September 2021 by Growing Up in Santa Cruz

SEPT 2021

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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08 Hallie Greene is Making a Difference

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Editors' Note.......................................4 Education...........................................5 Financial Fitness.................................6 Ask Nicole...........................................7 Moms Who Make a Difference............8 Birth Matters......................................9 Local News: Slow Streets.....................10 Cover Story: Jimbo Phillips.................11 What the Kids are Saying....................13 Local News: Buddy Lessons.................14 Teacher's Desk....................................15 Adventures in Mom-ing......................17 Local News: Good Shepherd...............18 Local News: Musical Me......................19 6 Questions.........................................20 Local News: United Way......................21 Your Home.........................................22 County Scoop.....................................23 Healthy Eating....................................25 Coloring Page.....................................26 Coloring Contest Winners..................27 Back to School Guide..........................28 EDITOR/PUBLISHER

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GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

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.

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Editors’ Note When we heard carmaker Hyundai had a commercial for a new model SUV/ truck called the Santa Cruz, we were leery. How would they depict our town and would it be so commercialized we’d want to gag. Then we saw Jimbo Phillips in the ad and we knew they knew the essence of the town. They picked the right guy, an artist who mixes the Keep Santa Weird vibe with a wholesome family life. And then we knew that we had to get him to talk about his life and the three generations of Phillips’s whose vision is on skate boards, posters, shirts and sweatshirts all over town that are one of our biggest tourist exports. Writer Suki Wessling got behind the cool factor and asked Phillips questions he says no other interviewer had thrown out: what it’s like to be a work-at-home dad raised by a work-at-home dad, who has two artistic kids of his own. You’ll realize the Phillips family personifies all we love about growing up here. You can be cool, fun, audacious and bold, but also have a kind and sensitive heart. We will never forget the smile Jimbo put on our then 10-year-old’s face when he signed an autograph and posed for a picture with him at the Pleasure Point Street Fair. And we are proud that Hyundai chose to feature him in their ad and is having him design international art projects for them. There will be more on the car, which they call a Sport Adventure

Vehicle, and how its name and video came about in October’s issue. September’s back to and after school stories include one on Musical Me, the kids’ school that introduces them to music in a fun way and has been brightening lives for 25 years now. That’s a great accomplishment and you can read all about their new classes and their entry to the Spanish-language market here. On the safety side, writer Jeanette Prather traces the history of the Slow Streets movement and why signs are being put up in our residential neighborhoods to keep kids safe. Who knew this was started in Europe during the pandemic? It’s an import many should be very happy with. As the school year begins, we have some great stories about how local classrooms have survived and thrived despite the pandemic. We also have a fun story about one school incorporates nature into its mountainside programs. The next issue is one of our favorites of the year featuring the cutest baby photo contest. See our ad inside for how to submit your photos. The winner gets onto the front cover and many others will receive great prizes. And of course, the best prize is having your baby’s smiling face seen by thousands of readers. We hope that will bring smiles to all of you. Thanks for reading. Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford and Steve Dinnen

About the Cover Jimbo Phillips’s art has brightened up shops and homes all over Santa Cruz. He followed the tradition started by his father Jim (who created the screaming blue hand) and is being followed by Jimbo’s son, Colby, 19, and daughter

Cassidy, 23. We caught Cassidy and Jimbo outside a new Pleasure Point store, Artrageous, that sells a lot of Jimbo’s work on clothes, posters and the best mailboxes you will find anywhere. Check it out at 3617 Portola Drive, Suite B.

EDUCATION 5 Tips on Organizing Your Child for Success BY SUSAN TATSUI-D’ARCY Now that our children are back in school after a year and a half of zoom classes, let’s make sure they have the tools and support they’ll need to be successful.

Here are 5 tips that can help you guide them.



ORGANIZATION WITH MERIT PLANNER All kids (and parents too!) need structure. When they start school, they should have their own paper planner where they can enter homework, quizzes/ tests, and project assignments as well as sports, clubs, and social events. I use the Merit Planner because it has 7 days (not just school days) that are divided into 30-minute segments starting at 6:00 am and ending at midnight. By entering in classes for the semester, they’ll have the structure to enter in homework, test, and project dates for each class.

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HOMEWORK AND STUDY SKILLS While in class, your children can enter homework assignments right in their planners under the class name on its due date. At home, they can schedule time in their planners to do each task needed to complete their homework. They might block off 45 minutes for math, 30 minutes for research, and 60 minutes to read. By allotting chunks of time to complete the work, they’ll know exactly how to gauge each night’s workload. While most students prefer to study for exams the night before, research shows that they’ll learn the concepts better and retain this knowledge for longer periods if they spread out their studying over 4 days. To study for a vocabulary test on a Friday, for instance, they could research the definitions by making flashcards on Monday. Then on Tuesday, they study the words and self test; on Wednesday, they write sentences using each word; and on Thursday, they test themselves again. This will ensure that they ace their tests.

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ALL FLASHCARDS When students review all of the flashcards that they have written for a course -- once a week for the entire school year -- they don’t need to relearn the concepts for final exams at the end of the term because they wouldn’t have forgotten them. Have your child review all flashcards or notes on Sundays, and ask them to put these tasks in their planner for the entire school year.

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FUN STUFF Set up play dates for young ones and host parties for teens. I used to cook up my girls’ favorite foods and allowed them to invite a dozen friends for sleepovers. They always had a blast and I loved being the fly on the wall so I was always in the know about what was going on in their lives. Have your children block off time in their planners for sports, social time with friends, and family outings. That way, you’ll be sure they have a happy balance of academics and fun.

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FAMILY MEETINGS Have regular weekly family meetings to keep open communication and to discuss goals. I used to set these meetings for Sunday mornings and serve their favorite Sunday brunches. Sitting around the dining room table with our planners, we discussed each of our plans for the following week. This helped us streamline transportation schedules, family outings, meal prep, and chores. I found that by giving everyone plenty of notice for family vacations, holiday party dates, and medical appointments, there was less resistance from the kids because it was written in their planners by themselves. Start the new school year with a system that keeps them organized and promotes strong study skills. This will build their academic skills as well as personal confidence.  Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy is the founder of Merit Academy (one-on-one classes) and Merit Educational Consultants (college and educational advisory). She has written books on projects, free child care, education, and parenting. Susan hosts TEDxMeritAcademy for students to present their innovative projects and solutions. In 2019, she was the California Mother of the Year. meritworld.com Link to the Merit Planner: https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/susan-tatsuidarcy/merit-planner-2021-2022/paperback/ product-1mmwmvgy.html?page=1&pageSize=4

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GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

FINANCIAL FITNESS Six Minute Abs BY THOMAS WYNN As one of our greatest philosophers, Alecia Beth Moor*, once said, “I’m coming out, so we’d better get this party started.” Let’s say in the last month you overcame the myriad distractions, of family, work, the Olympics and social media. You flossed every day, did morning yoga, after work cardio and managed to organize your finances. It could happen. In this fantasy world you now have a family budget. In Santa Cruz, the most likely outcome is that after expenses, there is precious little left over for savings. I can’t really change the reality of the high cost of living in Santa Cruz combined with decades of slow wage growth. You’ll have to go to editorial page for solutions to that problem. But let’s say, for the sake of argument that there appears to be some possible savings. Maybe the restaurant bill could be trimmed, a few less Amazon purchases or planning to take less expensive vacations closer to home. These are a few expenses that our family was able to trim. Like getting in shape, there are no shortcuts. You either build a routine, that through repetition, becomes a habit, or

you don’t. There is no “secret” or “tricks” or “hacks” that magically transform your waistline – or your savings account. At the end of the day, there are no “6-minute abs”. For most of us, the only six pack we see is in the fridge, not the mirror. If you decide your goal is to save for retirement, college or some other goal, you’re going to have to work for it. Make some goals, schedule your financial workout, make it part of your routine and build a habit. Let’s not get crazy though. We all have to balance the desires and demands of the present against the desires and demands of the future. There should be a balance between enjoying the fruits of your labor now and delaying some gratification for future savings. Remember too that money doesn’t buy happiness, it only rents it. Gratitude for what we have, our health, our family, our friends, our hobbies and where we get to live, is more likely to provide the emotional foundation for our happiness. If you want to get in shape, you can do it. If you want to slowly improve your savings, it can be done, just not in six minutes. *aka Pink

 Thomas Wynn is a professional trader, investment advisor and financial planner. Thomas worked on the floor of the Pacific Stock Exchange from 1981 to 1996. Thomas started Wynn Capital in

2003. Thomas is a delusional basketball player, dangerous table tennis player, below average guitar player and owns a record player.

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ASK NICOLE Preparing for the New School Year BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW The back-to-school routine is going to be bittersweet for me this year. I’m excited for my kids, who will experience their senior years in high school and college with in-person classes and activities. They’re excited about returning to a more “normal” routine, but there’s also some hesitation about returning to a regular (i.e., earlier, non-pajamas) school day and busier, crowded environments. As for me, I won’t miss the extra dirty dishes and unstable internet during Zoom meetings, but I will miss their presence during the day and will treasure the extra time we had together. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is helping raise children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email me at triplep@ first5scc.org. Dear Nicole, My 7- and 12-year-old grandchildren live with my partner and me, and all of us are nervous and excited about school starting. Going back to in-person school will be a big transition for them, and it’s been a long time since we’ve done “the parenting thing.” Do you have any tips to help us prepare for the new school year? - Damian Dear Damian, The beginning of the school year can be challenging in the best of times, and emotions are likely to be heightened this year because of the ways COVID has impacted daily life. Here are a few tips to try:

TALK ABOUT GOING BACK TO SCHOOL.

Ask each child what they’re looking forward to, what they think will be different because of COVID, and whether they have questions or feel worried about anything. Let them know that for now, students are required to wear masks indoors at school to help keep everyone healthy, but this won’t last forever. Validate and accept their feelings, and encourage them to say more (“I can see why you might feel that way. Can you tell me more about…?”). Ask what support would be helpful, then listen to their answers. Wait to offer your ideas until they ask for help so they can express their needs and use problem-solving skills.

SUPPORT SOCIAL CONNECTIONS.

If your grandchildren are nervous about re-establishing friendships, help them identify steps they could take now so they feel connected with peers when school starts. This could include getting together in person (depending on what feels safe and comfortable for your family), or reconnecting through texts, phone, or video calls. If this feels overwhelming to them, suggest they start with 1-2 friends. Then help them develop

a plan for the first day of school—i.e., who they’ll hang out with at recess or breaks and eat lunch with—which can help reduce anxiety about the social aspects of school.

RE-ESTABLISH ROUTINES.

Gradually ease back into routines 1-2 weeks before school begins. Discuss what their daily routines were like last year, then talk about what will be different this year. For instance, if the in-person schedule starts earlier than the remote learning schedule, then wake-up times and bedtimes may also need to be earlier. Or, getting ready and getting to school will take more time than turning on a computer, so they’ll need to adjust their morning routines accordingly. If needed, set a “screen curfew”—the time when electronic devices need to be turned off each night. Identify things you and they can do each evening to make the mornings easier, like setting out clothes, packing backpacks, or preparing lunches. Also ask about routines they started during COVID and want to continue, like going on family walks, taking breaks for physical activity, or doing mindfulness exercises. Then have (or help) each child write or draw the steps and times of their weekday routines and post them in a visible place.

PRACTICE THE ROUTINES.

Each day, have them wake up and go to bed a little earlier, beginning at least a week before school starts. Have them follow their morning routine (even if they’re not going anywhere) and bedtime routine so that this feels familiar when school starts. Prompt them to look at their routines—“What’s the first step? What comes next?”—and give encouragement and descriptive praise— “You did a great job getting up on time. Keep it up!”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Transitioning from summer to school can be difficult, even without a pandemic. Preparing for the transition will help everyone adjust to old and new routines, which will help kids have a positive attitude and learning experience throughout the year.  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 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.

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

“ 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.

For Hallie Greene, It’s All About Community

If you know of a mom who has made a difference, please email us at editor@growingupsc.com 8

SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Many people lost homes in last year’s CZU Lightning Complex Fires. Hallie Green lost three. On neighboring Boulder Creek properties, the fire took the home she was living in, her childhood home over the ridge that her parents lived in, and the home nearby where her two daughters’ dad lived. Their life was in many ways idyllic. The children had the freedom and love that comes with extended family nearby, and Hallie had a flexible job that allowed her to be a mom and have a fulfilling career. As director of Boulder Creek’s Recreation & Parks District, Hallie was able to take her kids to work, which she said worked beneficially in both directions. “It’s important to me to show them that you can work and be a mom and still enjoy your life,” she says of raising girls. And continuing to work was very important to her as well. “You lose a little of yourself when you become a mother. It’s nice to have those other layers of feeling important and valued. A lot of young women don’t always have that.” Covid threw a wrench in the works, of course, but unlike a lot of moms, Hallie, 38, didn’t get the experience of being at home with her kids. With a budget slashed by 54%, she had to cover the jobs of employees who were laid off—including maintenance and bookkeeping. It was an unexpected turn at a time when the department had been expanding and Hallie had been looking toward a number of new projects coming down the pipeline. “I took a lot of the Covid experience to heart,” she explains. “It’s hard to build something up, everyone takes some pride in the things we create and then to have it just pulled apart. That hurt me more than I realized at the time.” But the family support and flexibility that she had built before the pandemic—and then the fires—paid back. When her parents or their dad were busy, the kids could come to work with her. And then Parks & Rec got funding through the CARES Act to expand their afterschool program to a full-day distance learning program. Her daughters were two of the students.

Hallie refers to her kids’ distance learning experience in a small cohort as “a little bit of normalcy” in the middle of a chaotic year. After losing their home, they took part in a therapy program with other families, which was helpful for the girls. For her part, as a person who was already deeply involved in the community, Hallie got to work. She joined the Long Term Recovery Group, a committee that helped fire victims organize and interface with nonprofits, governmental programs, and insurance companies. One example of the good work done by the group, Hallie says, is the County debris flow mapping, which she estimates has saved individual homeowners $40-50,000 each. As to the slow pace of reconstruction, Hallie says that although there is a lot of red tape and debate at the county level about how to move forward, a lot of homeowners are like her, holding back to get a lay of the land before she charges forward to rebuild. “When you’re one of the first people pushing through the permitting process, you’re the first one to come up against any issues,” she explains. “It’s overwhelming—I’m happy to be waiting. I’m not done yet with my insurance claim.” And an experience like this—a combination of being a working mother during Covid, losing her home, getting deeply involved in community rebuilding—has led Hallie to lots of introspection. She says she realized that she tends not to react right away, and it’s only later that she understands how the experience affected her. She’s trying to work on being mindful, saying that she’s learned that staying strong “for the kids” and pushing anxiety into the future will “catch up to you.” She describes herself as hopeful. “You watch the news and you see things and you think, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s definitely the end of the world’,” Hallie says. “It’s hard to not feel like that some days. But I feel like this community in general really supports each other well. And I’m happy to be a part of that.”

