June 2021 Growing Up in Santa Cruz

June 2021

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CONGRATULATIONS GATEWAY CLASS OF 2021

Music and Movement for families with children Birth to 8 years old.

Gateway’s Class of 2021 graduates are going on to the following high schools: Georgiana Bruce Kirby School, Harbor High School, Santa Cruz High School, Scotts Valley High School

READY TO ROCK?

LESSONS ★ CAMPS VOCAL • BANDS • PERFORMANCE REMOTE OR SAFELY IN-PERSON • AGES 4 TO ADULT BENATURALMUSICSANTACRUZ.COM ★ 831.515.8369 2

JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

(831) 332-9002 | MusicalMe.com

Creating a more peaceful world through education.

Features

Jim Booth Swim School

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Evenings • Saturday Classes • Birthday Parties

The BEST in Baby Swimming!

Start at 4 months in our 94 ° indoor pool!

Dads & Grads Gift Guide

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NOW

OPEN

June's Artist: Killian O'Brien

Editor's Note.................................4 Parenting......................................5 Youth Writer.................................6 Ask Nicole.....................................7 Calendar.......................................8 Your Pet........................................12 Local News....................................13 Always Amused.............................14 Teacher's Desk...............................15 Birth Matters................................16 Parenting......................................17 Inside Ed.......................................18 Tech Talk.......................................19 Local News....................................20 Your Home...................................21 Dads and Grads.............................22 Local News....................................23 Moms Who Make a Difference......24 Local Artist...................................25 Plethora of Pets.............................26 County Scoop...............................28 Coloring Page...............................29 Local News: Red Ball.....................31 Summer Activity Guide................32 MOM-ing......................................35

Now at Harvey West in Santa Cruz and Watsonville indoor and outdoor pools.

722-3500

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EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford, Steve Dinnen ART DIRECTOR

Zelzi Belle | Christy Shults DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein CONTRIBUTORS

Patty Benson, Lisa Catterall, Jhoneé Fillmore, Seb Frey, Gretchen Heimsoth Chris Jackson, Joni Martin, Laura Maxson, Jeanette Prather, Christy Shults, Suki Wessling, Nicole Young PHOTOGRAPHER

Kevin Painchaud AD REPRESENTATIVES

Adventure Sports Where Santa Cruz learns to love the water Kelp pickling classes Family-friendly trips

Ann Fitts  ann@growingupsc.com Linda Kay  linda@growingupsc.com Sophie Veniel  sophie@growingupsc.com

Swimming

CONTACT US

A n d co m i n g t h i s s u m m e r

408.656.1519 editor@growingupsc.com

P.O. Box 3505, Santa Cruz, CA 95063

JUNE 2021 | VOL. 26 NO. 6 Printed lovingly by Fricke-Parks Press.

Growing Up in Santa Cruz copyright 2021. Printed in the U.S.A. All views expressed represent those of the individual authors.

The contents of this publication are meant as information only and should not take the place of a medical doctor’s recommendations. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form, electronic or otherwise is prohibited without permission by the publisher. This publication does not knowingly accept deceptive or misleading advertising.

Growing Up is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

SCUBA Adventure Freediving courses, complete with spearfishing, cooking and fun!

Be Inspired.

Spring Hill School

Love Learning.

Zooms & Tours K-6th Grade Call or email: Now enrolling 831-427-2641 admissions@springhillschool.org

www.springhillschool.org

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

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Editors’ Note 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.

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.

I n f o r m at I o n : first 5 Santa Cruz County 831.465.2217 triplep@first5scc.org • triplep.first5scc.org

We’re asking for help from our readers to keep us printing.

VISIT OUR GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/keep-growing-up-publishing

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JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

We love the cows at Arana Gulch Park.

Parker, 5, and I visit them most every day and we bring them carrots, which they love so much that the minute they hear his voice yell “treats,” they come running from wherever they are on the field to us at the fence.

We’re surprised that a lot of people don’t even know about this great resource, but it’s a favorite for the families and cyclists who have found it (off Mentel Ave. but there are several other entrances).

We want to salute the city for this great piece of urban development. And don’t think it didn’t come without a fight—a 20-year-long battle.

For years it was undeveloped open space with just dirt trails and meadows that was once a farm and cattle ranch.

People liked it undeveloped and wanted to keep it that way. It was a place to get away from it all, right in the heart of the city.

We liked it then, but we like it much more now, as a place we can walk and bike and pet the cows and still feel the

beauty of nature.

It’s a real family spot that most tourists don’t know about. It defines what a community park can be, with handicapped access and paths leading to nearby playgrounds and informative placards about wildlife and plants.

Great parks make a great community and we want to thank the people who fought the protests and got it done.

Like Kaiser Permanente Arena, which also had its naysayers, it’s an example of how good development and planning can make a city great.

We’ll write more about it in a future issue.

Meanwhile in our June issue, you will learn about what Santa Cruz is doing to bring broadband to everyone; you’ll also learn what the first high school pandemic class is doing after graduation; how to raise musical children; a mom who is really making a difference; how to keep your babies dancing and much more.

Enjoy and let’s keep Santa Cruz great.

Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford and Steve Dinnen

About the Cover Alanna Shults, also known to many as Sissy, with her dog, Lane. Sissy has an immence love for animals, and it sure does show! On her family's little homestead you will find two goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, four more dogs, and

if it's the right time of year even some turkeys and pigs to harvest! All of her babies, I mean animals, are spoiled with love and it is apparent when you see her with them!

PARENTING Raise a Musical Child...Even if You Aren’t a Musician

BY SUKI WESSLING

“

“They felt like they were going to give us something that we would use for the rest of our lives,” music educator Barbie Wong says of her parents.

Wong is a music educator who has made a study of how parents can instill a love of and passion for music in their children’s lives. She leads workshops for parents on the subject, starting with biology.

“When I teach my workshops to parents and teachers I have them focus on these four words: kids love to copy,” Wong explains. “That’s actually biologically sound—it helps them bond when they’re babies, that’s also how they learn their mother tongue.”

Barbie Wong’s parents didn’t have a lot of money, but they always found a way to pay for music lessons. Wong says that they were relying on cultural knowledge from their native Taiwan that music was an important part of child development.

But science has also weighed in, and with few exceptions, found nothing but good news in the ways music affects the growing brain. They can see actual growth in the brains of children who study music, seeing improved memory during a year of instruction. There is a correlation between music study and academic achievement as well, especially in math. Studying music shows brain fiber connectivity improvements in children with ADHD. Even children who don’t do formal music study can benefit from a musical environment. Studies show that music can help emotional stability, improve behavior, and even improve the auditory skills of children with hearing impairments.

KIDS LOVE TO COPY

“My dad was a self-taught musician and did some performing in the country music genre,” remembers music educator Holly Ota. “His dad had been a honkytonk musician, playing banjo

in clubs. I was encouraged to take piano lessons and sing in Choir at church.”

Ota, who leads the choral programs at Aptos Junior and Aptos High, seconds the idea that a musical environment is key.

“The essence is: how do you get them to internalize and love music, regardless of what the product is?” Ota says. “That comes with all that exposure, and that you honor art.”

Ota recommends that there is no better place to start, especially if you don’t feel particularly musical yourself, than classes for preschoolers and their parents. She raves about Music Together, run locally for the last 25 years by Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch.

“She is amazing with young kids,” Ota says. “She had the sense of the value of bringing music to the community and the families and building those relationships with the families so that would be part of the fabric of her life.”

In Music Together classes, copying is key. Parents are instructed not to ‘teach’ their children, but rather to be eager participants themselves. The children can’t help but join in.

“I think that it’s a wonderful thing to have your children go and be in a room filled with music, see other kids listening to music and dancing and moving your body,” Barbie Wong says.

“Any kind of music you can bring to your kids is positive.”

MUSICAL ADULTS GROW FROM MUSICAL HOUSEHOLDS

Wong has made a study of the biographies of musicians of all types, from Dolly Parton to Yo-Yo Ma. She wanted to find out whether these passionate practitioners of music had commonalities in their childhoods.

“Biographies all talk about how much music was in the environment when they were young,” Wong noticed. “Lin-

I think that it’s a wonderful thing to have your children go and be in a room filled with music, see other kids listening to music and dancing and moving your body.

Manuel Miranda’s parents saturated his environment with music and it’s not surprising that they listened to musicals!”

It’s true that most of our children aren’t going to grow up to write musicals or be a country star. In fact, Wong says that her own parents were shocked when she changed her major from pre-med to music. It wasn’t really the career they had envisioned, but rather, the gift of being able to make music and appreciate music.

“If we as parents make a lot of music, put a lot of music in the environment, the kids will naturally pick it up as they have their first language,” Wong states.

“I don’t believe that musical ability is innate, or that certain people are more gifted than others to make music. I believe that everybody is capable of making music.”

MUSIC COMES FROM COMMUNITY

“When you look at the careers of professional musicians, especially singers, so much of it started with the church,” Holly Ota points out.

Places of worship offer a natural community of musicians, whether it’s just singing from the pews or in the choir.

Families who don’t belong to a church community can look around at what’s offered in their community.

“If you live near any kind of college or university, the music department will often have student performances for free,” suggests Barbie Wong. “If you have kids whose friends are taking music, they often have recitals—go and sit in on those recitals.”

In Santa Cruz, of course, as we return to normality we will hopefully see the music return, whether it’s a guy on a street corner busking for dollars or professional musicians playing at Abbott Square or in cafes and restaurants.

Parents can seek out these experiences to reinforce the idea that music is a regular and important part of our environment.

Holly Ota says that Santa Cruz’s music environment is improving in another way as we finally come back from years of educational budget-cutting.

“We do all have a community where hopefully music is made—and it’s school,” she points out. “So I would definitely campaign for more schools making certain that all of their students get a free music education. We’re moving in the right direction. Aptos has complete offerings of choir and band at both schools now.”

THE FURTHER BENEFITS OF MUSICAL TRAINING

Both Holly and Barbie were their children’s first music teachers, training them on piano from a young age.

“At some point I started teaching [my first child] some songs and she seemed tmo get it,” Barbie remembers.

“But unfortunately, I didn’t really have the skills to teach a young child—I was trying to get my child to focus on too many things at once and I was being too critical.”

She started to do some research and realized that what makes a good teacher for young children is not necessarily the person to groom them for high-level performance.

“A study by Benjamin Bloom looked at professionals in a bunch of areas, when he looked at these first coaches or teachers, what they had in common was not that they were the best in their field. What they did have in common was they all were kind and warm and cared about children.”

Barbie suggests that parents look for a first teacher who is warm and fun and takes their time to bond with the child.

Music lessons for young children, she points out, should be fun and may not emphasize that much time in front of the instrument.

THERE’S NO TIME TO LOSE

At this point, our children need the therapy that music offers, whether formal or informal. They need music in their homes, music in their community, and music in their educational environments.

They need, Holly Ota says, a reason to get out of bed in the morning.

“I hope they’re taking a stronger sense of self and self-value, self-confidence, selfworth,” Holly says of her students. “Every facet of our society benefits when a person feels more whole, more important, more capable...more inspired!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: • • • •

Read more about Barbie Wong at BarbieWong.com Read more about Music Together at MusicalMe.com Read the research at sciencedaily.com/ search/?keyword=music+children Listen to a podcast of interviews with Barbie and Holly: ksqd.org/ how-can-we-encourage-musicalityin-children/

 Suki Wessling is a local writer, educator, and musician. Learn more at SukiWessling.com.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

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YOUTH WRITER Cabrillo Beach Volleyball Player Alana Patyk

BY ALANA PATYK

There was a time in my life where I absolutely despised the beach. The coarse feeling of sand that dried out my feet and left me with heat blisters was not the way I wanted to spend my day.

As a kid, I attempted to play beach volleyball as another way to stay active when I was not playing indoor volleyball.

Immediately upon touching the sand, even before doing a drill, I found out

testimonial Thanks to my ad in Growing Up in Santa Cruz, I was able to quit my part time job delivering pizza and start teaching piano students full time.

– Will Lanz williamlanz@gmail.com

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JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

that beach volleyball is not an easy sport.

Before competing at a collegiate level, I even tried to avoid it if I could. But there was something that was urging me to give it a chance.

So, I gave it about five or so chances. Every time I went to an SC Beach Summer camp as a kid, the one week that I spent there was enough for me until the following year when I would participate in the camp again.

Moving in the sand is already a workout on its own; adding jumping, sprinting, and diving made things even more challenging.

And as a young tween who never did any weight lifting or conditioning, it was very easy for me to give up because I was not naturally good at the transition from indoor to sand. This put me in a tough spot since I figured that I would be able to handle the change with ease— it definitely was not as simple as I thought.

Despite the obstacles, I continued to go to those camps every day. Even though I struggled to get a firm grasp on the fundamentals and the physical aspect of the sport, I felt that every touch was leading me somewhere.

And that it did.

Today, I play beach and indoor volleyball for Cabrillo College. After high school, I thought I was never going to

play again and that my senior season at Aptos High was going to be my last.

Then an opportunity presented itself. Head Coach Kelsee Montagna and the Cabrillo coaching staff brought me on to play indoor and beach volleyball as a representative of the college and its athletics. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, our indoor season was postponed until Fall 2021 but luckily, we are able to continue with our beach season.

At first, I doubted my abilities and figured that I would never make the connection with the sand. Once winter break came around, I was at Main Beach every day playing until I could not move.

Every touch and every repetition was leading me somewhere and it led me to leveling up my game.

By the time I came back from the break, I was jumping higher, swinging harder, and moving faster than I ever have. With the help and support of the Santa Cruz beach community and the conditioning that went into preparing the beach volleyball team for our season, I was able to overcome my selfdoubt and dive head first into the sport that has made me a better person and a better player.

ASK NICOLE Celebrate Dads and Father-figures

BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW This Mother’s Day, my kids gave me the best gift ever: their time and attention. Yes, I love the beautiful ceramic pitcher from my daughter and the cheese basket from my son (he knows me well). I thoroughly enjoyed the bagel breakfast and going out to dinner. But what filled my heart the most was sitting, eating, talking, laughing, gardening, making travel plans together – not just being next to each other, but really being with each other. The older they (and I) get, the more I appreciate the gift of time with them and the ways we love each other, flaws and all. So as we approach Father’s Day, I hope all dads and fatherfigures experience this same gift of being noticed, appreciated, loved, and celebrated – every day of the year.

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, I spent a lot of time with my kids (7, 10) this past year because of the pandemic. I work from home, so I was more involved in their schoolwork, meals, bedtimes, and playtime. It also means I was more involved in battles over virtual classes (“Why do I have to get dressed if my camera isn’t on?”), picky eating, bedtimes, and screen time rules. I’ve never felt more fulfilled and exhausted in my life. With summer here, I’m relieved to get a break from the school routine, but I could use a break from the daily parenting grind! I’ve been more annoyed and impatient than usual and don’t want to be the grouchy dad. Got any advice?

- Rich

Dear Rich,

Thanks for reaching out and sharing your experience. Parental stress and burnout is real! Here are some tips to try:

GIVE YOURSELF SOME LEEWAY.

Parents and caregivers are often their own worst critics, expecting themselves to know and do exactly “the right” thing in every situation. That’s not only impossible, but it creates tremendous pressure and stress when parenting doesn’t go smoothly. Think about your expectations of yourself – are they realistic and necessary? When you’re stressed, give yourself the freedom to cut back on chores or other responsibilities to ease the pressure. Let your family know you need uninterrupted time alone each day, then do something that helps you feel calm and relaxed. Taking care

of yourself will help you be present and available for your family.

