Growing Up in Santa Cruz

AUG 2022

PAGE 22

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AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

GATEWAY SCHOOL

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Ask Nicole...........................................5 Local News..........................................7 Moms Who Make a Difference............9 Teacher's Desk....................................10 Education...........................................11 Birth Matters......................................15 Always Amused...................................17 Education...........................................19 Back to School Guide..........................20 Stuff the Bus.......................................22 Calendar.............................................23 Coloring Page.....................................26 Coloring Contest Winners..................27

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EDITOR | PUBLISHER

Brad Kava and Steve Dinnen ART DIRECTOR | MANAGING EDITOR

Zelzi Belle | Christy Shults

DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein

CONTRIBUTORS

Patty Benson, Lisa Catterall, Erik Chalhoub, Sandra Fong, Laura Maxson, Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, Suki Wessling, Nicole M. Young AD REPRESENTATIVES

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

408.656.1519 editor@growingupsc.com P.O. Box 3505, Santa Cruz, CA 95063

AUGUST 2022 | VOL. 26 NO. 8

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Growing Up in Santa Cruz copyright 2022. Printed in the U.S.A. All views expressed represent those of the individual authors. The contents of this publication are meant as information only and should not take the place of a medical doctor’s recommendations. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part, in any form, electronic or otherwise is prohibited without permission by the publisher. This publication does not knowingly accept deceptive or misleading advertising. Growing Up is printed on recycled paper with soy-based inks.

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Editors’ Note Even small changes can make a BIG difference.

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

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

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

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

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

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AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

The school year is starting out sadly at Watsonville’s Pajaro Valley High School.

The school’s only van—a beloved sevenpassenger Ford, nicknamed “Grizzly Van” -- was stolen from the campus in July.

The white van was a fixture for the 1,650-student school, transporting classes, special ed students and athletes to events. It was last used on a Saturday to take members of the football team to Monterey for training.

The next day it was gone.

“At first I felt disbelief,” says Athletic Director Joe Manfre. “Nobody is going to steal a van from a high school. We’re across the freeway from most people and you have to go out of your way to come up here. Someone had to have this premeditated. I was shocked.”

The 2007 van is like an advertising billboard for the school, with logos on the sides and a big grizzly in front. The school’s logo is a Grizzly and its teams are the Grizzlies.

“No one is going to ride that around town,” says Manfre. “I assume they took it to a shop and were stripping it down.”

Pajaro Valley, the newest high school in the county, which opened in 2004 and serves many low-income students, doesn’t have a strong alumni network yet and has had to struggle for the things that have come naturally for other

schools. Watsonville High, for example, has 10 vans.

Manfre says things were looking up before the theft. Watsonville GMC donated $10,000 to the school to buy another van and the district was working on getting funds for another. He thought they’d have three this year. Instead, there are none.

“We aren’t where we need to be, especially with the price of cars,” says Manfre.

What can we do? This would sure be a great time for a car dealer to pitch in some more or come up with a van. It would also be great for people to donate to help the kids get to where they need to be for off-campus education and games.

You can reach the Athletic Director at joseph_manfre@pvusd.net and maybe give the school some good news before its August opening. Growing Up in Santa Cruz will publicize every donation, which would be like a free ad for you.

Speaking of starting school in August…whatever happened to starting school after Labor Day? We know this enables a long winter vacation so people can visit families then, but starting in the heat of the summer just feels wrong to us. Do you agree? Send your comments to editor@growingupsc.com Thanks for reading!

About the Cover Comcast is proud to partner with United Way of Santa Cruz County and the Santa Cruz County Office of Education for their 12th Annual Stuff the Bus backpack and school supply drive.

The Stuff-A-Thon Event will support over 3,000 K-12th grade students who are experiencing homelessness or extreme hardships in the region. These backpacks will provide students with the supplies they need to advance their educational experience, encourage positive selfesteem, and ensure they stay in school.

Please feel free to donate to United Way or join us on August 13th to ensure Santa Cruz County youth go back to school ready to learn!

Brad Kava

ASK NICOLE COVID Vaccines for Our Youngest Kids

BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW Last month, COVID vaccines were approved for children between 6 months and 5 years of age. For some parents, this was a long-awaited moment, when their youngest family members could also be more protected against COVID. Others are feeling cautious and want to wait and see. And there are many strong opinions about whether COVID (and other) vaccines are helpful or harmful, leaving many families wondering what to do. This month, I’m sharing information I’ve learned from local pediatricians, pediatric nurse practitioners, and public health leaders (many of whom have young children) about the COVID vaccines for this age group.

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, email me at triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole, Everyone in our family has been vaccinated against COVID, except our toddler. We’ve been worried about them getting COVID and exposing their grandparents, who have health issues.

But now I’m more hesitant about the COVID vaccine for them than I was for ourselves and our older kids. I’ve heard many different, confusing opinions from friends, family, and on social media! It’s hard to know who or what to believe.

Help!

- Anne Dear Anne, It’s natural to ask questions about these vaccines, just like you would about any other health issue affecting your child. That’s part of your role as a parent — weighing the pros and cons of different choices so you can decide what’s right for your family. It’s also understandable that you might feel differently about vaccines for young children than you did for older people. I encourage you to talk to your pediatric care team about any specific concerns. In the meantime, here are some answers to common questions parents often ask.

ARE THE VACCINES SAFE?

Both the Pfizer vaccine (3 doses, for children 6 months – 4 years) and Moderna vaccine (2 doses, for children 6 months – 5 years) were tested in clinical trials that involved 10,800 children and were reviewed by independent scientists and medical experts, who unanimously approved them. The shots have smaller doses than the vaccines for adults, and researchers wanted to make sure they were both safe and effective. That’s why it took longer for these vaccines to be available.

WHAT ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?

During the clinical trials, the reported side effects were mild and temporary.

They varied by age group; for children under 2, they included crankiness and drowsiness, and for children ages 2-5, some pain at the injection site, low fever, and feeling tired. There were no reported cases of myocarditis (heart inflammation) during the clinical trials for this age group.

ARE THE VACCINES EFFECTIVE?

In the clinical trials, the levels of antibodies (the way our bodies learn to fight a specific virus) were as high or higher than adults, which suggests they are very effective in preventing severe disease and death (like the adult vaccine).

Isn’t COVID less serious among kids? Do they need to be vaccinated?

It’s true that most kids who get COVID experience milder symptoms than adults, but they could still transmit it to others. This can be very disruptive, causing household members to miss

school or work to avoid infecting others or to care for someone who’s sick. We’re also still learning a lot about the longterm effects of COVID in both children and adults. And over 440 children aged 0-4 have died from COVID, making it a top 10 leading cause of death in this age group. Vaccines are one tool we can use to minimize the risk of infection, severe illness, and death.

to keep them safe from health threats like this. Asking good questions and listening to answers from trusted sources, like pediatricians, is one of the most important ways we can keep our children, families, and communities as healthy as possible and model healthy habits for our kids. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, contact your pediatrician’s office or visit myturn.ca.gov.

What if my child already had COVID? Are they protected against future infections?

 Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 18 and 22, 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://facebook.com/ triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@ first5scc.org.

Recovering from an infection provides some temporary protection, but vaccination produces a stronger immune system response. The postinfection protection doesn’t last as long, and the COVID virus keeps mutating – so the strongest, longest-lasting protection for all age groups is keeping up-to-date on vaccinations and boosters as they’re developed.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Unfortunately, COVID is still a serious health concern. Our children rely on us

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LOCAL NEWS Generations: Nourished

BY SUKI WESSLING

Photos by Suki Wessling

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The stakes for teen foster youth are high. Once they reach eighteen, they leave the system. Unless they were lucky to be placed with families who taught them solid life skills like cooking, they enter adult life knowing little about food.

“To your stations!”

The children come into the room full of playground energy and loud voices. They chatter as they don their aprons and wash their hands. But as soon as they’re assigned to their stations they become as focused on their tasks as a chef in a restaurant.

BECAUSE THESE KIDS ARE CHEFS

Their Live Oak classroom has been turned into a kitchen where the kids wear aprons, use knives, and make healthy food together.

“I was having a conversation at Live Oak with the woman who is the Director of Childhood Education and she said that their Wellness plan had no nutrition education listed in it at all,” remembers Nourishing Generations Executive Director Karen Haralson. “There’s no time set in the course of the day or in any curriculum that they teach nutrition.”