BIRTH MATTERS Optimal Cord Clamping BY LAURA MAXSON, LM

“

Mothers of animals born with intact cords are focused intently on their babies – sniffing, licking (kissing), and nuzzling – stimulating them to breathe and bond.

Before birth the placenta does the baby’s breathing (gas exchange), so the lungs are resting and essentially bypassed by blood circulation. The lungs are made up of fluid-filled air sacs surrounded by tiny blood vessels that are tightly constricted due to lack of blood flow. After birth, as the baby begins to breathe, blood circulation changes dramatically

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and rushes to the lungs as these tiny vessels relax and swell with blood to begin working. This means that beginning to breathe takes lots of blood. Ideally, the blood that rushes to help open the lungs comes from the placenta as an addition to the baby’s circulation if the cord is still intact But, when the cord has already been cut

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the “extra” blood to help open the lungs must be redistributed from the baby’s system. Organs, including the brain, can be robbed of vital blood supply. Nature provides a supported transition to breathing by continuing to provide oxygenated blood for several minutes after birth through the placenta and intact cord. Mothers of animals born with intact cords are focused intently on their babies – sniffing, licking (kissing), and nuzzling – stimulating them to breathe and bond. Animal mothers generally don’t fiddle with the cord until much later, when their baby is breathing and the cord is limp, empty, and finished pulsing. Cord Management of theTerm Newborn, 2 August 2021, Ola Andersson, PhD, MD and Judith S. Mercer, PhD, CNM, provides new information on the value and timing of delaying cord clamping, suggesting at least three minutes after birth before clamping the cord and not to depend on the end of pulsations. The American College of Nurse–Midwives recommends delayed umbilical cord clamping for term and preterm infants for 2–5 minutes after birth. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) only recommends a delay in umbilical cord clamping in vigorous term and preterm infants for at least 30–60 seconds, seemingly ignoring the benefits of a more complete transfer of a few more ounces of blood to the baby, which also increases plasma, red blood cells,

several million to a billion stem cells, and more. In a full term infant, this provides iron stores for the first 3 to 8 months. In a preemie, it helps prevent intraventricular hemorrhage (brain bleed), sepsis (infection), and necrotizing enterocolitis. The increased myelination of nerve cells helps in early brain development, as well as fine motor development and increased social skills at 4 years of age. (link below for more information.) Changing the timing of cord clamping means changing habits and protocols. Because one care provider is generally responsible for the care of the mother and another for the baby, cutting the cord has represented a clear handoff of responsibility. Most obstetrical training includes early cord clamping as part of managing delivery of the placenta. Pediatricians and nursery staff, often trained to evaluate a newborn baby immediately after birth on a heated baby bed across the room, have moved to assessment with baby skin-to-skin. However, babies most in need of delayed cord clamping - those who need help to begin breathing - are the ones most likely to have the quickest clamping to move to the resuscitation area. Homebirth midwives value the intact cord during the newborn’s transition (especially during resuscitation) and, being responsible for both mother and baby, can easily tailor their responses to the immediate needs of the situation. Because the hospital’s resuscitation equipment is often contained in the baby bed across the room, resuscitation often can’t begin without the cord being cut, essentially cutting off the available oxygenated blood readily supplied by the placenta, at the time it is needed the most. Thankfully, we are beginning to see more opportunities for optimal cord clamping. Many babies go straight into mother’s arms for initial assessment instead of off to the baby warmer across the room. But it is far from routine for all providers or for all circumstances to agree to 5 minutes or more before clamping the cord, often using the now essentially debunked risk of complications from jaundice as the reasoning. Changes in mindset and logistics stand in the way of optimal cord clamping in the hospital. Investment in bedside baby trolleys that allow resuscitation with the cord intact is needed, along with the willingness of practitioners to adjust to helping babies breathe at bedside. Real change begins with parents asking for a delay in clamping the cord for at least 5 minutes and discussing considering keeping the cord intact if resuscitation efforts are necessary. Cord Management of the Term Newborn: sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0095510821000415 Midwives, Doulas & Childbirth Educators birthnet.org

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

LOCAL NEWS Slow Streets Santa Cruz BY JEANETTE PRATHER

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I’m continuing to roll out two streets per month in the county. The ones that are up are Nova (off Portola and 41st) , Bain, Adrian, 9th, Moosehead Drive and we had to group them.

What’s up with the slow street signs that were in the middle of various residential locations throughout Santa Cruz during the pandemic (and some that have stuck around)? The Slow Streets program is designed to limit through traffic on certain residential streets and allow them to be used as a shared space for people traveling by foot and by bicycle. On these Slow Streets, signs and barricades have been placed to minimize through vehicle traffic and prioritize walking and biking. The goal of the Slow Streets program is to provide more space for socially distant travel and exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Bike Santa Cruz County started working on the Slow Streets campaign over a year ago when the pandemic started,” said executive director of Bike Santa Cruz County, Gina Cole. “Oakland was the first city to really go big in our area, and they rolled out near 75 miles of trails almost overnight.” Cole mentioned that the reception of this program was met mostly positive, and that many local neighborhoods preferred to have the signage up. “Some

people absolutely loved it,” said Cole. “The demand is still just as high as it was last year at this time.” Met with some financial setbacks, the local Slow Streets campaign is a countywide venture whereas the City of Santa Cruz rolled out their own campaign to help curb traffic in residential areas during the pandemic. “There are two different streets movement; the City’s and Slow Streets,” said Cole. “We didn’t collaborate together because of budget issues and differing insurance standards. Bike Santa Cruz applied for funding and tried to set it up that way, but we couldn’t get an underwriter to cover it. $11,000 in materials of a $20,000 budget just became too cost-prohibitive for the city. What they are doing is looking at longerterm remedies for slowing automobiles on streets.” Slow Streets, a worldwide popular response to the stay-at-home-orders during the pandemic, originated in Europe. According to Cole, Italy got slow streets rolled out quickly, as did Canada. “I couldn’t believe that Santa Cruz didn’t want to do it,” said

SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Cole. “The Public Works didn’t have funding and weren’t interested, so we approached the County. It was very novel because everywhere else it was a collaboration between the cities and counties, where we were the only place that didn’t have that cooperation.” Basing their protocols off the City’s current mandate of implementing various ways to slow down traffic like speed bumps, Slow Streets would poll a street’s residents and if more than 50% of the people living on the street didn’t say no, then they could move forward. “It was such a process,” said Cole. “I’m down with it!” said Santa Cruz mom, Maria Romero. “It’s safer for folks on smaller wheels and more fun, too! The signs also didn’t seem to impact my driving routes.” “It was kind of hit-and-miss for some of the other cities,” said Cole. “I have a good friend in San Carlos who’s an avid cyclist and he hated it. He didn’t like the way the barricades were set up and thought it was unsafe. He maybe thought there were too many people in the streets and so cyclists couldn’t ride safely.” According to Cole, some streets here didn’t jive with the campaign, either. “There were streets locally where it just didn’t work,” said Cole. “Either some folks didn’t like it, or the materials were stolen or moved.” The problem of materials being stolen or moved turned out to be a big one for Slow Streets as well as the

City’s program. “So many materials disappeared, literally overnight,” said Cole. “As a result, it got expensive to maintain and most of the budget went to the replacing materials. It was pretty cost prohibitive, so the city said they didn’t want to renew it.” Despite this, Slow Streets pushed onward to roll out two streets per month within the County. “The ones that are up are Nova (off Portola and 41st), Bane, Adrian, 9th and Moosehead Drive. The neighbors were very vocal about wanting them,” said Cole. “Harbor Street is next, and by 41st especially, a lot of them are looking for deterrents for through-traffic, which leads to the bigger question of automobile and nonautomotive cooperation.” Cole added that a few other locations include the Anna Jean Cummings Park area, as well as streets around Seabright, Market and Escalona. “Those were the streets with the best feedback and least amount of negative response,” said Cole. “Harper, Paul Minnie and Hilltop are all streets that we’ve slowed down, too,” added Cole. “Esta Lane is another one; these are the last four to go.” Cole, who mentioned that last year the CHP were talking about the influx of speeding tickets issued, is still noticing driving speed increases. “Even now, I’m noticing how fast people are going down the road,” said Cole. “I’m not an anti-car person, but I am pro-bike and have a bigger understanding of how transportation effects those who aren’t in cars.” What is the future of the Slow Streets program, and can we expect to see more of these signs and barricades popping up around town? According to transportation beat writer for the San Francisco Chronicle in an August 4, 2021, article titled “S.F.'s Slow Streets are here to stay. Here's how the city will decide which ones to keep,” Ricardo Cano, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency’s (SFMTA) Board of Directors recently approved the first in potentially multiple groups of Slow Streets post-pandemic. “[This] kicks off the next phase in the city’s quest to determine which Slow Streets will be here to stay,” wrote Cano. “Unless mandated otherwise, Slow Street designations are supposed to expire 120 days after the end of the city’s emergency pandemic order.” “My goal is to just maintain,” said Cole. “This movement has pushed the city in a positive direction for the longterm slowing of cars on streets, as well as reclaiming some of that space. They did it downtown. I was glad that they did that because it’s also helped to keep some of the restaurants and businesses open. Santa Cruz has always been a really big proponent in biking and walking.”

COVER STORY Parenting 101 for Artists: The Phillips Family Nurtures a Third Generation BY SUKI WESSLING embarking on careers in art, he has succeeded where many parents fail: he has instilled a love of his calling in his children. And apparently, he did it with the same casual flair that his finished products project to the world. “I tried to encourage them and be supportive and give them the tools to do what they wanted to do, try to give them some constructive advice here and there but not be too intense about it,” Jimbo remembers. He says that he’s lucky that both of his kids had an interest in and talent in art, but that wasn’t enough. “I didn’t want to make it seem like they had to do it, I wanted them to but you kinda gotta let them do what they wanna do.” Like his dad before him, Jimbo set up an atmosphere of fun and encouragement in their home.

NATURE’S FINE, BUT NURTURE LETS NATURE SHINE The making of a dynasty might not seem obvious when you’re in the middle of it. “He started off where his kind of art was a little underappreciated, so he wasn’t making very good money when I was little,” says artist Jimbo Phillips of his dad, artist Jim Phillips who is famous for his Screaming Hand and Santa Cruz logos. “He’d be like, ‘You should go to college and be a doctor or something and make good money’.” Good thing Jimbo didn’t take his dad’s advice. The Phillips family has nurtured three generations of artists, so we here at Growing Up set out to find out how you do that. When other parents fret about motivation and commitment, the Phillips family seems to have it in the bag—so how do they do it?

got, despite his young age. “I’d draw something and show it to him: ‘Look at this Dad, what do you think?’ Sometimes he’d give me little tips,” Jimbo remembers. “I didn’t even realize that the stuff he was telling me was soaking in. But over the years it kinda added up.” It added up to professional level artistry by the time he was a teen. The elder Jim’s work had finally taken off to the point where he needed to train some apprentices, his son Jim among them. Dubbed Jimbo by his co-workers to distinguish him from his father, the son says he has no regrets. “I’ve been able to raise my family in Santa Cruz,” he says, joining his parents to raise the third generation in Live Oak. “Things are going better than ever—I’m stoked I chose it.”

SKATING AND SURFING

A PORTRAIT OF GENERATIONS

“He took me surfing when I was young and skateboarding, very Santa Cruztype things,” Jimbo remembers. “I didn’t really play sports when I was young, but I started skateboarding when I was about five, which was mid-70s, so it was when skateboards were in their infant stage.” Because his dad’s job happened in the living room of their home, he was an unusual 70s-era dad who was deeply involved in his son’s life. “He was always doing art,” Jimbo remembers. “He was always drawing, so you kinda want to do what your dad’s doing when you’re little so you’re like, Dad’s drawing, I’m gonna draw.” Jimbo describes his dad as “very critical” of his art, but when he goes on to describe their relationship, it’s clear that the elder Jim was skilled at nurturing the child as well as the artist. Jimbo enjoyed sharing his work with his dad, and relished the feedback and respect that he

Jimbo says his parents have been married—“55 years? 60 years?”—and the family legacy has clearly influenced him. He lives in Live Oak with his own family: his wife, Jenni, and his son Colby (19). Daughter Cassidy (23) lives nearby. As a kid with an enduring adult relationship with his parents, he says that he always liked children. “I always liked kids’ creative playful energy,” he explains. But it didn’t really hit him how important having a family was to him until it took a long time for him and his wife to have their two children. That time of pondering life without kids left him knowing that being a dad would be very important to him. From the sound of it, he paid close attention to his own father’s parenting skills.

HOME BASE GUY

“My dad worked at home when I was young so he was always home,” Jimbo

remembers. “And that’s what I did, I worked at home so when my kids came home I’d always be here. It worked out really well because my schedule’s flexible, so I could jump in the car and give them a ride somewhere, come home and do some more work. I was the home base guy. My wife works at a bank so she’d have to go to work and I’d stay here and hold down the fort.” His influence on his children is as clear as his parents’ influence on him. Cassidy recently graduated from college and is working to establish her career as a photographer. Although her art is in a different medium, that hasn’t kept her out of the family business: Jimbo hires her to shoot his work. Colby is taking classes at Cabrillo and setting up his own territory in the Phillips brand, designing stickers with his own twist on the look and feel established by his dad and grandfather.

PARENTING 101

So how did the Phillips family do it? Clearly, neither of the Jims was the task-oriented elder Mozart, standing over their children and working them to perfection. In fact, Jimbo’s description of how he and his wife raised their children paints a portrait of an idyllic beachside childhood quite similar to his own. Blue Ball Park was an extension of their home base. “We had a good run there for sure, a good vibe for eight years!” And he reminisces about family road trips spent as skate park tourists, checking out half-pipes in towns around California. (His own teen skating locations were not so officially sanctioned: “We would go looking for all kinds of stuff: curbs, smooth parking lots, shopping malls. That kinda gets you into conflicts with security guards!”) But with both of his children

Jimbo says that he believes that having a natural aptitude makes learning anything easier, but it’s not necessary for success. He likens art to music, where the important thing is not some innate musical skill, but the will to play music and get better through enjoyment. “I think anyone could do it if they really want it enough,” he explains. “That’s the biggest part, really wanting it.” When it came to his own children, he made the learning process fun and encouraged them to find the art that spoke to them. He is thrilled that his daughter has chosen photography, even though it’s not his medium, and that his son can step into a thriving business if he chooses to. “Whatever he decides to do ultimately is fine with me,” Jimbo says of whether his son will follow in his footsteps. “I am still trying to guide him in the art direction. He has some designs that are earning him some money right now so that’s always a good motivator.” But when it comes to encouraging other kids, his advice can be boiled down to “have fun, and keep doing it.” “Kids always ask me, how do I get into art?” Jimbo says. “The biggest thing is if you like drawing, draw a lot, if you like painting, paint a lot. You do it for your enjoyment, do what you think is fun to do, and through the process of having fun you end up getting good at it.” For parents, the advice is clear: Nurture and support your children’s passions, and enjoy their company. Everything else will follow. Learn more about Jimbo Phillips’s art atJimboPhillips.com. Hear a podcast of this interview at tinyurl.com/ JimboGUISC.  Suki Wessling is a local writer, teacher, and musician. Learn more about her work atSukiWessling.com.