REVISIT SUMMERTIME ROUTINES.

Maintaining healthy and consistent routines – like morning, mealtime, and bedtime routines – helps make busy lives more manageable. Routines help children and teens know what to expect, which creates the safety they need to learn, test boundaries, develop self-control, and become independent problem-solvers. However, routines are often more flexible in the summer, depending on work, childcare, and other activity schedules. Talk as a family about your daily routines and decide which ones should remain consistent (e.g., chores, eat dinner together) and which ones can be flexible during the summer (e.g., bedtimes).

ALLOW SCREEN TIME IN MODERATION.

Too much screen time can hurt children’s developmental, emotional, and behavioral health, but a moderate amount of age-appropriate screen time can be a lifeline for stressed parents. A little extra screen time won’t damage your kids for life, especially if it means it allows you to work (i.e. stay employed) or have uninterrupted time alone. You can even use screen time to spend quality time with your kids. Watch a movie or TV show together – let them pick it and then snuggle, talk, laugh, or cry together. The key is to be aware of what your kids are reading and viewing and set family rules or use parental controls to make sure it’s age-appropriate.

Common Sense Media (https://www. commonsensemedia.org/) makes this task easier.

Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department.

To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.

first5scc.org, http://www.facebook. com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@ first5scc.org.

OCEAN ALTERNATIVE & OCEAN ONLINE provide a community for homeschooling families to promote connection, growth, and life-long learning

REACH OUT FOR SUPPORT.

Many dads and father-figures want to be the best caregivers they can – and yet they also feel stressed, isolated, and overwhelmed. Remember you don’t have to go through parenting struggles alone.

Reach out to friends, family, other men who will listen and support you – and if needed, seek additional support from a trained professional. Seeking help is a sign of strength and sets a good example for your kids.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

WE OFFER: • Free weekly classes in literacy, math, science & art • Clubs & community events • Teacher support for every student • K-8th grade

Dads and father-figures play a crucial role in children’s healthy development.

There are many examples of dads and caregivers deepening their involvement in raising children and being positive parents. Let’s celebrate them every day of the year!

• OCEAN ONLINE

 Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 17 and 21, 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

Virtual Open House

a non-classroom based option with adaptable online curriculum & direct teacher guidance June 3 & 10, 5 to 6 pm.

Details on Website

O C E A N A LT E R N AT I V E E D U C AT I O N C E N T E R (831) 4 7 5-0767 • L ive Oak School Distric t • Santa Cruz w w w. o c - l o s d - c a . s c h o o l l o o p . c o m GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

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WEDNESDAY 2

Ocean Film Festival World Tour Santa Cruz Month of June Virtual Screening at the Rio Theatre - in person screening to be announced. Evade border closures and quench your thirst for international travel at the 2021 Ocean Film Festival World Tour.

A portion of tickets sales benefits Save our Shores Locally sponsored by CaboVillas.com, Chardonnay Sailing Charters, Patagonia Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Waves, Event Santa Cruz and Save our Shores https://www. adventurereelstv.com/film/ocean-film-festivalworld-tour-2021-rio-theatre/

Taller Virtual de Triple P: Tareas domesticas miércoles, el 2 de junio, 2021, 5:30 – 7 pm Los talleres de Triple P ofrecen consejos prácticos y estrategias para manejar las preguntas y desafíos de crianza específicas. Asista a este taller virtual de crianza para para familias con niños (0 – 12 años) para aprender: Herramientas para ayudarle a introducir a su niño/a a los quehaceres de la casa; Cómo hacer que las tareas de la casa sean menos estresantes para usted y para su niño/a; Maneras de animar a su niño/a a hacer tareas de la casa. Presentado en español por Zoom por: Gladys Gómez, Puentes de la Comunidad – La Manzana Recursos Comunitarios Inscríbase para conseguir el enlace de la reunión por Zoom: https://bit.ly/TareasDomesticas-2Junio ¿Tiene preguntas?

Comuníquese con Gladys Gómez al (831) 724-2997 x220 o gladysg@cbridges.org Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point

TUESDAY 1 Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12-2:00pm To guarantee a spot, please call 831-464-2847. Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting.

Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more!

For ages walking-8yr (gym closed 6/20-7/4) Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. Our Campaign lasts from May 4th to August 31st. Form a party, hunt for ancient treasures, and use your wits, magic, or brute force to battle kobolds, dragons, and more. Dungeons & Dragons is a game of adventure, imagination and near-limitless possibilities. If you've been curious but unsure how to start, it's time to roll the dice and join this campaign. An experienced D&Der will guide you, and all the necessary materials & manuals will be provided. https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/7565369 Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn.

Register here: https://santacruzpl.libcal. com/event/7590866. Let's play and learn together!

World Reef Awareness Day

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JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

https://www.birdsongorchards.com/ store/you-pick-roses Grey Bears Brown Bag Line If you are able-bodied and love to work FAST, this is for you! Grey Bears could use more help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. As a token of our thanks, we make you breakfast (be there at 7am!) and give you a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with mask and gloves at 7am, and we will put you to work until at least 9am! Fun group, we all love working here! Call ahead if you would like to know more.

LUNAFEST® is a series of short films by and about women. This showing will benefit WomenCARE Santa Cruz, and proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships go directly to them. WomenCARE provides a safe haven where women with any type of cancer find mutual support, shared experiences, and open hearts.https://www. lunafest.org/filmmakers

You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends. https://www. birdsongorchards.com/store/you-pick-roses LUNAFEST® is a series of short films by and about women. This showing will benefit WomenCARE Santa Cruz, and proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships go directly to them. See June 3 National Hug Your Cat Day

Ocean Alternative School Virtual Open House on June 3 from 5 to 6 pm.

Home-Based Independent Study & Ocean Online 831.475.0767 http://oc-losd-ca. schoolloop.com/ Details on website

Rockin’ Pop-Up: The Ocean Floor Wednesday, June 2 | 3-3:30 p.m. Learn about the geology of the ocean floor with Gavin and Graham, otherwise known as “The Geology Gents.” Watch live on Facebook. Learn more: https://www. santacruzmuseum.org/6-2-rockin-pop-upthe-ocean-floor/ Global Running Day

THURSDAY 3 You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you!

Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends.

guarantee a spot, please call 831-4642847. Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting. Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more! For ages walking8yr (gym closed 6/29-7/4)

SATURDAY 5

Grupo Breve Virtual de Triple P: Prevención y manejo de la desobediencia Cada jueves del 3 al 24 de junio, 2021, 4:30 – 6 pm Asista por 4 semanas a este grupo virtual de Triple P para conocer a otras familias con niños (2 – 12 años) y aprender estrategias sencillas que le ayudaran a: Por qué los niños podrían ser poco cooperativos o negarse a seguir instrucciones; Maneras positivas para enseñarle a su niño a aceptar los límites y a cooperar con usted; Cómo responder con calma y consistentemente cuando su hijo se niega a seguir las instrucciones. Presentado en español por Zoom por: Liliana Zamora – Puentes de la Comunidad, La Manzana Recursos Comunitarios Inscríbase para conseguir la información para participar en este grupo breve por Zoom: https://bit.ly/ Grupo-Desobediencia-Ninos-junio2021 ¿Necesita ayuda? Comuníquese con Liliana Zamora al (831) 724-2997 x212 o lilianaz@cbridges.org

Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9-12:00 To guarantee a spot, please call 831-464-2847. Come explore our funfilled gym in a supervised setting. Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more! For ages walking-8yr (Gym closed 6/29-7/4) KEEP ON TRUCKIN’, powered by Tandy Beal and Company and a lot of great friends, presents exceptional artists in free 15-minute mini-shows on a flatbed truck, outside. Knowing that everyone is a bit stressed, we are offering this taste of music and circus to uplift our neighborhoods.

Keep each other safe--Wear your masks and keep your distances social, otherwise the truck will need to move on. Each stop on our Truckin' Tour will be a 20-Minute Performance https://www.tandybeal.com/ keep-on-truckin LUNAFEST® is a series of short films by and about women. This showing will benefit WomenCARE Santa Cruz, and proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships go directly to them. See June 3 Boulder Creek Community Relief 2pm- 5pm Davenport: Pacific Elementary Non-profit Fire Relief, Music, Community Building, Meals BCRPD.org

FRIDAY 4

SUNDAY 6

Fun “N Tumble on Fridays at JuneBug’s Gym: 12:15-3:15pm To

Family Sangha Monthly Meditation 10:30 am - Noon Come help create a family

JUNE CALENDAR meditation cooperative community! Parents will meet in the main room for about 40 minutes of silent meditation, followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion about life and mindful parenting. Kids will be in a separate volunteer-led room, playing and exploring mindfulness through games and stories.

Parents may need to help with the kids for a portion of the hour, depending on volunteer turnout. All ages of children are welcome.

Please bring toys to share. Quiet babies are welcome in the parents' room. Donations (dana) are encouraged; there is no fee for the event. https://www.facebook.com/ scfamilysangha Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours 10:30 am Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UC Santa Cruz student! Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public.

Access the tours, here: seymourcenter. ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenestours/#youngerlagoon

You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends. https://www. birdsongorchards.com/store/you-pick-roses

TUESDAY 8 RedBall Project Discover, track down, and pose alongside the 15 foot inflatable structure by artist Kurt Perschke as it pops up daily in different locales throughout Santa Cruz County. Perschke's RedBall Project is a sculptural installation traveling around the globe, adopting cities as its canvas. Through a mixture of vision and wit, the RedBall squeezes between buildings and is hoisted above bridges finding those mundane, overlooked places and filling them with possibility.

Grab and Go STEAM: Make your own mini flashlight! Grab and Go STEAM: Make your own mini flashlight! We provide the materials and directions - you pick them up and make them at home! Light up the dark with this simple flashlight while illuminating the very basics of electric circuits. Also a great introduction to measurement! https://santacruzpl.libcal. com/event/7763567 Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. See June 1 Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See June 1

SATURDAY 12

Triple P Virtual Workshop: Going shopping with your child 3-4:30 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this virtual parenting workshop for families with children (0 – 12 years old) to learn: Why shopping trips can be hard for children; Tips to making shopping trips less stressful and more enjoyable; Tips for handling challenges during shopping trips.

Presented in English on Zoom by: Liliana Zamora - Community Bridges, La Manzana Community Resources Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/GoingShopping-June9 Got questions? Contact Liliana Zamora at (831) 724-2997 x212 or lilianaz@cbridges.org

THURSDAY 10 Westside Marketplace 11 am - 4 pm Shop Local at the NEW Westside Marketplace! 1st Sundays at the Wrigley!

Featuring LOCAL art, handmade and vintage shopping + Food trucks and popups ... all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot on Mission. FREE admission!

Friendly leashed pups are welcome!

D-Day Honors the brave men and women who fought a strategically planned and well-executed battle that ultimately led to the end of the Second World War. More than 75 years after the end of World War II, these memories remain fresh to the over 300,000 living U.S. veterans of the war.

The rest of us look to their legacy and the rich history of events told through museums and memorials.

National Cancer Survivors Day

World Oceans Day The Ocean Project has coordinated the June 8 World Oceans Day for the past 17 years. It’s a crucial environmental issue. We get both foods and medicines from the deep blue, and it helps to keep the climate in check.

MONDAY 7

WEDNESDAY 9

Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point RedBall Project See June 8

National Best Friends Day Today’s the day to enjoy a little one-on-one time with the people who never fail to catch us when we fall.

RedBall Project See June 8 You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends. https://www. birdsongorchards.com/store/you-pick-roses Grey Bears Brown Bag Line If you are able-bodied and love to work FAST, this is for you! Grey Bears could use more help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. As a token of our thanks, we make you breakfast (be there at 7am!) and give you a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with mask and gloves at 7am, and we will put you to work until at least 9am! Fun group, we all love working here! Call ahead if you would like to know more.

Ocean Alternative School Virtual Open House from 5 to 6 pm. HomeBased Independent Study & Ocean Online 831.475.0767 http://oc-losd-ca.schoolloop. com/ Details on website

FRIDAY 11 Fun “N Tumble on Fridays at JuneBug’s Gym: 12:15-3:15pm To guarantee a spot, please call 831-4642847. Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting. Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more! For ages walking8yr (gym closed 6/29-7/4) RedBall Project See June 8

Boulder Creek Community Relief 2pm- 5pm Boulder Creek: Bear Creek Non-profit Fire Relief, Music, Community Building, Meals BCRPD.org Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9-12:00 To guarantee a spot, please call 831-464-2847. Come explore our funfilled gym in a supervised setting. See June 5 RedBall Project See June 8 KEEP ON TRUCKIN’, powered by Tandy Beal and Company and a lot of great friends, presents exceptional artists in free 15-minute mini-shows on a flatbed truck, outside. Knowing that everyone is a bit stressed, we are offering this taste of music and circus to uplift our neighborhoods. Keep each other safe-Wear your masks and keep your distances social, otherwise the truck will need to move on. Each stop on our Truckin' Tour will be a 20-Minute Performance https://www. tandybeal.com/keep-on-truckin Out and About: Nature Hike at Pogonip 10 a.m. to noon It’s time to get out and about! Join the Museum of Natural History for a guided nature adventure through the habitats of Pogonip Open Space in the City of Santa Cruz. This is a family-friendly, small-group gathering.

Learn more and register: https://www. santacruzmuseum.org/6-12-out-andabout-nature-hike-at-pogonip/

National Loving Day The holiday is, of course, about spreading love but, ironically, it also references the names of Mildred and Richard Loving, who fought against the laws confining them and everyone else from marrying interracially.

Second Saturdays on the Deck Live music on the Felton Heritage Deck every second Saturday through October.

Presented by Downtown Felton and the San Lorenzo Valley Post. Bluegrass, Old Time, Americana, Singer-songwriter acoustic music. DowntownFelton.com Continued on Page 10 GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

9

JUNE CALENDAR SUNDAY 13 RedBall Project See June 8 Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours 10:30 am Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UC Santa Cruz student! Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public.

Access the tours, here: seymourcenter. ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenestours/#youngerlagoon KEEP ON TRUCKIN’, powered by Tandy Beal and Company and a lot of great friends, presents exceptional artists in free 15-minute mini-shows on a flatbed truck, outside. Knowing that everyone is a bit stressed, we are offering this taste of music and circus to uplift our neighborhoods. Keep each other safe-Wear your masks and keep your distances social, otherwise the truck will need to move on. Each stop on our Truckin' Tour will be a 20-Minute Performance https://www. tandybeal.com/keep-on-truckin National Sewing Machine Day

MONDAY 14

is for you! Grey Bears could use more help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. As a token of our thanks, we make you breakfast (be there at 7am!) and give you a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with mask and gloves at 7am, and we will put you to work until at least 9am! Fun group, we all love working here! Call ahead if you would like to know more.

FRIDAY 18

Triple P Virtual Workshop: Traveling in the car 10:30 - 12 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this virtual parenting workshop for families with children (0 – 12 years old) to learn: Common reasons why traveling in the car can be hard for children; Positive parenting strategies to prevent problems before they occur; Tips for handling challenging behaviors while traveling in the car. Presented in English on Zoom by: Cori Burt, Community Bridges Mountain Community Resources Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/ Car-Travel-June15 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt at (831) 335-6600 ext 6605 or corib@cbridges.org

WEDNESDAY 16

Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point World Blood Donor Day

TUESDAY 15 Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. See June 1 Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See June 1

10

JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday. For babies crawling to early walkers. See June 2 Taller Virtual de Triple P: Ir de compras con su niño/a miércoles, el 16 de junio, 2021, 3 – 4:30 pm Los talleres de Triple P ofrecen consejos prácticos y estrategias para manejar las preguntas y desafíos de crianza específicas. Asista a este taller virtual de crianza para para familias con niños (0 – 12 años) para aprender: Las razones más comunes por qué ir de compras puede ser difícil para los niños; Cómo preparar a su hijo o hija para un viaje de compras con éxito; Otros consejos para ayudar a hacer viajes de compras agradable para usted y sus niños. Presentado en español por Zoom por: Liliana Zamora – Puentes de la Comunidad, La Manzana Recursos Comunitarios Inscríbase para conseguir el enlace de la reunión por Zoom : https://bit. ly/De-Compras-16Junio ¿Necesita ayuda?