That’s when the Nourishing Generations staff and volunteers joined the Live Oak afterschool program, where kids learn about nutrition through games and cooking—hands-on learning that really soaks in. With the CORE grant they just received, they are strengthening a program that children in the district look forward to year after year.

SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT NUTRITION Nourishing Generations, originally started at Bowman College by

nutritionists and chefs with a sense of community, has a single purpose that it now spreads in several directions.

“We invented ourselves and got our own 501(c)3, and that’s when we just started rock and rolling and started expanding beyond children,” remembers Nancy Birang, cofounder of the organization who is now the board president. “We started going to other members of our community who needed the same type of support.”

Those community members now include families in low-income housing, women with cancer, and young adults who are transitioning out of foster care.

“I have found over the years that I can’t just assume that people know anything about nutrition or about cooking,” Nancy explains. “One of the best questions I ever got was from one of the transition-age foster youth. They said, ‘Do you need to eat fat?’ And it was such a great question, because there’s this taboo around fat.”

The stakes for teen foster youth are high. Once they reach eighteen, they leave the system. Unless they were lucky to be placed with families who taught them solid life skills like cooking, they enter adult life knowing little about food. And food choices can make all the difference, Karen explains. Diabetes is a national epidemic, and we spend

enormous amounts of healthcare money on it. But early dietary interventions are much cheaper and more effective in the long term.

“These types of diet lifestyle intervention programs are not glamorous and they don’t generate profit,” Nancy points out. “They take money, but it’s been proven that it’s just as effective as taking medication.”

The problem, however, is the system.

Nonprofits or graduate students get short-term grants to do well-meaning work in their communities, and then the funding dries up.

“You’ll go in for six weeks, do a program with a group of kids, collect some data. And then this person gets their Ph.D.”

IT’S THE DIRTY WORK THAT STICKS

“It’s a kinesthetic mode of learning, for kids it’s best,” explains Darcy Chown, the All-Site Supervisor for Afterschool Programs in Live Oak. “Once they’ve done it, they can do it again. Whereas if you’re just telling them about it, or they’re just watching, they’re not quite sure.”

Darcy says this standing over a table full of elementary school kids using knives. They use the tools carefully, seriously, and sometimes skillfully. One boy says he makes tamales with his grandma. Another struggles to choose which hand should hold the knife. It’s clear which kids cook at home, but even the kids who don’t are game to try and open to suggestions.

At another table, kids are grating cheese with sharp hand graters, and at another, one girl lovingly pats her raw pizza dough over and over, delighting in its yeasty cushiness.

Volunteer Alexis Underwood, a retired teacher, says the pay-off is what she hears from the parents. “Taking their mom shopping and saying, ‘Don’t buy me this.

Let’s buy these vegetables and fruit’.”

One of the parents reported that her child wouldn’t go to bed until she’d eaten every color of the rainbow.

Supporting cancer treatment with nutrition.

In collaboration with WomenCare, NG works with women on ways that they can support their return to health through nutrition. This program has also been threatened with Covid-related funding cuts, when local big spending foundations like PAMF started sending their money in other directions.

But just like working with kids, the payoff for the small investment is huge.

“If you have a cancer diagnosis, you go on this rollercoaster ride of treatments and side effects and you go from appointment to appointment to appointment and you feel so powerless and out of control,” Nancy says. “So what is under your control? What you eat and what you drink.”

“We’re not going to get rich doing this!”

In the end, the staff at Nourishing Generations—both paid and volunteer—do their work with a sense of devotion to their cause. They go out into the community and see firsthand how important their programs are to individual people.

Karen will never forget a child she worked with in Watsonville.

“We went in and it was pretty chaotic—there were a couple children with special needs but we were just treating them the same as every other child. The teacher came in afterwards and he says, “I’ve never seen that child focus on anything, you know this child has special needs and behavior issues.”

“They just never gave him a chance.”

For more information: Learn more at NourishingGenerations.org. Even if your child is not in the program, you can access their fun cooking instructional videos through their website.

 Suki Wessling is a local writer and mom of two young adults who love to cook. You can listen to the podcast of the interview she did with Nancy and Karen at The Babblery: Babblery.com.

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AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

BY SUKI WESSLING  Suki Wessling is a writer, educator, and radio host. She is the mother of two grown children and writes about education, music, politics, and anything else that comes to her attention. Read more and subscribe to her podcast at Babblery.com.

Lisset Orozco: Plants Seeds in Spanish

BY SUKI WESSLING

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

She has to believe in immersion to do her job.

Lisset runs Spanish Nature Club, which offers preschool, afterschool, summer, and adult programs. The concept is simple: get out in nature, speak Spanish.

Teaching Spanish to children in Santa Cruz was possibly the last place Lisset Orozco thought she’d end up.

With her degree in political science and work in rural Mexico on literacy, Lisset planned to go to Italy for graduate school.

But then she fell in love surfing in Puerto Escondido with a man from Santa Cruz, a town she couldn’t even find on the map. When she arrived, she didn’t speak a word of English. So she learned it the old-fashioned way, by asking, “How do you say…?”

“I really believe in immersion—I did it when I was 33!” Lisset laughs.

She has to believe in immersion to do her job. Lisset runs Spanish Nature Club, which offers preschool, afterschool, summer, and adult programs. The concept is simple: get out in nature, speak Spanish.

But getting from idea to realization of her business wasn’t quick. When Lisset first brought up the idea to her nannying clients, they told her they wanted something indoors. In fact, she says, many of them told her they thought being outdoors was too dangerous.

Ironically, it was being outdoors that helped her business take off. When the pandemic hit, Lisset was faced, like many people, with the question of how to make a living. And parents suddenly considered the outdoors much safer for their kids than indoors. Lisset went from two children to a multifaceted program in a couple of years.

Her approach is simple but it is based on sound learning principles that she brought from her social work background and also from raising her two daughters, now teenagers. You can learn a new language, Lisset says, “If you like it, if you are curious, and if you aren’t shy and don’t block yourself.”

Being in nature allows children to transition to a quieter, more open state of curiosity. “We can spend twenty minutes observing how long it takes for a banana slug to get to the other side of a leaf!”

Lisset says that the children absorb Spanish without thinking about studying a language. They’re just asking questions and talking about ideas they get now that they are away from the rush—and the technology—that dominates their everyday lives. “I feel like this society is losing the capacity to enjoy the little things.”

Teenagers, Lisset says with a laugh, are another thing altogether. “Teenagers don’t want to talk!”

As the mom of teens, Lisset enjoys helping her teen students relax into a nonjudgmental environment. “I like when they realize that they still have an inner child in them. They still want to climb trees.”

It’s a long way from working on social justice and planning on graduate school in Italy to teaching children in Santa Cruz. But Lisset sees her work as deeply important.

“I feel like I am planting a little seed, which is either curiosity for a second language, or the seed of just being able to enjoy nature as it is. I feel like I’m doing something good for humanity.”

For more information: VisitSpanishNatureClub.com to learn about programs for children and adults.

Listen to a podcast of this interview at Babblery.com.

If you know of a mom who has made a difference, please email us at editor@growingupsc.com 25th ANNIVERSARY | GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2022

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TEACHER'S DESK Rocks

BY LISA CATTERALL This world’s anguish is no different from the love we insist on holding back.

-Aberjhani

GETTING MY CLASSROOM READY

It’s almost there; the posters are up and supplies organized, but there is one thing I haven’t done yet. Do you know what it is? I haven’t placed a basket of fist-sized rocks in the front by where I give my lectures and explain things on the board.

Last year, my classroom hosted art studios, gaming clubs, ongoing architecture projects on enormous pieces of paper, messy microscope labs, political debates, fifth graders doing art projects with electronic components, and, occasionally, my toddler when all possible childcare fell out from under me, and I didn’t want to hand over a precious day of my curriculum to a substitute.

IT WAS A MESS IN HERE

My geometry students, who came in after the fifth graders, got in the habit of spending five minutes sweeping and cleaning off the desks. By the end of the year, I realized I had some serious baggage over the chaos.

I believe in doing just about anything to encourage creativity in kids, including putting up with really messy spaces sometimes, but I think I finally hit my limit last year.

This year, when most of the kids in one of my classes showed up without any of the required supplies, I went and got matching notebooks and sketchbooks for them and labeled them in neat teacher handwriting. I made a perfectly neat storage space. I spent much more time than usual having the kids learn how to take these items out and put them back neatly. A little too much time, perhaps.