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

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BY MIKAYLA SHULTS

In July the Olympics started a national conversation about mental health amongst Americans. Michael Phelps has been open about his struggles in the past, but now we are seeing young women speak up. Sha'Carri Richardson is only

 My two favorite things are vintage clothes and being an activist; in that order. You can find me reading on the beach or just staring at the same page for an hour. While I’m not doing that, I’m a junior at Oasis.

21 years old Simone Biles is 24, they’re two black women who are the best in their leagues and the reason for these conversations. They stood up for themselves and spoke up about the challenge of mental health in sports.

Julia Bradford

Dominic Chiechi

Katie Wise

Zia Shulman

Age 16

Age 15

Age 16

she/her

I have had my fair share of coaches who did not understand mental health and its importance. That being said, the coaches I have for water polo and swim have been understanding and supportive concerning mental health. My teammates have always been very supportive as well. In water polo and swim, the coaches and teammates make the pool deck a very open and safe place where we are always comfortable and willing to discuss things that we might not be comfortable discussing anywhere else. I am grateful to be a part of such an amazing community..

he/him

Three of my friends who play basketball and football with me are always open with me about how they feel. Like a couple times I could tell something was wrong with one of them, we would talk, and they would tell me what they were feeling. In 6th and 7th grade our basketball coach wasn’t very great but we would all overcome the challenges of him being a coach and always be there for each other.

Taylor Kittle she/her

Hannah Raymond she/her Age 16

My freshman year volleyball coach was always very open to talking about our lives and making it a point for everyone to feel very welcomed and comfortable. I always felt so listened to and cared for with not only coaches but my teammates, too.

Age 16

My cheer coach is very understanding when it comes to mental health. A lot of my team is very open about mental health and common issues we all share. Many of our teammates have dealt with self harm and eating disorders and we all help each other. It’s like one big therapy family. I don’t think I’ve ever met a group of people who I find so similar and so helpful all in one.

she/her

I’ve had coaches that are understanding of mental health. They always understood other priorities in my life, such as school, family, and making sure I am not totally overwhelmed. One coach that comes to mind is Kellen who is in charge of SLV soccer. Although we all want to play the game and want everyone to come, he is super understanding about school and other commitments.

Kai Groleau he/him

she/her

Mental health is seriously just as important as physical health when doing sports and living in general. I’ve gone through many stages of my mental health where it affected not only the mindset and the feeling of dancing, but the physical aspect as well. It is so important to talk about how people on sports teams, on squads, etc; are affected in their sport mentally. It is most important for team coaches, captains, mentors, members, teachers, etc; to discuss this with their students. A safe space for your physical capability is great in sports. But a safe space for mental capability when it comes to the physical and mental aspect of performing said sport, is equally as important because mental health affects the way we think, feel, and perform. Personally, I thank my dance teachers at the TWDCC for being so kind and open about my feelings regarding how I feel about dance physically, mentally, and my mindset. Angela Chambers has helped me overcome many walls that I have put up for myself; not only because of a physical stopping point, but also mental blocks. It’s something that I work on every day and it’s something I continue to work on, because it is just that important. Mental health is that important.

Age 15

My basketball coach would always be okay with us missing practice for mental health reasons, unlike some other coaches who will get mad no matter what reason you have for missing practice. And those coaches who get mad sit you for the games, even if it’s for a valid reason such as mental health. There has not been a lot of awareness around mental health which there definitely should! I’m sure it would help a lot of kids and I appreciate my coach who did recognize it.

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

LOCAL NEWS Buddy Lessons Supporting Students’ Learning and Social and Emotional Well-being BY SAROJANI ROHAN

With so many parents seeking out positive learning experiences for their children, teachers and administrators are often asked just what it is that sets their school apart. At Mount Madonna School (MMS), located atop a mountain overlooking the Monterey Bay, the inspiring natural environment of 375 acres of redwood forests and oak meadows is one significant and unique offering for students and their families.

To enhance its pillars of academic excellence, positive character development and creative self-expression that infuse all of the classes (Pre/K through grade 12), MMS maintains a particularly successful buddy program to support students’ social and emotional well-being and cross-age learning. Imagine, if you will, a typical morning for the preschool and kindergarten children arriving at MMS. These students are met by loving and welcoming teachers into bright, beautiful and spacious classrooms. The low student-to-teacher ratio allows every student the proper attention and energy, both educationally and personally, as they begin the school day. Mornings frequently involve a hike through the well-maintained wooded trails with their teachers! Watching deer grazing on the hillside is a familiar sight, as are the gentle, wild turkeys that roam freely through the meadows. So much is learned during these hikes: earth sciences, biology, conversational skills and how to really “listen” to each other and the environment. They also learn how to

walk safely with a partner, in a line (when appropriate). Wild grasses are observed and named, animal prints are identified, and students learn the names and growth patterns of much that exists within the surrounding redwood ecology that is, effectively, their outdoor classroom. In addition, interpersonal relationships are being formed and those all-important social skills learned and practiced to help teachers and students together in creating a thriving learning community. Certainly, there is abundant research suggesting that cross-age relationships – (modified during this year to observe Centers for Disease Control and California Department of Education-recommended COVID-19 health and safety protocols) and cooperative, social learning are a positive growth factor in a child’s school experience. And let’s not overlook the health factors. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many children lack the opportunity to spend much time outdoors, let alone participate in nature hikes which test their physical strength and stamina; and the buddy system is certainly beneficial

for encouragement and enjoyment when facing ANY challenge! MMS’ Pre/K and their elementary school buddies are a sturdy bunch from all their walks and adventures during outdoor learning and play time. In a world moving very fast for 3 to 6-year-olds (and even some adults), time in the fresh air and sunshine with a big buddy, hiking through fields and forests to the accompanying sound of birdsong, is a great way for a child to build a relationship, not only with another person, but with nature itself. It is through these early outdoor "lessons" on compassion, interconnectedness and stewardship, that students learn to see the planet as their friend – to be studied and learned from, enjoyed and cared for, with reverence and respect.  Sarojani Rohan is the cofounder and former director of Mount Madonna’s preschool and kindergarten program. She currently is a published poet and writer who still finds inspiration from hikes outdoors with a buddy!

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

TEACHER'S DESK A Leap of Faith BY LISA CATTERALL

“

To all parents and caregivers starting the school year with special needs kids and waiting with hope, fear, faith, and some worry that it just can’t possibly work out, I feel you.

"Some of the most wonderful people are the ones that don’t fit into boxes." --Tori Amos

Forever burned into my memory is the image I saw this week, of my daughter holding the hand of another little girl and her teacher, walking away from me through the open gates of her new school. I just turned around and started sobbing. My entire family and extended family were there, and all of them, and other parents I’d never met, jumped right in with reassurance… “She’ll love it!” “The teacher is great!” “This is a great school!” It wasn’t that. It wasn’t that at all. She was the baby that no one thought would live, the one who was supposed to be blind, incapable, vulnerable. No one knows exactly how premature she really was (she is adopted), but her eyes were fused shut for two weeks, and she had a brain bleed. She weighed one pound. She is a miracle. And this week, my

miracle walked happily and confidently into school. The real superheroes in this world are the children who are working harder than we will ever know. They have the biggest hearts and they never give up trying to succeed. Their parents do all of the normal back-to-school preparations, but they also are preparing equipment and checking braces and gear, reading the IEP again, practicing social stories to use in terrifying situations like recess, ordering every fidget toy the school approves and a backup store to have at home when they all get lost in the first week, and wondering just how to stretch the bridge of support from home all the way into that classroom. I have an incredible faith in teachers, after all, I am one. But there is still the fear that a special needs child will run across a teacher who sees them as more work, and not as the gift they are. Our family discovered passion, tenacity and

strength in ourselves after my daughter arrived. She needs a gentle, firm hand holding hers as she tries to walk through a world that isn’t built for her, and to be that, we all reshaped our lives. The idea that there are teachers out there who know how to help her is still shocking to me. I can’t see my little girl how the rest of the world does. I see strength, beauty, perfection. I rejoice in every milestone, I don’t know whether or not they are “on-time.” I’m mystified most of the time that she is labeled as different, until I’m cleaning up and finding strange food stashed all over the house, or sniffing around to discover the latest potty accident, or comforting a screaming, toddler-style meltdown about something simple she just doesn’t understand. More than any of my other children, my daughter wants to go to school. She would run miles, climb mountains, even put her own shoes on and get entirely dressed herself in two minutes, if she knows the reward is school. Our county has a wonderful public preschool program, and a wonderful program for preschoolers with special needs. I was terrified of it at first, thinking there was no way kids with so many different needs could possibly learn anything, or even be managed, all in the same class. But it works. It is well funded, and full

of passionate and creative educators. I’ve never encountered a teacher, aide, administrator, assessor, specialist, or receptionist in the system who is putting less than their best self into educating our county’s special kids. My daughter is happy because her classroom is shaped for who she is. To all parents and caregivers starting the school year with special needs kids and waiting with hope, fear, faith, and some worry that it just can’t possibly work out, I feel you. Will the teacher this year be able to manage, or will I have to advocate until I’m blue in the face? How will I do that? Will the teacher sit with my child when my child is having a fit, or make them go to the lunch room anyways? Won’t that be devastating? How will the “normal” kids treat her? The worry-spinning stops for me when I see the shining, happy faces of my daughter and her teacher. I’ve never felt so much like I’m watching real, live super hero in action as I do when I see them together. Taking her to school and waving goodbye, after all she and we have been through, is the closest I’ve ever come to walking on a cloud.

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GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

LOCAL NEWS Story of a School's Success Good Shepherd School's Survival During the Pandemic BY APRIL A. MUZZIO While public schools in the area were forced to close, our Good Shepherd School thrived based on 5 key factors:

1. PIVOT

The lockdown was mandated on March 13, 2020 and we were ready for full distance learning the following Monday, March 16, 2020. The 13th was a scheduled professional development day and we used that day and the weekend to prepare for distance learning. Our school didn’t miss a beat! Due to the small class sizes, we had a ThinkPad and/or Chromebook for every student! For the 2020-2021 school year, we were able to pivot to hybrid learning. We had students in-person and others for whatever reason, (ie. High risk family member living at home) distance learning.

2. SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND GUIDELINES

Did Good Shepherd have an outbreak of positive COVID cases? No. Because we took all the necessary precautions, and then some, set forth by the Santa Cruz County Board of Education, we had zero outbreaks. We had to think outside of the box and be proactive in implementing our dropoff procedures, our first line of defense.

Like local restaurants providing curbside options, faculty and staff with the Principal greeted our students with a temperature check and health screening questionnaire every morning with a curbside drop-off and pick-up on our track.

3. LOCAL PRINCIPAL COLLABORATION

Weekly calls with the County of Office of Education, Superintendent, Faris Sabbah kept us informed of the latest news and updates from local and state public health and collaborating with other local principals to see what worked and what didn’t. This brought about camaraderie among colleagues.

4. KIDS “IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM” The first students on campus for the 2020-2021 school year were our preschool back in August. Then we progressively brought back students per grade in weekly stages. Middle school was on campus by the end of September. By the end of the school year, we were 99% in-person with no outbreaks. Morning assemblies were virtual ensuring participation school-wide. However, we took advantage of our 10-acre campus to maximize the social distancing by having

classes outdoors with pop-ups and also using the life lab. Physical education was twice a week for K-8 but they had the ability to engage in reading and art outdoors. In April, students in grade 5-8 were able to participate in golf.

5. SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

The pandemic didn’t stop by us from serving our community. We held jog-a-thon to raise funds for our parish food pantries. Each grade ran together as a cohort and successfully raised over

$5,000. We continued to serve with a canned food drive as well. The relative normalcy of being on campus has been healthy for all of our students especially improving their mental health. Our preschool earned the Sentinel Reader’s Choice Award for Best Children’s Daycare & runner up for Best Preschool in Santa Cruz County. Word got out about our overall successes and waitlists formed. For more information, please visit our website at gsschool.org or contact our office at 831-476-4000.

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL NEWS MusicalMe Turns 25 BY JEANETTE PRATHER

“

Within three years we had 500 students, and over the past 25 years we’ve serviced over 75,000 students!

“When MusicalMe first started, we had 35 students, then we went to 80 students the following session, and all the way to 150 students the next spring,” said Lizz Hodgin Weihrauch, Director of MusicalMe, Inc. “Within three years we had 500 students, and over the past 25 years we’ve serviced over 75,000 students!” MusicalMe, a local and familyowned business under the parent company Music Together, specializes in offering developmentally appropriate music classes for children from birth through eight years old. “Music Together has communicated its basic philosophy – that all children are musical – through developmentally appropriate, research-based classes,” according to MusicalMe.com. Originating in a roundabout way, Weihrauch explained how MusicalMe got its start from a friend’s referral. “I was a single mom who had a son with down syndrome and autism. I was doing

a whole bunch of part-time jobs to support us,” she said. “After I graduated from UCSC in theatre arts, I moved to New York City. About six months after my son was born, a friend gave me a songbook and cassette tape to share with him. It took me nearly two years to finally listen to the tape – pretty much after getting so tired of hearing the same mainstream kid songs repeatedly – and since my son Daniel wasn’t walking yet, it made me thrilled that he got so excited over a song called, ‘Wiggle.’ After that, it really clicked. I was finally able to get out of my own way to be able to see what this was all about.” Immediately after this, Weihrauch went out to Princeton, New Jersey to participate in a four-day training program to learn how to teach Music Together curriculum, and then brought it to California. “I was offering classes for free in the beginning so that I could practice,” said Weihrauch. “Over the years I’ve

had some famous students, like the jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck’s grandchildren, and the founder of Netflix, Reed Hasting’s, children.” Learning and practicing music with children isn’t just all fun and games, there is extensive research that talks about the benefits behind musical interaction, too. “Research has found that learning music facilitates learning other subjects and enhances skills that children inevitably use in other areas,” wrote an article published May 2012 on PBS.org titled “The Benefits of Music Education.” “Making music involves more than the voice or fingers playing an instrument; a child learning about music has to tap into multiple skill sets, often simultaneously.” The article goes on to explain how musicality helps to facilitate language development, increase IQ, encourage brain function and spatial-temporal skills, as well as improve test scores. “The many intrinsic benefits to music education include being disciplined, learning a skill, being part of the music world, managing performance, being part of something you can be proud of, and even struggling with a less than perfect teacher,” wrote the article.