Comuníquese con Liliana Zamora al (831) 724-2997 x212 o lilianaz@cbridges.org

THURSDAY 17 You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends. https://www. birdsongorchards.com/store/you-pick-roses Grey Bears Brown Bag Line If you are able-bodied and love to work FAST, this

Makers Market: The Art of Nature 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. During this outdoor Makers Market, meet science illustrators featured in the exhibit, The Art of Nature, watch them at work through live demonstrations at their booths, and support their work by going home with prints, stickers, cards, cups, and more! We will also have an illustration station so that you can create your own works of art. Learn more: https:// www.santacruzmuseum.org/6-19-makersmarket-the-art-of-nature/

Fun “N Tumble on Fridays at JuneBug’s Gym: 12:15-3:15pm o guarantee a spot, please call 831-4642847. Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting. Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more! For ages walking8yr (gym closed 6/29-7/4) You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri We are growing over 300 roses, deeply fragrant, lush and in every color, and we want to share them with you! Get out of the house and enjoy cutting a bucket of roses for your own pleasure or to share with family and friends. https://www. birdsongorchards.com/store/you-pick-roses International Picnic Day National Go Fishing Day

SATURDAY 19 Boulder Creek Community Relief 2pm- 5pm Bonny Doon Elementary Non-profit Fire Relief, Music, Community Building, Meals BCRPD.org Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9-12:00 To guarantee a spot, please call 831-464-2847. Come explore our funfilled gym in a supervised setting. Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more! For ages walking-8yr (Gym closed 6/29-7/4)

Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10am - 5pm Come on out and support local makers and artists at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every THIRD Sunday of the month on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St! 10am5pm We are now on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants. Support local and shop small with over 30 Santa Cruz County artists and makers! AND don't forget to stop in and visit the downtown merchants and grab a bite to eat from the downtown restaurants.

Juneteenth The freedom of African Americans from slavery in the U.S. in 1865 is celebrated on the holiday Juneteenth on June 19. Juneteenth is made up of the words ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth,’ and it is on this day that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas more than 155 years ago to inform slaves that slavery had been abolished.

SUNDAY 20 Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours 10:30 am Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UC Santa Cruz student! Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public.

Access the tours, here: seymourcenter. ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenestours/#youngerlagoon Father’s Day “Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, story-tellers, and singers of song.” – Pam Brown World Refugee Day Most of us know that refugees are forced to leave their homes due to war, terror, or other crises—but fleeing their home country is often just the beginning of a difficult journey. Many refugees find themselves living in camps until they are resettled—some of which are dangerous or not well-equipped for long term living.

Refugees don’t always have a say in which country they are ultimately relocated to, and the bureaucratic process involved in finding their new home can take years.

MONDAY 21 Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

JUNE CALENDAR For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point

Gladys at (831) 724-2997 x220 or gladysg@cbridges.org

THURSDAY 24 You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri See June 3

call 831-464-2847. Come explore our funfilled gym in a supervised setting. Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more! For ages walking-8yr (Gym closed 6/29-7/4) Boulder Creek Community Relief 2pm- 5pm Boulder Creek: Bear Creel Non-profit Fire Relief, Music, Community Building, Meals BCRPD.org

SUNDAY 27 Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve Tours 10:30 am Younger Lagoon Reserve is now offering a virtual tour in both English and Spanish. This virtual tour follows the same stops as the Seymour Marine Discovery Center’s docent-led, in-person hiking tour, and is led by a UC Santa Cruz student!

Virtual Younger Lagoon Reserve tours are free and open to the public. Access the tours, here: seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit/behindthe-scenes-tours/#youngerlagoon

Summer Solstice people have celebrated this day for thousands of years.

Some of the earliest party animals were the ancient Mesopotamians, Celtic Druids, Chinese, and Egyptians, and all of these cultures had their own ways of celebrating that make even our craziest backyard barbecues look tame.

World Day of Music

TUESDAY 22 Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12-2:00pm To guarantee a spot, please call 831-464-2847. Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting.

Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more!

For ages walking-8yr (gym closed 6/20-7/4) Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. See June 1 Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See June 1

WEDNESDAY 23 Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point Triple P Virtual Workshop: Teaching children to do chores 4:30 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this virtual parenting workshop for families with children (0 12 years old) to learn: Tools to help you introduce your child to household chores; How to make chores less stressful for you and your child; Ways to encourage your child to do chores. Presented in English on Zoom by: Gladys Community Bridges, La Manzana Community Resources Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit. ly/Chores-Jun23 Got questions? Contact

MONDAY 28 Grey Bears Brown Bag Line If you are able-bodied and love to work FAST, this is for you! Grey Bears could use more help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. As a token of our thanks, we make you breakfast (be there at 7am!) and give you a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with mask and gloves at 7am, and we will put you to work until at least 9am! Fun group, we all love working here! Call ahead if you would like to know more.

Grupo Breve Virtual de Triple P: Prevención y manejo de la desobediencia Cada jueves del 3 al 24 de junio, 2021, 4:30 – 6 pm Asista por 4 semanas a este grupo virtual de Triple P para conocer a otras familias con niños (2 – 12 años) y aprender estrategias sencillas que le ayudaran a: Por qué los niños podrían ser poco cooperativos o negarse a seguir instrucciones; Maneras positivas para enseñarle a su niño a aceptar los límites y a cooperar con usted; Cómo responder con calma y consistentemente cuando su hijo se niega a seguir las instrucciones. Presentado en español por Zoom por: Liliana Zamora – Puentes de la Comunidad, La Manzana Recursos Comunitarios Inscríbase para conseguir la información para participar en este grupo breve por Zoom: https://bit. ly/Grupo-Desobediencia-Ninos-junio2021 ¿Necesita ayuda? Comuníquese con Liliana Zamora al (831) 724-2997 x212 o lilianaz@ cbridges.org

FRIDAY 25 Fun “N Tumble on Fridays at JuneBug’s Gym: 12:15-3:15pm Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting. See June 4 You Pick Roses 11 am Every Thurs & Fri See June 3

SATURDAY 26 Saturday Open Gym at JuneBug’s Gym 9-12:00 To guarantee a spot, please

Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point

TUESDAY 29 Tumble on Tuesdays at JuneBug’s Gym 12-2:00pm To guarantee a spot, please call 831-464-2847. Come explore our fun-filled gym in a supervised setting.

Zipline, rope swings, trampolines and more!

For ages walking-8yr (gym closed 6/20-7/4)

action largely limited to primates — while we can find instances of other animals in positions that resemble hugging, there aren’t any other species that do it so frequently, and for so many reasons — and so, in many ways, hugging sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.

Triple P Virtual Workshop: Developing good bedtime routines 5 - 6:30 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this virtual parenting workshop for families with children (0- 12 years old) to learn: Common reasons why children have difficulty going to bed and sleeping through the night; How to create peaceful bedtime routines that work for the whole family; Tips to help children develop healthy sleep habits. Presented in English on Zoom by: Cori Burt, Community Bridges - Mountain Community Resources Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/ Bedtime-Routines-June29 Got questions?

Contact Cori Burt at (831) 335-6600 ext 6605 or corib@cbridges.org

WEDNESDAY 30 Baby Happy Hour at JuneBug’s Gym 12:15-1:15 every Monday and Wednesday.

Come play, socialize and have a fun time exploring and moving with your little one.

For babies crawling to early walkers. Call 831-464-2847 to reserve a spot in class.

3910 Portola Dr. Ste 2 & 3/ Pleasure Point

Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. See June 1 Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See June 1 Hug Holiday Hugging is a simple way to express many different types of affection, from friendly, to intimate, to familial. It’s an

GUiSC will attempt to update the calendar listings as needed; however, it is the responsibility of the organization listed to provide updated information.

GUiSC assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Readers are encouraged to check the accuracy of the information provided. Events that are free or cost less than $10 can be submitted for inclusion in the calendar.

GUiSC does not guarantee that a submitted event will automatically be included. Preference is given for events of interest to children and/or parents.

Calendar entries must be received by the 15th of the month prior to the month of the event. Calendar entries and photos will be selected by the Calendar Editor. Please email christy@growingupsc.com.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

11

YOUR PET

12

Bonnie, Charlie, & Rocko

Ryder & Lucky

Cuéntame más sobre Frida

Curious George & Violet

Daphne & Snickers

Emerson & Cece

Kiddos & Shanook

Jack & Posy

Jackson & Bo

Jolene & Lyla

Rogan & Gracie

Samantha & Copper

Sophie and Her Girl

Weston & Cinnamon

Brantly & Indy

Tori & Koda Bear

JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL NEWS The Future of SLVHS 2021 Graduates For San Lorenzo Valley High School's Class of 2021, our seniors have indicated that 84% will be attending a college or university in the Fall and 16% will be taking a career path, which includes attending a trade school, apprenticeship program, military service, gap year or are undecided.

For our seniors attending a higher education institution 77% will be

staying in California, while 23% will be heading out of state. Some of the states students will be going to include Hawaii, Washington and even states as far as Alaska, Florida and Louisiana.

59% indicated they will be attending a CA Community College such as Cabrillo College, Santa Barbara City College or Cuesta College. 41% incidcated they will

be attending a 4-year University. Some of these Universities include out-ofstate universities such as University of Hawaii at Manoa, Vanderbilt University, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Western Washington University.

California Universities that SLVHS seniors will be attending include UC Berkeley, UC Davis, CSU Chico, CSU

Humboldt and Chapman University.

While our Seniors have had a difficult year of working through a pandemic and the CZU Complex Fire, they are looking forward to what their next adventures will be."

Ethan Hatch

Brian Martin

San Lorenzo Valley HS Ethan will be doing two years at Cabrillo and transferring to a four-year. He has decided to go this route because he feels this last year hasn’t been the greatest college prep, and many of the courses he looked into are mainly online anyways. Cabrillo seems to be the best fit for him at this time, but talking to a counselor makes him confident he can finish it in the two years he plans and then continue.

San Lorenzo Valley HS I've always wanted to go into the trades. As more and more tradesmen are retiring, there is definitely a need for skilled workers. I plan for n attending the Power Pathway through PG&E in hopes of becoming a lineman. Covid didn't affect my plans for after high school but solidified the importance of essential workers, and I'm excited about the future!

Connor Urbancic

Michael Arcangeli

San Lorenzo Valley HS This past school year has meant many adjustments and flexibility as COVID precautions and safety measures derailed much of the senior year experience for our students. One thing that has remained steadfast is Connor’s plans for after graduation. He was accepted into the Marine Transportation program at Cal Maritime Academy, where he will earn a Bachelor of Science and a U.S. Coast Guard Third Mate Unlimited License. We are so proud of him and all the hard work that got him to his goal.

Scotts Valley HS Michael’s senior year at SVHS was abnormal due to Covid, but he was able to play his varsity football and baseball seasons as the county’s numbers improved. He was also lucky to attend the senior prom, which made the school year seem somewhat normal. He will attend Louisiana State University to study business in the fall.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

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ALWAYS AMUSED The Return of the Theme Park Reopenings Abound After More Than a Year of Closures

BY ERIK CHALHOUB

What a month June will be. Or I should say, “can” be. It all depends on us.

By the end of May, just about every theme park in California reopened after more than a year of closures. The Santa

Cruz Beach Boardwalk, as well as the Six Flags parks in Northern and Southern California, got a jump on the rest by reopening select rides on April 1.

SeaWorld San Diego reopened April

12, followed by Universal Studios Hollywood on April 16 and Disneyland on April 30. California’s Great America and Gilroy Gardens reopened May 22.

Knott’s Berry Farm, May 6.

But to keep these parks open, it all depends on our collective effort to continue lowering the Covid-19 case numbers by wearing masks, staying socially distanced, washing our hands and getting vaccinated. If those numbers go back up, chances are theme parks will be the first to close.

HOW CAN WE, AS THEME PARK FANS, HELP THESE PARKS STAY OPEN IN UNCERTAIN TIMES?

In addition to the above actions, there’s plenty of ways we can make sure our visits are safe and enjoyable for not only ourselves, but for everyone around us.

• Stay home if you are sick — This should be obvious. If you feel sick or have any Covid-19-like symptoms, please stay home and far away from others not in your immediate household.

• Keep your masks on — I anticipate masks being the new phones when it comes to rides. We’ve all seen someone whip out their smartphone as a rollercoaster train ascends the lift hill, only to get caught by a ride operator who stops the train to remind them to put their device away. The same will likely happen with masks. Masks are required at all times at a theme park, whether on a ride or walking on the midway.

If you refuse to wear one, expect to be headed back to your vehicle.

• Be mindful of others in line — Queue lines have been altered to promote social distancing. The signs notifying you to stay at least six feet apart from others are not

14

JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

suggestions. Gone are the days of being packed like sardines in a can while waiting an hour-plus for a ride … I hope.

At the Boardwalk, about 8-12 rides are open on operating days, which could include the Giant Dipper, Undertow, Shockwave, Ghost Blasters and a handful of kiddie rides.

“Everyone at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk has been preparing for this important moment in our unique and storied history,” said Boardwalk spokesperson Kris Reyes.

Ride wristbands are available for advance purchase, and season pass holders can make reservations for specific days. With state guidelines limiting the number of people allowed in the Boardwalk at any given time, the wristbands have been selling out daily and quickly.

“The reopening of Boardwalk rides will be gradual and measured,” Reyes said.

“Operating hours for rides will change frequently in the weeks ahead so we strongly encourage anyone planning a visit to check beachboardwalk.com prior to their arrival for all the latest information.”

The Boardwalk’s new health and safety protocols can be found at beachboardwalk.com/coronavirus.

WATER PARK TO OPEN

Having operating days at all in 2021 is worth celebrating, but California’s Great America has more planned for this year.

On June 5, the Santa Clara theme park will debut South Bay Shores, one of Northern California’s mostanticipated attractions of the year, transforming the former (and dated) Boomerang Bay water park.

South Bay Shores features seven new water attractions, including four six-storytall drop slides, two tube slides, and a new lagoon area. It also includes a variety of new and upgraded food and merchandise locations, upgraded cabanas and a sandy beach play area. The park is themed to the Northern California coast, with CGA officials saying it takes a cue from the city of Monterey.

LEGOLAND CENTER OPENING

After a year-long coronavirus delay, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Bay Area opened May 25 at the Great Mall in Milpitas.

The center features more than 31,000 square feet of interactive and educational attractions geared toward children ages 3–10 and their families. It includes themed build stations, master classes, an Imagination Express train ride, an earthquake table, a 4D cinema, a café, a LEGO retail shop, and the MINILAND area featuring models of San Francisco Bay Area iconic landmarks.

For information and tickets, visit bayarea. legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

TEACHER'S DESK Fuel for the Future and Catalina Island

BY LISA CATTERALL In the May 2021 issue of Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, researchers at the USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies, which operates the Wrigley Marine Science Center on Catalina Island, published the results of a study that may move humanity forward in the replacement of fossil fuels. One possible replacement for oil as an energy source is fuel that comes from plant sources. Because matter and energy are always conserved, however, there is a scale issue with trying to slake the thirst of humanity for oil and oil products by growing plants on land. We just can’t sustainably grow or reclaim enough.