Then I realized I had “mess baggage.”

AND PERHAPS SOME OTHER BAGGAGE

This was the year when our safe school, our school in the mountains, did the Sandy Hook training together.

This training is a wonderful resource to teach teachers everywhere to recognize the signs and symptoms of a kid who might be planning a mass shooting. In addition, we did training on what to do if a shooting were to occur on our campus.

My understanding is that this has been happening for several years across the country. In fact, it has been a part of most teachers’ training at this point.

In July, I was dreaming about the start of the year for myself, my children, and my students, and I had some decisions to make. Just for fun, I drew a Viking rune out of a bag I had in our game cupboard, and the message it gave me in the little rune guidebook was, “if you want to raise a phoenix from the ashes, let go of everything. No exceptions.”

As we were doing the safety training and preparing to face students for whom school violence and shootings are a part of the

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reality of their time in history, this phrase became a mantra. “Let go of everything, no exceptions.” I had to let go of the idea that we couldn’t possibly ever need this, not here, not now, not in MY life. I had to let go of the urge to give up, and I mean really give up on everything, because what is the world coming to? I had to let go of my embarrassment about occasionally needing to shed some tears in front of colleagues.

We are teachers. We are called to the profession because we want to do nothing but nurture the growth of young people.

We are now suddenly asked to consider how to protect them in scenarios that seem like Hollywood horror movies.

At one point, one of our instructors gestured at the open door and said bluntly, “the shooter is there at the door with a gun. What do you do?”

Run directly at the person, tackle them, poke their eyes out, take them down, I thought, then I wanted to cry. The face on that shooter is a young person, too.

The thought was just my first instinct, picturing the bright and hopeful faces of my students in the room, looking to me for protection and guidance.

By the end of the lesson, I thought, I need some heavy things to hurl at the doorway in that scenario. I keep some

AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

“

Today, I finally remembered the rocks. Then I looked at my classroom and the way I had suddenly made my messy creative space neat as a pin, and I reflected on how I’d never stressed neatness so much with my students as I had in these first few days.

things like rocks around anyways; I teach science, so why not a pretty basket of pretty rocks? No one the wiser. Just disrupt, so everyone can get away, get help, heal, and go on breathing.

I forgot about this because it was all too much to wallow-in, really, over the next few days as I lovingly cleaned out old projects, hung up new maps and posters, touched every bit of curriculum I own and happily selected things that sang for me for the first semester. I couldn’t wait to see the kids and hear their happy and hopeful voices echoing off the walls.

Today, I finally remembered the rocks. Then I looked at my classroom and the way I had suddenly made my messy creative space neat as a pin, and

I reflected on how I’d never stressed neatness so much with my students as I had in these first few days. Neatness, I thought, or control? Either way, I sense we all need routine and neatness and some familiarity, to buoy us as we wait, wonder, protest, hope, pray, cry, and respond to the threats facing us and the reality of this moment in history.  Lisa Catterall teaches STEAM, math, science, and art at Mount Madonna School and is a senior associate of the Centers for Research on Creativity. She lectures and trains teachers and administrators on innovation in education in Beijing, China. Lisa has five children and lives in Santa Cruz County.

EDUCATION Don’t Forget Your Lunch!

Back-to-School Health Tips From a School Nurse

BY SANDRA FONG, RN address your concerns. For additional resources, some schools received increased funding during the 2020-2021 school year and are now able to offer mental health counseling to students onsite at school.

Check your school’s website for details.

VACCINATIONS TO REDUCE ILLNESS

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Nobody can get it all done and be the perfect parent. Pick one or two goals for a healthier school year and take a baby step in the right direction

As the back-to-school season is in full swing, parents are busy filling backpacks and teacher wish lists and squeezing into that last spot on the after-school care roster. Among all the activities and supplies, parents should also make sure to do a quick health check-in!

FUELING YOUR BODY WITH FOOD

Snacks and meals are an important part of the “fuel” children need to get through their days.

For children who struggle with healthy eating, try to ensure that there are some healthy snacks and lunch options available in your home. Every parent has periods when stress from work and life carve away from healthy habits. Some mornings chips and candy may be the only things that find their way to a child’s backpack! It seems better than being hungry, right?

SLEEP HABITS FOR SUCCESS

While every parent certainly understands a chaotic morning, try to stock your kitchen with healthy options so that they’re easy to grab when packing school lunches. Look for snacks or meals higher in protein and fiber with low amounts of added sugar to give your child a healthier option. Have some grab-and-go fresh fruits available, such as bananas or mandarin oranges. Ask your child if they have ideas for healthy snacks to keep on hand.

A helpful sleep schedule can often be the first casualty of summer activities.

A parent may want to adjust their child’s sleep schedule to an early bedtime before school starts, but the last summer outing, trip, or time with friends can sometimes get in the way. If your child starts off the school year in sleep debt, that’s okay, but try to make sure they don’t stay there!

Some older children who are natural night owls may stay up until the early morning hours during the summer. It can be hard to make the switch to a healthier bedtime suddenly. Help your child to set a goal of going to bed 15-20 minutes earlier every night until they get to an appropriate bedtime. Check reputable health websites such as health.clevelandclinic.org for further information about how to make sure children are getting enough sleep.

MENTAL HELTH IS IMPORTANT

It’s also just as important to check on a child’s mental health as they go back to school.

Take time to make sure your child is adjusting to their new school year. What are they most excited about for the school year? What are they worried about? Is anything making them sad or anxious?

Listen to their concerns. If your child seems persistently anxious or sad, then make an appointment to see their primary care provider. Healthcare professionals can help parents to figure out what is normal sadness or anxiety and what is problematic.

Email your child’s provider before the appointment so they can make sure to

Get a covid vaccine or booster shot for everyone in your family five or older.

The CDC recommended a booster for children in the 5-11 age group after Pfizer released data showing it caused a 36-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies.

Vaccine effectiveness drops from 60.1% effective in preventing symptomatic disease to 28.9% in the two months after the second dose. The numbers are similar for teenagers.

Of course, all parents wish that they could protect their children from Covid-19 with simple measures such as healthy eating, taking vitamins, or plenty of exercises.

While a Cleveland Clinic study showed that losing weight helped adults avoid a severe infections, vaccines are still one of our most effective tools. Even with decreased vaccine effectiveness during the current omicron era, a New England Journal of Medicine study showed that the vaccine was still 79% effective at preventing admission to a critical care unit in teenagers.

There are so many things for parents to be worried about these days!

Nobody can get it all done and be the perfect parent. Pick one or two goals for a healthier school year and take a baby step in the right direction. Small changes today can snowball into a healthier tomorrow!  Sandra Fong is a freelance writer, an RN, and a former school nurse. She lives in Scotts Valley with her husband and three kids.

References: Funding for mental health resources in schools - lao.ca.gov/Publications/ Report/4368#:~:text=Approved%20by%20 California%20voters%20as,programs%20 serving%20all%20age%20groups.

Vaccine effectives drops to 28.9% in kids after 2nd shot - contagionlive.com/view/covid-19-vaccineeffectiveness-among-children-dropped-duringomicron-wave-increased-with-booster Booster increases antibody titers 36 fold - contagionlive.com/view/covid-19-vaccineeffectiveness-among-children-dropped-duringomicron-wave-increased-with-booster Covid vaccines 79% effective at preventing a critical care admission - cidrap.umn.edu/newsperspective/2022/03/covid-vaccine-prevents-40omicron-hospital-stays-teens-68-kids

25th ANNIVERSARY | GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2022

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ready to rock?   

Everywhere on campus

YOU HEAR THE ECHOS OF CHAMPIONS Palma’s story is written with hard work, faculty and peer support, and the belief that no challenge is too great. Be a champion. Be a Chieftain.

919 Iverson Street, Salinas | 831.422.6391 | palmaschool.org Palma is a private, Catholic college-preparatory school for boys grades 6 through 12.

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AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

Looking for Child Care?

We’re here to help!

Finding the right care for your child is one of the most important decisions a family can make. The Child Development Resource Center is a one-stop source for Santa Cruz County families seeking child care.

Take a live Zoom tour!

We are following all COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

Our bilingual Child Care Referral Specialists can answer your questions — by phone or in person — and provide information on the many options available for your child.

Mention this ad and we will waive the application fee. ($70 value)

Contact Us: 831-466-5820 cdrc@santacruzcoe.org childcare.santacruzcoe.org

25th ANNIVERSARY | GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2022

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What every birthday needs, party planners.