“There’s a part of the brain that is entirely focused on being musical,” said Weihrauch, “and when that part of the brain is lit up, it activates the whole brain. We are the only creatures on the planet that have this part of the brain whose job it is to process music through rhythm and tonality.” Weihrauch, who credits MusicalMe for her son’s (now 27 years old) fantastic rhythm and ability to sing and dance, says that she continues to learn and grow from instructing classes, too. “What I’ve learned from Music Together is really being able to share musicality with other people,” said Weihrauch, who is slated to be the lead role in Cabrillo Stage’s rendition of Candid next summer. “Who knows if I hadn’t been born into such a musical family, if I would have had that opportunity.” Despite the pandemic and in-person gatherings fluctuating, Weihrauch is continuing to offer MusicalMe programming through online as well as a handful of in-person classes. “We didn’t want children to miss out on a whole year of musical enrichment because we know what an impact it has,” she said. “A lot of speech therapists and pediatricians recommend our classes.” According to Weihrauch, MusicalMe classes and programming are continuing to “grow like wildfire,” and the company has even expanded its offerings. “We are offering Rhythm Kids for four through eight-year-olds,” she said. “They’re really seeing an impact and what an incredible foundation it’s giving to these kids.” Additionally, three years ago MusicalMe opened up Canta Y Baila Conmigo Spanish language immersion classes. “That has just been a super popular class, too,” said Weihrauch. “We had a lot of families go through the entire three-year curriculum and wanted more, so we added Canta Y Baila Conmigo and Rhythm Kids angled for musical classes from birth until eight years.” MusicalMe offers a complimentary first class to anybody wanting to attend, and Weihrauch encourages interested parents to visit MusicalMe.com or call the office to reserve a spot as they fill up quickly. “We cap the number of students in each class, so going online or calling the office to reserve your spot is highly recommended,” she said. Weihrauch, who attributes her reach and servitude to the help of an anonymous local mom who funded MusicalMe scholarships three years into the business when Weihrauch couldn’t afford to do so on her own, says that she’s been able to offer over $50,000 to local families over the past 22 years. “If children are given the opportunity younger to develop musical skills, they’ll be able to feel comfortable and confident about themselves,” she said. “It’s a gift that you can give your child.” GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

Local Business Executive Spreads Message of Kindness read it multiple times that recite parts of it with joy and playfulness. The message of the book is a deeply important one, but it can be relayed - and better received - with a light heartedness that helps it to spread further and faster.



As a mom of two young children, how do you teach your children about diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging?



What instigated your donation to Tech Feeds Hope?

My mother lives in Santa Cruz and saw the long lines of families picking up food donations from Second Harvest at Thanksgiving, with kids in the car awaiting their turn. She suggested that we offer Girroo to instigate fun and healthy family conversation while they wait. I reached out to Susan Lovegren, one of our advisors at #NotMe who is on the board of Second Harvest, with a simple offering. She and the SH board came up with many different ways and places to distribute the book and stuffed animal so that local children could receive them for the holidays. It’s been awesome to see how one small idea snowballed into something beautiful when impassioned people came together. I’ve truly enjoyed all of the amazing staff and volunteers that I’ve met at SH through this, and so appreciate the awesome work they do in our community.

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What is the basic plot line of The Happening of Girroo, and what or who inspired you to a write a children’s book while attending UCLA? )

My Grandmother came up with the idea. She was an amazing woman— mother of 10 and entrepreneur with her own toy company, Twinson, that

she started with her twin sister in 1946. She approached me with the storyline, my cousin for the illustrations and was inspired by my grandfather, affectionately known as Papa. He had a huge heart and would stop to connect and smile with any and every child that ever crossed his path. The Happening of Girroo is about a giraffe named Jeff who is being transported to a zoo when he meets Katy, a kangaroo who helps him to escape. They become friends, fall in love and eventually have Girroo. It’s all about recognizing and celebrating our differences and the things that make us unique, while also united and connected..

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The Happening of Girroo is written in rhyme. Do you think that makes the message of belonging easier for children and adults to grasp?

Funny enough, that was one of the reasons our book was turned down by so many publishers. Many said that rhyming wasn’t popular or “in” at the time, and encouraged us to resubmit without the rhyme. That didn’t make any sense to us. We disagreed and recalled our own childhood and the lessons we more readily remembered - many of which came from rhyme or song. So we stuck with it and I’m so glad that we did. It’s fun to listen to children who have

20 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Exposure and open conversation. Exposure can come in many forms. Ideally in personal interactions with all different types of people, but with the last year in lockdown, that’s been challenging all around. So exposure in what we read and what we watch and how we talk amongst ourselves. Our little guy just turned 1 and has barely met anyone or seen much of anything beyond our home, so it’s how we treat each other and talk to one another that is having its greatest impact. Our daughter is now 4. They both love books and I try to make books available to them that have diversity in representation, thought and messaging. And a fun thing we do as a family is watch The Voice. There’s a variety of contestants and the short vignettes on each of their stories that brought them to the stage are great. We welcome the very innocent, curious questions from our daughter about why someone looks, sounds or acts differently than we do. Those moments, which can be uncomfortable or even awkward in shared company, are usually only made so by the adults in how we respond. So we’re practicing meeting those moments with honesty, kindness and openness.

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You recently donated 300 copies of The Happening of Girroo and plush toys, to Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Cruz County to distribute to their partner organizations. Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center was thrilled to receive 50 copies. Executive Director Julie Macecevic said, "It could not have come at a better time because our Early Education Center is packing weekly bags of school activities for all of its' ages 0-5 program families to use while homeschooling. The book is delightful and shares a message of love and acceptance of diversity, which perfectly aligns with Walnut Avenue's mission and values. My own 5-year-old twins adore Girroo!! We are grateful for this generous donation at a time when families need all the help we can get providing stimulating and engaging educational materials."

Aww thank you, I love hearing this! And the fact that I wrote it 20 years ago

and it’s still being appreciated reminds me of the saying that you learn all the most important lessons of life in kindergarten where the focus is on the golden rule of treating others as you would like to be treated. It really is that simple for kids, but as we get older, sometimes we forget the basics.



As President and Chief Business Officer of #NotMe, the speak up and reporting solution that helps prevent misconduct, you are clearly passionate about diversity, inclusion, equity and belonging. What changes are you seeing in people’s attitudes towards making workplaces, schools, and organizations safer for all?

Let’s first clarify that when we talk about making these environments safe, we are talking about making it both physically and psychologically safe. That’s growth in and of itself. Additionally, the two biggest changes that I have seen are 1) a louder verbal commitment by employers and organizations to do better in this area and say how their company values reflect this, and 2) a higher standard of expectation by individuals/employees/ students who are calling out when those words are not backed by action, and who are no longer willing to accept that power - abuse in any form - is “just the way it is”. The next shift, which is truly exciting and happening with the most progressive organizations and leaders, is to go from saying the right thing to actually doing the right thing by listening differently, empowering their constituency to easily and safely report issues earlier, and by ultimately crowdsourcing - not simply claiming - a more inclusive, accountable culture all around. And I’m really proud to say that a handful of those companies are right here locally. If there are other non-profits in the county interested in an in-kind donation of this delightful book that supports differences and teaches the importance of compassion and understanding of others, please contact Josue Barajas, Chief Programs Officer at Second Harvest Food Bank, josue@ thefoodbank.org.

LOCAL NEWS Bringing Youth to Where the Action Is United Way Helps Teens Find Their Voice BY SUKI WESSLING

Andrea Magdaleno

Natalia Galdamez

Amanda Gamban

Once upon a time, Andrea Magdaleno was hesitant to get involved with youth groups. Now a student at Cabrillo, she’s a leader in Jóvenes SANOS, a youth group that promotes health and well-being in Watsonville. Natalia Galdamez says she was a “troublemaker” when she joined Salud y Cariño, a girls’ empowerment organization, in the fifth grade. Now she’s a youth leader in three groups who advocates for her community. Both young women are now on the Steering Committee for a new program sponsored by the United Way, the Youth Action Network (YAN). Leading the formation of this program, which is a reimagined, youth voice-focused umbrella organization for programs around the county, is Amanda Gamban. “Especially during these times, throughout Covid, the fires, all of the racial injustice that’s been going on and continues to go on, it’s so important to listen in and hear what youth have to say,” Amanda explains. YAN started as a county-wide Youth Violence Prevention Network, and the new name isn’t just window dressing. Andrea explains that they are rebuilding the organization from the ground up, using new research on how best to involve youth in their communities. One concept that organizers use is Hart’s Ladder of Participation, which spells out the different ways that organizations involve youth in decision-making. “At the bottom of the ladder is tokenization and manipulation, not creating those authentic relationships,” Amanda explains. “At the top you have youth leading the efforts, working in partnership with adults and creating change together.”

connections in their community, while also being more effective than researchers who come in from outside the community. “They will be the drivers of the process, supported by UCSC faculty and undergraduates to enact their research program, conduct data collection, the analyses, and then be prepared to use their voice, to be leaders in the community,” Rebecca says. Through Jóvenes SANOS, Andrea has already experienced firsthand how well the model works. Last spring she took part in UCSC student-led research, and found that she and her high school classmates were able to advise the college students. “I would tell my mentor student, maybe we want to soften the formal questions,” Andrea remembers. “You want to start off with the funny story. You want to start off with, ‘What’s your favorite celebration in Mexico in your town?’ Build that connection of trust, because if not, you don’t get the same story.” That’s a perfect example of what researchers have seen happen when they include young community members in their research, Rebecca London says. “What we know is that the students who are bilingual, bicultural, whose experiences are as first-generation college students—when they go out in the community they are incredibly effective research team members.”

Capitola Mayor Yvette Brooks, who is involved as a jurisdictional representative, points out that ‘youth voice’ isn’t just a talking point, but contains valuable information. “When youth are given the opportunity to lead and offer their voice during their adolescent years, we are gifted with a perspective of the times,” she points out. Other jurisdictional representatives include Council Member Donna Lind for City of Scotts Valley, Director of Child and Family Services Robin Lucket for the County Board of Supervisors, and representatives still to be named from the cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz. “I volunteered because of my background including having started the City of Scotts Valley’s first Juvenile Program decades ago,” explains Donna Lind. “I served as Juvenile Officer for several years and developed various programs with local schools and in the community. I believe my experience as a police officer and with the Criminal Justice Council can be of value.”

YAN STRIVES FOR THE TOP

Keisha Browder, CEO of United Way of Santa Cruz, and Rebecca London, Associate Professor of Sociology at UCSC, wrote a proposal for an institutional challenge grant which was approved this year. “The idea behind it is to challenge universities and community organizations to work together to make change within their respective institutional contexts,” Rebecca London explains. “We’re working with youth in the community to do some Youth-Participatory Action Research down in Watsonville and Live Oak with middle and high school students.” Youth-Participatory Action Research (YARP) is a model where young people are trained to do research in their own communities. The benefits are many, most specifically that the youth gain skills and make

WHY YAN?

When there are so many different organizations throughout the county serving the needs of youth in different capacities, what is the need for an umbrella organization? Amanda Gamban says that it’s all about communication and sharing the wealth of information. “It’s an opportunity to share the work that’s been going on so that people can learn from one another. We want to provide workshops and trainings that could benefit everyone.” Natalia Galdamez offers an example from her own experience with YAN. Recently YAN offered a training on personal asset mapping, a process where students make a map of their personal assets to build an understanding of what they have to offer to their community. “When I went to the surf camp with Salud y Cariño I was able to bring that to the group and share it with the girls that hadn’t done that yet,” Natalia explains.

A FOCUS ON COMMUNITY AROUND THE COUNTY

YAN will include a Steering Committee of youth leaders throughout the county, General Members who are youth involved in organizations, and Adult Allies in the various jurisdictions.

JUST LISTEN...THEN DO IT

Focusing on Youth Voice doesn’t mean abdicating responsibility. When asked why it is so important for adults to listen to youth, Natalia Galdamez responds passionately. “Amanda and Theresa, my leaders for YAN and Salud y Cariño, are there to guide us if we need help,” Natalia explains. “But when we are leading, they’ll give us our space, take a step back.” And to hesitant teens out there, both Andrea Magdaleno and Natalia encourage them to find their voices. “For any youth out there, I know it’s tough,” Andrea says. “But look at what you have been able to do: get through school, get through Covid. You guys have been able to adapt and that is so great. Always try to get involved in youth organizations because they give you a space to be you and to create a better version of yourself.” “Just do it,” Natalia adds. “Trying to advocate for my community [made it] get better for myself.” For more information: Learn more at SCCYVPT.org. Interested teens can apply to become a YAN General Member or Steering Committee member, and adults are encouraged to volunteer as well. Listen to a interviews about YAN at ksqd.org/youth-action-networksgives-young-santa-cruzans-a-voice

 Suki Wessling is a local writer, teacher, and musician. Learn more about her work at SukiWessling.com.

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

YOUR HOME Santa Cruz Passenger Rail Show Me the Money BY SEBASTION “SEB” FREY

Valerie Mishkin Realtor® 831.238.0504 | 831.426.4100 Cal Dre# 02092111 VMishkin@BaileyProperties.com ValerieMishkin.MyHomeHQ.biz

22 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Normally in this space I write about our local real estate market - but this month’s column focuses on what has become one of the most contentious pieces of real estate in Santa Cruz County: the Santa Cruz Branch Line Rail Corridor. Nine years ago, in October of 2012, the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (the RTC) completed the purchase of the rail corridor from Union Pacific Railroad. The corridor had fallen into disuse after the rail line’s sole significant customer, the Cemex cement factory in Davenport, shut down in May of 2010. The tussle over the future of the corridor began even before the ink was dry on the final paperwork. The Santa Cruz RTC’s vision for the corridor is to provide passenger rail service alongside the Monterey Bay Scenic Sanctuary Trail (MBSST) - the “rail and trail” which is fervently pushed by both RTC staff and local supporters such as FORT, the Friends of Rail and Trail. There’s an alternative vision for the corridor as a “trail only,” where it would be used only as a multi-modal walking/bicycling trail. The groups most actively supporting “trail only” include Santa Cruz County Greenway and Trail Now. This past April, rail-and-trail advocates were dealt a major setback when the RTC failed to approve the business plan for the design, construction, and operation of a passenger rail system. At the same time, the commission rejected a motion to move forward with even a $17.1 million environmental review. So why, after nine years of study, did the RTC suddenly slam the brakes on the project? While I am sure each of the commissioners has their own reasoning, in the end, it came down to funding. Trail advocates, led by FORT, have repeatedly made public statements that the project will be paid for primarily through state and federal grants. In fact, numerous claims on social media have been made which state that the project is already fully funded! However, in fact, the project is far from fully funded and the RTC has not been able to clearly identify sufficient potential funding sources. And therein lies the rub: there simply is not enough money to build and operate a passenger rail system in Santa Cruz County. I have no doubt that the passenger rail project would indeed be funded in large part by federal and state grants - because there is no other way it could be built. However, “in large part” does not mean wholly funded. To obtain any such grant money, there would need to be local matching funds. These local matching funds would

need to come from a new tax or bond measure. Passing a tax or bond measure is a high bar, requiring a 2/3rds majority of voters. In the case of a passenger rail project in Santa Cruz County, there simply is not that level of community support. For perspective, it’s helpful to look at the most recent effort to raise local funds for transportation projects: Santa Cruz Measure D. This sales tax measure was approved by voters in 2016, with 67.78% of voters saying yes. Measure D added a half-cent sales tax for thirty years, raising about $17 million annually for countywide transportation infrastructure projects and maintenance improvements. Measure D barely squeaked by, even though it provided and paved the way for urgently needed funding across the entirety of Santa Cruz County. Passenger rail, on the other hand, would be used by, at most, a few thousand riders per day and would only be practical for about 50% of the county’s population to ever consider using for transportation. Given recent history, and the limited reach of the proposed rail system, it seems unlikely at best that 2/3rds of all county voters would approve funding for a project which will not serve countywide needs. Everyone agrees that Santa Cruz County has a transportation crisis, but there is no consensus on what to do about it. However, the RTC’s own studies show that establishing passenger rail service would do little to improve transportation in the county. Their research shows that passenger rail service would have a negligible impact on freeway commute times, vehicle miles traveled, and greenhouse gas emissions. One question we’re always trying to solve for in real estate is to determine the “highest and best use” of property. The Appraisal of Real Estate, 13th Edition, defines highest and best use as: The reasonably probable and legal use of vacant land or an improved property that is physically possible, appropriately supported, and financially feasible and that results in the highest value. Whatever someone may feel about the merits of passenger rail in Santa Cruz, we simply cannot escape the fact that passenger rail is not a financially viable proposition. There is, at present and for the foreseeable future, no credible way to pay for it. Given this stubborn fact, nobody should expect to see passenger rail in Santa Cruz County any time soon.  Seb Frey was the 2019 President of the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS. He’s been selling homes locally since 2003 and is the author of Get It Sold! (available at TheSoldBook. com) and stars on his own YouTube channel on SebFrey.TV