The giant kelp that grows in cold, shallow seas such as those along the California coast can grow at a rate of two feet per day in ideal conditions. Kelp is a great candidate for biomass production.

Scientists and ecology-minded entrepreneurs wondered if it would be possible to farm it in a sustainable way.

One idea was to lower the kelp farm into nutrient-rich water at depth during nighttime hours, as kelp only needs light during the day and shallow water is nutrient-poor.

Mount Madonna School (MMS) tenth grade honors oceanography students visit the Wrigley Center for environmental studies in May each year. The marine science program in the high school includes a marine biology lab elective in ninth grade as well. Ninth graders travel to another part of Catalina Island to become comfortable doing field science in and on the water, and to complete an environmental leadership program.

Both of these classes are taken in addition to the traditional high school science sequence of biology, chemistry and physics. MMS students have been visiting the Wrigley Center for 10 years, working with the researchers there and co-developing and testing curriculum for their education initiatives for high school students.

During the pandemic, the classes of 2022 and 2023 were not able to travel. Currently, overnight field trips are not allowed for schools, and the Wrigley Center is only allowed to house six outside researchers with heavy restrictions. Both organizations anticipate restrictions lifting over the summer, and a trip for MMS juniors and seniors to the Wrigley Center is planned for September. That same week, MMS ninth and tenth grade students will attend the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program at Howlands Landing, on another part of the island. A high priority on the trip will be visiting the kelp elevator operation on or off shore and speaking with scientists working on the project.

On campus, oceanography students will design experiments to test the

same growth theory in our abundant freshwater ecosystems.

MMS has a leading, continuous program in ocean stewardship that carries through all of the grades, Pre/K-12. The week students spend at the Wrigley is a critical part of a Mount Madonna education, because students see firsthand the science processes on which their environmental worldview and activism rest. Our students who have experienced field studies and learning at the Wrigley become empowered against the opposing worldview, because they understand how the scientific community discovers and solves scientific issues arising from humans interacting with the environment.

I want to share the research and this video. The news video shows the boat we take and where students stay and work on Catalina. All of us who have the honor of taking students on a learning journey are looking forward to being able to offer our unique travel experiences again, provided the field trip restrictions are lifted in the coming year.

FUN IS BACK!

Summer Registration Begins ONLINE May 1

 Lisa Catterall teaches STEAM, math, science, and art at Mount Madonna School and is a senior associate of the Centers for Research on Creativity. She lectures and trains teachers and administrators on innovation in education in Beijing, China. Lisa has five children and lives in Santa Cruz County.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

15

BIRTH MATTERS Who Holds the Power?

LAURA MAXSON, LM likely to die in the period surrounding childbirth than their own mothers were, a risk that has remained consistently three to four times higher for black mothers compared with white mothers.”

The increase in cesarean rates results more from policy and recommendation than medical need. Cesarean birth generally carries a much higher risk to the birthing person compared with vaginal birth, yet the following very simple and well-known steps to decrease cesareans have not been embraced.

BIRTH DOULA CARE

One of the simplest fixes to reduce cesareans is to offer access to continuous labor support for every birth. Doula support, studied since the 1970s, reduces the risk for cesarean birth, while increasing breastfeeding success -- both keys to lowering maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Dr. Kennell, a principal doula researcher said, “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.” Yet, birth doulas are not universally accepted by all obstetricians/hospitals, and the services of a birth doula are rarely covered by insurance, leaving them out of reach for much of the most vulnerable population.

Happy Father’s Day!

Virtual Meet the Doulas Saturday, July 17, 4pm

Learn about how doulas support families through the birth and postpartum experience during our current COVID19 situation.

Preregister to join our FREE LIVE ZOOM EVENT: BirthNetSantaCruz.EventBrite.com

One-stop-shopping for pregnancy, birth & parenting services

www.BirthNet.org

16

JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

It’s hard not to feel frustrated by the state of maternity care in the United States. We spend more than any other country on our health care, yet we have some of the worst outcomes for mothers and babies, with black and brown families bearing the brunt of maternal mortality and morbidity (childbirthrelated death and illness).

There are some glimmers of hope this year with the federal government’s response to Black Maternal Health week with some mandates in training and spending, but real change in our broken maternity system is going to take continued pressure on the powers that be. Much of that power currently resides with the lobbyists for American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG, founded 1951), the American Medical Association (AMA, founded 1847), hospitals, and insurance organizations.

The individual work of progressive obstetricians, midwives, nurses, and advocates are no match for decades of oppression and patriarchal dominance in the development of maternity care in the U.S. Astoundingly, under the obstetrical model of maternity care, the cesarean rate has climbed by 500% since the 1970s. According to obstetrician Neel Shah, “Although cesareans are designed to rescue babies from danger, rates of survival and brain injury among infants born close to their expected delivery date have not changed. Mothers have not benefited either – in fact, the opposite has occurred. Americans today are 50% more

MIDWIFERY CARE

It is a deeply entrenched but incorrect belief that obstetrical care is the safest care; midwifery care is mistakenly (however intentionally) relegated to second place in the U.S. The midwifery model of care, offering a lower-tech experience, respecting a birthing person’s choices and preferences, while utilizing evidence-based decision making has better outcomes for low-risk women.

Most pregnancies can be safely followed by midwives and do not need the care of a surgeon (obstetricians are surgeons with a specialty in obstetrics). However, insurance limits access to midwifery care for countless families. Many hospitals do not have any midwives with hospital privileges. In fact, in many parts of the country, midwives are not allowed to practice at all without being invited to do so by an obstetrician.

The Black Mamas Matter Alliance, creators of Black Maternal Health Week, are bringing change through their leadership. Midwives are recognizing and beginning to deal with their lack of racial diversity, black doula trainings are increasing in an effort to meet community needs, especially as their positive impact continues to be acknowledged. Each one of us must continue to apply pressure to the powers that be to bring real change in maternity care.

BlackMamasMatter.org Birthnet.org - Local Doulas and Midwives Neel Shah - www.usnews.com/news/healthiestcommunities/articles/2019-09-25/the-rise-of-csections-and-what-it-means

PARENTING Don’t Forget to Dance with Your Baby 7 Reasons a Baby Twitches & Moves from Tongue to Toes

BY SUE DOHERTY perception. Studies by Bruderer et al. show that oral-motor movements (twitching of the tongue) affect speech sound discrimination. Therefore, they argue, interference with such actions may impair speech perception performance. Consequently, some researchers warn of the overuse of, or dependency on, pacifiers.



Have you noticed how often a baby twitches while sleeping or waves, wiggles, and squirms about while awake? Is all this movement necessary? What can the science of sensorimotor development tell us about these phenomena? Let’s look at the sleeping infant first. When a baby sleeps, if they are developing typically, you will observe them profusely twitching.

Professor Mark S. Blumberg studies such twitches called “myoclonic” twitches.

As he puts it, there are “intriguing relationships between twitching and the skills that babies are developing.”



Twitches send sensory feedback from the moving limbs to the spine and brain; as this dynamic development occurs, a foundational neural network experiences self-organization. Signals between the newborn’s brain and muscles are somewhat helter-skelter.

Producing functional communication between the two takes adequate opportunities for young babies to embody their growing limbs. At first, twitches are most likely to occur in fingers and toes, followed by hands and feet, shoulders/elbows and hips/knees, and face and head. Blumberg’s research has found that twitches are used by the body during active REM sleep to “establish, refine, maintain, and repair sensorimotor circuits at multiple levels of the nervous system.”

From the womb to the welcoming world, twitching during sleep is vital to sensorimotor integration. Disrupting the expression of active sleep can deprive the infant of valuable sensory processing and functional connectivity in the developing nervous system. In addition, sound sleep and twitching together activate the brain to interconnect with the body. They underlie the capacity to distinguish self from others and provide a foundation for later-developing cognitive and social abilities in the ultimate service of adaptive behavior.



As this sensorimotor system slowly matures, the mental processes of knowing and understanding through the senses and experiences and, eventually, thinking or “cognition”--also become more robust.

Mijna Hadders-Algra researches these interrelations and concludes, “cognitive drive facilitates the exploration of motor possibilities, and the resulting motor behavior generates sensory and cognitive information.”



Even before they can point to things, infants will use gestures to communicate. Studies show that even eight-month-old babies will gesture toward an out-of-reach object if a person is nearby and able to help them get it. However, they will not reach out when a caregiver or stranger is

absent, demonstrating developing social understanding and communication skills. What occurs is an interdependent feedback loop as sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities gradually mature.



A newborn’s brain is priming itself through predictive processing, twitching, gesturing, and eventually reaching for objects. Research has pointed to the importance of vision and our senses of touch and proprioception (our ability to sense our body’s position, motion, and equilibrium) to locate objects. For example, by six months of age, a baby can co-locate and decipher the difference between witnessing a touch and feeling a touch. This crossmodal ability is crucial to accurately represent touch spatially; blindness early in life interrupts this competency. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to have a similar deficit. For instance, how sight, touch, and proprioceptive cues integrate with hand positions.



On the influence of the developing motor system on language acquisition, let’s examine sensorimotor effects on speech perception in infancy. Even before a baby can speak or, indeed, even before they have much listening experience, they receive information from their lips and tongues that influence speech

And how we move influences our baby’s musical rhythm perception. Jessica PhillipsSilver and Laurel J. Trainor tested sevenmonth-old infants at their baby lab at McMaster University in Canada. They discovered: if you dance the waltz rather than a jig, your baby will prefer the waltz.

They also explain that it is the head’s movement and activating the vestibular system of the inner ear, more than the limbs, that cause metrical encoding to take place. Moreover, research coming from her lab found evidence for the influence of music on language acquisition processes. Studies show that an infant can “entrain” or match and remember incoming auditory rhythms.

Young babies exposed to music training have been observed to distinguish two main beats in rhythm patterns.

Laura Cirelli concluded that musical experiences… “especially in early months of infancy, shape auditory processing in general and temporal processing in particular.”



Regarding social-emotional learning, Trainor and Cirelli found that if you dance with your baby in sync to music, the baby will most likely show a tendency for pro-social behavior. Incidentally, Cirelli and colleagues in China recently scaled up this research and discovered something society sorely needs. Working with 4-6-year-old children, they argue that their results suggest that ”musical engagement may be a promising intervention for reducing negative intergroup biases.”

Watch how a little twitch-like jiggle and a rocking, dancing motion and the proper carriage immediately soothes newborns after receiving shots. See Dr. Robert Hamilton, who practices at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics in Santa Monica, California, developed a specific method, watch as he demonstrates the technique in this video: http://on.today. com/1XCoOhZ  Sue Doherty is an anthropologist, mindfulness teacher certified through the Greater Good Science Center, U. C. Berkeley, and the author of Dancing With Your Baby—The Science of Nurturing Infant and Caregiver through Music and Movement available at Bookshop Santa Cruz.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

17

INSIDE EDUCATION Behind the Scenes: Santa Cruz County Office of Education Inside Education, May 2021

BY SUKI WESSLING

The final Inside Education meeting of the year featured three organizations that help kids and young adults get out and about in our community.

The Department of Rehabilitation Student Services aims to help students with all types of disabilities transition from their education toward independence, employment, and a successful life. The DOR helps train students to be successful on the job and to have the tools and resources to live independently. Students 16-21 who have an IEP, 504 plan, or a disability can take part in their program, which matches students with a counselor and provides them opportunities to research careers, train, and gain life skills. Read more at www.dor.ca.gov/Home/StudentServices.

Big Brothers Big Sisters matches “big” mentors with “little” youth, focusing on 7-14 year olds. Although the mentors only meet two to four times a month, the relationship can affect the trajectory of a

young person’s life.

“I wouldn’t have gone to college without knowing Aimee,” says teen Tehya Taul of her mentor. “It’s honestly a life-changing experience to be able to be matched.”

BBBS currently has a waiting list of children looking for a match. The children are largely from low-income, often oneparent families, and have been referred by family, teachers, counselors, and social workers.

Visit www.SantaCruzMentor.org for more information.

The County Office of Education’s Special Education (Sped) Program supports post-senior students by offering critical life/vocational skills. The adults who spoke about this program included Kelli Smart, a school psychologist and

case manager, and Jessica Little, SELPA Director North County and recipient of the Administrator of the Year Award.

One of the highlights of our community’s post-senior program is The Hub, a gathering place for the students. Students shop together, go to The Hub, and make meals with staff or in small groups.

“The Hub builds incredible independence for our students,” Jessica Little says.

Capitola Mayor Yvette Brooks joined to offer some thoughts about youth programs in the pandemic era.

“This year has been a huge challenge,” admitted Brooks. “Our staff have had

A few spots remain in the 2021-22 Inside Education cohort, when we will certainly aspire to resume in-person meetings if post-COVID parameters will allow this. To learn more, please contact Les Forster: lforster@santacruzcoe.org; (831) 246-0988.

As in the past, there will be no fee to take part.

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JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

to be creative in how they’re serving our students. We were faced not just with the crisis of the pandemic, but in addition to that, having to make huge cuts to our budget. I’m fighting for youth programs—we saw the inequities our families faced.”

One of the most moving speakers of the session was Cypress High School senior Marlize, who had some advice to offer to incoming freshman: “Value every moment that you have at school. I never thought I’d be in high school for only two years—I had to spend my junior year mostly in my room.

That was like a year stolen from me.

Appreciate what you have because once it’s gone you’re really going to miss it.”

Thanks to Les Forster, coordinator of Inside Education, and the County Office of Education for allowing us to connect our parent community with the best of local education this year. To read all of our reports about Inside Education, visit GrowingUpSC.com and search for “inside education.”

We’ll end with a summary of the year from Les: “The recurring theme of teacher and parent resiliency and creativity underscored this year’s series. With an impressive bank of resources established by the County Office of Education, local districts responded to school closure and distance learning with steadfast, innovative, and encouraging lessons aimed at minimizing learning loss and maximizing student and family support academically and emotionally. Major kudos also to the myriad community partners who joined us for programspecific presentations!”

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TECH TALK How to Shop for a Good Inexpensive Computer

BY LUIGI OPPIDO Everybody today wants a fast computer, but not many people want to pay for it. How do you find a good quality computer without breaking the bank? For example, you can go to the big box stores, check out their inventory and sometimes you’ll see a great deal. But that great deal might not be exactly what it says. A lot of the big box stores try to draw you in with cheap computers that have an inadequate hard drive space for storage, or even processors that can’t do the most basic tasks on todays operating systems. How do you know?

LETS BREAK DOWN THE MACHINE IN A DIFFERENT WAY

Your computer is a team consisting of about five team members. Your processor, your RAM, your hard drive, your bus, and sometimes your graphics card (depending on how its built, moving on!). If any one of these team members (just like in a real team) is not doing their part in the team, the computer will not function properly. The bus is probably the one thing you didn’t recognize. The system bus are the streets that allow the signals to go in between all the other components. The bus speed is the speed limit that is allowed to be traveled on those roads. So, if you have a very fast

processor a very fast set of RAM and a slow bus that will be your limiting factor and that will set the speed for your computer.

• Any weak link in the chain will be the speed of the machine. Your machine will only be as good as your weakest component.

• Standard specs right now are as follows for a decent useable futureready machine.

• A multi core processor (if Intel at least and I5 or I7, the higher the number the better) • A minimum of 4 GB of RAM but 8 GB is recommended • At least a 500 GB hard drive or 1 Terabyte hard drive (which translates to 1000 GB). When looking at processors there is a generational gap when they are manufacturered, and right now we are in the 11th generation of processors. If you go below a ninth or eighth generation processor on a discount computer, you will not be a happy user.