Choosing the right foods. Deciding on a safe exercise routine. Creating a birth plan.

As a mom-to-be, you have a lot of planning to look forward to. Fortunately, Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center has a whole team of specialists ready to safely guide you throughout your journey—from the support of our midwives to the added security of the only Level III NICU in the Monterey Bay area standing by.

We even have live virtual classes to help you prepare for the big day.

Learn more about how we’re safely delivering humankindness at DignityHealth.org/DominicanBirthCenter.

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AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

BIRTH MATTERS Lactation: Educate & Support

BY LAURA MAXSON, LM

If it’s August, we must be talking about breastfeeding/chestfeeding/providing babies with human milk. National Breastfeeding Awareness Month includes: WEEK 1: WORLD BREASTFEEDING WEEK

Educate & Support WEEK 2: INDIGENOUS MILK MEDICINE WEEK

Strengthening Our Traditions from Birth and Beyond WEEK 3: ASIAN AMERICAN NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER WEEK

Educate & Support WEEK 4: BLACK BREASTFEEDING WEEK

BBW 2022: 10 Years, A New Foundation On Thursday, August 4, from 10 am-1 pm, families in Santa Cruz County can swing by the Watsonville Hospital parking lot for a drive-through World Breastfeeding Week event. People will learn about breastfeeding and the local support provided by event co-sponsors: Salud Para La Gente, Community Bridges WIC, Watsonville Community Hospital, and the Santa Cruz County Breastfeeding Coalition. Free goody bags will be distributed while supplies last.

Everyone is welcome.

Community Bridges WIC, a nutrition program for women, infants, and children, provides nutritional support for women who are pregnant, post-partum, or breastfeeding; infants; and children under age five (including foster children).

Grandparents and partners are welcome, too. Nutritional support includes: •

Benefits of buying healthy foods like organic fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods

•

Personalized nutrition education

•

Breastfeeding information and support

•

Referrals to health care and other community services (2-1-1, The Food Bank)

•

Farmers’ market coupons for many county families

•

Healthy cooking instruction and demonstrations

•

Personal Peer Counselor for breastfeeding support from pregnancy through the first year of a baby’s life

•

Online nutrition education classes in English & Español

•

Infant formula when it is needed instead of, or in addition to, breastmilk.

This year’s infant formula shortages have given an expanded focus to the needs of families with babies in our community. WIC has expanded the infant formulas covered in their program in response to recalls and periodic shortages. As parents deal with the impact of infant formula shortages, some are also interested in relactation – to resume or initiate breastfeeding/pumping after stopping or never initiating breastfeeding. WIC also offers support and information on relactation to families interested in learning more.

Breastfeeding advocates, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, and many more, recognize that breastfeeding goals extend beyond the often cited “first year.” Current recommendations are that baby be fed breastmilk exclusively until complementary foods have begun in the second half of the first year, with breastfeeding continuing as mutually desired by mother and child for two years or beyond.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ June 27, 2022, Technical Report: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, “Extensive data confirm that many acute and chronic pediatric disorders, such as otitis media, acute diarrheal disease, lower respiratory illnesses, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), inflammatory bowel disease, childhood leukemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, asthma, and atopic dermatitis, occur less frequently among children who were breastfed as infants” and “the health benefits of longer duration of breastfeeding may be most important for maternal outcomes. Studies and metaanalyses have confirmed the importance of breastfeeding >12 months on maternal health, as associated with decreasing maternal diabetes mellitus, hypertension, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.”

Lactation is enhanced by the support of our community, especially in the workplace. Businesses can be a great help to lactating parents as they strive to meet the needs of their families and employer.

Later in August, employers or businesses that have supported breastfeeding or a

breastfeeding employee will receive a certificate of recognition. While it might be too late to nominate an employer or business by the time you are reading this article, keep our community employers and businesses in mind throughout the year when it comes to breastfeeding support. Even more important than a certificate is a heartfelt thank you from an employee or customer.

WIC - Communitybridges.org/wic World Breastfeeding Week Worldbreastfeedingweek.org Indigenous Milk Medicine Week - Facebook. com/IndigenousMilkMedicineWeek Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Week - Facebook.com/APIBTF Black Breastfeeding Week Blackbreastfeedingweek.org

25th ANNIVERSARY | GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2022

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ALWAYS AMUSED Great America is Closing: What Can You Expect?

BY ERIK CHALHOUB RailBlazer will likely follow suit over the next five years.

It’s not completely unimaginable to see Great America’s new water park, South Bay Shores, be the last area standing, similar to Geauga Lake’s water park. Great America has already been flirting with water park-only operation this summer.

Any new investment (i.e. rides) into Great America is probably a thing of the past, making Liberty Twirler, a scrambler-type carnival ride opening soon, likely the final new ride at the park.

Cedar Fair, however, has committed to continuing special events at the park throughout its final years.

Whatever happens, we can expect Great America’s closure and redevelopment to be a painful, longdrawn-out process that extends well into the next decade and maybe even beyond.

Santa Clara Mayor Lisa Gillmor said the property is currently zoned for a theme park, and any changes must be approved by the Santa Clara City Council.

Make sure you get those final rides in at Great America, because nothing can be taken for granted.

SAVE THE DATES • The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk’s Evenings on the Colonnade continues Thursday evenings through Aug. 11.

The news of California’s Great America’s eventual closure sent shockwaves through the Bay Area and the theme park community. We haven’t experienced such a loss in our region since Santa’s Village in Scotts Valley shut down for good in 1979.

So what might this mean for Great America visitors? Let’s take a look.

Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which has owned Great America since 2006 and the land it sits on since 2019, announced in late June that it had sold

the land to real estate developer Prologis for $310 million, and would wind down operations of the Santa Clara park in preparation of its eventual closing within 11 years.

Cedar Fair has not yet committed to a hard closure date for Great America. But a review of the lease agreement between Cedar Fair and Prologis helps us narrow down the date ever so slightly.

According to the agreement, the lease has a six-year term, with an option to renew for another five years. However,

Prologis can terminate the lease at any time, provided it gives a two-year notice.

This means that, if Prologis gives notice today, Great America could close in 2024. The latest it could remain open is 2033.

But what will Great America look like in the next year or five? It might be completely unrecognizable.

Shockingly, this is not the first time Cedar Fair has shut down one of its parks, and we can look to the past to get some sense of how Great America is going to fade into the sunset.

In 2004, Cedar Fair purchased the Geauga Lake theme park in Ohio, but, citing financial issues, shut down the amusement park side of Geauga Lake in 2007 but kept its recently upgraded water park operational through 2016.

During the ensuing few years, Cedar Fair relocated rides to other parks in its portfolio. Ironically, the now-defunct FireFall at Great America came from Ohio.

Expect to see the same situation play out at Great America. 2022 will likely be the last time the park is “whole” before rides are shipped out elsewhere. Strong rumors suggest that Psycho Mouse, the wild mouse-style coaster toward the rear of the park, will be the first to go at the end of this year, and will be relocated to Cedar Point in Ohio.

Newer, more-marketable rides such as

•

Performing in the final two weeks are Coffee Zombie Collective on Aug. 4 at 8:30pm and The Joint Chiefs on Aug. 11 at 7:30pm.

•

Free Movies at the Beach continue on Fridays through Aug. 12. “Trolls” will be screened on Aug. 5, with “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” on Aug. 12. Showtimes are 9pm.

•

Don’t forget to celebrate National Roller Coaster Day, this year taking place on Aug. 14. The best way to do so is to take a spin on the Giant Dipper at the Boardwalk, and the first 100 riders of the day will receive a souvenir cup.

•

By popular demand, Gilroy Gardens is hosting Back-toSchool Family Camp Night on Aug. 6-7. Attendees can experience camping overnight at the park with a dinner and a movie, with breakfast, lunch and a day at Gilroy Gardens the following morning.

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We Teach Kindness!

Rocking Horse Ranch is an alternative Preschool, located on three beautiful acres, where our goal is to grow good human beings. We encourage “Out-of-the-Box” thinking through structured and non-structured play.

serving children for more than 30 years!

i ng H R ockR anchorse CHOOL P R E S

831.462.2702

4134 Fairway Drive, Soquel

NANCY C OHEN Owner / Director

Email: RHRNance@gmail.com License # 444400771

Take a break from the heat and hang from your feet

Parent Child Classes Fall 2022 Sessions Begin your Waldorf journey by registering for our Parent Child Class starting this September.

