summer break. We want to foster a love for reading and learning, while preventing the summer slide—a phenomenon where students lose academic skills and knowledge over the summer months. Engaging in reading activities during this time helps children maintain and even enhance their literacy skills, ensuring a smoother transition back to school in the fall.

The Summer Reading Program offers a wide range of benefits for kids. Firstly, it allows them to discover the joy of reading for pleasure, without the pressures of school assignments or exams.

By choosing books based on their interests and preferences, children can immerse themselves in captivating stories, explore new worlds, and develop their imagination. Reading during the summer also enhances vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills, while expanding their knowledge on various subjects.

As part of the Summer Reading Program, kids, teens, and families are encouraged to track how much they read to earn gift certificates to Atlantis Fantasy World and the Boardwalk Bowl, scoops of ice cream from The Penny Ice Creamery, and raffle tickets for the grand prize of a new bike!

The library also provides a variety of FREE programs to make the summer even more engaging and interactive. Join us for special events featuring the Circus of Smiles, Python Ron’s Reptile Kingdom, the faeries from Happily Ever Laughter, and more!

We also have poetry workshops, family crafts and movie nights, and weekly storytimes for toddlers and preschoolers. These activities not only foster a sense of community among young readers but also promote creativity and collaboration.

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries Summer Reading Program is a valuable opportunity for children to continue their reading journey during the summer months.

By participating in this program and exploring the diverse range of books and activities available, kids can develop a lifelong love for reading, improve their literacy skills, and make the most of their time away from school.

We encourage you to read for fun, to learn a new skill, to make a new friend, and find your voice at the Santa Cruz Public Library this summer!

Everyone can participate in Summer Reading using the paper log or the Beanstack App. Visit any open branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries to sign up or go online. For a complete list of all the Summer Reading Program activities and locations, see the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Summer Reading Program page at SantaCruzpl.org/SRP.

SCPL Receives Grant for New Laptops for STEAM Program

The Santa Cruz Public Libraries (SCPL) was awarded a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to purchase 21 new laptops for the “Afterschool STEAM” program at the La Selva Beach Branch Library. In this program, students ages 8-18 learn basic engineering principals while playing Minecraft. Afterschool STEAM takes place at the La Selva Beach Branch Library on Thursdays from 4:15pm-5:30pm.

This program was supported by the IMLS under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered in California by the State Librarian. The LSTA is the only federal program exclusively for libraries. State libraries use the funds to support statewide initiatives and also distribute the funds through subgrants or cooperative agreements to public, school, academic, research, and special libraries. There is a

requirement for a state match, which helps stimulate approximately three to four dollars for every federal dollar invested. SCPL gives students of all ages the opportunity to learn and excel through supportive programming, and access to resources. SCPL provides 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 the diverse programs available each week.

Exhausted in the Best Way

BY SARAH SAVASKY

My granddaughter is exhausting. But I’m not complaining. When I am with her, I am all in. When she is hungry, I feed her, when she wants to climb up the stairs, I follow behind her ready to catch her if she falls.

When she wants to open and close and open and close and open and close the cupboard doors, I sit patiently on the stool until something else catches her eye.

The cat walks in, unaware that there is a strange and scary little being who is about to squeal with delight at her presence. She follows the frightened kitty into the bedroom, and I am right there with her. “The kitty isn’t sure about you, bug,” I tell her. She smiles, more determined than ever.

She is always in the present moment, and when I am with her so am I. This might be the only time I am.

My granddaughter is exhausting, that is why I do what everyone tells new mothers to do, (although they never do it because they have a to-do list, another child, a meal to prepare, clothes to wash) My list sits politely somewhere in the

back of my mind. I sleep when the baby sleeps. Well, I don’t sleep, that would be out of the question. I have to be alert; in case she wakes up. I can’t let go in that way; I can’t let my guard down. What if she wakes up and I don’t?

So, no I don’t sleep, I rest. I rest with her sleeping on my chest. Sometimes for hours. and every so often, or more like every few minutes, I smell the top of her head or kiss it gently.

I listen to her breathe and watch whatever show I am currently binging, with the volume very low. It doesn’t matter if I miss some of the action.

Sometimes she wakes up and lifts her head and looks at me and smiles and lays her rosy cheek on my chest again and falls back into a peaceful sleep. Sometimes she wakes up crying and tosses her head and body around and lays her head down with a bit of a thump and fusses for a while.

I sing her favorite song. I’ve always been embarrassed to sing in front of anyone, but I sing and my voice, my notso-great voice, soothes her back to sleep.

I hope I was this way with my own babies, but I’m not sure I was. The truth is I don’t remember. I remember feeling worried all the time. Worried that I was doing something, maybe everything wrong.

Now, with her, I know that I am doing

everything right.

When she wakes up there is no more rest, there is diaper changing and lunch and following her carefully as she climbs up the stairs again and gets too close to the kitty litter and has to be distracted. And I carry her back down the stairs very carefully, I am too old to do this, and she too heavy for me to carry. But here I am carrying her down the stairs. I can’t lift her car seat with her in it, but somehow, I get her in the car. I can’t push the stroller up and down the hill, but she loves the bumpy road so here we go again.

At the end of the day, I am eager for her dad to come and take her. But then when he does of course it’s bittersweet. And I am exhausted in the best way. If you are enjoying my column or have a topic you’d like me to write about, I’d love to hear from you at sarahsavasky@ gmail.com.

Bay Photo

Soquel Location: 2959 Park Avenue, Suite A

Eastside Location: 715 Soquel Avenue

Soquel: 831.475.6090 | Eastside: 831.425.1100

BayPhotoLocal.com

Role models, super heroes, adventurers, goofballs, guardians… celebrate awesome dads with the moments they’re most proud of, turned into works of art that they will be excited to share!

Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar

1100 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831.469.4400 kiantis.com

Celebrating Grads and Dads! Let Kianti’s cater your graduation or Father’s Day party with delicious food and Kianti’s BOGO alcohol bottles. Also offering family size meals. Visit kiantis.com/catering.