Deals are everywhere, but a standard machine should cost you about $450 for a decent, working machine. With these specs, that machine will also have

some room to be usable in the future.

It’s not only good now but should have strength for the future if you follow the specs above.

Watch out for super sales! Watch out for Black Friday deals! Watch out for computers that look like they’re way too cheap for what you’re getting. Most likely you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for.

 Luigi Oppido | Owner/Technician | Pleasure Point Computers | 1824 Soquel Ave. STE-B |Santa Cruz, Ca 95062 |Phone: (831) 464-2220 |Luigi@PleasurePointComputers.com | PleasurePointComputers.com Listen to the Computer Man Show! Every Tuesday night from 6 to 7 PM on 90.7 FM KSQD, and KSQD.org. Send your questions to editor@growingupsc.com and we’ll get them answered!

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GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

19

LOCAL NEWS The Moms of the MOD

BY JEANETTE PRATHER AND RHIANNON CRAIN

“

What the moms of the MOD have learned from this incredibly bizarre year, has been that our small, non-profit children’s museum is, like the children who occupy it, very resilient and necessary.

The silence in the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery (MOD) was almost deafening. For over one year the MOD sat in darkness, remembering a time when children were running through the museum playing and adults were forging relationships.

Being one of the two moms that continued to show up in hopes we could weather the storm and open our doors was no easy task. At times we brought our own children, gently reminding them about how they were some of the luckiest children in the county because they got to come into the museum while other kids did not.

In the beginning of the pandemic, it was not only hard to be at the MOD emotionally, but physically as well, since the Capitola Mall was shut and guarded as tight as Fort Knox. To get in we had to phone security, wait for them to arrive, sign a waiver, and sanitize. Those early months of the pandemic were marked with the kind of fear and care that stems from not knowing anything about anything.

Could this disease be spread by touching a pen that was touched by someone else three hours ago? Didn’t

20 JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

know. That fear shaped our early conversations about reopening the children’s museum as well--how could we ever hope to have happy bouncing children touching, interacting, climbing… (and did we say touching) ever again?

That is the very foundation of the theory of children’s museums--touch everything to learn through play, social observation, and unbridled time for open-ended, safe, exploration with body and mind.

Some didn’t make it--several children’s museums have closed permanently, in part due to pressures from the pandemic. The casualties include the Orpheum Children’s Science Museum (Champaign, IL), Children’s Museum of Richmond, Children’s Museum of the Sierra (Oakhurst, CA), Oklahoma WONDERtorium (Stillwater,OK), Valley Children’s Museum (Dublin, CA), and perhaps most shockingly, the 40-year-old Portland Children’s Museum.

Never in attendance at the same time, the moms of the MOD stayed the course and worked “as if” Santa Cruz’s children’s museum would open, applying for PPP loans and a spattering of grants made available to us in a world where so much need for the basics like food and

shelter emerged in our community as the economy crashed. We’d tear apart the administration offices to rearrange them more efficiently for a post-pandemic staff turnover (like most institutions, we lost a lot of our team to relocation), all the while our children acting as assistants or insisting we take play breaks with them.

They would even test out some of our new exhibits, proving that 45 minutes in the new shadow puppets area was a win, or that the good ‘ol castle people were a necessary exhibit staple, for example.

The mixture of our childrens’ laughter and the otherwise eerie background silence was a stark contrast from the noisy, jubilant, buzz that typified a normal day at the Museum in its almost seven years of existence. It felt nice to be able to witness our children continuing to enjoy the MOD, albeit at times stressful as passersby would look through the windows and wonder why there were a couple of children playing.

Most of our administrative meetings were held from our homes. And,like most busy parenting families, zoom school, screaming siblings, and the crush of trying to do more than one thing that demands your attention at once, colored the background of our calls. We would discuss behind-the-scenes bare bones items like property taxes, non-profit status updates, and EDD claims before the conversation would inevitably drift to the unknown-- “When do you think we might set a date to reopen?”

The admin team at the MOD did a fantastic job of remaining hopeful

and continuing our work despite all of the question marks surrounding every aspect of the return to a normal daily life. We trudged onward and upward, knowing that our part time admin members were maintaining with the intent of reestablishing the Museum for the common good and a higher purpose.

“It’s always a labor of love to work at a non-profit museum, but the ambiguity of the pandemic tested our integrity to our mission like no other time before.”

--Executive Director, Rhiannon Crain.

Mid-pandemic and as the county moved down through the tiered ranks, the stress morphed into something different entirely: The question of whether we could open in some capacity. A few hopeful business meetings later, Wonderland Toys decided to rally for the MOD and open its store doors for the holiday shopping season, which pulled the Museum’s otherwise quiet social media accounts out of hibernation. We had something to share with the community!

The dark silence slowly transformed into affirmations and hopes of an opening plan. The community made sure to stop into the store and relay how much they’ve missed the Museum, which was a wonderful feeling as the MOD had been wrapped up in Santa Cruz’s first official known case of COVID-19 back in early March of 2020, and had gotten taste of the public’s concern and caution where the Museum was front and center.

With the community’s positive reception of the MOD attempting an opening plan, we decided to start slowly for private playdates during the month of April. Come May 1, we’re teaming up with multiple local museums and galleries to help initiate a safe and healthy reopening for local cultural organizations impacted by the pandemic in a “Spring into Museums” campaign that will see organizations celebrating museum month with free and reduced admission to most of the counties newly reopened cultural institutions.

What the moms of the MOD have learned from this incredibly bizarre year, has been that our small, nonprofit children’s museum is, like the children who occupy it, very resilient and necessary. Gone are the days of taking for granted the loud playing in the Museum while team MOD toils in the background trying to make improvements and enhance productivity. Our intentions, morals, and ethics were tested along with our entire reason for holding on to this institution the way we did. Now, looking back, we can safely say that we would do it all again in the name of the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery.

Welcome back, Santa Cruz! We’ve missed you.

YOUR HOME Santa Cruz is a Top Housing Market But That’s Not Necessarily Good News

BY SEB FREY Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably aware that the Santa Cruz real estate market has gone completely bonkers. Prices are skyrocketing, supply remains very constrained, and buyers are in a world of hurt.

And it’s not just first-time buyers who are feeling the burn (although they do feel it most acutely). Buyers in virtually all price ranges are experiencing the pain – it’s not much less common to be outbid on a chic $2 million home than it is on a $750K condo.

In fact, the market in Santa Cruz is so competitive that it’s receiving national attention. Real estate portal realtor.com and the Wall Street Journal have teamed up to produce an “emerging housing markets” report for the United States. In their first report, released in late April of this year, the only area in California listed as a top emerging market in the USA was…Santa Cruz.

That’s right. Santa Cruz is the #10 hottest “emerging housing market” in the United States. And, unsurprisingly, Santa Cruz was the most expensive of the top 10 markets, by a comfortable margin.

And what makes these emerging markets so hot? To quote from realtor.com, these markets are:

“

…areas with strong housing demand and rising prices combined with robust economies, lots of good-paying jobs, and the amenities that make a place desirable.

These markets have lots of restaurants, bars, and shops as well as reasonable commutes to work.

SOUND LIKE SANTA CRUZ?

”

While Santa Cruz is making the national news, another headline that’s getting a lot of attention is the sharp uptick in inflation. In April, the U.S. recorded the highest inflation in nearly 13 years, punching in at an annualized rate of 4.2%. But month over month, inflation jumped 0.8%, far above the 0.2% the “experts” had been expecting. Read all about it on MarketWatch.

We’re seeing inflation everywhere in the economy now: food, gas prices, building materials, electronics - you name it, things are getting more expensive.

And we’re seeing inflation in the real estate market too. Prices are up

dramatically in a short period of time and much of this is, in fact, inflated value.

However, simply because prices have inflated does not mean prices will deflate.

The United States experienced a decade of significant inflation between 1973 and 1982 - averaging 9% per year in that time. Strikingly, home prices likewise averaged 9% annua l increases in that same time period.

In 1970, the median U.S. home price was $17,000. In 1980, it was $47,200.

In 1990, it reached $79,100. But by Q1 of 2021, the US median home price reached $347,500.

Real estate provides a wonderful hedge against inflation. Prospective homebuyers who today may look at what’s going on in the market and think how expensive homes are really aren’t considering the full picture. They’re only expensive compared to what they cost 1, 5, or 10 years ago.

Long term, I expect prices to continue to rise - even if only in inflated dollars (although I do expect prices locally to rise above the rate of inflation). Rent will rise in price too - as will almost everything, including, probably, incomes.

Buying a home means that one thing that won’t be going up much over time is your housing cost. Locking in your housing cost for a long period of time, as inflation eats away at the real value of your mortgage debt while increasing the price of your home is the way that most families are able to build wealth, over time.

Having said all that, allow me to share with you the latest real estate statistics for Santa Cruz county. These numbers all compare the first 4 months of 2021 to the first 4 months of 2020, and they’re quite eye-popping, for the most part.

MEDIAN HOUSE SALES PRICE:

+ 26%, $1,152,500 in 2021 YTD

MEDIAN HOUSE $/SQ.FT. VALUE: + 18%

TOTAL SALES VOLUME: + 54%

LUXURY HOME SALES, $2,000,000+: + 450%

ACTIVE LISTINGS AT END OF MONTH: - 26% (4 month average)

been easy in Santa Cruz, and it’s probably not going to get any easier – the NIMBYs who fight against dense housing projects, a growing University, and a tsunami of Silicon Valley money will see to that.

If you want to get into this housing market (which, if you plan to live here long term, needs to be a high priority goal for you), you’ll need patience, perseverance, and a plan. While the

market may seem daunting, buying a home in Santa Cruz may well prove to be one of the smartest financial decisions (and commitments!) you’ll ever make.  Realtor Seb Frey is the author of the book Get It Sold! Check out his videos on Facebook and YouTube – search for “Seb Frey TV.” Learn more on his website and reach him at sebfrey@sebfrey.com

Get Outside: take care of your home and garden 1 Now is a good time for Composting and fertilizing the lawn and beds.

2 Introduce some bugs to your place, earthworms, ladybugs, praying mantis, and microbial life all keeps a garden healthy.

3 Start seeds or young plants while we are warming up and going into the growing season.

4 Cut back vegetation from the buildings and fences. Protecting structures from moisture and insect infestation.

5 Sweep off the spiderwebs, dust, and debris

from the exterior of buildings and fences, You can hose off after but never power wash unless you are ready to reseal and repaint.

When you need a Realtor, all questions are relevant.

Call Me I’m here to help you!

MONTHS SUPPLY OF INVENTORY:

- 48% (much less supply vs. demand)

MEDIAN DAYS ON MARKET: down to 10 from 14 days

PERCENTAGE OF SALES OVER LIST PRICE: up to 60% from 30% of sales

MEDIAN SP TO LP %:

up to 102% from 100% of list price

Yes, buying a home in this market is especially challenging. But it’s never

Valerie Mishkin Realtor

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21

“

It's always good to remember where you come from and celebrate it. To remember where you come from is part of where you're going.

-Anthony Burgess Graduation is an exciting time. It marks both an ending and a beginning; it’s warm memories of the past and big dreams for the future.

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303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com Explore our underwater backyard and be mesmerized by the bounty of what our beautiful Pacific Ocean has to offer.

Starting at $525.

127 Mason St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831 459 8548 BlueWaterVentures.org Join us kayaking in search of whales or among the sea otter pups in the protective wetlands of Elkhorn Slough. Great gift for Dads, Grads. Camps & Bioluminescence kayaking too.

El Pueblo Rd, Scotts Valley 831.438.4106 Scarborough Gardens has wonderful gifts for your dad or anyone you celebrate this Father's Day. Open 7 days a week!

Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar

Monterey Bay Eco Tours

Bay Photo

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.

10932 Clam Way, Moss Landing, CA 95039 (831) 200-3454 MontereyBayEcoTours.com/ Tour the Elkhorn Slough! View playful sea otters, sleeping Harbor Seals, boisterous Sea Lions and enjoy world class bird watching in comfort aboard a brand new FULLY electric catamaran.

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!

22 JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Wild Roots Market

Downtown Felton & Boulder Creek WildRootsMarket.com contact@wildrootsmarket.com “With deep roots in our community, our mission is to provide locally grown, ethically sourced food from farmers we know and trust. We source 100% organic produce.”

LOCAL NEWS High School Grads are Exploring New Options The pandemic hasn’t stifled them. It’s opened new doors

BY JEANETTE PRATHER Gap years, YouTube sites, starting college while in high school…these are some of the new ways local teens are facing graduating during a historically challenging pandemic. Many have given up on the usual go directly to college path.

“It’s been a full year since COVID-19 flipped life on its head. High school students everywhere have adapted to quarantine, switched to online learning, and seen their junior and senior years widely transformed,” wrote blogger Jeff Rutherford early in 2021 on KnowledgeMatters.com.

“At the forefront are our 2021 high school graduates, who are preparing to walk into a world that has seen traditional pathways to the workforce changed dramatically. With unemployment still high, vaccines still rolling out, and an increasingly digital workforce, it’s no wonder that graduating students feel overwhelmed.”

Rutherford says support for these recent grads can range from helping equip students with virtual jobhunting skills (including optimizing resumes with keywords and setting up students with professional social media accounts); inspiring students to master hard skills by utilizing free course and certification programs; preparing students to align the short-term with the long-term through exploration of multiple career options and actionable future plans; and reminding students of the ever-evolving adage, “Anything can happen!”

Within the chaos, however, there seems to be some respite offering a breath of fresh air to upcoming graduates through a growing gap year trend.

GAP YEAR

“The pandemic and all that has happened to me and my family this year changed my perspective on life,” said Kirby School graduating senior, Fiona Landau, who is currently planning a year abroad of studying in Denmark. “It made me think about what’s important to me. It has always been a dream of mine to spend a year abroad. I decided to live my life doing what will make me the happiest.”

She says she would have gone directly to college in a regular year because that’s what everyone else would be doing. “But the disruption of COVID made her more open to following her dreams,” said Kirby School Communications Director, Paige Berardo. “We do have a couple of students who decided to take a gap year, citing that the pandemic gave them the freedom to explore alternative paths to college.”

A gap year is a growth in progress, a reflection year, said Ger Vue, school counselor of Roseville Area Schools in Minnesota. “The gap year is more common now with the pandemic. In the past it was a smaller percentage as the trend was going

to college or a trade school.”

Vue said that if the student has a clear purpose and focus for why they want to take a gap year, as well as what they’d like to get from it, the experience can be very beneficial.

“In high school, there are constant daily reminders about what a student will do post-graduation,” he said.

“Once you leave that setting and really embark on adulthood, there aren’t a lot of people who will prompt you or ask questions about the future anymore.

Setting a deadline and point of return (for example, committing to a six-month gap year) is a good idea because once you wait too long, you’ll have bills, loss of concentrated education, and other grown-up things to worry about.”

FINANCIAL IMPACT

Another critical factor for upcoming high school graduates and their families, according to Vue is the cost.

“Financial literacy and understanding the cost of education should remain in the back of family and students’ minds,” he said. “You can’t talk about graduation without talking about student debt.

There is $1.7 trillion in student debt.

How are upcoming graduates going to navigate that? It’s critical for families to educate themselves about finance, especially these days.”

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Some high school students have started college, virtually, during the pandemic.

“Taking simultaneous dual college and high school courses presents a small solution in regard to collegiate expenses,” he said.

FOUR-YEAR SCHOOL

Locally, student options look similar while the four-year academic plans mostly remain intact.