Cirque, Tumble, Cheer is proud to announce the opening of CTC fitness, located 2 doors down.

Featuring...

Personal Training gym Neuromuscular Massage Yoga Classes Everyday I shuffle classes Space to rent for dance concrete floor, yoga- carpet foam bonded floor, personal training gym Acrobatic Pole Coming Soon

To sign up call 831-515-7241 or use the Mind Body app or Mindbody.com under enrollment

Host your birthday party with us! Information can be found on our website www.cirquetumblecheer.com Hire an aerialist for your event. We have on staff plenty of professional aerialist with impressive resumes. Contact CTC for more details.

Classes include: Baby & Me (6 months- 18 months), Tot & Me (18 months-3 years), Preschool Playground (ages 3-5) Kid's Aerial Mixed Apparatus (ages 6-12), Tumbling classes for all ages, Plenty of other fun classes for teens and adults too.

Sign up at www.cirquetumblecheer.com

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AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

Contact us today!

Accepting New Students in All Grades

www.SantaCruzWaldorf.org or call 831-425-0519

EDUCATION A New Kind of Classroom Safety

BY SUSAN TATSUI-D’ARCY

“

Whether we're talking about guns on elementary, middle school, high school, or college campuses, we're opening doors to more carnage.

As teachers prepare for the new school year, besides books and class supplies, some teachers are stocking their classrooms with military-grade devices to protect their students. One Bay Area teacher purchased a metal bat and the Barracuda, a metal bar that prevents entry, for her classroom. She also plans to run drills for her elementary school students to teach them how to stay quiet and to listen to her directions when there is an intruder who can harm them.

It seems to me that when our teachers need to arm themselves with activeshooter backpacks loaded with bulletproof vests, bullet-proof plates/shields, and tourniquets, we need to rethink who we allow to have weapons and under what conditions. No teacher can realistically protect all of the students from a mentally ill person carrying an AK-15 rifle. Consider Uvalde, Texas, where 400 good guys with guns wouldn't stop one bad guy with a gun for over an hour because they were afraid of the

destructive power of a weapon of war in a classroom. 19 children and two teachers were killed.

Schools in 10 states allow teachers to carry concealed weapons to deter wouldbe shooters. These states are Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. A teacher's job should be to build strong academic foundations to prepare our youth to be literate, to move on to higher education, and to understand how to function in our society. Many teachers have also taken on parenting roles to feed students who go to school hungry and mentally support abused students. Providing weapons to teachers and administrators will neither protect students nor make schools safer. Instead, it will make guns more available to students and teachers who would not normally have access to them – causing opportunities for more devastating deaths.

Allowing college students to carry concealed weapons on college campuses already exists in 10 states today.

These states are Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.

That means that these 18-22-year-old students, whose ability to control and self-monitor their behavior is not fully developed because their frontal lobes are not completely formed, have access to guns. So when college kids party and get drunk, instead of fighting with their fists, they can pull out their guns? This sounds like a terrible idea.

Whether we're talking about guns on elementary, middle school, high school, or college campuses, we're opening doors to more carnage. Guns, especially AK15s, are designed to kill. In a civil society, disputes should be settled by discussions and compromises – not murder. To protect myself, I carry pepper spray and keep a bat by my bed. Both are good defensive protections, and they don't kill.

Protecting your family, home, or business should be done in a way that deters invasions. Because we can mistakenly think that an intruder is going to kill us, our actions should be to disable, not to murder. I remember the time my daughter surprised us with a

visit at 2:00 AM. My husband could have shot her – thinking she was a burglar.

We need solutions that allow for human error without killing.

Our Founding Fathers did not have access to security cameras, alarms, pepper spray, and 9-1-1 (established by AT&T in 1968), and that's why they used muskets to protect their homes. We no longer need to have guns to protect our families. In fact, only 13% of colonial Americans owned a gun. The muskets built in the 1770s were not accurate weapons; they're nothing like the pistols, semi-automatic pistols, rifles (AK-15s), and shotguns that about 72 million Americans own today. Maybe we should take the Constitution literally and allow people to own muskets with lead balls instead of bullets. They would most likely miss their targets and they would only be able to shoot once every minute or so.

During the past six months of 2022, about 200 children were killed, and about 500 children were wounded by gunshot. Guns make our homes less safe for our families. The press didn't show images of the carnage from the Uvalde School massacre. The AK-15 is a weapon designed for war. The bullets fire at such velocity that they can decapitate an adult leaving the body like a grenade obliterated it. Children's bodies were so blown away that it took parents over 6 hours to identify their children through DNA and other means.

In an ideal world, guns would be available only for sport and under the careful supervision of gaming and sportsmen's clubs. Our world is not the same as it was in the 1770s. Today, people handle pressure in different ways, and their mental health is not predictable.

What we need is a more effective way of screening for mental illnesses. Some states consider family, neighbor, and fellow worker input to get a more accurate read on people who are applying for gun carrying permits.

Other nations like Japan and Singapore have the lowest mortality rate (by firearms) in the world because they have strict gun-control laws. When their citizens get angry, they deal with their anger in non-lethal ways. Guns are a coward's way out. We need to think smart and stop the carnage now. Let's make it an inalienable right for every American to protect themselves with security cameras, pepper spray, and bats – not guns.  Susan Tatsui-D'Arcy is the founder of Merit Academy (one-on-one classes) and Merit Educational Consultants (college and educational advisory). She has written books on projects, free child care, education, and parenting. Susan hosts TEDxMeritAcademy for students to present their innovative projects and solutions. In 2019, she was California Mother of the Year. meritworld.com

25th ANNIVERSARY | GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2022

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BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE ENRICHMENT 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 (831) 515-8369 BeNaturalMusic.Live

Be Natural Music is a Jazz & Rock Music School based in Santa Cruz, with 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.

Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District/ Child Care Programs

13333 Middleton Ave. Boulder Creek 831-338-4144 bcrpd.org

Little Explorers: start date: Monday August 15th, $40 per day, 8am-12pm, Ages: 18mo-4.5. TK Care: start date: Thursday August 11, $25 per day, 12:20pm-3:30pm.

Kids Fun Day: start date: Thursday August 11th, $25 per day (Wednesday's $40), location: Downtown Rec Center, 2:44pm-6pm. Reserve one of our facilities or parks online for an upcoming party, wedding or company meeting!

Mountain Music School

216-A Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 (831) 201-9605 MountainMusicSchoolSV.com

Mountain Music School is celebrating its 5 year anniversary!! A huge Thank You to our community for all your support!

Our staff provides lessons in piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, drums and bass, We continue to expand our offerings every year. Our students and their families enjoy an enthusiastic, lighthearted atmosphere brought by our qualified instructors. We welcome students of all ages, from toddlers to adults. Come begin or continue your musical journey with us!

Music Together/MusicalMe, Inc.

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County 831-332-9002 registrar@musicalme.com musicalme.com?

Our classes offer the very best in early childhood music learning for ages Birth to 5 years: 1. Music Together®: A music enrichment program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, 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 musical & parenting toolbox.

Siblings are welcome (sibling discount!), including infants who may attend free if they are 8 months or under. 2. Canta y Baila ConmigoTM: A unique curriculum for young children with dual, complementary goals of music education and Spanish 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.

Contact us today to try a free class and bring the joy of music into your family’s life.

Pleasure Point Yoga

3603 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz (831) 479-9642 pleasurepointyoga.com/kids

Save the Date: Tweens & Teens After School Program coming in September!

We are excited to offer movement arts to get embodied. We are offering diverse worlds with roots in Brazil, India, and Latin America. This will feature Capoeira and accompanying Drum, Percussion, & Song, Yoga, Mindfulness & Dance, and Trapeze Yoga.

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 encourage parent-child activities.

Bookakery Boxes facilitate activitybased learning of reading, following instructions, counting, and more.

Bookakery Boxes are perfect for preschoolers and early elementary-age children. Use code GUISC10 for 10% off any new subscription!

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.

HEALTH Alison K. Jackson, DDS Children’s Dentistry

7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos 831.662.2900 santacruzkidsdentist.com

We provide comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children of all ages. We are preventive-dentistry

20 AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

oriented and very thorough in our evaluations and consultations. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and are able to treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably under a general anesthesia.

We have a 24-hour emergency service available for all of our patients.