COUNTY SCOOP Overview of Road Funding and Where Your Taxes Go BY ZACH FRIEND, COUNTY SUPERVISOR So where does the rest of your property tax go to? The largest share, about 57 percent goes to schools while another 18 percent goes to local special districts, cities and the libraries. Why does such a small amount stay with the county? The distribution is determined based on what our county was collecting the year before Prop. 13 was passed. This means that some counties, such as Santa Clara and San Mateo, keep between 2 and 4 times what we can keep.

WHAT ABOUT MEASURE D AND SB 1 FUNDING?

One of the most common service requests the County receives centers around the condition of a road or road repair. Often, we are asked, “where do my taxes go?” “Why are the roads in the condition they are in?” After all, many residents pay thousands every year in property taxes and want to know why those funds aren’t being used to repair roads (or repair more roads).

Here is an overview of our local roads, the costs to maintain them, their current conditions and where your taxes go. HOW LARGE IS THE ROAD NETWORK?

First, it’s important to understand the size and scope of the road network that County maintains. There are approximately 600 centerline miles in the unincorporated county. Centerline miles represent the total length of a given road from its starting point to its end point. Just to put it in perspective, this is about the same distance as driving Watsonville to Vancouver, Canada.

WHAT ARE THE CURRENT CONDITIONS OF OUR ROADS?

Roads have different designations such as arterials, collectors and local roads. An example of an arterial road would be Soquel or Freedom Blvd. Collectors would include Sumner or Clubhouse and local roads are the roads you most likely live on (residential roads). Most roads are local roads (comprising over half of the total centerline miles in the road network). Our district (the 2nd District) has 30 percent (the largest number) of centerline miles in the unincorporated county. The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) measures the condition of a road. Think of it as a test score on a scale of 0-100. Generally speaking, anything over 70 is a road in good condition. A road between 45-65 is in fair condition and below 45 is in poor condition. For arterials in the unincorporated county, the PCI is 64. The PCI for collectors is 54 while the PCI for local/residential roads is the lowest at 40.

WHAT DOES IT COST TO MAINTAIN OR REPAIR THE ROADS?

While construction costs are constantly fluctuating, one thing that is constant is that it’s much cheaper to maintain a road in good condition than to repair and rebuild a road in poor condition. According to Public Works, here are the costs per mile for doing road work on a road in good, fair, poor and failed condition. For a road in good condition, to do a single layer seal with no digouts, it costs approximately $141,000 per/mile. For a road in fair condition (with a PCI somewhere in the 50-70 range for example), it would cost about $352,000 per/mile for a multilayer seal with digout work. This is the average range for our arterial roads. For a road in poor condition, $563,000 per mile and includes a full overlay and digouts. Many of our local roads and some of our collectors fall into this category. For a road in failed condition, which includes many roads in the rural areas (including the Aptos hills) as well as some of the agricultural areas in Corralitos and some local/residential roads the cost for full reconstruction is close to $1.1 million per/mile.

For our district Measure D funding (depending upon how sales taxes do in a given year) brings in approximately $900,000/year for local roads. This is a significant infusion that wasn’t available before its passage. As you can see on the cost for road work above, it makes it hard to do reconstruction work on failed roads but it does help improve roads that are at-risk or improve roads that are in poor condition. Since the passage of Measure D, a number of roads in La Selva, Rio Del Mar, Seacliff and most recently in Pleasant Valley/ Corralitos were done via Measure D funding. Roads in other districts have been done as well. Measure D (county

wide) is anticipated to bring in about $2.7 million in funding. While SB 1 (gas tax) funding is currently being used for major storm damage repairs, at its peak in a few years its estimated to bring in about $4 million in new money to the entire unincorporated area. Additionally, the County averages at least $1 million/ year in state and federal grant funding and more funds come from a refuse vehicle impact fee and more. Overall, it’s estimated that about $8 million per/year on average will be brought in for the 600 centerline miles of road. According to Public Works there are currently about $267 million in needs for the local roads, which will grow as some roads have conditions that are worsening. If you have a pothole or nonemergency road issue you can submit service requests through the County’s free mobile app, My Santa Cruz County, available on the app store or Google Play, online via the Public Works Department’s website (found via santacruzcounty.us) or by calling 454-2160. As always, if you have any questions about this or any other issue please feel free to contact me at 454-2200.

WHERE DO MY TAXES GO?

The county has a different funding structure than cities. Over half of all county revenues come from the state and federal government. These funds are generally pass-through funds to provide mandated services such as health programs or jail programs. These funds are restricted in their use and generally can’t be used for local road repairs. Approximately 22 percent of the county revenue comes from local taxes. These taxes include property taxes, vehicle license fees, taxes paid at local hotels and sales taxes. And while property taxes make up about half of that 22 percent, only 13 cents of every property tax dollar goes to the County. This means, for every dollar of property tax you pay, only 13 cents goes to the County for services.

Makers Space and Art Place We host art shows, workshops, private parties and more! Art and Craft Supplies Space to Create

6225 Highway 9 | Cr

ookedBeautyArt.com

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

Eight decades of caring. One commitment to community. Back when a movie ticket cost a quarter, plus another nickel for a chocolate bar, Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital began caring for the people in this community. And while the world has seen almost unimaginable change since then, at least one thing has steadfastly endured: our commitment to provide specialized medical care, delivered with a healthy dose of comforting compassion. Innovations in diagnosis and treatment continue, and we’ll keep pace. And we’ll continue honoring a mission of healing—not only the body, but the whole person.

24 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

HEALTHY EATING Everything Elderberry BY GRETCHEN HEIMSOTH

Recipe INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

3½ cups water 2/3 cup dried elderberries 2 TBSP ginger (grated) 1 tsp cinnamon ½ tsp ground cloves 1 cup raw honey

Pour the water into a medium saucepan and add the elderberries, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Bring to a boil and then cover and reduce to a simmer for about 45 minutes to 1 hour until the liquid has reduced by almost half. Remove from heat and let cool until it is cool enough to be handled. Mash the berries carefully using a spoon or other flat utensil. Pour through a strainer into a glass jar or bowl. Discard the elderberries and let the liquid cool. When it is no longer hot, add the honey and stir well. When the honey is well mixed into the elderberry mixture, pour the syrup into a mason jar! Refrigerate. Can be kept for 6 weeks.

Recipe by Biscuits & Beets

It’s September, and for many of us we are finding ourselves back to in person school with our children, as well as most of us back at work in person. One can hardly check in to social media or turn on the television without hearing about the rise of the Delta variant. So I wanted to take a little time and talk about our dear friend, the Elderberry. Talk about Where it grows, it’s safety, it’’s effectiveness, it’s constituents and how to use it. Elderberry, or Sambucus nigra, Is a deciduous shrub, or small tree. It is native from Oregon all the way to Baja and all the way to Western Texas. It is rapid growing, and loves to find moist soil near stream sides or seeps. It has been used by native people and frontier settlers for centuries. It is used for medicine, for food, for dye, and the flowers are used for infusing flavors in syrups and liquors. Elderberry is considered safe in small doses. If you find wild elderberries, they are collected around September and then they need to be dried and cooked. You don’t want to eat raw elderberries. Unripe or uncooked berries or flowers from the plant can cause, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Larger amounts can cause more serious poisoning.. If you buy prepared elderberry syrup or jam at sevet cetera you don’t have to worry about poison poison. And if you prepare items from dried elderberries, you also don’t have to worry. Elderberry is high in antioxidants and vitamins.. The chemical constituents in the berries please may help tame inflammation and protect the cardiovascular system. A study from Israel has shown that helps shorten the duration of the flu, by up to half!!! The

plant contains chlorogenic acid and neochlorogenic acid, as well as several forms of quercetin. Chlorogenic acid helps protect the heart, and modulate glucose metabolism. Quercetin lower’s inflammation, helps fight allergies, also supports heart health and helps fight pain. These compounds are what gives Elderberry It’s magic. If you use elderberry and a syrup for food or a jam, you would just use as you would use any other similar item. If you’re using elderberry as a medicine medicine, most common and a honey syrup form, you generally give one tablespoon every 4 hours. Using elderberry this way is generally considered safe.. There are some people who are allergic who are allergic, so if you’ve never consumed elderberry and and finds you have any allergic symptoms symptoms after using it thing may be considered discontinuing. I’ve been using elderberry with my children for several years now. I love to make the infused honey syrup with fresh Ginger, cinnamon stick, orange peel and whole cloves. I’ll even infuse thyme in there for extra respiratory medicinal benefit. I use local honey to ensure its real honey, as well as reep some of the subtler benefits of consuming local honey. The syrup is easy to make, and can be modified to suit your needs it’s. If it comes up too thin you can always add a little extra honey for viscosity.. And you can add or subtract the Ginger or the herbs according to your liking. Cinnamon, ginger and cloves are also powerful good based antivirals. I encourage including them!

Elderberry Syrup

Do you have a question about healthy eating? Let us know by emailing christy@growingupsc.com

GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

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

26 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

SPONSORED BY:

Submit your coloring page for a chance to win tickets to the Boardwalk!

Clara | Age 5

Gabrielle | Age 7

Grace | Age 4

Oona | Age 5

Haisley | Age 11

Erik | Age 9 GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE SCHOOLS AND PRESCHOOLS ChartwellSchool

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 learners with the skills, strategies, tools, and social-emotional mindset they need to thrive in college and beyond. Gateway School, K-8

255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz 831.423.0341 ext 302 gatewaysc.org Gateway School, founded in 1970 is an independent, co-ed day school in Santa Cruz, CA for students in grades Kindergarten through 8th. We are a community dedicated to nurturing academic excellence and intellectual curiosity, high character and personal compassion, and individual agency and engagement. We seek to prepare children to care for themselves, each other, and the world. We are the only K-8 school in Santa Cruz accredited by the California Association of Independent Schools. We invite all families interested in Gateway School to visit, ask questions, and get to know our community! For more information and to schedule a tour, please call or visit our website. Good Shepherd Catholic School

Preschool - 8th grade 2727 Mattison Lane Santa Cruz 95065 831.476.4000 gsschool.org Welcoming children of all faiths from Preschool to Eighth grades for nearly 60 years on our centrally located 10-acre campus. Fully accredited by the Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA) with highly qualified faculty and staff providing a well-rounded curriculum that is project-based and faith-driven. Spanish, physical education, art, and life lab classes are part of the school’s curriculum with technology integrated throughout the school day. The school’s focus on community service gives the students numerous opportunities to learn and practice Catholic social teachings firsthand. Spots are still available for the fall. Offering small class sizes, in-person and outdoor

Live Oak School District- Child Development

learning. Sports and after-school care are available. Contact us for an in-person or virtual tour at 831.476.4000.

Del Mar Lic #444400352 Green Acres Lic #444403585 Live Oak Lic #440710379 984-5 Bostwick Lane, Santa Cruz 831.462.1116 losd.ca (click on departments and then child development) The Live Oak School District- Child Development Program offers families a Free Quality State-Funded Preschool program for 3-4-year-olds at the Del Mar, Green Acres and Live Oak Elementary School sites. We provide morning (8:30-11:30) and afternoon (12:30-3:30) preschool classes to approximately 110 children districtwide, 186 days per year plus a 4 week summer session. The State’s new higher-income guidelines allow so many more families to qualify. You may come by our office or call us to begin the process for enrollment. If space is still available we enroll year-round.

Holy Cross School

Mount Madonna School

150 Emmet Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4447 holycsc.org For nearly 160 years, Holy Cross School has educated children in the heart of Santa Cruz, California. Holy Cross is a Preschool-8 Catholic coeducational private school that provides an environment of trust and respect; fosters spiritual and moral development; develops creativity and self-expression; challenges students to reach their full potential; and nurtures both mind and heart. The academic program includes math, science, Spanish, English Language Arts, social studies, P.E., music. Athletics programs and afterschool care are also available. Class size is limited. Visit our website at holycsc.org. For more information, call (831) 423-4447 or email admin@holycsc.org. Kirby School

425 Encinal St., Santa Cruz 831.423.0658 kirby.org/ Grades 6 through 12Kirby School empowers students to shape their futures with confidence. Our independent, nonsectarian middle and high school has been preparing students for college and beyond for over 25 years. In classes averaging 12 students, teachers are responsive to each learner’s strengths and interests. Our rigorous academic and arts curriculum, intensive study paths, and inspiring faculty challenge each student based on their interests and readiness, rather than grade level. Kirby graduates go on to attend excellent four-year colleges and universities. Live Oak School District

984-1 Bostwick Lane, Santa Cruz (831) 475-6333 losd.ca/ Located in the heart of Santa Cruz County, Live Oak School District is the only California Exemplary District on the Monterey Bay. Our mission is to empower, inspire and ensure equitable opportunities for every student to thrive. We teach and nurture the whole child in an academically rigorous, collaborative and innovative learning environment. Our district includes three K-5 schools: Del Mar, Green Acres and Live Oak Elementary; and Shoreline Middle School. In addition, Ocean Alternative offers a K-8 homeschool and online program. We are currently enrolling PK-8 students. Contact us at 475-6333, or visit our website at losd.ca/.