“Kirby students are still mainly pursuing four-year degrees after graduation,” said Berardo. “There has been a slight uptick in students beginning their degrees at a local community college with the intent of transferring to a UC, primarily due to increased costs of higher education.”

Berardo admits that although Kirby School hasn’t experienced that drastic a difference in trends post-graduation, she does notice some student options that have opened in favor of specific student groups.

“We also noted that students with strong GPAs applied to more colleges than they had in past years because of the absence of standardized testing (the SAT/ACT),” she said. “Test-optional proved advantageous for many, creating new opportunities to apply to a wider breadth of schools. Test-optional also helped with student stress levels during a very stressful year.”

To no one’s surprise, students have had to think out of the box, along with everyone else.

“Counselors are helping to deal with and guide students into expanding their trajectories beyond the here and now because that’s essential as we’re currently, as a society, in survival mode,” said Vue. “We want to give them the options and choices to earn better.

High school kids are resilient, and they’ll make things happen.”

YOU TUBE

A YouTube experiment is an

example of what kids are doing, according to Rutherford.

The channel Unus Annus—which was online for only a year and was hugely popular-- is a great representation of how much life can change as well as how impermanent things (especially virtually) are.

“Mark Fischbach (better known as Markiplier) and Ethan Nestor, uploaded vlog content every day for a year, and then deleted it all for good after a final 12-hour livestream,” said Rutherford.

“The two YouTubers hoped to teach a dual lesson…anyone can change their life in the space of one year, and nothing, no matter what, is permanent.”

Nestor, who graduated high school in 2015 with his own story of an uncertain future, struck a deal with his parents that included a gap year post-high school to pursue his dream of becoming a YouTube gamer for 12 months. They agreed that if that failed, he would go to college. His current YouTube subscribership is over two million.

“It’s a fantastic case study in going after your dreams, and although you may not want to encourage your graduating class to place all their hopes in YouTube, it applies equally well to applying to selective universities, making a splash in the workforce right out of high school, or striking out on one’s own as a business owner,” wrote Rutherford. “Maybe it’s no longer the time to dismiss some students’ wilder dreams as impractical – not as long as they’re backed by a solid skill set and a clear plan of action. It’s 2021, after all. Anything can happen.”

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“

BY SUKI WESSLING

Suki Wessling is a local writer and the mother of two adult children. You can read more at SukiWessling.com



Welcome back to our monthly feature of moms who have faced the task of pandemic parenting while also continuing their work in our community. Research has shown that women have suffered greater economic and personal fallout from the pandemic, losing jobs or having to work while also caring for children.

Kate Pavao of the Live Like Coco Foundation

When local mom, writer, and community volunteer Kate Pavao talks about ‘Marie Kondo-ing’ her life, she’s not referring to physical stuff.

She’s working on focusing on what’s important, especially at a time when so many people need so much.

“I used to manage a freelance writing/ editing business as well as running the Live Like Coco Foundation, so I am used to working at home and juggling a lot of responsibilities,” Kate explains. “This has been another level, though! When the pandemic started, a lot of my writing projects were put on hold, and I haven’t really had time to pursue too many new assignments.”

Kate has taken this time to focus

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her work on the foundation, named in memory of her daughter who died in 2015, which hosts book giveaways and beach cleanups, funds scholarships, and places Little Free Libraries in our local parks.

On top of distance schooling this past year, that work was enough.

“My house is small and sometimes I stand on the stairs on the way up to my room (where my husband works) and I can hear all three of them in virtual calls at once,” Kate says. “Add a barky dog and it’s a lot of chaos to manage!”

As someone who has focused much of her time on fulfilling needs in our community, this year has been especially difficult, presenting challenges since

most of their work was done in person.

The best solution that Kate has found for keeping it all together is mindfulness.

“I really feel so much better after my morning walks at the beach, instead of just trying to start the day with my

to-do list,” she explains. “Often, I am more productive afterward anyway. My son’s teacher in particular has made mindfulness a real priority in her class, and I have tried to model that at home, too, either by doing the meditation or breathing exercises with my kids, or just trying to keep us all in the moment a bit more.”

She’s particularly proud of her husband’s ‘bread ministry’—he makes and delivers sourdough bread at people’s houses when it’s their birthday or they are feeling low.

For its part, the foundation continues its mission as best it can. Over the past year, it has adapted to pandemic-era norms.

“At first I was so worried about losing our community and cancelling our events,” Kate remembers. “But I have learned that our community is still there.

I am proud that we’ve been able to be adaptable and stay focused on what we could do. We’re all kind of floating around on our own little islands right now, but when I think about the Live Like Coco community, in particular, I see a lot of people who still want to connect, who still want to make a difference.”

At this writing, school is about to end and Kate’s family are making summer plans including swimming and vacation.

The Live Like Coco Foundation, she says, is ready to move forward.

“I am excited to start passing out books again and connecting with community!” Kate says. “In July, we will do a book giveaway each Friday at the Watsonville Farmers Market.”

It’s a good message for all of us: Focus on what’s important, nurture each other, and never give up on community.

If you know of a mom who has made a difference, please email us at editor@growingupsc.com

LOCAL ARTIST Killian Rose O'Brien Killian is finishing up the 2nd grade at SLV Elementary. She was first drawn to art when her Aunt Laura took her to some Drawn-2-Art classes when she was in preschool. She is currently taking weekly art classes with our small pod of friends from her other Aunt Suzanne,

she is so lucky to have such artistic people in her life!

In her own words: “Art is fun to me and it is just a thing I do to calm myself down. It is fun to me to draw weird shapes and make it into a creature. I like shading and that is what I like to do.”

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BY JEANETTE PRATHER

 Jeanette got her BA in journalism, French, international studies, and dance at Cal State, Long Beach circa 2007.

Since then, she has published thousands of articles and blogs from zines to dailies to traditional glossies, as well as four books, and six musicals. She runs a local business, Stellaria Creative Company.

Families Have Added Exotic New Members During the Pandemic One of the silver linings of sheltering in place during the pandemic is that pet adoptions are up all over the country.

People have had more time to raise and train animals and happy to have a companion…and in some cases, some unconventional ones.

Who can turn down that furry little faced-friend, or even a not-so-snuggly yet scaly reptile? Pets come in all shapes and sizes, providing pet owners mountains of happiness, friendship, messiness, and love.

FURRY FRIENDS

Despite ferrets and gerbils being two of the more popular pets in the United States, according to Neil Shouse of Shouse California Law Group, they are illegal in California. “Ferrets are Mustelids, the biological family that also includes otters, mink, weasels, and polecats,” wrote Shouse on his 2016 blog titled, “5 Popular Animals that are Illegal as Pets in California.” “Like ferrets, gerbils are popular pets in the United States. If you are looking for a rodent as a pet, therefore, we recommend that you stick to those rodents that

26 JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

are legal in California – specifically, domesticated races of golden hamsters, dwarf hamsters, rats, mice, guinea pigs, and chinchilla.”

Shouse goes on to explain that hedgehogs, monkeys, and squirrels are among the list of popular illegal pets in California as well.

“The people we bought our house from had five ferrets!” said Bonny Doon mom, Kim Furnish. “They even had one of the bedrooms all to themselves. Took us months to get the smell out of that room!

They are adorable though!”

“I had a ferret years ago, he was awesome,” said Jessica Laces, a Santa Cruz mom. “I was sad to learn they’re illegal here.”

“Our family has a Bengal cat,” said another Santa Cruz mamma, Amber LB. “We have a house rabbit (litter box trained) who we adopted the day we returned home from CZU evacuation,” said Diana Wilson, Santa Cruz mom.

TAKING THE FARM

A little bit more maintenance, still part of the family, and essential to the agriculture scene in Santa Cruz County,

are livestock and other farm animals. In fact, according to the 2019 Santa Cruz County Crop Report, livestock and animal products (which includes the animals, honey, and eggs), accounted for $7.68 million of the overall agriculture value in Santa Cruz County.

Especially in the local scene, livestock and other farm animals make popular pets.

“I have pot belly pigs, goats, miniature ponies, ducks, turkeys and chickens,” said Wauhillau Ward Erbe, grandmother from Watsonville. “Of course, they all require different care and right now I have lots of chicks, so I have three different heating lamps going. The herd animals are all very tame and require interaction with people. [It is] a lot of work, but I enjoy it!”

“We have a rather exotic-looking sheep,” said Santa Cruz mom, Jamie Lafollette. “[The sheep is] called a Soay sheep and is one of the ancient breeds. It looks more like a goat.

“We also have horses,” continued Lafollette. “The care regime for our sheep is letting him out every morning. He has

an electric net fence we move around to keep the weeds down. Around dusk we lock him in his shed... He likes plums and pumpkins as treats. That’s about it.”

“We adopted our [four] pigs,” said Aptos mom, Sarah Jukes. “Many [pigs] end up in shelters because they grow bigger than people expect, can be destructive, and are very stubborn. Our smallest is 125lbs, largest 350lbs [and they] love belly rubs. They eat twice a day, just a cup of pig pellets and enjoy vegetables. They get fat easily, so we have to watch what they eat. They also eat grass but root it up so not much is left. They don’t need to go for a walk but like space to root about and live outside.

They sleep in a big shelter with blankets and people donate blankets to us. We love them, but they are not always easy.”

“We have the run of the mill; hamster, rabbits, llamas, cows, horses, chickens, goats, dogs, cats, parrots, canaries, cockatiels, fish, pigs, etc.,” said Rahbecka Galvan, Santa Cruz mom.

SCALY BUDDIES

Another not-as-common-as-somewould-think category of pets are reptiles.

“

For music students, who often spend a lot of time practicing and playing alone (especially those who don’t have a school music program available), playing with other musicians can be a true game-changer.

According to the American Pet Products Association’s 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey, of all the US households that own pets, 9.4 million account for reptiles. Of course, that’s no 94.2 or 89.7 million like our popular cats and dogs, respectively, but it’s still a significant cohort of reptile-loving Americans.

“We had silkworms, Madagascar cockroaches, iguana, boa constrictors, red-eared slider turtle, Sucata tortoise and rats, too,” continued Galvan.

“We adopted Eliza [our bearded] dragon because the previous owners no longer had time for her,” continued Jukes. “It was a steep learning curve and expensive to get her enclosure and lights all set up. Eliza eats crickets and super worms and fruit and vegetables.

She spends most of the day by the glass sliding doors under a heat lamp. She asks to go outside so we sit outside, and she sunbathes. To survive she needs UV and should not be kept in an enclosure 24/7! She makes no noise and is very laid back.” “[Our two iguanas] were married

this year after the girl, Meme, was rescued from a tree in Felton. The boy is Rexie. His human moved to Hawaii and left him in our care,” said Santa Cruz mamma, Malika M Bell. “As intimidating as they look, most kids find it comforting to know that they live off a vegetarian diet of organic baby greens with various fruit treats. They have no desire to eat any meat.”

“We have an endangered Mojave Desert Tortoise named Sheldon who lives in our backyard,” Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Santa Cruz mon. “We also have a banana piebald ball python named Skittles.”

AIR & SEA CREATURES

Sea life and poultry, which take a backseat to their more popular cat and dog counterparts, made a small cameo when it came to what types of unusual pets’ dwell locally.

“We had hermit crabs!” Exclaimed Alicia Potes, Aptos mom. “They were fun [and] easy to care for. You have to mist their tank regularly, feed, and change their water, but they were very easy and a fun pet if you are ok with

them not being snuggly.”

“My grandsons have two pigeons that they have raised since they were chicks,” said local grandmother, Ward Erbe.

“They are free to fly away but they stay home, landing on heads and sitting on shoulders. [It’s] so funny.”

Whether it’s scaly and wild, warm and

fuzzy, or large and loud, pets come in all shapes and sizes, and Santa Cruz runs a gamut of eclectic animals. Once a part of our family, these little critters shine their personalities and take on identities all their own!

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SUMMER READING PROGRAM SUMMER READING PROGRAM PROGRAMA DE LECTURA DE VERANO santacruzpl.org/srp PROGRAMA DE LECTURA DE VERANO

santacruzpl.org/srp

June 1 - July 31 • 1 de junio - 31 de julio

Camp GatewaY Gateway

Unplug and Engage at Camp Gateway!

Mini-maker Stations, Field Games, Gym Play, Crafting Corner, Science Sleuths,and much more!

Register now at gatewaysc.org/campgateway 2 week sessions starting July 12 through August 20 from 9:00am-3:00pm

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Earn a book and raffle entries for reading this summer.

Complete activities to collect virtual badges and earn extra raffle entries. $10 Atlantis Fantasyworld credit upon sign-up for kids & teens!

Gana un libro y entradas a la rifa por leer este verano.

Completa las actividades para colectar medallas virtuales y entradas extras a la rifa. ¡$10 crédito de Atlantis Fantasyworld para niños y adolescentes al registrarse!

The Watsonville and Santa Cruz Public Libraries invite all teens and adults in Santa Cruz County to participate in Book to Action. We have selected the book Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen by Jose Antonio Vargas and invite all to read the book and participate. Books will be available starting in May. Las Bibliotecas Públicas de Watsonville y Santa Cruz invitan a todos los jóvenes y adultos del Condado de Santa Cruz a participar en el programa Book to Action. Hemos seleccionado el libro Querida América: notas de un ciudadano indocumentado escrito por José Antonio Vargas e invitamos a todos a leer el libro y participar. Los libros estarán disponibles a partir de mayo.

COUNTY SCOOP Expanding Broadband in Santa Cruz County

BY ZACH FRIEND, COUNTY SUPERVISOR The pandemic highlighted the critical need for access to affordable, high-speed internet. For students participating in remote learning, parents attempting to work remotely and our families needing to access tele-health, high-speed internet is an essential resource. Yet, many households in our community, and throughout the state, either have limited bandwidth to meet their needs or are priced out of options. The County has taken some steps to improve the availability of broadband and the state and federal governments are also making efforts to expand access.

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 California households lack broadband access with a disproportionate number of those households consisting of seniors, those with low-incomes and adults self-identifying as having a disability.

Similar challenges exist in Santa Cruz County. For context, 92 percent of households nationwide with incomes between $100,000 and $150,000 have broadband service, while only 47 percent of households making less than $25,000 a year access these technologies. For areas that are covered, most of the lack of service stems from cost, and for those in rural areas (or even relatively suburban areas of our county) there are little to no high-speed internet options - increasing the digital divide.

COUNTY EFFORTS

The County of Santa Cruz has developed a series of policies and programs to encourage public and private investment and proliferation of broadband infrastructure. These policies include a “dig once” policy where fiber conduit will be installed whenever public rights-of-way are broached (significantly reducing the cost and also preventing the need to dig up a road that was recently paved in order to add conduit later). Additionally, the County revised permitting fees to directly reflect actual county cost and streamlined the permitting process for fiber infrastructure projects.

The County established common technical specifications for broadband infrastructure projects to speed up the process for those increasing this type of infrastructure, created a master lease agreement for companies interested in locating their infrastructure on County assets and the developed a Broadband Master Plan to guide future policy and infrastructure development. Lastly, the Board of Supervisors voted to allocate some of the recent federal relief funding toward increasing broadband access and infrastructure - and previously, relief funds were given to our local libraries to provide for wi-fi hotspots to be checked out by patrons. This has led to a number of areas in the unincorporated area seeing increases in speeds and some reduction in costs. New fiber lines

are running through major corridors like Soquel, Freedom, San Andreas and other locations that provide the framework for increased services.

STATE EFFORTS

A recent report commissioned by the California Public Utilities Commission found that the cost of building highspeed internet fiber connections to every unserved building and house in the state could occur with an investment of approximately $6.8 billion.