Dientes Community Dental Care

1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 831-464-5409 dientes.org

Dientes is a full-service dental provider located in Santa Cruz County. We practice whole family dentistry including kids, adults, and seniors; but children hold a special place in our heart – nearly half of our patients are kids seen by our two experienced pediatric dentists. As a nonprofit dental clinic, our focus is on highquality, 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. Our main clinic is open 6 days a week. We offer bi-lingual services – Se habla Español! Dientes, providing dignity through dentistry for nearly 30 years.

PRESCHOOLS Coast Redwoods Montessori

Lic #444403546 255B Mt. Hermon Rd., Scotts Valley 831.461.9330 CoastRedwoodsMontessori.com

Coast Redwoods Montessori provides infant, toddler and preschool learning environments utilizing Montessori principles of education. Our curriculum includes language, math, science, culture, geography, courtesy, practical life, art and music. Our convenient location includes a 7000 square foot yard with a park quality climbing structure and garden. We offer programs for children 6 months through 6 years old.

Child Development Resource Center

Santa Cruz County Office of Education 400 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-5820 childcare.santacruzcoe.org

Finding the right care for your child is one of the most important decisions your family can make. The Child Development Resource Center is the one-stop source for families seeking child care in Santa Cruz County. Our Child Care Referral Specialists can answer questions and connect you with licensed child care centers and licensed family child care homes to meet your family's needs. We maintain the only up-to-date list of child care programs in Santa Cruz County and support our local child care providers.

Contact us for a free referral and resources for finding child care.

Little Acorns Montessori

Lic #444413867 1215 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz 831.464.1400 LittleAcornsMontessori.com

Little Acorns Montessori provides a warm and caring environment, encouraging

children to develop self-confidence and social and academic skills. We have a beautiful corner lot in Live Oak. Our Montessori trained teachers provide a unique, individualized learning program for children 6 months through 6 years old.

Live Oak School District - Child Development

Del Mar Lic #444400352 Green Acres Lic #444403585 Live Oak Lic #440710379 984-5 Bostwick Lane, Santa Cruz 831.462.1116 losd.ca (click on departments and then 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 (8:45-11:45) and afternoon (12:45-3:45) preschool classes to approximately 100 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.

Quail Hollow Montessori

Lic #444408893 187 Laurel Dr., Felton 831.335.4710 QuailHollowMontessori.com

Voted Best preschool in San Lorenzo Valley, Quail Hollow Montessori offers an excellent, individualized learning experience for your child with a solid foundation in both academic and social skills in a beautiful, neighborhood setting.

Our goal is to help children blossom into self-confident, compassionate, inquisitive, and respectful individuals with a life-long love of learning.

Rocking Horse Ranch

Lic #444400771 4134 Fairway Dr., Soquel 831.462.2702 RHRNance@gmail.com

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

ENRICHMENT City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department

City of Santa Cruz Parks and 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

BACK-TO-SCHOOL GUIDE planned with your safety in mind, following current County Health guidelines. Fall registration begins August 8. Scholarships are available. Find all the fall classes online – www.cityofsantacruz.com/register.

through collaborative, hands-on projects, experiences, and apprenticeships combined with the latest in educational technology. We help each student find their calling that can change the world!

International Student Services Santa Cruz

Gateway School, K-8

831-419-9633 sandispan@aol.com

International friendships between families enrich lives and bring cultural understanding. We are seeking host families for short-term Spring and Summer groups and for the High School Term & Semester. Students are from Italy, Spain, France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Jim Booth Swim School

Santa Cruz at Harvey West Pool and Watsonville at Duncan Holbert Pool 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, well-qualified 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 Luke's Skate Lessons

Various Skate Parks (831) 465-4609 lukesskatelessons@gmail.com lukesskatelessons.com

Skate lessons aren’t only a way to improve your capabilities, but it’s also to find a community that will accept you for you! Our classes teach basic-advanced tricks, skatepark etiquette, safety equipment use, camaraderie, stretching techniques, life skills, and more! Sign up and start today!

SCHOOLS Acton Academy Santa Cruz

Aptos Village info@actonsantacruz.org actonsantacruz.org

Acton Academy Santa Cruz is a unique, Socratic, learner-driven program for ages 7-18 that gives students agency over their own goals, and challenges them

255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz 831.423.0341 ext 302 admissions@gatewaysc.org gatewaysc.org

Gateway School, founded in 1970 is an independent, co-ed day school in Santa Cruz for students in grades Kindergarten through 8th. Children's innate curiosity and sense of wonder are nurtured daily through exploration, discovery, and hands-on experiences. Our graduates have an inquiring spirit, are confident, act with grace and courtesy, and stand up for those who need help. If you'd like to learn more, we invite you to visit our website or schedule a tour to experience all that Gateway has to offer!

Monte Vista Christian School

2 School Way, Watsonville, CA 95076 831-768-6101 mvcs.org

Nestled on a sprawling tree-lined campus, Monte Vista Christian School has been providing an unparalleled learning experience for nearly a century. MVC’s diverse student population and its low student-to-faculty ratio help create a close knit learning community that is equal parts rigorous and celebratory. MVC is committed to empowering learners in their academic excellence, community involvement, and global engagement.

Learners at MVC gain a strong academic foundation, develop an understanding and appreciation for diverse cultures and views, and build lifelong friendships, all within an encouraging environment. We invite you to be a part of a school you can call home.

Mount Madonna School Preschool12th grade

Mount Madonna School Preschool-12th grade 491 Summit Road, Watsonville 408.847.2717 MountMadonnaSchool.org

Mount Madonna School (MMS), with its beautiful, 375-acre forested campus, serves students preschool through high school. The fully accredited program features a Montessori-influenced preschool, an elementary and middle school, and a college-preparatory high school with UC-ready graduates.

Mount Madonna nurtures students’ love of learning, sense of belonging and intellectual inquiry through small class sizes, experiential learning, Model

United Nations for grades 4-12, life skills, advanced math and science classes, engineering, Spanish, visual and performing arts, and competitive athletics.

MMS supports students in becoming kind, self-aware and articulate critical thinkers, who are prepared to meet challenges with perseverance, creativity and integrity.

Orchard School, K-6

2288 Trout Gulch Road, Aptos 831.688.1074 orchardschoolaptos.org

Orchard School, established over 30 years ago, provides a unique, yet comprehensive K-6 education. At Orchard, we weave together the magic of an extraordinary faculty, a 14-acre campus and a down to earth philosophy that nourishes and honors the natural growth and development of children.

Small class sizes, an organic garden and an animal farm create enriching whole child learning experiences that are hands-on and individualized. We provide Strong Core Academics, Excellent Science Curriculum, Art, Music, Physical Theater/ Circus Arts, Electives, Ceramics, Archery, Swimming, Leadership, Field Trips, Drama Productions, and more.

Palma School

919 Iverson St. Salinas 831.422.6391 office@palmaschool.org PalmaSchool.org

Founded in 1951, Palma is a private, Catholic college-preparatory school for boys in grades six through twelve, owned and operated by The Christian Brothers Institute of California. With a rigorous curriculum that includes AP and Honors course offerings, award-winning programs in music and art, an athletic department that boasts scores of league titles and dozens of section championships, meaningful community service and annual missions, and a campus culture that fosters camaraderie and brotherhood, Palma predictably graduates steadfast young men of character who are ready to charge ahead in life. The positive peer experience leads to higher achievement and life-long friendships.

Santa Cruz Montessori

Ages 18 months – 14 years Main Campus (Primary and Elementary) 6230 Soquel Drive, Aptos Winston Campus (Young Children’s Community and Jr. High) 244 Cabrillo College Drive, Soquel 831.476.1646 scms.org Established in 1964, Santa Cruz

Montessori is a non-profit school serving children 18 months to 14 years.

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

Santa Cruz Waldorf School, PreK-8

Santa Cruz Waldorf School, PreK-8 2190 Empire Grade, Santa Cruz 831.425.0519 enrollment@santacruzwaldorf.org

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

Tara Redwood School

5810 Prescott Road, Soquel Tel. 831.462.9632 office@tararedwoodschool.org tararedwoodschool.org

Since 1989, Tara Redwood School has been empowering children to make a positive difference in the world by educating the heart & mind with mindfulness practices. Our curriculum is an integration of Tara's signature pedagogy Creating Compassionate Cultures (CCC) and Montessori methodology academics.

We offer a strong focus on global studies, sciences, hands on earth ecology studies, creative arts, social emotional learning and compassion in action. Preschool 2 – 5 years and Elementary ages 6–11. Classes are multi-age with a low student to teacher ratio. We provide small classroom spaces for our students and educators. Classes are situated both outdoor & indoor on 108 acres of lush forest.