28 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Pre/K-12th grade 491 Summit Road, Mount Madonna 408.847.2717 MountMadonnaSchool.org A preschool through high school focused on nurturing students’ love of learning and intellectual inquiry and cultivating a sense of belonging. MMS prepares well-rounded human beings who value collaboration, form meaningful relationships and engage with the world. The CAIS and WASCaccredited program features a Montessoriinfluenced Pre/K, a college-prep middle and high school, outdoor learning and a 375-acre campus, life skills, marine biology, oceanography, an elementary through high school Spanish program, athletics, visual and performing arts. Since 1979, MMS supports students in becoming caring, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity. Ocean Alternative Education Center & Ocean Online

831.475.0767 oc-losd-ca.schoolloop.com Ocean Alternative is an independent study/home study school in the Live Oak School District. We offer weekly classes which include literacy, math, science, and art. Students learn to communicate and collaborate in a group-learning environment. Community events, field trips & more! Ocean Online is a non-classroom based independent study program. We offer a wide range of services including: quality, adaptable online curriculum, weekly teacher consultation and instruction, assessment and feedback, social networks of homeschooling families, resources, and a Chromebook to borrow. Orchard School K-6

2288 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos 831.688.1074 orchardschoolaptos.org Orchard School, established over 30 years ago, provides a unique, yet comprehensive K-6 education. At Orchard, we weave together the magic of an extraordinary faculty, a 14-acre campus and a down to earth philosophy that nourishes and honors the natural growth and development of children. Small class sizes, an organic garden and an animal farm create enriching “whole child” learning experiences that are hands-on and individualized. We provide Strong Core Academics, Excellent

Science Curriculum, Art, Music, Physical Theater/Circus Arts, Electives, Ceramics, Archery, Swimming, Leadership, Field Trips, Drama Productions, and more. Santa Cruz Montessori

Ages 18 months – 15 years Main Campus (Primary and Elementary) 6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos Winston Campus (Young Children’s Community and Jr. High) 244 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel 831.476.1646, Enrollment: ext. 12 scms.org Established in 1964, Santa Cruz Montessori is a non-profit school serving children 18 months to 15 years. Our beautiful classrooms and outdoor environments engage the children’s senses as they learn. Based on a deep understanding of child through adolescent development, our programs meet the interests and needs of our students, engaging and challenging them to do their best. We offer a supportive community of learners and an exciting Montessori curriculum including humanities, math, sciences and arts. Our mission: as a Montessori learning community, we inspire life-long learning and a more peaceful world by nurturing the natural development of the whole child.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Adventure Sports Unlimited

303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com We teach infants through adults the joys of water and adventure. Our ocean programs introduce families to our magnificent marine environments with camping trips to Santa Cruz Island and Big Sur. We explore the world-renown underwater landscape of Monterey Bay through our Open Water Scuba courses. Come play with us! Be Natural Music

740 Water St, Santa Cruz, CA (831) 515-8369 BeNaturalMusic.Live Be Natural Music is a Jazz & Rock Music School based in Santa Cruz, with a satellite studio in Corralitos, and a new location in Cupertino serving our community over the hill. Our schools offer private music lessons, Real Rock & Jazz Band classes for youth and teens, workshops, and music camps. We offer musical instruction on voice, piano & keyboard, guitar, bass, drums & percussion, saxophone, clarinet, ukulele, harp & beginning DJ lessons The Bookakery

BookakeryBoxes.com Check out our Bookakery Boxes, monthly subscription boxes filled with picture books, recipes, baking tools and activities, curated to foster a love of reading and baking in kids and encourages parent-child activities. Bookakery Boxes facilitate activity based learning of reading, following instructions, counting and more. Bookakery Boxes are perfect for preschoolers and early elementary age children as they head back to school or stay home this year City of Santa Cruz Parks and

BACK TO SCHOOL GUIDE Recreation Department

323 Church Street, Santa Cruz 831.420.5270 santacruzparksandrec.com Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation is committed to keeping our community members safe and connected. This fall we are excited to offer in-person, fun, educational, and active classes for all ages All classes have been carefully planned with your safety in mind, following current County Health guidelines. Fall registration is now open. Scholarships are available. Find all the fall classes online – www. cityofsantacruz.com/register. Crooked Beauty Maker’s Space and Art Place

6225 Highway 9, Felton crookedbeautyart.com Crooked Beauty Maker’s Space and Art Place offers art and craft supplies for sale, along with space to create. Our website has information on art shows, workshops, private parties and more; check us out virtually at crookedbeautyart.com or come in and say hi at 6225 Highway 9. Open Thurs. & Fri 3-6, Sat. & Sun 12-6. 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 group lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, wellqualified teachers. The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School. Junebug’s Gym

3910 Portola Drive, Suite 2, Santa Cruz 831.464.BUGS (2847) junebugsgym.com JuneBug’s Gym is a place where your child can experience a fun-filled adventure in movement. We have a caring, respectful, and supportive staff that encourages every child in their growth of large motor skills and gymnastics along with social, emotional and cognitive development. Our goals for our students are to help them feel control and empowerment in their bodies, to build self-esteem through success, to open up imaginations, and to feel confidence and joy in their exploration of movement. Kaijin Martial Arts

4652 Scotts Valley Drive #102 Scotts Valley, Ca 95065 (831)-515-7477 kaijinmma.com Kaijin MMA is a family-friendly Martial Arts Studio. We provide a variety of martial arts classes in a safe and positive learning environment. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a great way for your child to learn self-defense. It is a fun way to promote coordination, self-awareness, physical fitness, and selfconfidence. Our jiu-jitsu instructor, Gustavo Froes, is a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and has been instructing kids for over 30 years. He is able to customize a personal style of teaching for children with learning disabilities. Kickboxing/Freestyle Karate promotes fitness, focus commitment, and

the importance of good character. Our instructor, Dion Dangzalan, is a black belt in karate and has studied various other martial arts. Kumon Math & Reading Centers

Aptos Center 8035 Soquel Drive, Suite 27 Aptos, CA 95003 (831) 508-8200 kumon.com/aptos-ca Santa Cruz Center 740 Front Street, Suite 150 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 824-6284 kumon.com/santa-cruz Scotts Valley Center 218-D Mt. Hermon Road Scotts Valley, CA 95066 https://www.kumon.com/scotts-valley For more than 60 years, Kumon’s afterschool math and reading programs have helped children and teens achieve academic success worldwide. Students advance through the program with an individualized learning plan. Our method improves focus and develops self-reliance. Whether your child is seeking enrichment, needs help catching up, or is just beginning their academic career, Kumon will build their confidence and help them develop skills for lifelong learning. Call us to schedule a free placement test today! 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 has brought fun, quality music lessons to the Santa Cruz Mountains since 2017. Learn to play piano, guitar, ukulele, drums, voice, and more! Students and their families enjoy an enthusiastic, lighthearted atmosphere brought by our qualified instructors. Our philosophy is that lessons should be fun! Music Together/MusicalMe, Inc.

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County Call/Text: 831-332-9002 registrar@musicalme.com musicalme.com Our classes (both outdoors and online) offer the very best in early childhood music learning for ages Birth to 8 years: Music Together®: A music enrichment program for children birth to age 5, 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 5 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 in 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.

Santa Cruz County Junior Golf

Dientes Community Dental Care

info@santacruzjuniorgolf.org santacruzjuniorgolf.org Established in 1993, the Santa Cruz County Junior Golf Association is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization, whose charter is to provide junior golfers between the ages of six and eighteen the opportunity to participate in an organized, safe, and fun golf program. SCJG is committed to minimizing barriers, financial or otherwise, that might prohibit participation in the game of golf. The philosophy behind SCJG is to give junior players the opportunity to learn the rules and etiquette of golf, progress via clinics and lessons, and measure progress by tournament play. Please visit us at santacruzjuniorgolf.org to learn more.

1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 831-464-5409 dientes.org Dientes Community Dental Care is a full-service dental clinic located in midSanta Cruz County. We practice whole family dentistry including kids, adults, and seniors; but children hold a special place in our heart – half of our patients are kids seen by our experienced pediatric dentists. As a non-profit dental clinic, our focus is on high-quality, low-cost dental services, including exams, x-rays, fillings, sealants and root canals. We accept Medi-Cal and we have affordable sliding scale fees for uninsured patients. Dientes is open 6 days a week. We offer bi-lingual services – Se habla Español! Dientes, providing dignity through dentistry for nearly 30 years.

Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center, Inc.

2750 B Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz 831.462.0655 scgym.com We at Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center understand how important physical movement is in developing a healthy brain in children. Healthy brain development leads to proficiency in learning and overall confidence to lead a successful life. Our gymnastics instructors take pride in offering gymnastics training packed with a lot of fun in every class! Each lesson offers a wide range of sensory integration activities through the usage of our gymnastics equipment on the floor, bars, balance beam, vault, trampolines, and foam pit. We offer a range of classes from preschool to competitive teams. Check our website to see what is available for your child today. Santa Cruz Public Libraries

224 Church St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-427-7713 santacruzpl.org/ The Santa Cruz Public Libraries is a fun and safe place to gather after school, have some fun, and learn. We improve reading readiness with early literacy classes, family crafts, and Read-to-Me kits; We support Spanish speakers with family storytimes and STEAM projects; we support students with reading comprehension and homework tutoring, online resources for homework help, and project-based STEAM learning programs, including Javascript; we support educators and parents with Concierge Service and a biweekly newsletter. We support the learning needs of all ages with internet access, computers, printing, Wifi, and high-tech tools like 3D printers and virtual reality.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS Alison K. Jackson, DDS

Children’s Dentistry 7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos 831.662.2900 santacruzkidsdentist.com Dr. Jackson provides comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children. We are preventivedentistry oriented. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and can treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably. We are currently open to new patients. Dr. Jackson likes to see children around the time of their first birthday to assure healthy habits for future smiles!

Encompass Community Services - Youth Substance Use & Prevention Counseling

831-429-8350 encompasscs.org/youth_services_counseling With fewer outlets for fun and relaxation, this summer may be especially challenging for teens. If a teen in your life could benefit from substance use or prevention counseling, call Encompass Community Services. Our comprehensive services are FREE to all Santa Cruz County residents. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to receive professional support at absolutely no cost to you. Our experienced counselors offer group, individual and family sessions including telehealth and limited in-person services. Plaza Lane Optometry

1537 Pacific Ave, Suite 100 Santa Cruz CA 95060 (831) 429-2020 PlazaLaneOptometry.com Did you know that 1 out of 4 schoolage children suffers from some type of uncorrected vision problem? Children are often not able to recognize if they have blurry vision or are having trouble focusing since they do not know any differently. For this reason, Back-to-School eye exams are critically important for your child in order to make sure they are set up to succeed in the classroom. Some parents may rely on vision screenings but keep in mind that upwards of 75% of kids with vision problems are missed on these school screenings. Be proactive and make an appointment for your child’s healthy eye exam with one of our compassionate and knowledgeable Doctors of Optometry before heading back to the classroom this fall. Ultraderm | California Skin Institute

3311 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz 95065 (831) 272-0936 californiaskininstitute.com/locations/ ultraderm-santa-cruz/ There are many opinions on the internet about skincare and ingredients such as salicylic acid, antioxidants, benzoyl peroxide, or glycolic acid. Ultraderm | California Skin Institute is a premier dermatology practice in Santa Cruz helping teens with their acne, eczema, melasma, and more. Trust our board-certified dermatologists and specialists to take the guesswork out of your skincare routine and customize a treatment plan based on your skin type and needs. We are accepting new patients. Visit our website or call to make an appointment. GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

to see you there. Contact the gaming group facilitator at gaminggroup@diversitycenter. org for the Discord server invitation.

FRIDAY 3 WEDNESDAY 1 World Letter Writing Day Rockin’ Pop-Up: What even IS North America? Noon - 12:30 pm Santa Cruz County is obviously a part of North America. Right? Well, it’s a little more complicated than that. There’s the continent of North America, but there’s also the North American tectonic plate — where Santa Cruz County does not reside! There are lots of little (and really big!) geologic surprises across the continent. Join the Geology Gents for this North American road trip! About the Series: Join the Geology Gents, Gavin and Graham, for monthly conversations about rocks live on Facebook hosted by the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History. Graham Edwards and Gavin Piccione are PhD candidates in geochronology with the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UC Santa Cruz. Wednesday Night Sailboat Races 6:30 pm - 8 pm Harbor restaurants & the beach are great viewing areas to watch the sailboat races against the setting sun. SantacruzHarbor.org

Bee Smarts! Learn All About Bees with Girl Next Door Honey (Virtual Program) 4 pm - 5 pm Learn all about bees and their important role in our ecosystem with Hilary Kearney of Girl Next Door Honey. Learn about how these amazing pollinators live, work, and help our planet! A “Bee Smarts” Grab & Go kit (for ages 5+) will be available at Felton Branch beginning on August 25th, while supplies last. https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8167104 WomenCARE: Laughter Yoga 3:30 - 4:30 Wednesdays Laughter yoga for women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets every Wednesday, currently via Zoom. Registration Required: WomenCARE: 457-2273 Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30pm – 9:00pm Zoom The support and discussion group is for people (of any age) who identify on the spectrum of trans/nonbinary/agender/ genderfluid and more. The group also welcomes those who want to explore their identity, but who may not need or want

to classify themselves. All individuals are encouraged to explore their individual selves, without concern or pressure that the next step need be ‘transitioning,’ and without concern about fitting into other people’s definitions. Make up your own! The Diversity Center’s transgender and non-binary peer support group provides a supportive and interactive experience in a safe and brave space. Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/857624696 Meeting ID: 857 624 696 Password: TDC

THURSDAY 2

CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays Organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers are sold weekly at the CASFS Farmstand, starting June 15 and continuing through November 23, 2021. Proceeds support experiential education programs at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. Entre Nosotras grupo de apoyo 6 pm Fridays Entre Nosotras support group for Spanish speaking women with a cancer diagnosis. Meets twice monthly. Registration Required: Entre Nosotras 761-3973. Nature Storytellers 3pm – 5pm Virtual - Discord Join us for weekly nature storytelling workshops covering many forms, IN PERSON, masked and distanced. Be prepared to get a little dirty! We will provide any materials needed. Email youth@diversitycenter.org (mailto:youth@ diversitycenter.org) or DM @diversity.youth on Instagram for Discord invitation and more information.

SATURDAY 4 National Wildlife Day

Workshop: Strategies to help teens manage anxiety 5:30 pm - 7 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop for families with children (13 - 16 years old) to learn: Common causes and signs of anxiety in teens. What to do if your teen is anxious. Tips for helping teens develop healthy coping skills. Presented in English on Zoom by Cori Burt – Community Bridges, Mountain Community Resources Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/Teen-Anxiety-Sept2 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt at (831) 3356600 x6605 or corib@cbridges.org Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7 am - 9 am Thursdays 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. LGBTQ+ Gamer’s Group 7pm – 9pm Virtual - Discord A group for LGBTQ+ gamers of all types to meet, socialize and, of course, game. We meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings and discuss our plans on the group’s Discord server. Bring your games and find people looking to share in them and/or join the Discord server and look for people to play online with. Hope

30 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Cabrillo Youth Strings Fall 2021 In Person 3:45 pm - 5:55 pm Registration is underway for our String Orchestra Program on consecutive Friday afternoons at the Music Building, VAPA5000 beginning September 3. We offer an entry level 4th-6th Beginning Strings, 4:00-5:15 for violin/viola/cello; Festival Strings, 4:155:45, for Beginning-Intermediate students; and Cabrillo Strings, 4:15-5:55 for more Advanced students. Auditions for Festival and Cabrillo Strings will be 3:45-4:15 on September 3. For more information please call 479-6101 or visit our website, https:// www.cabrillo.edu/cabrillo-youth-strings. Registration through Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331 or extension@cabrillo.edu before the first class. Cabrillo Youth Strings Begins Fall Semester 3:45 pm - 5:55 pm Registration for our 9-week String Orchestra In Person Program, is underway. Our classes, for students aged 7-18, (4th-6th Grade Beginning Strings, Festival Strings (BegInt) and Cabrillo Strings (Int-Adv) meet on Friday afternoons at the Music Building in Aptos. Auditions for Festival Strings and Cabrillo Strings are 3:45-4:15, prior to the first rehearsal, beginning at 4:15 until 5:45/5:55. The 4th-6th Grade Beginning Strings meet 4:00-5:15 with no audition. Please call 479-6101 or visit our website, https://wwww.cabrillo.edu/cabrilloyouth-strings/. Covid-19 protocols will be followed. You may register through Cabrillo Extension, 479-6331 or extension@cabrillo. edu before the first class. New Brighton Little Rangers 11 am 11:30 am Any and all 3 to 6 year old are invited to play games, listen to stories and songs, and learn about nature! Smiles, laughter, and good times abound at this program, and it’s a fantastic way to begin your morning in the park. Meet at the campground Ramada. For more information, call (831) 685-6444. New Brighton Junior Rangers 3 pm This fun one-hour program offers kids, ages 7 to 12, an opportunity to earn prizes while learning about birds, sea life, and local park animals, playing games, and doing arts and crafts. Meet at the campground Ramada. For more information, call (831) 685-6444.

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History: Birding at Neary Lagoon 10:00 am - Noon Let’s get out and about with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! This month we’ll be looking for birds at Neary Lagoon Wildlife Refuge, an oasis for local wildlife in the heart of Santa Cruz. We’ll bring binoculars for each participant and share tips for identifying birds during this one-mile walk. santacruzmuseum.org Wilder Ranch: Coastal Nature Walk 11 am - 1 pm On this 2.5-mile, 2-hour family-friendly walk, we’ll explore the plants, animals, and geology of our coastal bluffs. Bring water, a hat, closed-toe shoes, layered clothing, and binoculars if available. Pre-registration required at www. santacruzstateparks.as.me. Meet next to the park map in the main parking lot. Rain cancels. Free event. Watsonville Airport: Open House “Fire in the Sky” 6:30 pm 10 am Kick-off your Labor Day celebration early! Join us on the 4th for food, games, entertainment, and of course, fireworks! CityofWatsonville.org Seymour Center Outdoors! 11 am - 2 pm Activities Include Tide Pool Investigation: Hone your observation skills and watch animals such as sea stars, sea urchins,

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR and hermit crabs gracefully move in their environment. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt: Explore the Pathway of Giants and find nine outdoor objects hidden around the Seymour Center. And Lots More! To learn more see http://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu/visit/ “ Chess Club with Gjon Saturdays 2:00 - 3:30pm Downtown Library 224 Church St. In the upstairs meeting room. Professional chess instruction with Chess Master Gjon Feinstein. All levels welcome. For ages 6 - 18. If you have never played chess before please contact Gjon before your first session: coach@santacruzchess. com 831-425-7835 Queer Youth Meet-up (ALL COUNTY) 1:00pm – 3:30pm LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 11 - 18 who want to meet new people, join a welcoming community and learn the tools of activism and leadership, look no further! The Diversity Center’s LGBTQ+ Youth Meetup is the place for you. Join our dynamic team of youth from Santa Cruz County! Bring yourself or bring a friend to this awesome virtual group. Email youth@diversitycenter.org or DM @diversity.youth on Instagram for the invitation to the Discord group. Transfamilies of Santa Cruz Parent Support Group 3:00pm – 4:30pm Virtual - Zoom (map) TransFamilies of Santa Cruz County’s bi-monthly support group meetings provide information and support to parents and other adult family members of trans and gender diverse children of all ages. Parents of toddlers, elementary aged children, teens, and adults are all welcome. Meetings are held every 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Our goal is to support families of gender diverse children of all ages so they can help their children survive and thrive. Contact us at transfamiliesofsantacruz@ gmail.com or 831-205-0078 for Zoom access information.

SUNDAY 5

The Westside Marketplace 11 am - 5 pm Time for the Westside Marketplace! 1st Sundays at the Wrigley! Featuring LOCAL art, handmade & vintage shopping + Food trucks & pop-ups, and LIVE MUSIC… all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot on Mission. FREE admission! FREE & Easy Parking! Friendly leashed pups are welcome! LIVE MUSIC from 2-5pm! Presented by your friends at SCM Makers Market & Food Trucks A Go Go.

MONDAY 6 Labor Day National Read a Book Day

TUESDAY 7 International Day of Clean Air National Grateful Patient Day Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum, free admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9 am-5 pm. Come explore the biodiversity of our gardens, great birdwatching or simply come relax on a bench in the shade. https://arboretum. ucsc.edu/eventscalendar/events/recurringevents/community-day.html CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3

WEDNESDAY 8

Castle Rock: Guided Hike “Falls and Goat Rock” 10 am - 3 pm Hike one of the most exciting and scenic trails in the Bay Area! This moderate 5.15-mile loop has 1,190 feet elevation gain and amazing panoramic views. This hike is rated “moderate” because hikers need to step onto rocks, balance, and scramble over rocks. Hikers should be comfortable with their sense of balance. Preregistration is required: https://santacruzstateparks. as.me/schedule.php”

Triple P Virtual Group for families with children Thursdays, September 9 – October 28, 2021, 5:30 – 7:00 pm This virtual Triple P 8-week group is FREE and open to all families in Santa Cruz County with children 2 – 12 years old. Attend to meet other families and learn simple strategies to help you: Strengthen relationships in your family. Encourage positive behaviors. Teach your child new skills & behaviors. Handle disruptive or challenging behaviors with greater confidence. Take care of yourself as a parent. Presented in English on Zoom by Cori Burt – Community Bridges, MCR Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/TripleP-Group-Sept2021 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt at (831) 3356600 x6605 or corib@cbridges.org” Hiking With A Purpose: Post-fire community science 6 pm - 7 pm After fire, ecosystems can experience many changes. As the Santa Cruz community recovers from the impacts of the CZU Lightning Complex fires, we can look to other communities for guidance on where to go from here and how community scientists can help. Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for an online presentation with Josie Lesage of the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and learn about their response to the Thomas Fire that burned through Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties in 2017-2018.

International Literacy Day World Physical Therapy Day Wednesday Night Sailboat Races 6:30 pm - 8 pm Harbor restaurants & the beach are great viewing areas to watch the sailboat races against the setting sun. SantacruzHarbor.org WomenCARE: Laughter Yoga 3:30 4:30 Wednesdays See Sept 1 Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30pm – 9:00pm See Sept 1

THURSDAY 9 Care Bears Share Your Care Day International Sudoku Day

Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4 pm - 7 pm Welcome back to our second year of Evergreen at Dusk historical tours. We invite you to discover the stories and secrets found within Evergreen Cemetery, one of the oldest public cemeteries in California, on a self-guided or private tour of the grounds. This tour is great for all ages! Each tour should take 3045 minutes to complete. The time you select is when your group/household tour begins, we recommend arriving 5-10 minutes early to ensure you can begin right on time. Want to go beyond the self-guided tours? Sign-up for the private guided tour! Watsonville: Music in the Plaza “Monterey Bay Sound Machine” 6 pm - 8 pm Our summer outdoor concerts are back! Join us this summer as we welcome back Music in the Plaza to downtown Watsonville. The concert series will feature a variety of bands to help you get your groove on. Grab a bite at our downtown restaurants. This year’s concerts are brought to you by the City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department, the Watsonville Film Festival, and iHeart Media.

Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7 am - 9 am Thursdays See Sept 9 LGBTQ+ Gamer’s Group 7pm – 9pm See Sept 2

FRIDAY 10

World Suicide Prevention Day Every 40 seconds someone takes their own life according to the World Health Organization (WHO). That’s about 800,000 people worldwide every year — although some estimates put that number closer to 1 million. Suicide is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 29 and for every suicide that results in death, there are as many as 40 attempted suicides. What we know for sure is that there’s a lot to live for. Capitola Movies at the Beach “Dolittle” 7:30 pm - 10 pm FREE MOVIES near CAPITOLA BEACH! Movies begin at 7:30 p.m. (or dusk). All movies are shown on the bandstand stage in Esplanade Park. Visit our local restaurants and pick up dinner to go and enjoy a picnic at the beach! Suggested to bring low back chairs or picnic blanket for seating. *No dogs or alcohol in the park or on the beach. CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3 Entre Nosotras grupo de apoyo 6 pm Fridays See Sept 3 Nature Storytellers 3pm – 5pm See Sept 3

SATURDAY 11 Stepping Stones Workshop: Tips for Mealtimes 10 am - 11 am Triple P Stepping Stones FREE Workshops are brief classes for families with children with special needs that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend to learn: How to teach children to feed themselves independently. Tips for handling challenging behaviors at mealtimes. How to encourage children to eat a wider variety of healthy foods. Tips for handling other issues that make mealtimes challenging for children with special needs. Presented in English on Zoom by: Sandra Rodelo, Community Bridges – LMCR Register for this Zoom workshop: https://bit.ly/MealtimeSept11 Got questions? Contact Contact Sandra Rodelo at (831) 724-2997 x211 or sandrar@cbridges.org” GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR (Saturday 11 Cont'd) Biodiversity Day Treasure Hunt 10 am - Noon There’s a lot going on in our natural world, even in the middle of an urban area! Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a “bioblitz” treasure hunt in the Museum’s Garden Learning Center, located in a pocket park in the middle of the City of Santa Cruz. This biodiversity program is for: Community scientists who have questions about iNaturalist. Kids who want to scramble in the dirt. Nature lovers who want to learn more about native plants and animals. Anyone curious!. Museum staff will provide iNaturalist training, resources for identification, and a fun community environment for exploring nature in celebration of Biodiversity Day!” 38th Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival 10 am - 6pm The Capitola Art & Wine Festival combines Art, Wine, Music, and Food, all in charming Capitola Village overlooking the beautiful Monterey Bay. Admission is free! Free bike valet parking. Fees: Wine tasting (21+) with purchase of 2021 Festival Glass ($20) and tasting tokens ($1). Tastings vary between 2-4 tokens. Seymour Center Outdoors! 11 am - 2 pm See Sept 4 Chess Club with Gjon Saturdays 2:00 - 3:30pm Downtown Library See Sept 4

SUNDAY 12

Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Street Faire 9 am - 5 pm “Original” Downtown Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of the month. Vendors offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items.

MONDAY 13

Roald Dahl Day A former RAF fighter pilot, intelligence officer, and diplomat, Roald Dahl is best known as one of the world’s best-loved storytellers. In books like “Matilda”, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, and “James and the Giant Peach”, Dahl brought readers into his wildly original imagination with richly detailed worlds, zany characters, and touching storylines. His children’s books feature villainous adults, heroic child protagonists, and fanciful worlds, and have been adapted into dozens of plays and films. Agricultural History Project: 2nd Saturday on the Farm 11 am - 3 pm 2nd Saturday on the Farm, a family event that focuses on a particular area of agriculture. Visitors can participate in the regular activities of the Ag History Project plus others related to the day’s special focus. We host over 2,500 visitors each year at 2nd Saturday on the Farm. AgHistoryProject.org

Grandparents Day Like Mother’s day and Father’s day we also have a whole day dedicated to our grandparents. Grandparents and children have a special connection that is proven to both make grandparents live longer, and also make children more emotionally resilient. Grandparents Day is an opportunity to treasure that connection and spend some quality family time together. 38th Annual Capitola Art & Wine Festival 10 am - 6pm See Sept 11 Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz This event builds on the history of one of California’s longest-running events. Santa Cruz has all things outdoors; surf, sand, and sun. From historic lighthouses, Santa Cruz Surfing Museum to the Beach Boardwalk and the Santa Cruz Wharf. A California coastline course with a beach finish line. IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Cruz is a must-do event for an athlete looking to add a low key end of season race to their 2021 calendar. IronMan.com

comidas 5:30 pm - 7 pm Taller GRATIS Virtual Paso a Paso Triple P para familias con niños con necesidades especiales. Asista para aprender: Cómo enseñar a los niños a comer independientemente. Consejos para manejar las conductas desafiantes durante las comidas. Cómo animar a los niños a comer una variedad más amplia de comidas saludables. Consejos para manejar otros temas que causan que las comidas sean desafiantes para. los niños con necesidades especiales. Presentado en español por Zoom por Sandra Rodelo – Puentes de la Comunidad, LMCR Inscríbase: https://bit. ly/Hora-Comer-15Sept ¿Tiene preguntas? Comuníquese con Sandra Rodelo (831) 724-2997 Ext. 211 o sandrar@cbridges.org Wednesday Night Sailboat Races 6:30 pm - 8 pm Harbor restaurants & the beach are great viewing areas to watch the sailboat races against the setting sun. SantacruzHarbor.org Annual Santa Cruz County Fair Noon - 10 pm Five days of fun and festivities, including a large carnival. Safe, fun and affordable. WomenCARE: Laughter Yoga 3:30 4:30 Wednesdays See Sept 1

TUESDAY 14 Workshop: Helping your child deal with fears 4 pm - 5:30 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop for families with children (0 – 12 years old) to learn: Common reasons why children develop fears. How to help your child manage and face their fears. Coping strategies you can teach your child. Presented in English on Zoom by Cori Burt – Community Bridges, Mountain Community Resources Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/Fears-Sept14 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt at (831) 3356600 x6605 or corib@cbridges.org CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3

WEDNESDAY 15 Taller Paso a Paso: Consejos para las

32 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Grab and Go STEAM: Make your own Suncatcher Noon - 5 pm We provide the materials and directions - you pick them up and make them at home! Learn about color, patterns and translucency! Registration for a STEAM kit is required. To request a kit, fill out this Form. First Come First Serve. Registration will close when all kits are claimed. https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/8218609” Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30pm – 9:00pm See Sept 1