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC), which represents the interests of counties at the state level, has been working with the Newsom Administration to invest $8 billion of the federal relief funding and other new funding made available for this purpose to close the digital divide.

As CSAC notes, this level of investment could give households, businesses, schools, and hospitals access to high-speed 100 Mbps broadband and give a giant boost to programs that would spur the adoption of internet service (such as devices, digital skills training, service subsidies, and language access programs and products).

What exactly would the state funding do? Most of it would provide 100/10 Mbps fiber optics to buildings and houses currently without it.

“

It is estimated that as many as 1 in 3 California households lack broadband access with a disproportionate number of those households consisting of seniors, those with low-incomes and adults self-identifying as having a disability

About a third of it is proposed to construct a statewide middle mile network (to close location gaps where fiber infrastructure occurs) so that any provider could tap in and provide services to underserved areas.

This funding would come from the new one-time funds available from the federal relief funding, which includes funding specifically for broadband infrastructure and also more flexible funding that can be applied for things such as broadband expansion.

FEDERAL EFFORTS

One of the largest federal efforts to increase broadband access has been in the recent relief funding. For example, The Emergency Broadband Benefit provides a discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households (such as those at 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or that experienced a substantial loss

of income during the pandemic). The federal funding also provides significant offsets for schools and libraries looking to provide high-speed internet services and funds will be allocated directly to states to help build out broadband infrastructure projects. Additional federal legislation has been proposed to close the digital divide even further that is currently under consideration.

These local, state and federal efforts will help ensure equitable access for broadband and close the digital divide for communities such as ours.

As always, I appreciate hearing your feedback on this or any other issue I can help you with. Feel free to call me at 454-2200 with any questions or comments.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

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COLORING PAGE

Submit your coloring entry to editor@growingupsc.com and we will select some for great prizes!

You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063

30 JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL NEWS Forget Blue Ball Park: Check out These Red Balls In celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, the internationally renowned public art installation known as the RedBall Project will be popping up across Santa Cruz County this June. The RedBall Project is an inflatable mobile sculpture created by Kurt Perschke that has been making headlines around the globe since 2001. Considered “the world’s longest–running street art work” the RedBall has been to over 30 cities from Paris to Portland. “On the surface, the experience seems to be about the ball itself as an object,” said Perschke, “but the true power of the project is what it can create for those who can experience it.”

The playful art piece, which is 15 feet in diameter and weighs 250 pounds, will be in Santa Cruz County beginning Tuesday, June 8 through Sunday, June 13, 2021. Wedged into unexpected places with a burst of bright color, the giant orb will explore the area’s unique architectural landscape and history in a series of daily installations, ranging from the Santa Cruz Wharf to Downtown Watsonville to the MAH itself. “The RedBall Project is a great representation of the spirit and vision

of the MAH, which for twenty-five years has pushed beyond its four walls to be out in the community,” said Robb Woulfe, executive director of the MAH. “It challenges us to reimagine familiar spaces and, like the MAH, meets people where they are to create new connections.” The public can find the RedBall squeezing itself into and around well-known Santa Cruz landmarks by following the MAH and the artist on social media (@santacruzmah and @redballproject). With an aim to delight and surprise, the community is encouraged to follow the travelling artwork each day as local buildings, parks, piers, and more become the canvas for this celebratory installation.

REDBALL SANTA CRUZ SCHEDULE • •

•

Tuesday, June 8, 11 am to 6 pm Santa Cruz Wharf 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz Wednesday, June 9, 11 am to 6 pm Del Mar Theater in Downtown Santa Cruz 1124 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz Thursday, June 10, 11am to 6 pm Esplanade Park Bandshell near Capitola Village 120 Monterey Avenue, Capitola

•

•

Friday, June 11, 11am to 6 pm Cabrillo College Downtown Watsonville Center 318 Union Street, Watsonville Saturday, June 12, 11am to 6 pm

•

The MAH in Downtown Santa Cruz 705 Front Street, Santa Cruz Sunday, June 13, 11am to 6 pm Cowell’s Beach 21 Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz

A huge shout out to our recent coloring page sponsors who have showered our winners with incredible prizes!

Nadine Gettleman & Marisa Wood

Marina & Orion Less

Ryker and Orion

Nadine and Marisa colored our April coloring page in their art class, taught by Tina Najarian. We could choose just one winner for April, so Growing Up delivered cupcakes to their whole class!

These cutie siblings are our second winners from the April contest. They colored their hearts out and won tickets for their whole family to go on the steam train at Roaring Camp! Thank you Roaring Camp for being a sponsor!

Ryker and Asher colored our January Big Foot coloring page at their preschool Play, Laugh, and Learn and each won a dozen cookies generously donated by Cookies Cruz! Thank you to Play, Laugh, and Learn for submitting their coloring and a big thank you to Cookie Cruz for treating these boys to yummy cookies!

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SUMMER ACTIVITIES GUIDE

offered July 5-9 in Scotts Valley and July 12-16 in Aptos. Camps are designed to create a hands-on theater experience, and are focused on building performance skills, self-confidence, and teamwork. Our camps include rotations through drama, dance, and music, and an impressive concluding Cabaret Performance for a live audience at our outdoor stage. There’s no better place for kids to learn about theater and have fun than in CYT’s positive and encouraging atmosphere.

Four Points Youth Camp

CAMPS All About Theatre

325 Washington St, Santa Cruz 831.345.6340 AllAboutTheatre.org Celebrating over 18 years years and over 135 musicals in Santa Cruz County. We offer training in the performing arts for 3-6, 6-10, 10-13 & 13-16 We are elated to be opening up again after the pandemic with an amazing summer season: Moana, Descendants & Legally Blonde. We are offering week long and two-week long camps in performing arts along with our newest program "Theater in Nature" - located off Freedom Blvd. There's an opportunity for everyone to come and be part of the magic... We are located in downtown Santa Cruz and out off Freedom Blvd, Corralitos. Check out our website for additional summer classes and productions.

Be Natural Music

740 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 515-8369 benaturalmusicsantacruz.com/ summermusiccamps The 3rd & 4th weeks in June are BNM’s 2021 Summer Music Camps! At Be Natural Music summer camps, kid & teen musicians shine on stage as they compose original music, script music videos, and at the end, record their song! We produce the final music video in high-quality and display it on our YouTube to jump-start your kid’s career.

Youth who already know how to play an instrument & composers are welcome!

Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District

15685 Forest Hill Drive 831-338-4144 bcrpd.org Bear Creek Community Center is full of fun options for kids’ activities. Kids enjoy swimming, river play, crafts, music, and science projects, games, sports and more.

We offer full day camps from 8-5pm as well as day camps 9-3pm. Teens are encouraged to join our junior counselor program for 12–14-year-olds. Our camps will limit the number of students per session so sign up and registration is encouraged to secure your space. Start Date June 14th.

Camp Gateway

255 Swift Street Santa Cruz (831) 423-0341 GatewaySC.org/CampGateway Unplug and Engage at Camp Gateway!

Gateway School is hosting a screen-free interactive summer camp experience for rising 1st - 6th graders. Campers will engage in our counselor-led activities including mini

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makers stations, field games, gym play, crafting corner, science sleuths, and more!

During the 2020-2021 school year Gateway School provided students with a safe OnCampus experience and we are excited to carry this into Camp Gateway. Visit http:// www.gatewaysc.org/campgateway/ for more information and to register. Camps will run in two weeks sessions from July 12 through August 20. Registration opens on April 15, 2021.

Cabrillo Extension Summer Youth Program 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos 831-479-6331 Cabrillo.edu/youth

Cabrillo Extension Summer Youth Program offers safe, fun, and engaging summer camps.

We partner with local entrepreneurs and small businesses to provide inclusive and positive learning environments where kids learn new skills, make connections that will last a lifetime, and have tons of fun in the process! This summer’s line-up includes everything from teen baking to hands-on STEM experiences to active sports camps. Campers will be inspired, engaged, and develop skills that help them succeed and grow. Join us for diverse, highquality camps to explore science & engineering; culinary; computers & technology; sports; and the arts. We are proud to be a member of the American Camp Association, which provides us with outstanding resources for our staff and campers, and inform our policies, procedures, and practices.

City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department

831-420-5270 santacruzparksandrec.com City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department 831.420.5270 Fun is Back! Register for our popular summer camps and junior guards for a fun-filled summer. Get moving with Skatedogs Skateboarding Camp, World Cup Soccer Camp, and SUP/Kayak Camp.

Create with virtual art camps or expand your knowledge with science and STEAM camps. Visit santacruzparksandrec. com to view the Summer Activity Guide in Spanish and English. Online registration opens Saturday, May 1, and Monday, May 3 for phone registration for the City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation summer programs.

CYT Santa Cruz

216 Mt. Hermon Rd suite E P. O. Box 231 Scotts Valley CA 95066 (831)239-3821 cytsantacruz.org CYT Santa Cruz "Summer Cabaret" musical theater camps are a week-long day camp for students ages 4-18 and are

Orchard School, 2288 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos kaseylindemann@FourPointsYouthCamp.com FourPointsYouthCamp.com Four Points Youth Camp is a new summer day camp with activities designed to broaden every camper’s horizon. Serving campers in grades K-8, our activities include sports, arts and crafts, technology, and traditional camp games.We also offer a counselor-in-training program for teens 13-15 years old. These activities are designed to cater to each age group. With new unique themes each week, every camp session is a fresh experience.

Growing Social

GrowingSocial.org info@growingsocial.org 408-914-0552.

Growing Social?is a highly therapeutic, educational program offering Summer Camps and school year services to those with social learning differences (including Social Communication Disorder, Autism Spectrum, ADHD, ADD, social anxiety, those without a formal diagnosis). Farm animals, gardening, cooking, and other creative group activities are utilized to teach and practice social learning concepts. In small groups, students are carefully matched by age (K-young adult) and skill level. Social vocational and camp counselor opportunities for teens and young adults.?Sessions are taught

by Stephanie Madrigal and Amy Miller, Speech and Language Pathologists/social learning specialists.?

Mount Hermon Redwood Camp

37 Conference Drive, Felton, CA 95018 831.335.4466 mounthermon.org/redwood-day-camp This past year has been anything but ordinary and we know your kids are itching to get outside and have adventures. This summer, we are excited to offer a special twist on our classic elementary summer camp: Redwood Day Camp! Five 8-hour days of camp jam-packed with outdoor activities, games, nature, camp silliness, and memories to be made!

Mountain of Fun – Mount Madonna School

491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna 408-847-2717 mountmadonnaschool.org/summer This summer get your kids out in nature, unplugged, outdoors, and active! Utilizing its 375-acre campus situated amid grassy meadows and redwood forest, Mount Madonna School’s popular camps return the weeks of July 12 and July 19 for children ages 5 to 13* including arts, forest play, nature crafts, and more - even a half-day horse camp option. New Redwood Explorers camp for ages 10-13. An all-day horse camp is offered the week of August 2. Camps are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am-3:30 pm.

Safe transportation is available from Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Aptos, and Corralitos. Details and registration online at www.

mountmadonnaschool.org/summer.

Redwood Music Teen Camp

info@communitymusicschool.org communitymusicschool.org Weeklong overnight camp for teen musicians (ages 12-19) begins June 14th.

This year more than ever, it’s a great opportunity for teenagers to get out of the house and hang out with other teens without computers! This full-immersion music experience is for players of fiddle, flute, pennywhistle, recorder, harp, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, small keyboards, and cello. Students practice and perform in instrument-specific groups, with the entire ensemble, and in lots of informal jam sessions. Other activities include crafts, movies, and a talent show. Information and registration online at CommunityMusicSchool.org.

Summer Camps at The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

1305 East Cliff Dr., Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 420-6115 ext. 17 SantaCruzMuseum.org/camp/ Nature Explorers Camps connect kids to nature through art, games, and exciting activities. Campers spend time outdoors and investigating the museum’s exhibits.

They use scientific equipment and natural specimens to examine the wonders of nature. Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a summer of fun, learning, and exploration! Registration for week-long day camps opens April 2nd. $275 per week, with discounts available for multiple week registration, siblings, and Museum Members.

SC SPCA Kids Summer Camp

(831)566-3753 2601 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz spcasc.org/humane-education/ The Santa Cruz SPCA Summer Camp will be happening in our new shelter location!

For students going in 1st-6th grade. $275 for one week, 9am-3pm, Monday - Friday.

Open registration will go up in April and spaces will fill quickly. For more information, and registration, visit our website, call, or email maria@spcasc.org

CLASSES Advantage Driving School

831-462-0139 AdvantageDriversEd.com Advantage Driving School has been training safe drivers in Santa Cruz County since 1999.

Our professional and friendly instructors are experts in preparing you to drive safely and to pass the DMV Test. We offer a variety of packages and we will even take you to the DMV for your test! You can trust Advantage Driving School to have the best value with excellent instructors, competitive pricing, and flexible scheduling. We also offer a stateof-the-art online scheduling program and a convenient pay as you go program. Visit us at AdvantageDriversEd.com and start driving today!

Chartwell School

2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside 831.394.3468 chartwell.org Chartwell School, located on 65 acres in Seaside, CA, serves students with dyslexia and other related learning differences who are not currently reaching their full potential.

We do this in grades 1-12 by providing targeted and direct instruction to empower

SUMMER ACTIVITES GUIDE learners with the skills, strategies, tools, and social-emotional mindset they need to thrive in college and beyond. Summer@Chartwell is a four-week program that emphasizes literacy, math, STEAM, and enrichment skills.

Guitar Lessons with Nathan Bessara

831.566.1250 nathanbessara@gmail.com Nathan is trained in classical guitar and will teach your child the foundation techniques to becoming an excellent musician. His personality is encouraging and your child will enjoy their experience as they learn to play the guitar. Nathan is available via Zoom or in person masked lesson.

Jim Booth Swim School

Santa Cruz at Harvey West Pool and Watsonville at Duncan Holbert Pool and Fitness Evolution 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 beginning at age 4 months 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 lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers. The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School.

Marine Mammal Online Experience (MOE)

Offered by the Non-Profit California Ocean Alliance, Org. Email: ccasey@CAoceanalliance.org CAoceanalliance.org Interested in learning about marine mammal science and conservation? The California Ocean Alliance invites you to sign up for The Marine Mammal Online Experience (MOE)! This unique and engaging one-week online educational course provides students of all ages the opportunity to explore the underwater world of seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, and sea otters. Learn about the threats that these amazing animals face and gain expertise in different research approaches and analytical tools that aid in their continued conservation. Students participate in virtual tours, interactive labs, and learn from experts in the field.

Mountain Music School (Formerly known as B Sharp)

216-A Mt. Herman Rd, Scotts Valley CA 95066 (831)201-9605 (text or call) MountainMusicSchoolSV.com Mountain Music School offers lessons for kids, teens, and adults, from beginners to experienced players! Learn to play piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, drums, and more! Students and their families enjoy the passion and lighthearted atmosphere brought by our qualified instructors. Our philosophy is that lessons should be fun!

No Trace

contactus@notraceshop.com NoTraceShop.com New sewing summer camp for kids! Join Liz from No Trace for a week of lessons designed for kids of all skill levels, from ages 8 to 18, June 21 to June 24. Head to NoTraceShop.com/events for more details & to reserve your child’s spot.