SEPTEMBER CONTACT US TO ADVERTISE! Deadline August 15 advertising@growingupsc.com

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Contact Dawn Bruckel @ dbruckel@unitedwaysc.org | 25th ANNIVERSARY 22 AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz Questions?

MONDAY 1

beach-side of Neptune’s Kingdom. Rock out to Bay Area bands while you enjoy a variety of Boardwalk treats. Colonnade Deck picnic table seating is very limited and first-comefirst-served. There will be a dance area in front of the stage. Concerts are from 8:30pm – 10pm every Thursday from June 16 – August 11, 2022. beachboardwalk.com/ evenings-on-the-colonnade/

FRIDAY 5

an additional bonus date on October 29, 2022. beachboardwalk.com/evenings-onthe-colonnade/ Midtown Fridays! Summer Block Party 2022 5:00 PM-8:30 PM Fuse (Opening – John Michael sings Sinatra) Come Celebrate all the vibrancy of Midtown at our Summer Block Party, happening every Friday! Food – Artists – Live Music – Vendors The summer series of free events will feature the talents of 25+ local bands – more than any other music series in town. In addition to live music, event goers will enjoy a selection of local eats as well as the opportunity to check out the work of local artists and vendors. eventsantacruz.com/event/midtownfridays-summer-block-party-2022/ 27th Annual Watsonville Strawerry Festival 11:00 AM-6:00 PM See Aug 05.

SATURDAY 6 Hiroshima Day National Root Beer Float Day Art in the Scotts Valley Library 10:00 AM-2:00 PM We are delighted to resume Art in the Library, sponsored by the Scotts Valley Library Friends, featuring local artist Aaron Johnson’s breathtaking oil paintings and woodcut prints of California trees.

Explore and discover the beauty, underlying structures and geometric forms of our trees through Aaron’s amazing artistry. On exhibit through November. bstocklmeir@ hotmail.com 27th Annual Watsonville Strawerry Festival 11:00 AM-6:00 PM See Aug 05.

Homemade Pie Day Put on your oven mitts as we prepare to bake it out on Homemade Pie Day.

TUESDAY 2 National Coloring Book Day Free Tuesday at UCSC Arboretum 9:00 AM-5:00 PM 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. Arboretum@ ucsc.edu

WEDNESDAY 3 National Watermelon Day Capitola Summer Twilight Concerts: Billy Martini Show 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Bring chairs, jackets, a picnic supper, and the family to enjoy live music and the sunset!

Concerts begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays and take place at the Esplanade bandstand.

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. cityofcapitola.org/ acc/page/twilight-concerts-2022”

THURSDAY 4 Assistance Dog Day National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Live Music on the Colonnad: Coffee Zombie Collective 8:30 PM-10:00 PM Enjoy free live music on Thursdays throughout the summer at the Beach Boardwalk’s Colonnade Stage; located

National Water Balloon Day Fill 'em up and let 'em fly; today is the day water balloons color the sky.

Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM-12:00 PM Leave your mark on Santa Cruz history by volunteering at the historic Evergreen Cemetery every Friday from 9:30am-12pm. No need to register, just show up ready to work!

All ages are welcome to help, including high school students seeking community service hours. Tools and work gloves will be provided. Please bring a mask and your own bottled water. For more information, email evergreen@santacruzmah.org santacruzmah.org/events/evergreenvolunteer-days 27th Annual Watsonville Strawerry Festival 11:00 AM-6:00 PM Delicious foods, family activities, vendors, and live entertainment! The Watsonville Strawberry Festival traces its roots to the Watsonville Strawberry Dessert Festival that was founded in 1994 to help downtown Watsonville recover from the Loma Prieta earthquake. cityofwatsonville.org/1117/ Watsonville-Strawberry-Festival” Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Movies at the Beach: Trolls 9:00 PM-11:00 PM There’s nothing like watching your favorite movies right on the beach with the smell of kettle corn, corn dogs, and saltwater taffy filling the air! The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is welcoming back Movies on the Beach in front of the Colonnade near Neptune’s Kingdom. Bring the family and your blanket or low-back chair. Movies at the Beach are on Fridays beginning at 9pm from June 17 – August 12, 2022, with

welcome! • raindate is the 2nd Sunday Presented by your friends at Food Trucks A Go Go & Santa Cruz Mountains Makers Market. For more info, foodtrucksagogo. com & scmmakersmarket.com We’ll see you there! foodtrucksagogo.com/ Family Sangha Monthly Meditation 10:30 AM-12:00 PM Come help create a family meditation cooperative community!

Parents will meet in the main room for about 40 minutes of silent meditation, followed by 10-15 minutes of discussion about life and mindful parenting. Kids will be in a separate volunteer-led room, playing and exploring mindfulness through games and stories. Parents may need to help with the kids for a portion of the hour, depending on volunteer turnout. All ages of children are welcome. Please bring toys to share.

Quiet babies are welcome in the parents’ room. Donations (dana) are encouraged; there is no fee for the event. facebook.com/ scfamilysangha 27th Annual Watsonville Strawerry Festival 11:00 AM-6:00 PM See Aug 05.

MONDAY 8

SUNDAY 7 International Cat Day A day to celebrate one of man’s most common and ancient pets.

National Friendship Day Friendships are the purest type of human relationships.

Let's celebrate the importance of loving platonic relationships.

Purple Heart Day Westside Marketplace 11:00 AM-4:00 PM The Westside Marketplace -- every First Sunday at The Wrigley! Featuring LOCAL art, handmade & vintage shopping + Food Trucks & pop-ups and LIVE MUSIC...all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot, 2801 Mission Street, Santa Cruz. FREE admission! FREE & easy parking! Friendly leashed pups are

US Victory Day The day commemorates the conclusion of World War II when an official announcement of Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allies was made public. Rhode Island is the only state that observes the holiday, and there have been debates concerning this holiday, with many attempts to change the holiday’s name. But, it remains U.S. Victory Day and is observed, probably because the holiday was never meant to be any other than commemorating the end of the war.

TUESDAY 9 National Ice Cream Sandwich Day It's a simple thing, really, but oh, what deliciousness!

National Book Lovers Day Books are the purest form of escapism. They transport you to any time, place, or culture.

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AUGUST CALENDAR WEDNESDAY 10

Midtown Fridays! Summer Block Party 2022 5:00 PM-8:30 PM Pacific Roots (Opening – The Dead Kampers) See Aug 5.

West Cliff Food Truck Series.

Lighthouse Parking Lot 4:00 PM-8:00 PM Join us at the West Cliff Lighthouse parking lot and enjoy the beautiful view and local food trucks! 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! brotherspromotions/com

SATURDAY 13

offer an eclectic blend of antiques and unique items, vintage clothing, collectibles, LP’s, clothing, furniture, memorabilia, home décor and more! facebook.com/ login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Ffacebook. com%2Fsantacruzantiquefaire Acton Academy Santa Cruz Open House 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Come join us for an in person open house, see our new building and meet the Acton Academy Santa Cruz team! 7979 Soquel Drive, Aptos. Info@actonsantacruz.org

Midtown Fridays! Summer Block Party 2022 5:00 PM-8:30 PM John Michael Van Halen Tribute Band See Aug 5.

SATURDAY 20

MONDAY 15 National Relaxation Day

TUESDAY 16 National Roller Coaster Day

WEDNESDAY 17

National S’mores Day We honor the most commonly packed camping snack!

National Nonprofit Day Capitola: Summer Twilight Concerts Dirty Cello 6:00 PM-8:00 PM See Aug 3.

Acton Academy Santa Cruz Virtual Information Session 7:00 PM-8:30 PM See Aug 11.

Capitola: Summer Twilight Concerts Jive Machine 6:00 PM-8:00 PM See Aug 3.

THURSDAY 11 National Son and Daughter Day Acton Academy Santa Cruz Virtual Information Session 7:00 PM-8:30 PM Join us for a virtual information session to learn more about how Acton Academy Santa Cruz turns learning upside down!

We offer part time and full time programs for learners ages 7-18. Link to the Zoom meeting is on the calendar page of our website. actonsantacruz.org

FRIDAY 12 National Middle Child Day World Elephant Day West Cliff Food Truck Series.

Lighthouse Parking Lot 4:00 PM-8:00 PM Join us at the West Cliff Lighthouse parking lot and enjoy the beautiful view and local food trucks! 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! santacruz.com/events/west-cliff-foodtruck-series-lighthouse-parking-lot-48pm-at-lighthouse-point-park-aug12th-2022-4-00 pm Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM12:00 PMSee Aug 5.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Movies At The Beach :Ferris Bueller’s Day Off 9:00 PM-11:00 PM There’s nothing like watching your favorite movies right on the beach with the smell of kettle corn, corn dogs, and saltwater taffy filling the air! The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is welcoming back Movies on the Beach in front of the Colonnade near Neptune’s Kingdom. Bring the family and your blanket or low-back chair. beachboardwalk.com/evenings-onthe-colonnade/

THURSDAY 18 Garage Sale Day Did you know the best day to hold a garage sale is on a Saturday?

Family Fun with Sand Castles 10:00 AM-12:00 PM Build your own sand castle at Castle Beach! Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for August’s Family Fun event, where we’ll play on the beach, learn about the science of sand, and re-create our own versions of the historical Scholl Marr Castle, which used to stand at the entrance of what is known today as Seabright Beach. Space is limited, so register in advance for this afternoon of free family fun. Location details are shared upon registration.

Saturday, August 13, 2022, | 10 a.m. to noon | Free! Donations Appreciated Register santacruzmuseum.org/8-13family-fun-with-sand-castles/ Agricultural History Project: 2nd Saturday On The Farm 11:00 AM-3:00 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. http:// aghistoryproject.org/2nd-saturday-onthe-farm/

SUNDAY 14 Love Your Bookshop Day Downtown Santa Cruz Antique Faire 9:00 AM-5:00 PM The Santa Cruz Antique Faire is on the 2nd Sunday of every month from 8am-5pm. Vendors

24 AUGUST 2022 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz | 25th ANNIVERSARY

World Honey Bee Day Let's celebrate the importance of the honey bee on this special day!

Downtown Felton Summer Sidewalk Sale and Saturdays on Deck 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Enjoy all that Downtown Felton has to offer! Shop along the strip! Wylder Space will be serving food and Coffee Zombie Collective will be playing on the Redwood Deck!

Scotts Valley: Art, Wine and Beer Festival 10:00 AM-6:00 PM Scotts Valley Art Wine and Beer Festival is back in a new venue for 2022 in the beautiful park setting of SkyPark in Scotts Valley. The premier summer festival in the Santa Cruz Mountains there is something fun for everyone! With over 100 artists, live music, kid zone, food trucks, Cops ‘n Rodders Car Show on Saturday, Dog Day on Sunday, beer, wine, and more! Don’t miss this summer favorite in Scotts Valley! svartfestival.com/ Roaring Camp Railroads: Blacksmith Hammer-In 9:00 AM-5:30 PM See Aug 19.

SUNDAY 21 National Couple’s Day Love is in the air, and it smells sweet with a hint of spice!

FRIDAY 19 World Humanitarian Day Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM12:00 PM See Aug 5.

Roaring Camp Railroads: Blacksmith Hammer-In 9:00 AM-5:30 PM The California Blacksmith Association Presents the 5th Annual Hammer-In at Roaring Camp Railroads. Watch demonstrators push the boundaries of hot metal, bring ancient techniques to life, and share their talent and dedication to the blacksmith craft with the community. roaringcamp.com/events

National Senior Citizens Day Birthday Bash! Celebrating 117 Years Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 11:00 AM-3:00 PM Celebrate Santa Cruz’s first museum on its 117th birthday! Join the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History for a festive day of fun activities, games, and treats connecting you with nature and science in honor of the Museum’s long history serving Santa Cruz, and its exciting future.

Free admission to the Museum all day, with outdoor festivities 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Sunday, August 21, 2022, | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Location: Outside the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History santacruzmuseum.org/8-21-birthdaybash-celebrating-117-years/ Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10:00 AM-5:00 PM EVERY THIRD SUNDAY! Come on out for some fresh air and crafty goodness! 10am-5pm on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St in Downtown Santa Cruz. This market hosts a wide range of locally handmade goods! You can find

AUGUST CALENDAR some of your favorite Santa Cruz makers here AND brand new makers...the variety of work at the market is AMAZING! Check out our website scmmakersmarket.com for the full list of participating vendors! Located on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. Roaring Camp Railroads: Blacksmith Hammer-In 9:00 AM-5:30 PM See Aug 19.

Scotts Valley: Art, Wine and Beer Festival 10:00 AM-6:00 PM See Aug 20.

FRIDAY 26 National Dog Day an you believe that our furry friends have been with us for at least 14,000 years?

CALENDAR

AUGUST 20 & 21

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

Visit our website to submit the details!

Women’s Equality Day Observe the achievements of women’s rights activists and the unique daily struggles that women face.

TUESDAY 23 Health Unit Coordinators Day Without them, hospitals would be unable to navigate even the most basic health care tasks.

SATURDAY 27 International Bat Night

SUNDAY 28 National Red Wine Day Acton Academy Santa Cruz Virtual Information Session 7:00 PM-8:30 PM See Aug 11.

THURSDAY 25 Kiss and Make Up Day National Burger Day Acton Academy Santa Cruz Virtual Information Session 7:00 PM-8:30 PM See Aug 11.

More Herbs, Less Salt Day

TUESDAY 30 National Beach Day

WEDNESDAY 31 International Overdose Awareness Day It is a day to remember those who have fallen victims to overdose as well as those who have come out of the dark hole victorious with the help of loved ones.

Capitola: Summer Twilight Concerts Digbeats 6:00 PM-8:00 PM See Aug 3.

“Sleepy” John Sandidge, who has done more for the Santa Cruz music scene than anyone you can think of, is retiring in August and throwing one last big bash on the 20th and 21st.

Sandidge, 82, ran Snazzy Productions, which will continue under the stewardship of his brother and son. His firm brought in 40 years of up-andcoming artists who later became huge names, including Robert Earl Keen, Paul Thorn, Jesse Winchester, The Persuasions, Norton Buffalo, and Bo Diddley.

He also booked the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt and Little Feat to the Watsonville Fairgrounds.

And he still hosts KPIG-FM’s “Please Stand By” radio showcase of local and national talents.

Evergreen Volunteer Days 9:30 AM12:00 PMSee Aug 5.

Capitola Movies At The Beach Jungle Cruise 7:30 PM-10:00 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 Midtown Fridays! Summer Block Party 2022 5:00 PM-8:30 PM Locomotive Breath See Aug 5.

WEDNESDAY 24 MONDAY 29 National Waffle Day Pass the syrup!

We’ll welcome any occasion to indulge in this iconic international treat.

Capitola: Summer Twilight Concerts B-Movies Kings 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Bring chairs, jackets, a picnic supper, See Aug 3.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY SANTA CRUZ COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS

MONDAY 22

National Rainbow Baby Day It’s a day when families throughout the country commemorate the lives of their lost infants while also celebrating motherhood. A rainbow baby is a child delivered to a family who has previously experienced stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, or infant mortality. These subsequent pregnancies can cause intense anxiety, guilt, and even dread, as well as joy and healing. The name ‘rainbow’ refers to the child’s ability to bring optimism and relief after the emotional storm of a previous loss.

Concert for Locals

His last big show will include a bunch of local artists and was paid for by funds from the federal Covid relief program.

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

Saturday performers at the county fairgrounds include Bean Creek, Patti Maxine, Christie McCarthy, Hank and Ella and the Fine Country Band, Sharon Allen and Dusty Boots. Sunday’s lineup is Keith Greeninger and Dayan Kai, AJ Lee and Big Summit, Michael Caither, Carolyn Sills, Alex Lucero and more.

Kids under 12 are free; teens pay $25; and adults $40 for one show; discounts for both. For all the deets: Snazzyproductions.com

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

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

GUiSC does not guarantee that a submitted event will automatically be included. Preference is given for events of interest to children and/ or parents. Calendar entries must be received by the 15th of the month prior to the month of the event. Calendar entries and photos will be selected by the Calendar Editor. Please visit our website to fill out the calendar form: growingupsc.com/submissions

Additional Sources: NationalToday.com 25th ANNIVERSARY | GrowingUpSC.com | AUGUST 2022

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COLORING PAGE

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COLORING CONTEST WINNERS

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Sophia | Age 9

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Submit your coloring entry to editor@growingupsc.com for a chance to be in our next issue!

You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063 Submissions due by August 15.

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