THURSDAY 16 Triple P Virtual Group for families with children Thursdays, September 9 – October 28, 2021, 5:30 – 7:00 pm See Sept 9 Annual Santa Cruz County Fair Noon - 10 pm Five days of fun and festivities, including a large carnival. Safe, fun and affordable. Santa Cruz MAH: Festival of Light, Sound, & Digital Culture Noon - 8 pm Extending over 4-nights, explore downtown Santa Cruz as local and visiting artists

illuminate the Santa Cruz Museum of Art & History, neighboring parks, plazas, and riverfront area with interactive installations, live performances, and immersive experiences. Follow the luminescent glow as artists highlight some of the most iconic structures and spaces in downtown Santa Cruz. The route will also reveal less familiar courtyards, alleyways, and rooftops as artists adorn the spaces with glowing installations. Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7 am - 9 am Thursdays See Sept 9 LGBTQ+ Gamer’s Group 7pm – 9pm See Sept 2

FRIDAY 17 Taller Triple P: Ir de compras con su niño/a 3 pm - 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 GRATIS de crianza para aprender: Por qué los viajes de compras pueden ser difíciles para los niños. Consejos para que los viajes de compras sean menos estresantes y más agradables. Consejos para manejar los desafíos durante los viajes de compras. Presentado en español por Zoom por Gladys Gómez – Puentes de la Comunidad, LMCR Inscríbase para conseguir la información para participar en este taller por Zoom https://bit.ly/ De-Compras-17Sept ¿Tiene preguntas? Comuníquese con Gladys Gómez al (831) 724-2997 Ext. 220 o gladysg@cbridges.org

Annual Santa Cruz County Fair Noon - 10 pm Five days of fun and festivities, including a large carnival. Safe, fun and affordable. Santa Cruz MAH: Festival of Light, Sound, & Digital Culture Noon - 8 pm See Sept 16 West Cliff: Food Truck Series 2021 4 pm - 8 pm The food Truck Summer Series is back for the third great season! Join us at the West Cliff Lighthouse parking lot to enjoy the beautiful view, local food trucks, and LIVE MUSIC! It’s a great chance to get outside and soak in the sunshine. This is becoming a locals favorite and tourists love it as well. The parking lot is close to many wonderful picnic areas where you can relax and take in the scenery. Admission is FREE!” Watsonville: Music in the Plaza “Los Cenzontles” 6 pm - 8 pm See Sept 9

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR It also encourages Americans to embrace dance as a fun and positive way to maintain good health Virtual Meet the Doulas 4 pm Presented by Birth Network of Santa Cruz County Learn about how doulas support families through the birth and postpartum experience during our current COVID19 situation. Preregister to join the FREE LIVE ZOOM EVENT: BirthNetSantaCruz. EventBrite.com

Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every THIRD Sunday of the month! 10am5pm (Raindate to following Sunday) 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. Sponsored by Farm Fresh to You & Supported by Downtown Santa Cruz. Presented by SCM Makers Market.

MONDAY 20 Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour 7 pm - 10 pm Get off the beaten path and explore the edge of believable with exhilarating stories from the 45th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, coming to the Rio Theatre on September 17 at 7 pm. Stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you in this year’s Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour. From exploring remote landscapes to adrenaline-fueled action sports, films selected for the 2020/2021 World Tour are sure to captivate and amaze you. This stop on the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour is hosted by the Rio Theatre Santa Cruz.” Capitola Movies at the Beach “Frozen 2” 7:30 pm - 10 pm FREE MOVIES near CAPITOLA BEACH! Movies begin at 7:30 p.m. (or dusk). All movies are shown on the bandstand stage in Esplanade Park. Visit our local restaurants and pick up dinner to go and enjoy a picnic at the beach! Suggested to bring low back chairs or picnic blanket for seating. *No dogs or alcohol in the park or on the beach.” Santa Cruz Mountains SOL Festival 11 am - 7 pm Three annual day music festival in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains at Roaring Camp Meadows. A weekend of great music, community, craft beer & wine, camping and art. Beach Train Shuttle also available. 2020 Artists: We are stoked to announce the first round of artists appearing at Sol Fest 2020 and welcome back our pals Michael Franti and Spearhead and The California Honeydrops along with first time Sol People; The Devil Makes Three, Rising Appalachia Music and Jerry’s Middle Finger. More to be announced! Get on the Sol Train! There will be a round trip train shuttle. Children under 10 are free with paid adult. Discounted youth tickets will be available for ages 11-17, when purchased with an adult ticket. CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3 Entre Nosotras grupo de apoyo 6 pm Fridays See Sept 3 Nature Storytellers 3pm – 5pm See Sept 3

SATURDAY 18 National Dance Day Break out into a twirl or two-step on National Dance Day on the third Saturday in September. The day focuses on raising awareness about dance.

National Pepperoni Pizza Day Pizza might be most heavily associated with Italy, but the pepperoni pizza is purely American. Served on more than a third of American pizza orders, it’s safe to say that pepperoni is the U.S.’s favorite topping, and that’s a reason to celebrate.

TUESDAY 21 Annual Coastal Cleanup Day 9 amNoon Join us the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for the largest volunteer event in the country! California Coastal Cleanup Day welcomes more than 60,000 volunteers who will pick up hundreds of thousands of pounds of trash and recyclables from beaches, lakes, and waterways each year. Help preserve wildlife by taking trash out of the environment. Volunteer alongside your families, friends, coworkers, scout troops, school groups, and service clubs. Thanks to Save Our Shores, we’ll provide everything you need to clean Seabright Beach safely and effectively. Annual Santa Cruz County Fair Noon - 10 pm Five days of fun and festivities, including a large carnival. Safe, fun and affordable. Santa Cruz MAH: Festival of Light, Sound, & Digital Culture Noon - 8 pm See Sept 17 Santa Cruz Mountains SOL Festival 11 am - 7 pm See Sept 17 Seymour Center Outdoors! 11 am - 2 pm See Sept 5 Chess Club with Gjon Saturdays 2:00 - 3:30pm Downtown Library See Sept 5 Transfamilies of Santa Cruz Parent Support Group 3:00pm – 4:30pm Virtual - Zoom (map) See Sept 4

SUNDAY 19 Talk Like a Pirate Day Annual Santa Cruz County Fair Noon - 10 pm Five days of fun and festivities, including a large carnival. Safe, fun and affordable. Santa Cruz MAH: Festival of Light, Sound, & Digital Culture Noon - 8 pm See Sept 18 Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10 am - 5 pm Come on out and support local artists and makers at the

International Day of Peace devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. At a time when war and violence often monopolize our news cycles, the International Day of Peace is an inspiring reminder of what we can create together. Peace. Let’s give it a chance! Grupo Virtual Triple P para familias con niños Cada martes, del 21 de septiembre al 9 de noviembre, 2021, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Asista por 8 semanas a este grupo virtual GRATIS de Triple P para cotnocer a otras familias y aprender estrategias sencillas que le ayudaran a: Fortalecer las relaciones en su familia. Fomentar comportamientos positivos. Enseñarle a su niño habilidades y comportamientos nuevos. Manejar las conductas disruptivas o problemáticas con mayor confianza. Cuidar de sí mismo como padre. Presentado en español por Zoom por Sandra Rodelo – Puentes de la Comunidad, LMCR Inscríbase: https://bit.ly/Grupo-TriplePSept2021 ¿Tiene preguntas? Comuníquese con Sandra Rodelo (831) 724-2997 Ext. 211 o sandrar@cbridges.org” CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3

WEDNESDAY 22 Fall Equinox Elementary Campus Tour at Mount Madonna School. 9:30am. Come for an in-person tour, and learn more about our academically vibrant elementary program! MMS is a preschool through high school focused on nurturing students’ love of learning and intellectual inquiry with a responsive learning environment that cultivates a sense of belonging. RSVP to Director of Admissions Benna Dimig at 408-846-4042 or admissions@ mountmadonnaschool.org Free Virtual Bookshop Santa Cruz Event: Award-winning and bestselling author Jewell Parker Rhodes (Ninth Ward, Ghost Boys) will discuss her new book, Paradise on Fire, a powerful coming-of-age survival tale exploring issues of race, class, and climate change. Rhodes will be in-conversation with Samira Ahmed, author of the new middle grade novel Amira & Hamza: The War to Save the Worlds. Wednesday Night Sailboat Races 6:30 pm - 8 pm Harbor restaurants & the beach are great viewing areas to watch the sailboat races against the setting sun. SantacruzHarbor.org WomenCARE: Laughter Yoga 3:30 4:30 Wednesdays See Sept 1

Reading in the Redwoods Book Group 6 pm - 7 pm The book for September is: Tender At The Bone by Ruth Reichl Reading in the Redwoods book group meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday at 6:00 pm. In September we will meet outdoors at the Felton library on the patio. Go to the back of the parking lot to the patio gate. Plan ahead for foggy weather. We will not have an option to join by Zoom. Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30pm – 9:00pm See Sept 1

THURSDAY 23 Triple P Virtual Group for families with children Thursdays, September 9 – October 28, 2021, 5:30 – 7:00 pm See Sept 9. GrowingUpSC.com | SEPTEMBER 2021

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR SATURDAY 25 National Bunny Day National Daughters Day a day to celebrate and cherish our daughters who bring so much love and into our lives. Although we don’t really need a reason to celebrate our children, it’s nice to be given the opportunity to pay our daughters some extra attention and show them how much they are loved. See Otter Pop-Up 10 am- 2 pm See Sept 24

Workshop: Balancing work & family during Covid-19 4 pm - 5:30 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: Common challenges with balancing work and family responsibilities. Tools to help prevent workrelated stress from affecting your home life. Tips for setting healthy boundaries between work life and home life. Presented in English on Zoom by: Liliana Zamora, Community Bridges – LMCR Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/WorkFamily-Sept23 Got questions? Contact Liliana Zamora at (831) 724-2997 x212 or lilianaz@cbridges.org” Watsonville: Music in the Plaza “The Chicano All Stars” 6 pm - 8 pm Our summer outdoor concerts are back! Join us this summer as we welcome back Music in the Plaza to downtown Watsonville. The concert series will feature a variety of bands to help you get your groove on. Grab a bite at our downtown restaurants and join us for the music from 6pm to 8pm. This year’s concerts are brought to you by the City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department, the Watsonville Film Festival, and iHeart Media. Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7 am - 9 am Thursdays See Sept 9 Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4 pm - 7 pm See Sept 9 LGBTQ+ Gamer’s Group 7pm – 9pm See Sept 2

FRIDAY 24 Sea Otter Week Pop-Up 10 am- 2 pm Swing by Lighthouse Point along West Cliff Dr. in Santa Cruz to spot sea otters with the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! Get a closer look at our furry friends from afar through spotting scopes and up close with specimens from the Museum’s collections. These pop-ups are in celebration of Sea Otter Awareness Week. Boardwalk Fall Campout A memorable overnight event at the Boardwalk, perfect for family, friends, youth and school groups. BeachBoardwalk.com/events CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3 Entre Nosotras grupo de apoyo 6 pm Fridays See Sept 3 Nature Storytellers 3pm – 5pm See Sept 3

milk. This chocolatey goodness can be traced back to the 1400s, and its popularity continues to increase. In fact, the global chocolate milk market is forecasted to grow at a rate of 3.6% between 2019 and 2024.

TUESDAY 28 National Voter Registration Day How to foster positive friendships among teens 5:30 pm - 7 pm Triple P Workshops are brief classes that provide quick tips for handling everyday parenting issues. Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: How friendships help teens learn important social skills. How to encourage teens to develop positive relationships with friends and peers. What to do if teens have difficulty making friends or getting along with peers. Presented in English on Zoom by: Gladys Gómez, Community Bridges – LMCR Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/TeenFriendships-Sept28 Got questions? Contact Gladys Gómez al (831) 724-2997 x220 or gladysg@cbridges.org CASFS Farmstand Noon - 6 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays See Sept 3

de Triple P ofrecen consejos prácticos y estrategias para manejar las preguntas y desafíos de crianza específicas. Asista a este taller GRATIS virtual para aprender: Desafíos comunes al equilibrar las responsabilidades familiares y laborales. Herramientas para ayudar a prevenir que el estrés del trabajo no afecte su vida familiar. Consejos para establecer límites saludables entre la vida laboral y la vida familiar. Presentado en español por Zoom por Liliana Zamora – Puentes de la Comunidad, LMCR Inscríbase: https://bit.ly/TrabajoFamilia-30Sept ¿Tiene preguntas? Comuníquese con Liliana Zamora al (831) 724-2997 x212 o lilianaz@cbridges.org Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7 am - 9 am Thursdays See Sept 9 Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4 pm - 7 pm See Sept 10 LGBTQ+ Gamer’s Group 7pm – 9pm See Sept 2

CALENDAR

WEDNESDAY 29 Do you have an event you want placed in our calendar?

Capitola Beach Festival 6:30 am - 8 pm Capitola’s Annual Beach Festival will have something for everyone to enjoy! The community event will include a 3-Miler Fun Run hosted by the Wharf to Wharf, a Horseshoe Tournament, the Lighted Nautical Parade, a Fishing Derby, a Sand Sculpture Contest, the Chalk Art Event, a Concert in Esplanade Park, Rowboat Races and more! Join us for this free, familyfriendly, and fun event. Boardwalk Fall Campout A memorable overnight event at the Boardwalk, perfect for family, friends, youth and school groups. BeachBoardwalk.com/events Seymour Center Outdoors! 11 am - 2 pm See Sept 6 Chess Club with Gjon Saturdays 2:00 3:30pm Downtown Library See Sept 6

SUNDAY 26 National Family Day Families come in many forms and sizes and under different circumstances, but what they all share is unconditional love and support for those growing on the same family tree. From nuclear family units to extended clans, families can drive us crazy and make life worth living. Take some time today to appreciate the special folks in your life Capitola Beach Festival 6:30 am - 8 pm See Sept 25

MONDAY 27 National Chocolate Milk Day While this beverage can be spotted in any lunchroom in the United States, it actually has Jamaican origins. That’s right — Jamaica gave us ginger beer AND chocolate

34 SEPTEMBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Visit our website to submit the details!

Wednesday Night Sailboat Races 6:30 pm - 8 pm Harbor restaurants & the beach are great viewing areas to watch the sailboat races against the setting sun. SantacruzHarbor.org WomenCARE: Laughter Yoga 3:30 4:30 Wednesdays See Sept 1 Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30pm – 9:00pm See Sept 1

Photos for the calendar may be submitted by email. Digital images must be high resolution, 200-300dpi. Christy@GrowingUpSc.com

THURSDAY 30 National Love People Day This day is dedicated to inspiring and supporting others with the power of unconditional love. Triple P Virtual Group for families with children Thursdays, September 9 – October 28, 2021, 5:30 – 7:00 pm See Sept 9. Taller: Balanceando el trabajo y la familia 4 pm - 5:30 pm Los talleres

DEADLINE The 15th of the month Prior to publication month.

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Kirby School is an independent college preparatory day school in Santa Cruz for grades 6-12. Our challenging program is available both in person, with enhanced safety precautions, and online, for at-home learners. Social and emotional well-being is a top priority and vital to student success. Our caring team is committed to ensuring your child thrives.

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