Pacific Edge Climbing Gym

104 Bronson St. Suite 12, Santa Cruz

831-454-9254 PacificEdgeClimbing.com At Pacific Edge we strive to create a safe, welcoming, and fun community. We offer a variety of Afterschool Programs for children and youth ages 6 – 17. Our highly skilled instructors and coaches engage students with various games and activities that impart climbing skills in a fun and supportive environment. Our programs challenge students to reach their full potential through the sport of rock climbing. Programs include: Jr. Rock Stars – Kids 6-7. Rock Stars – Kids 8-10. Youth Introduction to Climbing – Youth 11-17. Youth Core Climbing Class – Youth 11-17. Team Edge (Youth Competitive Team) – Ages 7-17. For more information, please call us or visit our website.

Summer@Kirby!l

425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 423-0658 x111 kirby.org It's going to be a great summer! Join us at Kirby School for our virtual or in-person academic, arts, and athletics summer program in June and July 2021. Kirby School empowers students to shape their futures with confidence. Our independent middle and high school are open for in-person or online instruction in our Hybrid Learning Model. We are continuing to deliver our world-class college prep curriculum through our small class sizes, our investment in technology and safety, classroom enlargement (for social distancing), and our commitment to strong relationships. Join our community where teachers are attuned to each learner’s strengths and interests, and students are challenged based on their level of readiness.

Ranked one of the top STEM schools in the nation by Newsweek, Kirby graduates attend excellent four-year colleges and universities.

Wings School of Dance

1 Camp Evers Ln, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (831) 471-8483 WingsSchoolofDance.com/ We are committed to offering quality dance education in a nurturing environment.

Friendly, professional staff and two beautiful studios located in Scotts Valley! Ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary styles.

Recreational and competitive program.

New in-person classes and camps for 3-18 year olds starting in June. View the Summer Schedule at www.wingsschoolofdance.com.

ENRICHMENT The Bookakery

BookakeryBoxes.com Looking for activities to do with your kids at home? Have a kid that always wants to help in the kitchen or curl up on your lap to hear a good book? Love getting packages? The Bookakery has just the thing: Bookakery Boxes, a monthly subscription box for kids aimed towards fostering a love of reading and baking.

Each Bookakery Box comes with a hardback picture book, kid-friendly recipe card, baking item and activity, all based around a theme of the month. Order yours today! Use code GUISC10 for 10% off any subscription length (renews at standard rate). Expires 12/31/2021 Santa Cruz Public Libraries

224 Church St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-427-7713 santacruzpl.org The SCPL Summer Reading Program for all ages, has gone virtual! You can earn books,

attend virtual events, and win prizes. Reading just 5 books over the summer helps prevent learning loss in students. Kids can continue learning while having fun at virtual programs such as storytimes, craft and other STEAM activities. Amazing performers will present virtual shows all summer long. Sign up at any branch or online at santacruzpl.org\ srp starting June 1st.

Tandy Beal and Company’s KEEP ON TRUCKIN!

TandyBeal.com This great dance company presents worldfamous artists in free, live 15 - minute fabulous family shows, outdoors and safe. A burst of joy in your neighborhood, April-June. These pop-up concerts on a flatbed truck feature legendary artists: Keith Terry/Evie Ladin (Body Music & Banjo), Omar Ledezma (Latin Percussion), Coventry/ Kaluza (Circus), Calvin Kai Ku (Magic). Singers: Tammi Brown, Claudia Villella, Ariel Thiermann, SoVoSó singers (featured in Mixed Nutz) Dave Worm (Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra), Bryan Dyer, Sunshine Garcia/Matt Hartle.

Jeff Gallagher (Classical Music) Shelley Phillips/Neal Hellman (Celtic Music), Iman Lizarazu (Eccentric Clowning), Patti Maxine (Old Timey).

York School Summer Bridge Program

9501 York Rd., Monterey, CA 93940 831-372-7388 york.org/summer Welcoming students in rising grades 8–12! We are offering fun and safe summer programs on York’s 100-acre campus for local middle and high school students. Whether you’re looking to brush up on academics, get moving with athletics, explore your creativity in the arts, or enhance your social-emotional wellness, we have a program for you! Camps will run weekly with morning, afternoon or all-day options, starting in June. For more information, please visit york.org/summer or email us at summer@ york.org.

PRESCHOOLS Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool

Lic #444400117 4134 Fairway Dr, Soquel 831.462.2702 Rocking Horse Ranch is a play-based preschool located on 3 beautiful acres in sunny Soquel. We offer morning, afternoon, and full day sessions. Our outdoor space offers lots of room to explore, including our gardens and many different kinds of animals. Come visit us!

RECREATION Adventure Sports Unlimited

303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com We teach infants through adults the joy of water through our Swim School. Our Ocean programs introduce families to our marine environments through the Seafood Foraging, and Kelp Pickling. Explore the world-renown underwater landscape of our local bays through our Open Water Scuba courses. It starts in our custom-built aquatic’s facility.

Community Boating Center, UCSC

790 Mariner Park Way Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-425-1164

Recreation.ucsc.edu/youth/juniorsailing/ index.html The UCSC Community Boating Center has been teaching local juniors how to sail for over 30 years. All classes are hands-on, co-ed classes, ages 8-16 and are taught in RS Quests, RS Visions, and Lasers. Students learn the basics in the protected Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor and progress to the beautiful Monterey Bay. Enjoy sailing in a safe, fun, and supportive environment with knowledgeable, experienced staff. Sign up today! (Adult classes are also available!)

Cougar Swim School

7105 Hwy 9, Felton Ca. (location of pool) 208 Prospect Hts. Santa Cruz 95065 831-239-4228 CougarSwimSchool.com Kurt Edwards and Cougar Swim School represents swimming excellence with over 25 years of teaching and management experience, Kurt Edwards, and the staff of Cougar Swim School offer quality swim lesson for all ages and abilities, Water Polo, Junior Lifeguarding, and Aqua Day Camp.

Our summer program is made up of 4 to 5 sessions that are 2 weeks in length with eight, twenty-five-minute classes. Classes are held on Monday thru Thursday for both weeks. Cougar Swim School also offers Lifeguard training classes for anyone 15 year and up, who want to work as a lifeguard.

Junebug’s Gym

3910 Portola Drive, Suite 2, Santa Cruz 831.464.BUGS (2847) JuneBugsGym.com/ June Bug’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, to open up imaginations, and to feel confidence and joy in their exploration of movement.

Music Together, Canta y Baila Conmigo, & Rhythm Kids w/ MusicalMe, Inc.

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County 831.332-9002 MusicalMe.com Our online & outside classes offer the best in Early Childhood Music Learning for ages Birth to 8 years. Music Together®: A music program for children birth to age 6—and the grownups who love them, enhancing children’s learning in multiple domains (mentally, physically, socially, etc.), increasing family engagement and, adding richly to each family’s “toolbox”. Siblings are welcome, especially infants who may attend free if they are 8 months or under. Canta y Baila ConmigoTM: A unique curriculum for young children (ages Birth to 6 years) with dual, complementary goals of music education and language immersion. Designed for beginners and native speakers alike, CyBC creates a playful, interactive atmosphere where language learning is integrated naturally and organically into the musical experience. Rhythm Kids®: A drumming, music, and movement, program for children ages 4–8 years. Classes naturally support children’s rhythm development and help them prepare for formal music lessons. Contact us today to try a free class and bring the joy of music into your family’s life.

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SUMMER ACTIVITES GUIDE Santa Cruz Gymnastics

(831) 462-0655 info@scgym.com During the summer we will be offering themed Recreational Gymnastics Camps to give parents a safe place for children ages 5–12. Our camps will be offered all summer long starting in June. Beginning through advanced gymnasts will participate in all Olympic gymnastics events as well as daily trampoline, tumbling, strength, fitness and flexibility exercises. We’ll be filling our camps with lots of other out-of-the-sun fun!

Visit our website or contact our office for complete details & registration. Come flip with us! Check scgym.com or call for info

SUMMER HEALTH Ultraderm | California Skin Institute

3311 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz 95065 (831) 272-0936 californiaskininstitute.com/locations/ ultraderm-santa-cruz/ As the days get longer, sunnier and filled with outdoor activities you need to protect your family’s skin from UVA/ UVB rays. Remember to apply/reapply a sunscreen with SPF 30 or more. If you have any concerns about the health of your child’s skin, California Skin Institute is a premier dermatology practice in Santa Cruz, Freedom, & Monterey with board-certified dermatologists and specialists helping families with their skin health. Visit our website or call to make an appointment and ask us about our teledermatology options.

SUMMER EATS Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar

1100 Pacific Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-469-4400 kiantis.com Order online at www.kiantis.com.

Offering patio dining, curbside and delivery for our entire menu and drinks including Kianti’s Kids Pizza Kits, Family Dinner Special for $40, smoothies and mocktails, Kianti’s Signature Cocktails, Bottles of Kianti’s Wine and Kianti’s Vodka, Gin, Rum or Whiskey and Happy Hour. Shop our gift cards and apparel. Delivery services include Kianti’s direct, DoorDash and UberEATS. Visit kiantis.com/ virtual-fun for Kids Pizza Making Videos and more! Visit Kiantis.com/ curbsidetogo for Kianti’s rockin’ curbside specials.

White Raven

6253 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-3611 Instagram @ white_raven_pour_house Enjoy delicious tea, coffee, and espresso drinks, with a large selection of alternative milk, sweet pastries, and savory bites. Home of Larry's Famous Chai.

Wild Roots

6240 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-7322 wildrootsmarket.com Friendly Service, 100% Organic Produce, Natural Groceries, Meats, and Bulk Foods. Full Service Deli, Salad and Soup Bar, Juice Bar, Vitamins, Body Care, Local Beer and Wine.

34 JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Location: 15th & Eastcliff Dr Features: EBT/SNAP, Music series

Santa Cruz Farmers Markets

Downtown | Felton | Live Oak | SV | Westside Our family of five farmers’ markets showcases the best in regional organic produce, pasture-raised meats, eggs and dairy, sustainably-harvested seafoods and artisan-made goods. Purchasing your food through the area’s farmers’ markets ensures that you are getting the freshest, healthiest and tastiest foods while supporting local jobs, increasing local spending and promoting the region’s strong farming tradition. What’s good for you is good for your community.

Downtown Farmers Market Time: 1-6p spring/summer Day: Wednesday Months: Year-round Location: Cedar St & Lincoln St,

Downtown Santa Cruz Features: EBT/SNAP, Market Match, ToGo Artisanal Meals The Downtown Santa Cruz Market is OPEN and running every Wednesday Our largest and oldest market is situated in the heart of Downtown Santa Cruz, one block off of Pacific Avenue. In addition to a substantial variety of farm products, this market offers a great selection of local artisan foodstuffs, delicious baked goods, and currently many unique, high quality options for grab-and-go lunch and dinner.

Shopping at the Wednesday market is a wonderful way to support local farms and bring home the best produce available.

Food trucks, ethnic culinary creations and pickled preserves draw people to market for more than grocery shopping. An artisanal meal and prepared food section features talented chefs creating farm-to market menus each week based on the seasonal bounty they source from the farms at market.

Felton Farmers Market Time: 1–6p, seniors only 12:30-1p Day: Tuesdays - CLOSED Months: Market season is first Tues. May

- last Tues. Oct

Location: 120 Russell Ave, Felton Features: EBT/SNAP, Market Match,

To-Go Artisanal Meals The Felton Farmers’ Market will reopen on May 4th for the 2021 season!

We are so glad to be stepping into this year with an exceptional group of farms and food businesses, solid systems for Covid-19 safety, and the return of live music and cafe seating for the enjoyment of all. The Felton Market will also host expanded hours, running Tuesdays 1-6pm. This provides residents with an opportunity to grab lunch or dinner and families the flexibility to shop for groceries before school gets out or with the kids later in the afternoon/early evening. We’re working hard to meet all the needs and niches we can so put the market on your weekly calendar this year!

Live Oak Farmers Market Time: 9a–1p Day: Sunday Months: Year-round

The Live Oak Market is OPEN and running every Sunday-Rain or Shine!

Started in 2000, this neighborhood market has grown to be a weekly event that is loved by the communities of Live Oak, Pleasure Point and Capitola. A decade has past since this market became year round and here you will find an excellent selection of organic produce from local farms, tree ripened fruits, dried fruit and nuts, fresh bread, pastries, seafood, pasture-raised organic meats and more.

The market is also the epicenter of the clean food movement, showcasing amazing Sunday brunch offerings like traditional Michoacan Mexican dishes, dumplings, crepes and artisan hand pies.

This is your Sunday destination.

Scotts Valley Farmers Market Time: 9a–1p, seniors only 8:30-9am Day: Saturday - CLOSED Months: May - third Saturday in Nov. Location: Scotts Valley Square/KMART

Parking Lot off Mount Hermon Road Features: EBT/SNAP, Market Match The Scotts Valley Farmers’ Market REOPENS for the 2021 season on May 1st!

We are happy to be starting 2021 with solid Covid-19 safety protocol, the return of café seating and live music weekly. In response to the CZU Fires in 2020 the Scotts Valley Market relocated to the Scotts Valley Square Shopping Center off of Mount Hermon Road. What began as a stumbling block, relocation mid season, transformed into a gift. The new spot provides additional space and flexibility – here our stands have circled up, giving the Market a warm and inviting feel while allowing us to include additional farms and food businesses. Increased visibility across the market makes shopping and spotting friends, neighbors and kiddos easier too.

Joining us this year, Watsonville-based Mora Family Farm brings chicken, duck and quail eggs to the market alongside preserves, peppers and tree fruit. Burgeoning food business Chicken Foot showcases the talents of Felton-raised Jessica Yarr and her culinary heritage. Find traditional Eastern European dishes like sweet potato, sour cherry and cheese filled pierogi with sour cream and apple butter or traditional Georgian stuffed cheese bread with herbs and a side of spring veggies. Cuevas Express returns with their sought-after chile rellenos breakfasts along with steak or potato and egg options. A trio of bakeries – Companion, Adorable French and Beckmann’s Old World – offer up a huge selection of quality breads, granolas, pies, pastries and savory and sweet tarts.

Westside Farmers Market Time: 9a–1p Day: Saturday Months: Year-round Location: Mission St. Ext.

and Western Dr. Features: EBT/SNAP, Music series, ToGo Artisanal Meals The Westside Farmers’ Market is OPEN every Saturday-Rain or Shine!

This market takes place every week, year round at the corner of Hwy 1 and Western Drive, situated on the northern edge of Santa Cruz’s greenbelt. This market serves the communities of the west-end of Santa Cruz including Bonny Doon, the North Coast and the UCSC Campus. It is just a hop, skip and a jump from Downtown.

From parenting to local events to monthly guides and everything in between.

GrowingUpSC.com | JUNE 2021

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EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES WITH CONFIDENCE

THE MARINE MAMMAL ONLINE EXPERIENCE The California Ocean Alliance invites you to sign up for

The Marine Mammal Online Experience (MOE)

Each day we will explore the underwater world of seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, and sea otters, and share research approaches and analytical tools that help to enable marine mammal conservation.

2021 Summer Sessions July 5-9 or 19-23 Monday-Friday 9:00am-12:00pm Cost: $300/student

(scholarships available for qualified families)

Register at www.CAoceanalliance.org Photo Credit: Duke Marine Robotics and Remote Sensing Lab.

Endless opportunities await your student at Kirby School.

Visit kirby.org and contact our Admissions team to learn about our Test-Free Application process and to schedule a tour.

Kirby School 425 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 KIRBY.ORG 831-423-0658 admissions@kirby.org

MUSEUMS ARE OPEN! SUMMER FUN

HAPPENS HERE

LEARN MORE ABOUT VISITING THESE PLACES THAT CONNECT AND INSPIRE

SANTACRUZMUSEUMMONTH.ORG 36 JUNE 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz