Growing Up Santa Cruz May 2021

MAY 2021

COVER STORY

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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Editor's Note.................................4 Self-care is Essential......................5 Cover Story: Surfer Mamas...........6 Coloring Page...............................10 Parenting: The New Normal.........11 May Calendar...............................12 Your Home...................................15 Hidden Beaches............................16 Get Organized..............................19 MOM-ing......................................20 Teacher's Desk...............................21 Local News: Chef Andrea..............23 Health & Wellness Guide...............24 Healthy Eating..............................25 Mother's Day Gift Guide................26 Parenting: Music Lessons..............29 Local Artist: Martina Goulart.......31 Moms Who Make a Difference......32 Parenting: Smart Money Kids.......33 Summer Activity Guide................36

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Editors’ Note Now we know how a bear feels coming out of hibernation. We’ve been in some sort of lockdown for over a year now and all of a sudden, it’s spring, literally and figuratively. We’re leaving our caves and shaking our heads trying to figure out what the new normal is, what we’ve learned from the pandemic and what we can do to make things better in the seasons ahead.

Jeanette Prather’s piece in this issue, The New Normal, takes a look at what the post pandemic Santa Cruz will look like and has stories from moms about what they liked and learned from sheltering in place with their families. It shows a whole other perspective on the past year. Was there a good side to the pandemic?

Gretchen Heimsoth’s Healthy Eating column takes a look at what hibernation does to your gut and has a host of foods you should be eating to get some spring in the spring. She breaks it down and shows that eating right doesn’t have to be that difficult.

Are you thinking about getting your kids to study music? You should be. For us, it’s as important as math and science and develops similar skills. Musician and rock DJ Chris Jackson has some suggestions for inspiring music lessons in his column Give Kids the Choice.

Of course, this is a month to celebrate mothers and who better to hang ten with than our own Surfing Mamas, women who love the waves and will share their joy with you, including one who was the first woman to surf at Mavericks.

First we gave kids cell phones and now are you ready to give them credit cards?

Could that be a good thing? Writer and artist Christy Shults thinks the cards can help kids learn the value of money and budgets. No, really! Check out her story.

Does a teacher want to scare kids or play with them? That’s one of the questions Lisa Catterall ponders in her Behind the Teacher’s Desk column. It’s a big one to

consider, remembering the old days when teachers used rulers for enforcement and more modern times when fun is an alternative. What best serves the students and the teachers?

And we have a great new feature, a cartoon called Adventures in Mom-ing by Patty Benson which we guarantee will bring a smile to your face and deserves to be posted on your fridge.

There’s a lot more inside this issue, including a guide to the local hidden beaches and how they got their names; how to organize your family car; a profile of a master chef and a tribute to a special local mother, who started a growing running club while running after four kids.

We think you’ll enjoy it as we look behind the curtains at some great Santa Cruz people and parents, artists and kids. It’s what has kept Growing Up going during lockdown. That and the kindness of the community.

We really want to thank the people who stuck with us and kept us afloat.

Parenting magazines across the country shut down or closed during the pandemic, but we’ve kept going in print, online, in social media and in our weekly newsletter.

For that we are so grateful to the wonderful and generous people who donated to our Go Fund Me campaign (https://bit.ly/3eEI8av)and kept the presses rolling. We even had advertisers whose businesses were locked down, but who continued to advertise just to keep us going.

There aren’t enough words to express our gratitude. We so appreciate you keeping Growing Up growing and we pledge to be a hyper local community asset helping you find the best and most important things you need to keep your family healthy, happy and wise.

Thanks for reading.

Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford and Steve Dinnen

About the Cover Given Santa Cruz’s status as the original “Surf City”, a Mother’s Day spotlight on local surfer moms seems appropriate. UCSC economics professor, Dina El Dessouky, uses her water time as self-care to help her be the best parent she can. Sarah Gerhardt has legendary status as the first woman to surf Mavericks – while getting a graduate degree in chemistry at UCSC. She now teaches at Cabrillo College and still charges in the water. Maria Neeley,

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

adventurous mom to five children, met her husband while they were both surf instructors. Check out their stories and more on page 6.

About the Photographer Kevin Painchaud is a professional photographer located in Aptos for over 30 years. If you wish to contact Kevin, please email him directly at kpainchaudphotography@gmail.com.

You can view his work on Instagram at @painchaudkevin

ASK NICOLE Self-care is Essential

BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW

“

You’re not alone! Parenting is hard when you’re tired and stressed. That’s why taking care of yourself is one of the five principles of positive parenting in Triple P.

change.” While these thoughts might feel true, they usually heighten our emotions, making it more difficult to deal with the stressful situation. Try replacing unhelpful thoughts with positive coping statements, such as: I can do this. I’m doing the best I can. Take one thing at a time. Breathe. I am enough.

TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF.

I’ve been a mother for 21 years, which is hard to believe. Although my kids are still at the center of my heart and mind, my daily routine no longer revolves around them. They don’t need help with eating, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, or going to bed. I don’t check their homework or drive them places anymore. It’s both sad and liberating.

And it makes me realize that for many years, taking care of my kids often took priority over taking care of me – which contradicts everything I’ve ever written about positive parenting! So as Mother’s Day approaches, I’m reminding myself and all female caregivers that self-care is essential. No excuses.

This monthly article provides tips for families raising 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 triplep@first5scc.org.

Dear Nicole, This past year has been rough. I stopped working to care for our 3-year-old and 8-year-old. My husband is working extra hours, so I’m doing all the parenting, cooking, cleaning, shopping, childcare, and tutoring on my own. I enjoy being with my kids, but it’s exhausting and stressful to be “on” all the time. I’m often in a bad mood, which puts everyone on edge. What can I do?

- Lauren Dear Lauren, You’re not alone! Parenting is hard when you’re tired and stressed. That’s why taking care of yourself is one of the five principles of positive parenting in Triple P. Self-care reduces stress and sets a good example for children, who are also learning healthy ways to cope with stress.

Here are some tips to try:

RECOGNIZE SIGNS OF STRESS.

Stress is a common, everyday part

of life. Our bodies naturally respond to stressful events by increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, and release of stress hormones, like cortisol. These physiological responses prepare us to fight, flee or freeze when we feel physically or emotionally threatened, and our bodies regulate or return to “normal” once our brains tell us the threat is over. But if our bodies are constantly on high alert because of strong, frequent, or long-lasting stress, then we can experience more serious physical and mental health problems later on – especially if we don’t have supportive, nurturing relationships to help us through challenging situations.

This is true for children and adults.

So it’s critically important to notice early signs of stress, like tense muscles, headaches, extreme mood swings, difficulty sleeping or eating, constant tiredness, problems concentrating, upset stomach, or frequent illnesses. This is your body telling you it needs a break.

Make this a priority, even if it’s only for a few minutes at a time. Do something that makes you laugh, brings you comfort, or relieves tension, and do a little more of it each day. Make it part of your daily routine, just like eating, sleeping, and breathing (make sure you do those things, too!).

FINAL THOUGHTS

Keep trying self-care techniques until you find something that works. If needed, reach out to friends, family, or

professionals who can provide additional support. Self-care isn’t selfish, a sign of weakness, or a waste of time. It’s essential to your health and well-being as a parent, which is vital for your children to thrive.  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.

PRACTICE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES.

When you feel stressed, take a few slow, deep breaths. Inhale slowly through your nose, filling your belly with air like a balloon. Pause and hold your breath for a couple seconds. Then slowly let all the air out and do it again. Or tighten the muscles in one area of your body, starting at the top of your head (e.g., eyebrows, eyes). Hold the tension for 10 seconds, then relax. Keep repeating this, moving down your body, all the way to your toes. Notice how it feels to tense and relax your muscles. These relaxation techniques (and others) can often be done even when you’re with your kids.

USE POSITIVE COPING STATEMENTS.

Our thoughts affect our emotions, which affect our behaviors. In stressful situations, it’s common to automatically think unhelpful thoughts, such as, “I can’t deal with this,” or “Things will never GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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“

...in Santa Cruz County there’s a whole subculture of moms who get recharged regularly just by paddling out for a killer surf session.

BY JONI MARTIN & CHRISTY SHULTS | PHOTOGRAPHED BY KEVIN PAINCHAUD Every year on Mother’s Day our society seems to suddenly remember that the wells women draw on for their parenting need intentional refilling. But in Santa Cruz County there’s a whole subculture of moms who get recharged regularly just by paddling out for a killer surf session.

No female Jeff Spicolis, these women include college professors, teachers, business owners, a judge, a surfboard shaper and a nonprofit executive. What they have in common is a passion so deep that many have taken turns watching each other’s children on the beach to get their water time.

Dina El Dessouky

Sarah Gerhardt

22 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: I got to shoot in the water up North with none other than the legendary Sachi Cunningham for a film collaboration that Textured Waves did with Roxy for International Women’s Day this year. My friend Chelsea Woody asked me to be a part of that, and even though the waves were small, from the minute I rolled up into the parking lot at dawn on that crisp, clear winter morning and met all the women involved, I knew it was going to be magic.

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

32 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: A fun memory I have is going to the Slater wave pool, Surf Ranch with my daughter and seeing her get barreled.

Do you have any significant community involvement?

I help with Ride a Wave, as a surf escort.

What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Taking them out to Cowell's as toddlers

For some, surfing is a shared bond with their kids, keeping teenagers close and filling weekends, holidays, and family vacations. For others, surfing is “me time”; stress washes away as they focus on the ocean and its motion in the company of otters and seabirds, sometimes even dolphins and whales.

Maria Neeley

Over 20 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

There are too many! I would have to say pushing Mo Ray at 3 years old into the first wave he ever surfed by himself, at Cowell's beach.

Do you have any significant community involvement?

I am a part of an amazing crew of skateboarder women known as the Santa Cruz Lady Lurkers. I also like to clean up beaches for fun.

This is far from an exhaustive list of the moms who surf in Santa Cruz, and their tidbits of stories are just a sampling of what they shared with Growing Up. To read their full stories or to share your own experience in the comments, check out “Surfer Mamas” at GrowingUpSC.com.

Shana Bartlett

26 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: After my first was born I competed in the last 5 or 6 Star O'Neill Coldwater Classic event that came to Steamer Lane. I think it was 1999 or 2000, about 21 years ago! All the best female professional surfers in the world were here competing. I ended up making it to the quarter finals, last local girl still surfing in it. I even made a little money. This was one of the last competitions I did. Now, I spend weekends at my children’s surf competitions. Full circle!

Jessica Benet

25 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

My kiddo is only 3, so right now, he lays on the front of our longboard on small days at the Point. At this stage, each time we take him out, it's memorable because everything is so new.

Most times, it's not even the waves that get him excited; it's just being out there or being close to a sea otter..

Syda Cogliati

Susie Deutsch

30 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: My son is now in college on the East Coast.

When he came home for spring break last month, I drove to the airport with all his surf gear packed in the car. I picked him up and drove him straight to the Lane. He thought I was basically the coolest mom ever.

25 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

I have fond memories surfing with my boys when they were in their early teens. While I could embarrass them easily by my mere existence on land, they would always yell "YEAH MOM!" when I got a good wave.

Julia E Salido

Susan Coffey

26 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Surfing with my son Miguel who is 11 at Capitola with no one else out in stormy weather and trading fun little waves when he was just getting more confident to out past the first jetty was awesome a month or so ago. Lots of high fives and smiles. I just asked Miguel what our best surf moment was and he said and I quote "Just tell them that you always drop in on me and that it's ok and I think it is kind of funny".

I don't agree with that claim, but there you are.

30 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Too many to count! Surfing is a shared passion and our life pretty much revolves around the ocean and the rhythm of the tides and swell. Beach days, contests and surf trips have created so many amazing memories.

Do you have any significant community involvement?

League Director, Santa Cruz Scholastic Surf League

Grace Gooch

Kristen Kellermyer

20 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: One incredible surf trip that comes to mind is when me and my husband and our children went for a surf at Pleasure Point. My daughter isn’t old enough to surf but likes to get on my husband's board and paddle around with him. We were at 38th when suddenly a small seal jumped up on my board! The seal was so friendly and sweet and just wanted a place to rest. After hanging with me for a bit she hopped on top of my husbands board to join my daughter and him. For Raea, this was a life-changing moment!

40 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory Surfing with my daughter in Mainland Mexico we had at least 30 beautiful blue winged stingrays swarm the line up and share our last wave of the day.

Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos Moms tend to lots of morning details. As a result, local well known shaper, Steve Coletta, gave me the nickname "Side Shore Sally".

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Ginaia Kelly

25+ Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Surfing at the epic sandbar at Cowell's beach with my kids, and every other family we knew in Santa Cruz was out in the water. We were all pushing our young kids into waves in front of the white water on soft foam boards. Utter chaos and laughter. Families in the water, cheering each other on; Others on the beach. I remember pushing my son and his friend Selah Bartlett, riding tandem on a long 10' board when they were about 8 years old.

Ashley Lloyd

Surfing Before 10 Years Old

Katie Loggins

Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: This year, my son, Odin, has really gotten into the ocean. I think the super warm wetsuit helps.

He wasn't all that excited to surf for a while. I have just tried to keep it fun and familiar to him. All of a sudden it clicked, and he's pretty stoked. Which also means more water time for Mom! But really, it's so sweet sharing the joys of the ocean with him and it re-kindles my stoke.

20 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: With both of my children I surfed until I was 8 months pregnant. It was the most fun I have ever had in the water. I don't think I have laughed that hard. It is so challenging, so every wave I caught was a triumph. And, I was so fortunate to have 2 of my now closest surf friends pregnant at the same time. As our bellies grew we played in the waves, laughing at how challenging it was to surf but having each other to share in the experience.

Jill Matthies

Jane McKenzie

38 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: I think that because I am an avid lover of the ocean and surfing I have always supported my kids to be great swimmers and comfortable in the ocean. My son Luke is already a lifeguard for Santa Cruz and my middle daughter just got hired to be a lifeguard for this summer. I have a great sense of adventure and fun and I like to say I passed that on to my kids with their love of the ocean.

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

57 Years of Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: There are so many with the amount of years I have been in the water. Now it is enjoying the next generation of surfers and trying to help them understand respect for themselves, other surfers, the ocean and environment and not to be entitled or reckless. Every time I surf there is another funny story or adventure! .

Julie Malcom

35 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

We were all surfing Seascape on 4th of July and a white shark came up right next to us and was eating a fish. It was pretty funny because my older daughter kept asking me if that was a shark and I was looking off into the distance not seeing it. Finally she said right there mom next to you!

Sure enough, I was eyeball to eyeball with a baby great white.

Lara Lenington

A Long Time...

Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: I remember my daughter asking me why only women surf as she only saw my mom friends and me going off together. Sweet she lived in that world as a kid. Surfing up north in the morning and then loading my car with kids and boards looking for surf in town after school.

Tell us a surfing challenge related to motherhood?

Balancing self-care versus being present for

Joni Martin

36 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with or without your kids: I spent over a decade stacking SO many surfboards on and inside our vans, taking our kids and classmates surfing as often as they wanted.

Also, my friend Susie and I have done a surf-camping road trip each summer with our children and their friends, hitting surf spots and skate parks from Santa Cruz to San Diego. We don’t live at the coast, so our kids depended on us to get to the surf. That led to so many sweet hours together in the ocean!

Amy Mihal

19 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: I am blessed to have so many fun surfing memories over the past years. I am grateful for each moment spent in the water with my best friends, Alayna Nathe and Zeuf Hesson, both of whom were incredible surfing mentors and inspirations to me!

What is your occupation I am the co-owner of Village Yoga, and have been teaching yoga since 1999.

Alayna Nathe

31 Years Surfing Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: We let our kids fall in love with surfing on their own time. My son is 14 and is now hooked on surfing, all waves & all types of boards. My biggest joy is sharing waves with him at 38th, splitting the peak and having some laughs

Mei-Li Restani

2 years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

I remember one specific time that my daughter wanted me to take her out to surf. We paddled out on the same board and when I got ready to get off the board to help push her into some waves, she told me to stop and admitted that she just wanted to sit on the board with me and hang out. I just found this to be one of the sweetest moments because it isn't often I get one-on-one time with her. We laughed a lot and enjoyed being in the moment.

Erin Torr

14 Years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

There are so many—I love our family surfs on holidays. Big Sur camp trips every summer are so fun because the waves vary so much from year to year, and surfing Costa Rica with my son and daughter was amazing!

Tell us something unique about you as a mother who surfs with/without your kiddos: I do not like surfing small waves and I really only surf the hook!

Kathy Wiles

25 Years Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: My fondest surfing memories are probably from travel adventures I took with friends when I was in my 20's, as well as memories from the year I lived on Maui with my closest buddies. We were really good at faking it till we made it in random line ups; and the carefree joy, laughter, surprises and bonding we shared during our time in the water and travels together is something I'll always cherish and remember. My husband and I have also had some amazing kid-free surf trips to Mexico the last few summers which have been such a treat!.

Adrienne Saxton

32 Years of Surfing Tell us about an intense or fun surfing memory: Traveling to islands and continents to surf and finding Santa Cruz friends in each place!

Surfing in Tahiti with the fire dancer I had watched perform the night before. He was the prince in the performance and when I saw him surfing the next day it was like I was surfing with a god!

Surfing at a spot up north alone with a whale nearby the entire session.

Surfing with friends in perfect conditions at my favorite spot.

Gretchen Bach

43 years Surfing What is your most memorable surf moment with your kids?

Surfing Cowells 12 years ago with only myself and my daughters Eden and Violet out. There was a calm light rain and the girls didn't want to go out because there was no one else out. But that was the day that, once they had experienced the calmness of surfing alone in the rain, they became real surfers.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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COLORING PAGE

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

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

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

PARENTING The New Normal

BY JEANETTE PRATHER

“These are the best of times!” announced Julie Horner, editor of the SLV Post.

At first glance you might be thinking that Horner was referring to some obscure, off-the-cuff situation, but she was simply referencing the “here and now.” She was mentioning how good things have spawned from the bizarre year-plus our society is coming out of.

And she’s not alone, especially among the parents locally who’ve become masters at thinking outside of the metaphoric parenting box. “Creative parenting,” we can call this.

“Our weekends used to be really full of events, birthday parties, etc.,” said Felton mom, Sarah Marie Shane-Vasquez.

“During the pandemic we’ve started going on family hikes every Saturday and Sunday morning. It’s a great way to move around, see some beautiful local spots, and spend quality time together.”

This seems to be another common thread strung among busy parents during the pandemic; time. Time to slow down and do the simpler things (another perk that Horner raved about). “This has been our pandemic experience too, except my kid is 6 so we sleep in and go for midday hikes,” agreed Heidi Olson, a Santa Cruz parent.

“Since quarantine began, I introduced my children to my own passion for hiking and spent the last year building up their stamina,” said mother-of-two from Watsonville, Maritza Pozzi-Loyola.

“My youngest is four and he walked the entire [Yosemite eight-mile] hike with no complaints or carrying. I’ve seen his self-confidence soar in the last year. My

daughter, who’s 9, can now read park maps and learned how to use a compass.

I’m thankful for this last year we’ve had together on the trails and the many lessons my children have learned along the way.”

It’s definitely not all bad, and the more people share their shut-down recreational activities, the more appreciative we seem to become of the time spent and new-found routines. “We hike or go on nature walks practically every day, but I also have had my toddler join me in my art studio,” said Soquel mom, Daria Salus. “We have seven hedgehogs, five cats, five bunnies, and more! No way would I have made this many if it wasn’t a pandemic!”

“My girls and I kayak from the upper harbor into the ocean two to four days per week, and we are going to continue with that, especially since summer is on its way,” added Santa Cruz mom, AnnaMarie Aspesi Ritter. “We visit a different pump track every day!” added another local mom, Ashleigh Williams.

“Family picnics just about anywhere outdoors!” said Santa Cruz mom, Maria Cecilia Eastman.

Outdoors, in almost any capacity, is certainly a local preference with an old pastime of “taking drives” making a comeback. “We drive up to the pie shop on Highway 1, once a week, and explore beaches on the way,” said Shell Mc Neal, a mom from Santa Cruz. “Cruising Highway 1 and finding a picnic spot with epic views,” agreed another mom from Santa Cruz, Allyssa Jensen. “Beach bonfires! It’s my favorite evening outing.”

“Driving to see Christmas lights

almost every evening in December,” said Jenna Whaley Coura, from Felton. “[I also had a] grown-up routine change of going on evening walks in the neighborhood with an audiobook after the kiddo is in bed (rotate days with spouse so somebody is always at home with the kiddo) and BBQ/ grill several days per week eating on the outdoor picnic table most meals (weather permitting).”

“Lots of drives up the coast on the weekends when our local beaches were too crowded,” said Amelia Cartwright Brown of Capitola. “In the beginning, LEGO-designing outside was fun. Sliding down sand hills on boogie boards.

Picnics in the yard. Skateboarding the ramps bought for early pandemic. Plenty of ocean time.

“Friday night movies, too,” continued Brown. “I also do many meal bars, taco bar, cinnamon roll bar, veggie chili bar, hot nights salad bar like the Crow’s Nest.

Art, painting, poetry etc. were so good for our souls.”

Like Brown, when the great outdoors weren’t available, parents turned to the great indoors instead. “Every Friday night we have a ‘party night theme’,” said Santa Cruzan, Kelly Mercer-Lebov.

“The bar is really low, like sometimes the theme is a color; we only eat green things for dinner, wear green, etc. We’ve had paper airplane parties, letters of the alphabet, and we’ve celebrated my 3-yearold’s imaginary friend’s birthday.”

Friday night dance parties are a must!

“Brief dance parties in the living room with a strobe light,” added Sara Ellen of Santa Cruz. “Also, trying exotic new-to-

us foods, like star fruit or gooseberries.”

“We have Fun Fridays!” said Jennifer Balint, a Santa Cruz mother of two.

“We rotate who gets to choose take-out every Friday, then we watch a family movie with popcorn and treats. It’s been a great way to support our favorite restaurants, try new places, and it gives us something to look forward to every week, which helps ease the monotonous COVID days.”

Crafting and cooking were a must for many families during quarantine, and certainly helped in keeping parents sane. “My husband (who hasn’t spent much time in the kitchen in our 15year marriage) decided to start making biscuits last spring!” said Scotts Valley mom, Heather Bragg Troxell. “Now he gets up and makes them every Sunday morning for our family!”

“When I make dinner now all screens go off and everyone has to help,” said Nicole Watson, of Santa Cruz.

“Chopping veggies, making dessert, and setting the table. It’s been great!”

Concentrated family time is another big one. We were all stuck in tight quarters with the same people, and so of course we made the best of it. “We live with our in-laws and the baby gets grandma time each morning with little moments throughout the day since she works from home,” said Seaside parent, Camille Rocha. “I’m going to really miss it when she has to go back to work.”

“Multiple weekly nature outings eeeeeverywhere,” said Melanie Munir, Santa Cruz mom. “Also, our backyard game is ON POINT now; bubbles, water balloons, chalk, sprinkler, poppers (like on July 4th), dirt pit, mini soccer goal... we got really creative [and] lots of muffin baking!”

“All of what [Munir] did, plus art projects, LEGOs, and critter hunting!” included Denise Ann Bascom, of Santa Cruz. “Going to continue it all!”

Family walks, picnics, and exercise, oh my! All the mentioned timetogether activities born from the pandemic will continue to stand the test of time. “We started walking around our neighborhood every day,” said Jamie Lynn Onakoya, of Santa Cruz. “When we get to an intersection, I ask my son ‘left, right or straight,’ and he chooses which way we go! It’s like choose-your-own-adventure and that way we get to see new things and explore more of the neighborhood.”

Whatever you and your family did at home (or up the coast, or at a pump track, or in nature…) during this unique time in our history, our kids will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives. On that note, it’s wonderful to hear parents say that they intend to continue these fantastic, low-maintenance bonding activities post-pandemic. It’s our time to live our best lives!

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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TUESDAY 4 SATURDAY 1

National Foster Care Month World Fair Trade Day

SUNDAY 2

May Day Celebrated in many different cultures around the world. It is a day of unity, togetherness, and rebirth; a day for everyone to come together and celebrate life as we know it! A celebration of Spring!

May is Museum Month! May 1-31 The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History is offering free admission for all throughout the month of May in honor of Museum Month! Learn more at santacruzmuseumsmonth.org.

Makers Market: The Art of Nature 11 am to 3 pm During this outdoor Makers Market, meet featured artists from our annual science illustration exhibit, The Art of Nature, watch them at work through live demonstrations at their booths, and support their work by going home with prints, stickers, cards, cups, and more!

We will also have an illustration station so that you can create your own works of art inspired by the native plants in our Garden Learning Center. https://www. santacruzmuseum.org/5-1-makers-marketthe-art-of-nature/” Chaminade Resort: Sip & Shop Marketplace 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Join us for a Spring Marketplace featuring local vendors from around Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay! Sip wine and craft beers while shopping for artwork, handcrafted jewelry, candles, gifts, and more.

Tandy Beal and Company "KEEP ON TRUCKIN" Musicians Matt Hartle and Sunshine Garcia Becker will perform “Fun & Grateful-Driven Rock & Soul for All Ages" in the Felton Library parking lot.

This series features world-famous artists in free, live 20-minute family shows, outdoors and safe on the back of a flatbed truck. See all Keep On Truckin’ artists for April-June performance dates in SC City Parks here.

Shop Local at the NEW 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!

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

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

Access the tours, here: seymourcenter. ucsc.edu/visit/behind-the-scenestours/#youngerlagoon Family Sangha Monthly Meditation Insight Santa Cruz 10:30am - 12pm 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.

National Brothers and Sisters Day Today is dedicated to the people who (we hope) made your childhood memorable — your siblings. They’ve been there for you during the good times. And they haven’t left your side through the bad

MONDAY 3 Constitution Memorial Day National Paranormal Day

Food Waste Webinar Series City of Santa Cruz-Public Works 5pm-6pm Keep your cash out of the trash! Join this webinar series created by the City of Santa Cruz to learn all about wasted food and reducing waste in your life to keep cash out of the trash. Plus, be entered to win awesome prizes like a compost bin, and more, for attending! Did you know that there is not only a huge environmental impact from wasting food but that the average family of four will toss out $1,600 or more a year in wasted food! https://www. eventbrite.com/e/food-waste-webinarseries-tickets-144305368241

our country’s great geological landmarks just in time for roadtrip season. Live on Facebook. https://www.santacruzmuseum. org/5-5-rockin-pop-up-great-geologiclandmarks/” Cinco de Mayo JavaScript Coding 3pm - 4 pm This program will follow the curriculum from Khan Academy called "Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation" It covers fundamental ideas of computer science, and helps students learn one of the most popular programming languages right now, JavaScript. The curriculum has 18 modules, each with a few videos, short readings, and handson activities. Notable modules include Drawing Basics, Variables, Functions, Looping, and Objects. Students are free to work at their own pace; for students who finish quickly, an advanced Khan Academy course is available. No prior programming experience is required. This class is open to students 8-18 years old. For more information please contact Julie Soto at sotoj@santacruzpl.org National Astronaut Day World Maths Day

THURSDAY 6

Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. Our Campaign lasts from May 4th to August 31st. Form a party, hunt for ancient treasures, and use your wits, magic, or brute force to battle kobolds, dragons, and more. Dungeons & Dragons is a game of adventure, imagination and near-limitless possibilities. If you’ve been curious but unsure how to start, it’s time to roll the dice and join this campaign. An experienced D&Der will guide you, and all the necessary materials & manuals will be provided.

Parents: Please be prepared to briefly meet our volunteer who leads the program. Zoom Link will be emailed the day of the event MAY 4th please register in advance so that we know who and how many to expect, Thank you!

Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn.

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

National Teacher Day Star Wars Day

WEDNESDAY 5 Rockin’ Pop-Up (Virtual) 3-3:30 pm Geologists Gavin and Graham help us dig deep into geology with these monthly rocktalks! This month we’ll be taking a tour of

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

Salsa Suelta Free Zoom Session Louden Nelson Community Center 7pm Every Thursday Weekly free Zoom sessions in Salsa Suelta for experienced beginners and up. May include Cuban-styles such as Mambo, ChaChaCha, Afro-Cuban Rumba, Orisha, Son Montuno, and Salsa.

No partner required, age 14+. Contact to get link: SalsaGente@gmail.com

National Nurses Day we recognize the important role nurses play in our lives by celebrating National Nurses Day.

FRIDAY 7 National Provider Appreciation Day National Space Day National Tourism Day

MAY CALENDAR SATURDAY 8 National Coconut Cream Pie Day World Migratory Bird Day

SUNDAY 9

movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn.

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

Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See May 4

FRIDAY 14

WEDNESDAY 12 National Limerick Day National Receptionists Day Receptionists have countless responsibilities depending on where they work. But they often act as the boss’ gatekeeper. So make sure you treat them well — especially if you have an important meeting with the CEO. Reports of bad behavior in the lobby tend to make their way to the executive suites.

Don’t have an attitude when dealing with them. Who knows? They might just become the CEO one day.

THURSDAY 13 Mother’s Day Moms don’t get days off, nor do they receive handsome salaries or generous pensions. Instead, their rewards come in the form of sticky kisses, necklaces made of elbow macaroni, and the satisfaction of seeing their children grow up to be happy, healthy adults. That’s probably not adequate compensation — so give Mom an extra hug on Mother’s Day. Virtual Mother's Day Run & Walk Ramsey Park 7am Mother's Day Run and Walk for Hopeful Family Futures Outrun Family Homelessness Outrun family homelessness this Mother’s Day: join the 2021 Virtual Mother’s Day Run and Walk benefitting children and their parents at Pajaro Valley Shelter Services. At PVSS, families are working harder than ever before to outrun the pandemic - facing increased financial hardship and housing insecurity head-on. This year’s virtual event will support the growing needs of families experiencing homelessness in the Pajaro Valley. Join us in building hopeful family futures! Help PVSS raise $80k by Mother’s Day: Sustain the hope and efforts of the 136 children and their parents in PVSS’ care. Self-sufficient families are the backbone of our community. Let’s keep our community strong! Register, sponsor, donate at www.pvshelter.org to outrun family homelessness! Grab your family and register to run or walk the 10K/5K/1K anytime, anywhere.

MONDAY 10 National Clean Your Room Day National Shrimp Day

TUESDAY 11 Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music,

Tea with Teachers, a panel discussion with MMS elementary school teachers, May 13, 4:30-5:30 pm. Enjoy a cup of tea and join this Zoom discussion to hear from MMS teachers about the school’s first through fifth grade program. RSVP to admissions@ mountmadonnaschool.org for the Zoom link

Top Dog Film Festival Virtual Screening Rio Theater Virtual Screening Rent for 48 hours: Starts Thursday, Ends on Monday, May 24. Celebrate the canine connection through this carefully curated collection of heartwarming stories about dogs and their people at the 2021 Top Dog Film Festival. The 2021Top Dog Film Festival presents a 2 hour cinematic celebration honoring the bond between dogs and their people. Filled with delightfully doggy moments of joy and celebration of our beloved canine companions. This carefully curated program of short canine-themed films is comprised of the most inspirational, heart-warming and entertaining stories about dogs and their human companions, from independent filmmakers around the globe. Get your tickets before they all sell out "“ you'd be barking mad to miss it! A portion of ticket sales benefit the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Locally sponsored by Pacific Paw, Santa Cruz Waves, SCC Animal Shelter

during our current COVID19 situation.

Preregister to join the FREE LIVE ZOOM EVENT:BirthNetSantaCruz.EventBrite.com Goat Hill Fair: Unique Antique and Artisan Fair 10 am - 3 pm Goat Hill is a community event not to be missed. If you have a love for vintage ~ styling your home with old-style objects, wearing vintage jewelry & clothing, and collecting unique art and objects then this is somewhere you need to visit! We host the fair in May & November. The spring show for 2021 is May 15 & 16. Held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. We are back after the year of closure due to Covid and we are holding a safe event, using all precautions necessary. Bring your mask! 2 buildings and a large outdoor lawn area will be filled with vintage treasure. You can find gardens, rusty, French, farmhouses, industrial and more!

Walk for CASA Elkhorn Slough 9am Due to the Human Race going on pause this year, CASA of Santa Cruz County with the help of the Friends of CASA will be holding our own Walk for CASA! We are going virtual this year with a hybrid option on May 15, 2021. Walk or run ANYWHERE at ANYTIME or join us for a socially distant walk at Elkhorn Slough (1700 Elkhorn Road, Castroville) on May 15th, between 9am-noon. We will notify all in-person walkers of your walk time on May 3. All proceeds from this event support CASA of Santa Cruz County’s mission to match every foster youth referred to us with a trained volunteer Advocate within 20 days. COVID has been especially hard on our foster youth, with increased isolation, challenges with education, and homelessness.

National Buttermilk Biscuit Day National Dance Like a Chicken Day

SATURDAY 15 National Frog Jumping Day While the name itself may seem rather vague, its origins come from Mark Twain’s first published short story about a betting man and his pet frog. Did you know that there are approximately 7,300 species of frogs around the world and the most colorful ones are the most poisonous? National Frog Jumping Day is important because it brings literature to life, as well as brings awareness to different kinds of frogs and their impact within our ecosystem.

National Fruit Cocktail Day National Apple Pie Day Grab a fork and a napkin, because it's Apple Pie day.

Talk about a holiday you can really sink your teeth into! Apple pie has become an indelible part of the American identity, to the extent that apple pie is considered one of the most American things in the world.

Downtown Felton Spring Open House and Sidewalk Sale Noon - 6pm Enjoy the beautiful shops Downtown Felton has to offer! There will be a sidewalk sale, raffle to win great prizes from participating shops, eat yummy food, and listen to some music! DowntownFelton.com Saturdays in the Soil: Volunteer Gardening (Outdoors) 10 a.m. to noon It's time to get your hands dirty! Join us for our monthly volunteer program in our native plant garden. Learn about native plants and sustainable gardening while coming together as a community (in a physically distanced manner!) to steward Tyrrell Park through the City's Adopt-A-Park program. Space is limited and RSVPs are required. Email volunteer@ santacruzmuseum.org to express interest. https://www.santacruzmuseum.org/ saturdays-in-the-soil/ Virtual Meet the Doulas Presented

by Birth Network of Santa Cruz County 4pm Learn about how doulas support families through the birth and postpartum experience

International Astronomy Day celebrated twice a year, close to the first quarter moon of spring and fall — on May 15 and October 9, this year. We couldn’t be more thrilled to enjoy this day by doing all kinds of space-related activities.

International Day of Families Families—both traditional and nontraditional—are the foundation of society.

Our most formative years are spent with our families and those people are likely the most important people in our lives, so they should be celebrated. Let’s spend time today finding ways to protect the family unit in society by starting at home with our own!

National Chocolate Chip Day Peace Officers Memorial Day National Armed Forces Day Continued on Page 14 GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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MAY CALENDAR SUNDAY 16

MONDAY 17

SUNDAY 23

FRIDAY 28

Downtown Felton Spring Open House and Sidewalk Sale Noon - 6pm Enjoy the beautiful shops Downtown Felton has to offer! There will be a sidewalk sale, raffle to win great prizes from particpating shops, eat yummy food and listen to some music!

DowntownFelton.com Goat Hill Fair: Unique Antique and Artisan Fair 10 am - 3 pm Goat Hill is a community event not to be missed. If you have a love for vintage ~ styling your home with old-style objects, wearing vintage jewelry & clothing, and collecting unique art and objects then this is somewhere you need to visit! We host the fair in May & November. The spring show for 2021 is May 15 & 16. Held at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in Watsonville. We are back after the year of closure due to Covid and we are holding a safe event, using all precautions necessary. Bring your mask! 2 buildings and a large outdoor lawn area will be filled with vintage treasure. You can find gardens, rusty, French, farmhouses, industrial and more!

Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10am - 5pm Come on out and support local makers and artists at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every THIRD Sunday of the month on Pacific Ave at Lincoln St! 10am-5pm 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.

National Walnut Day

National Taffy Day

TUESDAY 18

MONDAY 24

Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. See May 4 Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See May 4

National Brother’s Day

Ask Me Anything: Conversations From The Front Line Of Homelessness Housing Matters 9am Join Housing Matters' Programs Staff in their newest webinar: "Ask Me Anything: Conversations from the Front Line Of Homelessness" . This is your opportunity to hear what is going on every single day to solve homelessness and ask all the questions you have about working to solve homelessness in our community.

WEDNESDAY 19 National Devil’s Food Cake Day

THURSDAY 20 National Be a Millionaire Day

FRIDAY 21

National Endangered Species Day his is a day to consider the dwindling populations of certain animals and work together to help. Environmental conservation didn’t gain traction until the mid-1800s. America’s Endangered Species Act of 1973 sparked both domestic and international conservation by providing a framework for protection.

National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day a time to pay tribute to those who have paved the way for the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) community to obtain and continue to seek important legislation and rights. We have numerous elders to thank for the strides made over the last several decades towards equality.

As with other civil rights movements, their work has not been easy. Their struggles and victories are marked by courage, persistence, passion, and authenticity so, today, we celebrate them.

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

SATURDAY 22 Out and About: Nature Journaling (Outdoors) 10 a.m. - noon This new monthly series of family-friendly, small group get-togethers welcomes you to safely explore Santa Cruz's diverse natural spaces.

This month we’ll use nature journals at the Museum’s Garden Learning Center.

Registration is required: https://www. santacruzmuseum.org/4-24-out-andabout-birding-at-neary-lagoon/

TUESDAY 25 Virtual Zoom Toddler Time by Julie 10:30 - 11 am Tuesdays Toddler Time is a weekly early literacy program for families with children ages 0-3 years old. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn.

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

Dungeons & Dragons Tuesdays Attention 12-16yr olds -- Adventure awaits!

A friendly introduction to Dungeons & Dragons for players of all experience levels, led by an experienced player. Held every Tuesday from 3:30-6:30pm. See May 4

SATURDAY 29 Learn About Composting Day

SUNDAY 30 National Mint Julep Day

MONDAY 31

WEDNESDAY 26 Reading in the Redwoods @Felton - Virtual Book Discussion The book for May is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh Reading in the Redwoods book group meets monthly on the 4th Wednesday at 6:00 pm. https:// santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/7182197

Memorial Day a time to honor those who died while fighting in the U.S. Armed Forces. It’s a holiday steeped in somber American history and tradition. The day actually began as “Decoration Day,” following the Civil War, when mourners placed flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. Read more in depth about the first Memorial Day on our website GrowingUpSC.com Stories for Bedtime Join us on Facebook or Youtube for Bedtime Stories presented

by SCPL Librarian Jackie. On alternating weeks, Jackie will read bedtime stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes for families.

New programs will be available every other Wednesday at 7:00 pm and on the library’s YouTube Channel after that.

THURSDAY 27 Virtual Open House Ocean Alternative School 5pm - 6pm HomeBased Independent Study & Ocean Online 831.475.0767 http://oc-losd-ca.schoolloop. com Call to preregister.

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

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

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

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

YOUR HOME Santa Cruz Real Estate Market is Hot

BY SEB FREY

“

It’s no secret that right now the real estate market in Santa Cruz is hot.

Actually, you could say it’s overheated!

There’s no shortage of stories of homes receiving dozens of offers and selling hundreds of thousands of dollars over asking price.

But in a way, that’s yesterday’s news.

The thing to know about the real estate market is that it’s dynamic. What’s true yesterday may not be true today, or what’s true today may not apply tomorrow.

For example, interest rates have risen substantially over the past several weeks – up about 0.75% give or take.

That might not sound like much but considering that the best rates a couple months ago were 2.5%, 0.75% is a big jump. Today, 30-year fixed mortgage rates are bumping up around 3.3%.

That kind of jump up will definitely have an impact in terms of affordability – buyers won’t have the same borrowing power relative to their income. Many people are expecting that this increase in mortgage rates will therefore result in a decline in real estate prices.

It’s easy to see why people think that – except that there have been many periods in history where interest rates rose - and home prices rose, right along with them.

The reason for this is that interest rates rise as demand for money rises (or at least, the projected demand for money).

Demand for money rises when economic activity picks up. Stronger economic activity points to job and wage growth – which means there will be more buyers out looking for property, which will boost prices, even as rates rise.

If you’re looking to see moderation in home prices, you’d do better to keep an eye on inventory. For years now, we’ve been suffering through a dearth of homes for sale. Too many buyers chasing too few homes has resulted in steady prices increases for the past 10 years or so.

A couple of years ago I interviewed Leslie Appleton-Young, then Chief Economist for the California Association of REALTORS. I asked her what number she looks at most when she’s forecasting what’s going to happen to home prices, and she replied with one word: Inventory.

Springtime is when we traditionally see more inventory coming onto the market – a lot more. However, demand has been so strong that we haven’t seen much of a build-up in inventory. In most neighborhoods, and most price segments, homes are selling about as fast as they hit the market.

Yet might demand weaken, just as more homes are coming on the market?

Might the jump in mortgage interest rates and buyer fatigue with the bidding wars ultimately conspire to tamp down demand? Will inventory start to build and prices flatten, pushing the market to something closer to a state of balance?

Eventually – one day! – that will happen. But there’s no telling when.

Might the $1.9 trillion in COVID relief and stimulus slingshot the market to ever higher heights? Could the Biden administration and their oh-so-slim majority in congress actually manage to squeak out a $3 trillion infrastructure (or whatever they’re calling it) plan, virtually assuring robust economic growth for at least the next couple of years?

It’s quite possible! That could happen - the stock and bond markets are apparently betting big on just that eventuality. Hence the rising asset prices and climbing interest rates.

What are buyers to do in a market like this? If you ask me, it requires two things. First is a leap of faith. To get into a house in today’s market, you have to be fearless. You have to stop worrying if the bubble is going to pop. In other words, you have to be present. You have to focus, relentlessly, on the here and now.

Springtime is when we traditionally see more inventory coming onto the market – a lot more.

However, demand has been so strong that we haven’t seen much of a build-up in inventory.

The other thing you need to do is to take action – here, and now. If you see a future for yourself as a homeowner, you need to take the steps today that will put you in a position to be a homeowner tomorrow. That means calling a mortgage broker and getting pre-approved. That means taking a hard look at your expenses and seeing what can be cut. That means looking at how you can increase your income, through promotion, a change in career, whatever.

It may also mean looking at how you can increase your down payment – possibly with help from family, selling some assets, or tapping into retirement savings. It may also require that you lower the bar – instead of a single-family home, you may need to look into a condo, townhouse, or possibly a mobile home. You may need to widen your geography and consider areas outside the

neighborhoods hugging the coast.

The road to homeownership isn’t for the faint of heart – not in this town, and increasingly not anywhere in California…or any of the economically successful region of the United States, for that matter.

But there’s no question that the ends justify the means! There’s a word that’s become very popular in the past couple of months in American politics: equity.

Equity! Everyone needs it, and the tried and true way to build it is through homeownership. I hope you will soon be on the road to obtaining your fair share as well.  Realtor Seb Frey is the author of the book Get It Sold! Check out his videos on Facebook and YouTube – search for “Seb Frey TV.” Learn more on his website and reach him at sebfrey@sebfrey.com

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

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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Santa Cruz’s Beach Favorites And the Quirky Things We Do There

BY JEANETTE PRATHER

Take it from the locals, when it comes to beach-going Santa Cruz knows what’s up. Throughout the county there are all kinds of fun and beachy things we do with our children, some more mainstream and others more eclectic. Whatever your saltwater pastime, adventures are limitless in our beach town.

“When I take my 4-year-old to the beach, we always collect treasures (broken shells, crab bodies, feathers, etc.),” said local mom, Nicole Alfaro.

“Then, we build a sandcastle and decorate it with our treasures.”

Even when the beaches might not be easy to name or have multiple names, that doesn’t stop us from exploring.

Take the Live Oak/East Cliff areas for example. Many of us locals aren’t even sure of the technical beach names in that area, but we find the quant nooks and crannies local-friendly.

“The beach below East Cliff Drive between 36th and 33rd avenues at low tide [are great] to experience the tide pools!” said Jessica Lowe-Wilson, a local mom. Another East Cliff-er chimed in that her and her kids prefer “the Moran Lake/26th Avenue Beach,” also known as ‘Two-Six Beach.’ “There are bathrooms for kids, and usually plenty of parking,” said Krystal Black. “My 3-year-old son likes to use big rocks that jet out as his pirate ship.”

Moving slightly north is another local beach favorite. “I love Black’s Beach [and

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MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

have] a lot of good memories there,” said Elle Hart, referencing memories of her mother sometimes taking her and her sisters out of school early for some beach fun. “We would stay until dark listening to music, playing volleyball, swimming, eating, etc. It’s a pretty quiet beach on the weekdays [and I] still love going!”

Black’s Beach, also known as Lincoln Beach, is south of yet another local favorite, Twin Lakes State Beach.

Rebecca Gold Rubin, who frequents Twin Lakes, appreciates the bathrooms and food near the beach, as does Shelley Russo Huxtable. “When my kids were little, I also had an in-home daycare, so I’d have a passel of kids. We spent many summer days at Twin Lakes Beach. It was worth it to pay to park in the Crow’s Nest parking lot for easy beach access. Food and bathrooms are right there [and] the kids loved climbing and playing on the cement ‘jacks’ jetty,” said Huxtable.

The “jacks” welcome home many Santa Cruz sailors who dock their boats in the harbor in between Twin Lakes and Seabright Beaches. “Love the beach!” said Eve Krammer, who prefers either Seabright Beach or Rio Del Mar. “Baby Bodhi likes to eat sand. All the sand.

Sandy diapers are my life.”

Full disclosure alert! I often take my boys to Santa Cruz Main Beach (aka Boardwalk Beach), not so much to rub elbows (a safe 6-feet apart, of course) with the tourists, but because on the Boardwalk side of the San Lorenzo River

mouth is a great deposit of driftwood.

My 10- and 4-year-olds have become experts at driftwood house making.

Another local mom, Melissa Huggins, strongly discourages parents to allow their children to swim in the river mouth (driftwood houses aside). “Avoid the river mouths, which are contaminated. So many tourists (and locals) play in them!”

Santa Cruz County does caution river-mouth swimmers with periodic contamination and warning signs (to stay up to date on our local beach water quality, please see scceh.com/Home/ Programs/WaterResources).

Edging our way closer to the West Side of Santa Cruz, we approach famous and notable Santa Cruz surfing locations. Past Cowell’s Beach (there is an extensive list of all Santa Cruz County beaches below this article), we get to Its beach, also known as Dog Beach. “The ‘Dog Beach’ on West Cliff [is my favorite]!” said Dor Atkinson, local scientist and mother. “My kiddo loves meeting all the dogs.”

Through a myriad of West Cliff Drive beaches, including 2222 Beach (West Cliff Drive at Auburn Avenue), Mitchell’s Cove Beach, and Pyramid Beach, to name a few, we get to Natural Bridges State Beach. “When my kids were toddlers, playing in the creeks running into the rivers was our favorite,” said mother of two and executive, Rhiannon Crain. “It was a surprise to learn from a ranger that ‘breaching’ the rivers sand dams was damaging to spawning fish!”

Though mid and southern-most beaches in Santa Cruz County seem to be more popular among locals, it is pertinent to mention the Davenport area, which still falls within county limits. “We like Davenport beaches because we can take the dog off the leash there and then go across the street to Whale City for some yummy baked goods,” said Rachel Sonnenblick, local mother and teacher.

“Sometimes going just that little way up Highway 1 feels like getting out of town for a bit, which can be fun.”

Santa Cruz locals will always find the hidden gems and under-the-radar beach spots. “We love Capitola and always find something neat to look at,” said Melissa Huggins. “Also, one day we went and there were hundreds of pelicans!”

Another popular Capitola beach is New Brighton State Beach. “[We go]

Fossil hunting at New Brighton!” Said Nikki Avina. “New Brighton [is] usually calm and kid friendly! [It’s] great for hunting shells, fossils, and sea glass,” added Alicia Potes.

The Aptos and Rio Del Mar areas tend to resonate well with the locals, too. Past Potbelly Beach, you get to Seacliff State Beach. “[We love] looking for sea glass between Seacliff and Seascape Beaches,” said Leslie Ngai-Ward.

Traveling even more south, we get to the infamous ‘Beer Can Beach,’ more formally known as Dolphin or Sumner Beach. “It’s pretty much a locals beach without any amenities,” said Jamie Lynn Onakoya. “We love that there is a big area of shallow water where the kids can play and boogie board, and the waves break further out so there are smaller waves at the shore.”

Here’s a fun flashback about Seascape Park Beach from a local artist: “In the late 70s, a dozen or two of us would congregate at Seascape Park Beach (before the Seascape Resort was a thing) for our beach parties,” said Daev Roehr.

“We’d park along Sumner Avenue, scramble down the ravine/access path, and head a bit south where we wouldn’t bother anyone else on the beach. The primary activity, other than general goofing off, was to dig a hole in the sand.

A giant hole, big enough for all of us to get in for the proof photo op. Then we covered it back up, cleaned up our stuff, and left. Dubbed the ‘hole party,’ we continued this beach tradition through most of the 80s.”

“I loved that area as well,” reminisced former Santa Cruz resident, Petra Kizik.

“For me, it was the early ‘80s and the deep iron steps down to the beach until the earthquake took care of that.”

Now into Watsonville, we’ve got the bottom of Santa Cruz County’s beaches.

“We love Palm Beach in Watsonville!” said Sara Flores. “We have a two-and-a-half-

year-old and a 5-month-old, [and] we love beaches that don’t involve stairs to get into. When I was pregnant it was so much easier to navigate. It has been our go-to beach this entire pandemic. Can’t wait to hold birthday parties in the future there.”

“We love the Pájaro Dunes,” added Loly Rickenrubio. “We dig for clams there and my son loves watching them go back in the sand.”

Whichever beach(es) you and the little ones prefer, it’s all about the memories.

One of the easiest ways to make a Santa Cruz memory is to hit the beach! With all of Santa Cruz’s 30-plus well-known and hidden beaches, it would be disservice not to include a robust list of the county’s beaches, starting from northernmost and working south. Happy post-pandemic beach-going!

BEACHES UP AND DOWN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY’S COASTLINE

 North Santa Cruz County • • • • • • •

Waddell Beach China Ladder Beach Cliffs Beach Bonny Doon Beach Panther Beach Hole-in-the-Wall Beach Laguna Creek Beach

 Wilder Ranch State Park • • • • • •

4 Mile Beach 3 Mile Beach Fern Grotto Beach Sand Plant Beach Wilder Beach Sand Hill Bluff

 West Cliff Drive Beaches • • • • • • •

Younger Lagoon Reserve Natural Bridges State Beach Pyramid Beach Mitchell’s Cove Beach 2222 Beach (West Cliff Drive at Auburn Avenue in Santa Cruz) Lighthouse Field State Beach Its Beach

 Downtown Santa Cruz • •

Cowell Beach (aka Cowell’s) Santa Cruz Main Beach (aka Boardwalk Beach)

 Santa Cruz Harbor • • •

Seabright Beach Santa Cruz Harbor Beach Twin Lakes State Beach

 Live Oak/East Cliff Beaches • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Black’s Beach (aka Lincoln Beach) Sunny Cove Corcoran Lagoon Beach Santa Maria’s Beach 26th Avenue Beach (aka Two-Six Beach) Moran Lake Beach Rockview Drive County Park 36th Avenue Beach Pleasure Point 38th Avenue Beach The Cove Beach Cliff Beach Privates Beach

 Capitola • • • •

Trees Beach Hooper Beach Capitola State Beach New Brighton State Beach

 Aptos/Rio Del Mar • • • • • • • •

Potbelly Beach Seacliff State Beach Rio Del Mar State Beach Hidden Beach Dolphin/Sumner Beach (aka Beer Can Beach) Seascape Park Beach La Selva Beach Manresa Main State Beach

 Watsonville • •

Sunset State Beach Beach Sidebar:

How did our beaches get their names?

BY BRAD KAVA We found an amazing book that collected the origins of thousands of Santa Cruz place names collected by former UCSC librarian Donald Thomas Clark. Here are some beach name origins from the great book, which will bring joy to every Santa Cruz lover.

Some of these are so Santa Cruz, you’ve got to love them.

PS: Some locals think we should keep these beaches our secret, so shhhhh. It’s just for Growing Up in Santa Cruz readers.

ACID BEACH

Located on the Pacific, south of Greyhound Rock, it was named for a cache of LSD found there.

BEER CAN BEACH

And be careful at night. There are lots of car break-ins on Sumner. So named because it’s really tucked away.

MANRESA STATE BEACH

Near La Selva Beach, it was an old railroad stop named for a resort called Villa Manresa operated by the University of Santa Clara from 1894-1925. The resort was named for Manresa, Spain, where the founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, recovering from wounds in the Battle of Pampeluna, developed ideas for the formation of the religious society. In 1925 the villa was developed into a seaside community named Rob Roy and later, La Selva.

This largely hidden gem between Rio del Mar and La Selva was nicknamed by, guess who, high school students because of what they liked to consume there. You have to get to it off Clubhouse Drive in a residential neighborhood.

PANTHER BEACH

BREAKERS BEACH

POTBELLY BEACH

Former name of the beach at 36th, 37th and 38th avenues given to it because of a subdivision laid out there in 1905.

CHINA BEACH

Former name of a section of New Brighton State Park Beach named for a hardscrabble village of scrapwood and driftwood used by Chinese fishermen.

HIDDEN BEACH

North of Beer Can, you park on Sumner Drive just past Los Altos Drive and hike down a trail under the railroad trestle. Also, if you are lucky, you can get a parking spot at the park just past the trestle, but you have to get there by driving all the way north by Rio Del Mar and then head south again through neighborhoods. Very limited parking.

Located between Laguna Creek and Bonny Doon Beach on the Pacific, it was named because people thought they could see a giant image of a panther in the rock formation.

Between New Brighton and Borregas Gulch, it was either named for the stoves Chinese fishermen used to keep warm there in the 1870s or for a beachside resort there in the 1930s that had potbelly stoves in cabins.

STEAMER LANE

One of the most well known surf spots from Lighthouse Point to Cowell Beach, it was named for the giant ships that passed it on their way to San Francisco.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

17

Learn to Sail this Summer!

UCSC Community Boating Center at the Santa Cruz Harbor SUMMER READING PROGRAM SUMMER READING PROGRAM PROGRAMA DE LECTURA DE VERANO santacruzpl.org/srp PROGRAMA DE LECTURA DE VERANO

santacruzpl.org/srp

June 1 - July 31 • 1 de junio - 31 de julio Earn a book and raffle entries for reading this summer.

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

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

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

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

18

MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Junior sailing classes for ages 8-16

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! For a complete schedule of classes and registration information visit

recreation.ucsc.edu/youth/juniorsailing/index.html

or call (831) 425-1164

Scholarships available thanks to a grant from the Div. of Boating and Waterways

GET ORGANIZED The Organized Family Car

BY JHONEÉ FILLMORE

“

Our family car is one of the main vessels in which we seek fun, errands, work, school and many adventures. Within our spontaneous adventures my sons’ often get soaked and muddy. Bless this vehicle’s heart as it endures countless crumbs, spilled drinks, sticky handprints, wrappers, dirt and mud galore, sticks, rocks, seashells and random toys that have found their way here.

of my kids. I cannot tell you how often I use this.

We have a game bag that consists of some cards games, small travel games, very basic board games and some books to read. These are great to play with my younger son as my older son gets picked up from school 50 minutes later leaving us not enough time to go home but a great amount of time in the car. We also will pull these out during other long waits, at the park or when we stay the night somewhere other than home.

Of course we have the basic car emergency kit with jumper cables, etc…

Our family car is one of the main vessels in which we seek fun, errands, work, school and many adventures. Within our spontaneous adventures my sons’ often get soaked and muddy. Bless this vehicle’s heart as it endures countless crumbs, spilled drinks, sticky handprints, wrappers, dirt and mud galore, sticks, rocks, seashells and random toys that have found their way here. Whew… and those aren’t even the necessities that “I” put in the car. Trying to balance family life and a car that is prepared for anything, yet minimal, is work but here are some simple ideas.

When keeping to these basics and having designated homes for all of these items it allows me some peace when we need to pack specifically for biking, hiking, fishing, camping, swimming, school and sporting events. It also allows me to have more spontaneous moments with my family because we really have what we need at any given moment. I try to eliminate any other items floating around and do so by bringing items back to the house after each use. Here is my car…

bottles, snacks, drawing supplies, sunglasses, books and flashlights for dark drives… and some room to spare.

Clipboards with plain drawing paper are placed in the backs of the seat in front of them for an easy grab.

On the floor tucked under the seat are rain boots and a second pair of tennis shoes always. My boys never miss an opportunity to get into puddles, streams, ponds or lakes.

KIDS ROW:

I have a medium sized crate that keeps for each of us: a sweatshirt, beanie, gloves, ball cap, socks, sunscreen, trash bags (mostly for our wet and muddy attire), toilet paper, wipes, umbrella, flashlight, extra water and shopping bags.

Tucked under the back row I keep a picnic blanket and two small blankets.

Also, a backpack with a full set of warm and cool weather clothes for each

I make sure that the kids have a somewhat large trash can placed between them. Somehow I still find wrappers and empty drink containers scattered about but the majority of the sticky unidentified rubbish (parents….you know what I mean) is contained.

Also between the kids I have an art caddy that is useful for holding water

FRONT ROW:

We all know that our sweetest of peas like to ask for many items while out and about. I keep a small bin on the floor of the passenger side. In this you will find a few children’s audiobooks, a bag of individual sized snack bags, gum, scissors, spoons, two kid size bowls and cups, wipes, sanitizer and bandaids. This oddly tackles most jobs.

In the glovebox I always keep a small medicine bag with thermometer so that if we have an ill person and we are far from home we have what we need. I also have emergency information stored in a ziplock bag.

YOUR FAMILY:

Families vary depending on the number of children, the ages of the children, and the varying ideas of adventure. Design your vehicle around your lifestyle and make simple every day routes, road trips and spontaneous adventures enjoyable and dependable.

Happy travels!

Need a more specific suggestion? Email me at hello@thedavenportcompany.com

 Jhoneé Fillmore Owner, Missplaced Organizing / The Davenport Company thedavenportcompany.com/missplaced

Camp GatewaY Gateway

Unplug and Engage at Camp Gateway!

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

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

BACK OF THE CAR:

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

19

20 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

TEACHER'S DESK A Place for Joy to Blossom

BY LISA CATTERALL "The joy in learning is as indispensable in study as breathing is in running." - Simone Weil

Anything that enters a human brain through the senses passes through a simple triage process. Standing at the triage station is the amygdala, and it has three modes: “Danger - run away!” is one; “Happy happy joy joy!” is another; and the third is simply “neutral.”

When the amygdala senses danger, every other brain function funnels energy into running away from the figurative lion about to chase the person down. Survival is all that matters. In modern society, and I believe, in modern classrooms, people spend too much time in this brain loop, without realizing it.

Looking back over fifteen years of teaching, I know occasionally, I might just have been the lion.

On the other hand, when the amygdala finds something joyful, every process in the brain is lit up, awakened, and fully functioning.

For a teacher, making sure the room is right for learning, therefore, must go far beyond safety. We don’t simply want to create a space without fear, we want to make a place for joy to blossom.

I have a choice every day, to scare kids or to dance and play in the classroom. Scaring

is simple, supposedly functional, and built the educational system we have today. It’s true; the system leans towards scaring kids into compliance. Originally, way back in history, this was open and brutal. You can still see this type of schooling, with openly frightening teachers and administrators, going on in many parts of the world. It’s rather shocking to witness. Even here in the U.S., where we’ve softened considerably in our view of how to treat students, there is a joke that isn’t a joke; that teachers should not crack a smile until at least November. One way of keeping the students “in line” is to do a full-on Minerva McGonagall (Maggie Smith in the Harry Potter movie series).

We don’t have to work very hard to scare students into doing what they are “supposed to do.” High school students often show up afraid of making the grade. Society has scared them into thinking they have to be perfect, and have to go to one of about five colleges everyone has heard-of to be successful in life. As teachers, we hold that power over them, traditionally. We can put them in the wrong part of the database.

The time is ripe to reject all manner of teaching by fear. Students and teachers have been pushed to handle much more fear and uncertainty than ever in the last

“

I wonder why, when parents choose schools for their kids, they don’t ask students at the school whether they experience happiness in class every day?

year, and it’s time to find joy, not sorrow and fear, every day, in every classroom.

Now is the time to embrace the power we have to just get out of the way. Learning is inherently joyful. Creativity is joyful, and students are inherently creative.

I wonder why, when parents choose schools for their kids, they don’t ask students at the school whether they experience happiness in class every day? Why, instead, do they ask about homework, AP courses, or test scores?

When we describe our curriculum for the universities or for curriculum guides, shouldn’t we talk about relevance, resonance, and emotional content as much as we talk about intellect? Humankind has learned and stored quite a bit of information, technique, methodology, knowledge and philosophy. It is there for the taking, if we do not stand in students’ way by asking them to run up the ladder of life, away from the lions of failure chasing students as they climb.

I thought about this yesterday when I brought my engineering students a new technique to try. It’s a technique where they

need to be controlled, and safe, because they were using hot soldering irons. I used to be very “scary” about the consequences of not listening to my instructions. Instead, I literally and directly told them there was nothing to be afraid of as long as they kept their safety glasses on and their work on their desktop. “Don’t be afraid,” I said.

“You can’t get an F in this. I want you to play with this, to enjoy it, and to do your best to make it work.” And I didn’t have to do any work to keep them there, keep them focused, and keep them happy.

I think, maybe, in a year when we are all coming up from loss and isolation, for students at an age where school is often a pressure cooker, and wearing our stillnew and awkward masks, I even heard a little bit of joy bouncing around our outdoor classroom.  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.

Creating a more peaceful world through education.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

21

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22 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL NEWS Cultivate Food Enthusiasm With Chef Andrea This Summer

BY SUKI WESSLING

“

Despite her extensive work with adults, Chef Andrea speaks most enthusiastically about working with younger kids who are far from thinking about careers.

Chef Andrea Mollenauer doesn’t seem to do anything halfway. “I kind of have my fingers in every area of the food industry—and I love it!”

Andrea is a caterer, owner of the Food Lounge (a “community-minded food venue”), Cabrillo culinary instructor, high school Career Technical Education instructor, and summer camp leader extraordinaire.

And in case you’re wondering: No, she hasn’t slowed down during the pandemic.

When she learned that she was going to have to teach from her home, a second-floor Victorian flat, she dragged a stainless steel commercial kitchen table up the stairs and got to work. How do you teach cooking when you can’t be with your students? How do you engage high school students who are having to stare at a screen all day? How do you train chefs to work with the public from a distance?

Chef Andrea has the answers. Her first challenge was the high school students.

“One of my mottos is that I’m teaching them at least how to not starve themselves on ramen noodles when they go off to college!” Andrea jokes.

But CTE courses are about much more than the specific skills being taught.

“They get to have their hands busy— everyone likes stimulation at that age, so [my job is] keeping their hands busy, make sure they’re learning skills. Not just technical skills like cooking or fixing a bike or learning medical technologies or digital design, but they’re also learning stuff like how to show up on time, how to improve your resume.”

Chef Andrea’s approach focuses on the particular interests of the students. Teens tend to be focused on looks, she explains, so her approach connects with that.

“Once they learn a bit more about where their food comes from, what kind of nutrients are in food, how it fuels their body, they learn how drinking water helps with skin hydration and eating healthy foods helps with their acne or their hair, there’s this lightbulb that goes off.”

Andrea is a proponent of CTE courses not only for the direct skills that they teach, but also for the way that students learn how to learn.

“It’s not the test that we make them cram for and they get an A on that’s going to teach them things, it’s the learning process and the explanation and exploration that are really going to stick with them,” she explains.

At Cabrillo, she was faced with a dilemma. The program was designed around giving students real-world experience by sixteen weeks of catering 100-200 person events.

During a pandemic, that clearly was not going to happen.

Andrea says that the staff realized that they had an opportunity to make the program even more like the real world.

“We’re thinking about: ‘How do you reinvent yourself as a businessperson?’

‘You want to be a bakery chef? You want to be a caterer? What happens during the slow season?’ ‘How do you reinvent yourself when the trends change?’ We’re having to reinvent the program so that it’s better for the students, a more wellrounded program.”

And yes, summer camp is ON! Despite her extensive work with adults, Chef Andrea speaks most enthusiastically about working with younger kids who are far from thinking about careers.

She says that summer cooking camp is about food enthusiasm.

“I can get young people to eat things they never thought they’d like!” she says. “Their parents are amazed when all of a sudden they’re eating zucchini.

You put it in something delicious like a ratatouille, and you talk about the movie, and you make it fun, and suddenly they want to eat zucchini.”

Unlike the adults, she focuses less on skills and more on exploration.

“They’re not going to leave with excellent knife skills at seven or ten years old, they’re not going to know how to read a recipe properly, but if they’re excited about food they will continue to explore that.”

Finally, Chef Andrea reminds us, a lifetime of healthy enjoyment of food starts at home.

“At the very least, let your kids in the kitchen. Let them touch, taste, smell, play, make mistakes. The kitchen is a magical place!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: •

• •

Learn more about Cabrillo’s Culinary Arts Program at www. cabrillo.edu/culinary-artshospitality-management Learn more about Cabrillo Summer Youth Program at www.cabrillo.edu/ extension/classes/youth Learn more about The Food Lounge at www.scfoodlounge.com

Photo by Leslie Von Flue  Suki Wessling is a local writer and the mom of two young adults. Suki is teaching an online summer camp for

LGBTQ+ teens and allies at Athena’s Advanced Academy. Read more at www.

SukiWessling.com.

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GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

23

HEALTH & WELLNESS GUIDE

to apply/reapply sunscreen with SPF 30 or more on cloudy and sunny days. If there is any concerns about the health of your family’s skin, such as signs of sun damage which include skin discoloration (brown spots, red spots), wrinkles, rough skin, and unusual or atypical looking moles.

California Skin Institute recommends you see one of their board-certified dermatologists for a full-body skin check at any age. Learn more at caskin.com.

HOSPITALS Dignity Health Dominican Hospital

1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 831-462-7700 dignityhealth.org

DENTAL CARE Children’s Dentistry

7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos 831.6622900 SantaCruzKidsDentist.com We provide comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children of all ages. We are preventive-dentistry oriented and very thorough in our evaluations and consultations. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and are able to treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably under a general anesthesia. We have a 24-hour emergency service available for all of our patients.

Nitless Noggins

4200 Scotts Valley Drive Suite D Scotts Valley Ca 95066 831-566-6978 marcy@nitlessnoggins.com NitlessNoggins.com Nitless Noggins Head Lice Treatment Center has been helping the community since 2010. Many families struggle for weeks even months with over-the-counter treatments that do not work because lice have become resistant to them. We provide a safe “Done In One” treatment that is Chemical Free and 100% Guaranteed!

Live Oak Acupuncture & Healing Arts

5015 Scotts Valley Drive Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-440-6412 scottsvalleydentist.com

Marcia Connelly 6892B Soquel Avenue Santa Cruz , CA MarciaConnelly.com (831) 818-7051 mcherbgal@gmail.com

Pajaro Valley Children’s Dental Group

Mindful & Well

Nannette Benedict DDS & Associates

230 Green Valley Rd, Freedom 831.722.9202 www.dental4kids.com Dientes Community Dental Care

Main: 1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz 831.464.5409 Beach Flats: 302 Riverside Ave, Santa Cruz 831.464.5411 Watsonville: 1430 Freedom Blvd., Suite C, Watsonville 831.621.2560 www.dientes.org/

HEALTH PROVIDERS Dignity Health Medical Group

Visit us at dhmf.org/Dominican Capitola (Santa Cruz) Pediatrics: (831) 476-3000 Aptos Pediatrics: (831) 612-6264

HEALTH SERVICES Angela Massage Therapist

Located in Downtown Felton Behind Tomboy Outpost (714) 348-3907 Blissful body work by Angela licensed massage therapist.

24 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Mind-Body-Spirit Wellness for Youth & Adults emily@mindfulandwell.org (831) 471-7314 MindfulandWell.org Pediatric Therapy

Occupational Therapy • Physical Therapy • Speech Pathology 1940 Bonita Drive, Aptos ptc-sc.com (831) 684-1804 Plaza Lane Optometry

Jennifer Buell, OD Brittany Heyano, OD 1537 Pacific Ave, Suite 100, Santa Cruz (831) 429-2020 The importance of eye health and care begins at birth and lasts a lifetime.

Comprehensive eye exams are more than just about clear vision - they are about your health, as your annual check may detect health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, glaucoma, macular degeneration, autoimmune disorders, cancer and tumors, often before symptoms even begin. So if you are one of the many individuals who thought that as long as you see "well" you don't need an eye exam, get yourself an appointment to ensure your best health and vision for a lifetime.

Ultraderm | California Skin Institute

3311 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz 95065 (831)-316-1818 californiaskininstitute.com/locations/ ultraderm-santa-cruz/ Practice good skin protection. Remember

Day Camp. Our summer program is made up of 4 to 5 sessions that are 2 weeks in length with eight, twenty-fiveminute classes. Classes are held on Monday thru Thursday for both weeks.

Cougar Swim School also offers Lifeguard training classes for anyone 15 year and up, who want to work as a lifeguard.

FIT4MOM Santa Cruz

santacruz.fit4mom.com carolyneckman@fit4mom.com Jim Booth Swim School

Santa Cruz at Harvey West Pool and Watsonville at Duncan Holbert Pool and Fitness Evolution 831.722.3500 jimboothswimschool.com Junebug’s Gym

INFANT CARE

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

Birth Network of Santa Cruz County

Pacific Edge Climbing Gym

Santa Cruz birthnet.org We provide parents and professionals with information, education, and advocacy for safe, empowering, joyful birth. Visit birthnet. org for an extensive listing of pregnancy, birth and postpartum related service providers. Learn about the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative and become a more informed healthcare consumer. Find registration information on our Upcoming Events webpage for Meet the Doulas and other virtual events. Due to COVID19 recommendations, events such as Bellies, Birth & Babies will be delayed until in-person events are safe. Keep in touch with our local birth and parenting community with Birth Network Santa Cruz on Facebook and Instagram.

Mothers’ Milk Bank

Valley Medical Center, San Jose 877.375.6645 Nursing Mothers Counsel

(831) 688-3954 nursingmothers.org

RECREATION Adventure Sports Unlimited

303 Potrero Street, #15, Santa Cruz 831.458.3648 asudoit.com ASU’s premier swim school teaches infants through adults the joys of water and adventure. Our ocean programs introduce families to our magnificent marine environments through the Big Sur Camping Trip, Kelp Pickling Class and Open Water Scuba courses. It all starts in our custom-built aquatics facility with our tropically heated pool.

Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District

15685 Forest Hill Drive 831-338-4144 bcrpd.org Cougar Swim School

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

104 Bronson St. Suite 12, Santa Cruz 831-454-9254 PacificEdgeClimbing.com We strive to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive community. Our services include yoga classes, youth programs, a weight room, cardio equipment, and of course indoor climbing. Climbing is a sport that appeals to so many and in our opinion, should be tried at least once. We have a saying; “The best climber is the one having the most fun.” So, climbing, wellness, and fun go hand in hand at Pacific Edge! Our welltrained friendly staff is here to serve our great community. We provide extensive climbing instruction for all experience levels. Stop by and give us a try.

SPIRITUAL HEALTH Felton Presbyterian Church

6090 Hwy 9, Felton, CA 95018 (831) 335-6900 FeltonPresbyterian.org/

SUPPORT SERVICES Hospice of Santa Cruz County

940 Disc Drive, Scotts Valley 831.430.3000 HospiceSantaCruz.org/ Our mission is to provide exemplary end-of-life care and grief support to our community. This includes robust grief support services for youth as the death of a loved one can be especially difficult for children and teens who may not have the language to express their grief. We are here to provide support and resources to parents and guardians as well as to grieving youth through parent/guardian consultations, individual counseling sessions and our annual grief support camp for youth called Camp Erin. All youth grief support services are free of charge and support is available to anyone in our community.

Walnut Avenue Family & Women’s Center

303 Walnut Avenue Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831- 426-3062

HEALTHY EATING Spring Gut Reset Spring Cleaning for Your Tummy

Recipe

Spring Asparagus Salad

BY GRETCHEN HEIMSOTH

Spring has no doubt sprung! Blossoms have budded and transitioned to leaves, it is getting warmer by the week, and seasonal farmers’ markets are reopening.

As the seasons turn, there is a benefit in focusing on the various shifts going on around us, how our bodies respond to those changes, and their own needs accordingly shift.

After a season of the cooler, denser energies of winter, spring has a noticeable lightness and expansiveness. Digestive needs change as our bodies respond to the temperature changes around us. spring and summer are rich times of the year, abundant in seasonal foods that nurture our gut bacteria. Looking at this time as an opportunity to focus on getting a variety of foods in your diet to build your gut and, in hand, your immune system function for the next winter is a wise venture. I like to think of gut health in three simple steps. Feed the bugs (bugs=slang for your guts bacteria), eat the

Happy Mother’s Day!

bugs, protect the bugs. For this piece, I am going to focus on feeding the bugs after winter with a seasonal spring bounty.

Your microbiome feeds off and reacts to everything you take in, seen and unseen. Sometimes we can be exposed to an additive or contaminant we are not aware of, and it can throw our systems for a loop. We are largely empowered, though, to be able to nurture our guts with a little knowledge and foresight.

When discussing feeding the gut in healthy ways, it’s important to do what you can to eliminate processed foods and beverages. There is a real reason why living off processed foods results in us not feeling tip-top. All the food additives, texturizers, preservatives, chemical sweeteners as well as sugars all do a number on our guts. They either kill off our good bacteria, feed the bacteria we do not want, or both.

When the bad bacteria are allowed to proliferate, they start producing

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1 bunch medium asparagus or about a pound ½ cup fresh or frozen peas ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 TBSP lemon juice, 1 TSP fresh lemon zest 2 TSP chopped fresh thyme Mashed garlic clove 2 cups arugula 1 cup sunflower shoots Salt and pepper 1/3 cup crumbled feta

Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice and zest, pepper, garlic, and thyme.

Balance or lightly grill asparagus.

Season with salt and pepper, cut into 1-inch segments.

In a large bowel toss arugula, sunflower shoots, asparagus, and peas. Toss with dressing. When plated, crumble some feta on top. Pepper if desired. Enjoy the spring bounty and the gut love!!

metabolites that cause a cascade of negative effects in our bodies. Metabolic problems, anxiety, fatigue. They also send signals to your body, including the brain. So, if you are in a pattern of eating sugar or something you know you should not frequently indulge in, you may not have a sweet tooth as much as the bacteria proliferating in your gut does.

Yes, they have this much influence, it is not just a metaphor.

A healthy diet for your tummy is one that is full of seasonal variety, rich in color (color translates to flavonoids, which are a group of plant metabolites thought to provide health benefits through cell signaling pathways and antioxidant effect) and fibers. Think Mediterranean diet and aim to eat the rainbow.

The recommendations now are 7 to 9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.

That can seem overwhelming. A serving is a small portion. About half a cup. A little over 3 cups of vegetables is what to aim for. While they seem processed and are to an extent, greens powders thrown into a smoothie can help boost a serving or two in the flavonoid department and can take stress off the mind. In our busy and stressful lives these days, I

Recipe by Biscuits & Beets

support these kinds of healthier hacks to meet your goals. Organic greens and no preservatives is the best to look for.

Fibers are the food of the microbiome.

Gut dysbiosis is also why we get gassy from certain foods. You may not have enough of a certain bacterium to break down the starches. If that’s the case and you know your trigger foods, start small and build up from there.

Spring produce offers up some glorious selections. Asparagus is a great prebiotic and a glutathione powerhouse (it’s why your urine smells funny, so good for you though!) So are strawberries and artichokes. All three of these are abundant locally.

Fava beans offer variety most of us don’t take in regularly. Spring peas, beets, all the abundant greens.

Fiddlehead ferns almost touch on wild eating and foraging adventures. Spring onions, leeks, onions, and garlic. Our flavorful allium vegetable friends. These foods are foundational to gut health and cardiovascular health. I personally can’t live without them. Spring is one of my favorite seasons, and the produce selection here locally just gets better and better until September/October.

Virtual Meet the Doulas Saturday, May 15, 4pm

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

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

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

www.BirthNet.org GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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May is the month we celebrate mothers. Women who give selflessly to those around them. A mother is not always the one who gave birth to you; she may be your aunt, guardian, or friend. She may live next door, across the country, or be watching over you from beyond this world. We celebrate a mother's unconditional love, her ability to be somewhere/ someone safe when we are scared, and our cheerleader through life—cheers to all of the women out there wearing their hearts outside of their body.

Here in Santa Cruz County, we have a vast selection of locally owned businesses at the ready to give Mom, Mama, Mommy, Madre, whatever you call that Goddess in your life, the most thoughtful gift this Mother's Day. Find the perfect thing to show her how much you appreciate all that she does every day.

“

There’s no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one.

– Jill Churchill

FIT4MOM Santa Cruz

Julie Lefmann

santacruz.fit4mom.com carolyneckman@fit4mom.com Mother’s Day Special! Join us for a FREE WORKOUT and receive 50% Off Your Joining Fees in May! FIT4MOM is perfect for moms with kids of all ages. Coupon: MAY50

WithMyOwnTwoHands.net MermaidMemoriesSC.com Certified Massage, Watsu, & Reiki Therapist Professional Mermaid--Parties & Photoshoots Providing “Become a Mermaid” & “Hire a Mermaid” Experiences since 2018.

Mermaid Jules has 65+ tails to make your dreams come true with Photoshoots & Parties, or hire her to make a Splash at your event!

Bumblebees by the Sea

Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

Scarborough Gardens

222 Mt Hermon Rd STE I, Scotts Valley (831) 334-7667 Gift and home decor shop located in Scotts Valley. We feature local artists, made in USA products, jewelry, candles, pamper products, baby, entertaining and more!

Follow us on Instagram @bumblebeesbythesea

1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz 831.420.6115 www.santacruzmuseum.org Find the perfect gift for the nature lovers in your life! The Museum Store features cards, field guides, apparel, and household goods for fans of birds, botanicals, and more.

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

26 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Crooked Beauty

Downtown Felton CrookedBeautyArt.com Bring mom down to use our maker’s space or buy a craft kit to make with her at home. Make her a unique gift, or buy her art supplies!

Hilde Hauc Collection

Lanctot Art Services

Tomboy Outpost

White Raven

Framing Experts 6222 Hwy 9 | (831) 338-3232 artservicesbystevelanctot.com Art Services by Steve & Mary Lanctot, Custom Picture Framing, Fine Art Restoration, Local Artist’s Gallery. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5. 39 Years in SLV.

6235 Hwy 9 | (831) 704-7025 Instagram @TomboyOutpost Tomboy Outpost features a unique collection of vintage and new apparel for men women and children, local handmade goods with a rocking roll western twist.

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

Home of Larry’s Famous Chai.

Hallcrest Vineyards

Chardonnay Sailing Adventures

Fika Bakery

Wild Roots

379 Felton Empire Rd | (831) 335-4441 hallcrestvineyards.com Family run and dog friendly boutique winery established in 1941. Specializing in Pinot Noir, Organic Wines, and Hard Ciders. Open on Thursday-Monday.

790 Mariner Park Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (831) 423-1213 Chardonnay.com Give the gift of adventure! We look forward to sailing with you aboard our fun, fast and exciting yachts while providing you with first-class service and a memorable experience!

Text 562-761-0697 Visit www.facebook.com/ fikabakeshopbenlomond Fika Bakeshop Ben Lomond, a home bakery, is taking pre-orders for its Mother’s Day gift baskets. Treat your Mom to our Meyer Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake!

6240 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-7322 wildrootsmarket.com With deep roots in our community, our mission is to provide locally grown, ethically sourced food from farmers we know and trust. We source 100% organic produce.

“Farming is a love and a passion cultivated from the earth extending out to not just my kids, family, and friends. It’s to the entire community.”

Mama Farmer ,Chris Laughlin, Sea to Sky Farm

Angela Licensed Massage Therapist

Simpatico

Mountainside

(714) 348-3907 Downtown Felton Give the gift of Blissful bodywork for Mother’s Day. Schedule during the month of May and receive a complimentary add to your service. Contact Angela licensed massage therapist to schedule your time.

6223 Hwy 9 | (831) 704-7420 simpatico-ca.com Gifts, artisan goods and treasures for a life well lived. A locally-owned shop nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains supplying style with substance.

6235 Hwy 9 | mountainsidemade@gmail.com Featuring a collection of handmade jewelry and various other goods made by independent designers, fair trade sources, and the local artisan community.

Handmade in Ben Lomond Instagram & Facebook @HildeHaucCollection etsy.com/shop/HildeHaucCollection Offering eclectic home decor and vintage treasures. Find what you're looking for from hand-poured soy wax candles in enamel mugs to wine barrel stave bottle openers.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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

WE OFFER: • Free weekly classes in literacy, math, science & art • Clubs & community events • Teacher support for every student • K-8th grade • OCEAN ONLINE a non-classroom based option with adaptable online curriculum & direct teacher guidance Virtual Open House May 6 & 27, 5 to 6 pm.

Call to preregister

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

READY TO ROCK? Success starts with good *binocular* vision Comprehensive eye exams for babies, kids & parents & proud providers of InfantSee Located in Downtown Santa Cruz PlazaLaneOptometry.com (831) 429-2020 1537 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz

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

28 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

PARENTING Give Kids The Choice…By Taking It Away

BY CHRIS JACKSON

If your kids want to choose to learn an instrument once they’re adults, they can, right? Wrong. If you don’t make music lessons mandatory for your kids, they won’t have the choice to learn later. If you require the lessons, they will have the choice to not pursue it as adults.

The vast majority of successful musicians do not have some crazy gift.

They learned early and played their instruments a lot. My parents made it mandatory for me to take piano lessons at nine years old. They did the same with my two brothers. Both of them made the choice to not pursue piano (or other

instruments) as adults. I made the choice to not only pursue piano but to learn guitar at 14 years old and drums at 18 years old. I soon became a professional musician. I wouldn’t have had the choice to do that if my parents hadn’t taken away my choice. And because you don’t know which child will choose music as an adult, you make music lessons mandatory for all your children.

Learning an instrument at 17 years old or older is difficult because there are many demands on your time. At that point, it’s generally too late at to get past the early learning curves and give

yourself a chance to be good enough to play professionally and with others.

Now that you know all that, here are four important points too often neglected regarding music lessons: 1. kids should learn more than one instrument 2. kids should learn to compose 3. kids should learn to read more than one type of sheet music, and 4. kids should play along with other musicians.

Most parents assume their kids will learn just one instrument, not realizing that the second instrument comes much faster than the first, and the third instrument even faster than the second.

Your child has earned that faster learning curve by putting all that time into the first instrument.

Among the instruments, I suggest your kids learn piano, guitar or both.

Those are instruments on which one can play chords (more than one note at time), and chords are used in composing.

Experiencing the fun and challenges in composing will open up a whole new world of creativity, confidence and joy for your child. Hopefully, they will write solo and in collaboration with others. Writing music with others is like teaming up with friends to solve a puzzle–the reward at the end is so satisfying!

The typical sheet music that kids learn to read is the kind with the bass and treble clefs and every note and timing (rhythm) written out (the typical piano sheet music). The sheet music most used by performing musicians, however, is the chord/lyric sheet, where only the chord name is written next to the lyric that is sung when that chord is played. This type of sheet music requires the student to improvise and interpret a bit–adding notes here and there–and to add their own timing/touch/feel to the rhythm of the song.

Finally, playing with others means playing in band. This is where the ultimate joy, satisfaction, and payoff comes. A sense of accomplishment for the team: “hey – that kind of sounded like that song the way the artist plays it!” This leads not only to paid opportunities but also to friendships that often last a lifetime.

Ready? One, two, three, hit it!  Chris Jackson has been the morning music DJ on KFOX radio (98.5) for 30 years. He has played the National Anthem at professional sporting events around the Bay Area and he is working on a book about how to treat your kids like a rock star.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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NOW ENROLLING Private Lessons and Swim Babies

Find out more at asudoit.com 303 Potrero St #15 • Santa Cruz 831-458-3648 • asudoit.com

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

The Marine Mammal Online Experience (MOE)

SUMMER@KIRBY! It’s going to be a great summer!

Join us at Kirby School for our virtual or in-person academic, arts, and athletics summer program in June and July 2021.

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

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

(scholarships available for qualified families)

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

30 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Our staff are safety trained and excited to ignite your incoming 6th through 12th grade student’s imagination. We invite you to learn, play, and create together!

Sign up to learn more about our program at: 425 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 | kirby.org

kirby.org/summeratkirby

LOCAL ARTIST Martina Goulart When I was 15, I lived in a different country. The time, place, and culture made me believe that drawing and painting was childish and it wasn’t going to get me anywhere in my life. I gave up on my dream, and moved on to a more practical path in my career. Luckily, I didn’t give up on my dreams to travel. A few years later, I moved to California, where I could truly be who I really was, an artist.

Now residing in the Santa Cruz Mountains, I feel very fortunate to be a part of such a great community and stunning nature. In my artwork I explore the reactions of the human mind and body to color, texture and images derived from nature as a vehicle for visual relaxation. No matter how hard life gets, my artwork has always been positive and a source of a great strengths.

Having three wonderful children made me realize how much I love teaching art. I created and published The Sight Words Coloring Book that is not only a coloring book, but also supports reading and math. I teach my art students not just art techniques, but mainly creative and critical thinking, how to communicate through art and much more. I am very thankful for the WCSA principal, Amy Thomas, who keeps on challenging me with projects for her school. Just at the beginning of 2020 I have designed and painted the Sensory Paths Mural at WCSA - a painted obstacle course encompassing PE, reading, math, art history and social-emotional learning.

Few months later I painted an inspirational mural at the Pajaro Middle School. All my projects are very personalized and meaningful, even my online paintalong must fit the audience.

Visit martinaGOULARTstudio.com to find out more. Follow martinaGOULARTstudio on Facebook and Instagram.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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“

BY SUKI WESSLING

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



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

This Month’s Mom Doesn’t Run From a Challenge Meet Mary Wright of Arete Women’s Running Club

BY SUKI WESSLING

“Since August, we have worked really hard to prioritize our kids’ socioemotional health,” explains Mary Wright. Why August? That’s when she, husband Andy, and their three kids Lucia, Oliver, and Annabel welcomed a fourth, baby Thomas.

Mary is Co-Founder and Director of Arete Women’s Running Club, which started in Santa Cruz six years ago and now boasts nine chapters around the country.

Before she welcomed another child into their family, she was busy enough.

“Before the pandemic, I worked during school hours and traveled more,” she explains. “Now I work whenever I have my windows between distance learning.”

Andy is a teacher and worked through most of the last year from home as well. Mary explains their method for organizing the kids’ learning and her

32 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

emotionally healthy outlook.

“Each night before bed, Andy and I write out the following day’s schedule on a whiteboard,” Mary says. “It’s like a big puzzle. We each work for 1-1.5 hour slots while swapping the kids back and forth. I don’t think I’m doing a great job in anything, but I hope I’m doing a ‘good enough’ job in all things.”

Local mom Rebecca Paten, who nominated Mary, was impressed by her dedication. “[Mary and co-founder Melissa Leigh] both adapted to the Covid situation and have provided a lot of online support and encouragement for people to stay fit and healthy during the pandemic,” she says.

Mary’s day starts early when she rises in the dark to get some exercise before the baby wakes. Then she moves to the “constant baton toss from the

kitchen to the office to the kids’ distance learning bedrooms.” Work—responding to emails, developing training plans, tinkering with the app, shipping merchandise, organizing events—comes in between parenting duties.

Mary says that she has realized more than ever that what she does for her work and for her family is communitybuilding. “This is the year it became glaringly obvious how much we all need each other in order to thrive!”

For her family and her business, the pandemic has helped remind her to focus on prioritizing community.

That means learning pods and Covidsafe social activities for her family and making sure that her business continues to promote connectedness. She’s also learned some lessons.

“You can’t save your kids or shelter them from everything,” Mary explains.

“At the beginning, I was trying to make their worlds perfect and sugarcoat the trauma, but after a few weeks, I realized I couldn’t keep that up. The reality is we have four kids, two working parents, and a lot of moments are just going to plain old suck for everyone.

“So in the moment, I’ve been reminding my kids that this is hard, it’s okay to feel frustrated, and all we can do is bring our best attitude to each day and keep showing up.”

And show up she does! Learn more about Mary’s business at RunArete.com.  Suki Wessling is a local writer and the mom of two young adults. Read more at www.SukiWessling.com.

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

PARENTING The Value of Early Financial Literacy

BY CHRISTY SHULTS

“

Whatever you choose, teaching your children the value of budgeting and saving at a young age will carry with them through their adulthood.

Good luck with your money adventures!

Busy Kid CARD TYPE: Visa MONTHLY FEES: $1.67 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

• • •

Lowest cost - only $19.99 per year Split into three categories: Saving, Spending, and Giving Parental Control on movement between categories

CARD TYPE: Mastercard MONTHLY FEES: $4.99 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

• • •

Saving and Investing Tools Minimum Fees Paycheck Deposits

Copper CARD TYPE: Mastercard MONTHLY FEES: $0 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

• • •

No Fees Teaches kids how to be mindful of their money habits, even offers quizzes that earn them money.

Kids can create their own budget categories

CONS

WHY WE LOVE IT

WHY WE LOVE IT

This card lets you set up a chore list kids can work on to earn money and even set a goal to work towards. You can schedule allowance deposits.

You add money instantly through the app. You will receive notifications of transactions.

Famzoo CARD TYPE: Mastercard MONTHLY FEES: $5.99 CARD PURCHASE: $2 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

• • •

Kids can request money from you via the app.

Split into three categories: Saving, Spending, and Giving No foreign transaction fees for those traveling abroad

CONS

• •

Fee for 5+ cards Limited Cash Deposit - You have to add through GreenDot or Mastercard rePower, which costs money.

WHY WE LOVE IT

“With FamZoo, parents are “bankers,” and their children are account holders. Parents can establish a payroll for their kids, loan money, set up automatic allowances, and even pay interest on savings.” -apyguy.com

• • •

Monthly Fees The only way to add cash is with a connected debit card Can only load $500 a day

WHY WE LOVE IT

LINKED CARDS TO MONEY APPS

CONS

Can’t receive payments from Apple Cash, PayPal, Venmo or the US government.

CONS

•

One free card included. Any additional will cost $7.99 per card No Parental control on spending category

The Busy Kid is the most cost-effective for parents with multiple kids. It also teaches kids how to budget. You can automate their allowance.

Greenlight

Free Trial Parental Controls Custom Chores

This card is all about customization: custom chores, custom categories, and custom images on the card.

WHY WE LOVE IT

DEBIT CARDS:

• • •

CONS

•

“Can you Venmo me? Or CashApp, Paypal, Zelle, I’m pretty sure I have Facebook Pay too.” Sound familiar? Who writes checks anymore or carries cash?

Long gone are the days of giving your kid a $20 to go out. Admittedly paying allowance has been much easier since March 2020 when social outings came to a halt. All I have to do is transfer my kids’ budget to their savings accounts. It could be fun to pay them cash and then charge them to watch a movie in the living room and eat popcorn. But things are starting to open back up, and they want their independence.

My daughter recently got a job that wasn’t babysitting. So an actual paycheck, every two weeks! Of course, in this modern world we live in, she has options for payment: Check, Venmo or PayPal. All of these balances can be transferred to a checking account; however, she isn’t 18, and I’m not sure I want to share my account with her, no matter how responsible she may be.

What to do? Thankfully, there are a ton of options out there, including major debit cards for kids and teens!

Most of these cards offer your child the opportunity to earn money by doing chores that you can set with various payrates.

Whatever you choose, teaching your children the value of budgeting and saving at a young age will carry with them through their adulthood. I have to say that I love the options for “Giving” on most of the cards below. What a wonderful world to live in where we are taught the value of charity done with a genuine heart starting in our youth.

Good luck with your money adventures!

PROS

Some retailers may charge up to $4.95 to deposit money This account is free to use because it is linked to a checking account. It has interactive quizzes and articles that teach your child financial literacy. You can schedule recurring transfers and instantly deposit cash into their account.

Capital One MONEY Teen Checking CARD TYPE: Visa or Mastercard MONTHLY FEES: $0 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

• • •

0.1% APY Categorize Cash Expansive ATM Access

CONS

No Chores or Allowance WHY WE LOVE IT

This card is for the teen who is earning their own money and has already built a financial knowledge base.

Go Henry CARD TYPE: Mastercard MONTHLY FEES: $3.99 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $1.50

Cash App Debit Card CARD TYPE: Visa MONTHLY FEES: $0 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0

• • • •

Pros Add Money On Demand Getting Paid is Easy The card can be temporarily frozen via the app

CONS

• •

No Chores or Allowance No Categories

WHY WE LOVE IT

There are no fees, and you can add money instantly via the app. Quickly transfer to a separate savings account.

Venmo Debt Card CARD TYPE: Visa MONTHLY FEES: $0 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

• •

Getting Paid is Easy The card can be temporarily frozen via the app

CONS

• •

No Chores or Allowance No Categories

WHY WE LOVE IT

There are no fees, and you can add money instantly via the app. Quickly transfer to a separate savings account.

Apple Pay CARD TYPE: Visa MONTHLY FEES: $0 CARD PURCHASE: $0 ATM FEES: $0 PROS

Transfer Money CONS

• • •

No Chores or Allowance No Categories Only Available on iOS

WHY WE LOVE IT

There are no fees, and you can add money instantly via the app.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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34 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

REGISTER NOW SPACE IS LIMITED

R O O D T U O & INDOOR PS M A C G N I B IM E R D A Y , 6 / 1 4 - 8 / 6 L C R E M M U S LONG, 2 HOURS P WEEK

Visit us Online, Call or Stop In 831-454-9254 ~ www.pacificedgeclimbinggym.com

Each themed box comes with: Hardback Picture Book + Kid-friendly Recipe Card Baking Tool + Project

Come see what we’re mixing up!

www.BookakeryBoxes.com Available as 1, 3, 6 and 12 month packages Coupon good for any length subscrip�on. Renews at standard rate. Expires 12/31/2021

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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SUMMER ACTIVITIES GUIDE

CYT Santa Cruz "Summer Cabaret" musical theater camps are a week-long day camp for students ages 4-18 and are offered July 5-9 in Scotts Valley and July 12-16 in Aptos. Camps are designed to create a hands-on theater experience, and are focused on building performance skills, self-confidence, and teamwork. Our camps include rotations through drama, dance, and music, and an impressive concluding Cabaret Performance for a live audience at our outdoor stage. There’s no better place for kids to learn about theater and have fun than in CYT’s positive and encouraging atmosphere.

Four Points Youth Camp

CAMPS All About Theatre

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

Be Natural Music

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

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

Boulder Creek Recreation & Park District

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

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

Camp Gateway

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

Gateway School is hosting a screen-free interactive summer camp experience for rising 1st - 6th graders. Campers will

36 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

engage in our counselor-led activities including mini makers stations, field games, gym play, crafting corner, science sleuths, and more! During the 2020-2021 school year Gateway School provided students with a safe On-Campus experience and we are excited to carry this into Camp Gateway. Visit http:// www.gatewaysc.org/campgateway/ for more information and to register. Camps will run in two weeks sessions from July 12 through August 20. Registration opens on April 15, 2021.

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

Cabrillo Extension Summer Youth Program offers safe, fun, and engaging summer camps. We partner with local entrepreneurs and small businesses to provide inclusive and positive learning environments where kids learn new skills, make connections that will last a lifetime, and have tons of fun in the process! This summer’s line-up includes everything from teen baking to hands-on STEM experiences to active sports camps.

Campers will be inspired, engaged, and develop skills that help them succeed and grow. Join us for diverse, high-quality camps to explore science & engineering; culinary; computers & technology; sports; and the arts. We are proud to be a member of the American Camp Association, which provides us with outstanding resources for our staff and campers, and inform our policies, procedures, and practices.

City of Santa Cruz Parks & Recreation Department

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

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

CYT Santa Cruz

216 Mt. Hermon Rd suite E P. O. Box 231 Scotts Valley CA 95066 (831)239-3821 cytsantacruz.org

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

Growing Social

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

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

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

Mount Hermon Redwood Camp

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

Mountain of Fun – Mount Madonna School

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

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

Redwood Music Teen Camp

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

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

Summer Camps at The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

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

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

SC SPCA Kids Summer Camp

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

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

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

CLASSES Advantage Driving School

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

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

Chartwell School

2511 Numa Watson Road, Seaside 831.394.3468 chartwell.org Chartwell School, located on 65 acres in Seaside, CA, serves students with dyslexia and other related learning differences who

SUMMER ACTIVITES GUIDE 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. Summer@Chartwell is a four-week program that emphasizes literacy, math, STEAM, and enrichment skills.

Guitar Lessons with Nathan Bessara

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

Jim Booth Swim School

Santa Cruz at Harvey West Pool and Watsonville at Duncan Holbert Pool and Fitness Evolution 831.722.3500 jimboothswimschool.com Be a water wonder! From our Little Otters swim class for parents and their babies to Aquaphobics, our adult beginner class, the whole family splashes together at Jim Booth Swim School. Little Otters beginning at age 4 months is a gentle introduction to our 94-degree pools that will make you confident that you are guiding your infant to a happy water experience. Our lessons emphasize quality swimming in an exciting class taught by our caring, well-qualified teachers. The whole family can swim at Jim Booth Swim School.

Summer@Kirby!l

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

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

Marine Mammal Online Experience (MOE)

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

in their continued conservation. Students participate in virtual tours, interactive labs, and learn from experts in the field.

Mountain Music School (Formerly known as B Sharp)

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

Pacific Edge Climbing Gym

104 Bronson St. Suite 12, Santa Cruz 831-454-9254 PacificEdgeClimbing.com At Pacific Edge we strive to create a safe, welcoming, and fun community. We offer a variety of Afterschool Programs for children and youth ages 6 – 17. Our highly skilled instructors and coaches engage students with various games and activities that impart climbing skills in a fun and supportive environment. Our programs challenge students to reach their full potential through the sport of rock climbing. Programs include: Jr. Rock Stars – Kids 6-7. Rock Stars – Kids 8-10. Youth Introduction to Climbing – Youth 11-17. Youth Core Climbing Class – Youth 11-17. Team Edge (Youth Competitive Team) – Ages 7-17. For more information, please call us or visit our website.

Wings School of Dance

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

Friendly, professional staff and two beautiful studios located in Scotts Valley!

Ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and contemporary styles. Recreational and competitive program. New in-person classes and camps for 3-18 year olds starting in June.

View the Summer Schedule at www. wingsschoolofdance.com.

ENRICHMENT The Bookakery

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

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

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

Reading just 5 books over the summer helps prevent learning loss in students. Kids can continue learning while having fun at

virtual programs such as storytimes, craft and other STEAM activities. Amazing performers will present virtual shows all summer long. Sign up at any branch or online at santacruzpl.org\srp starting June 1st.

Tandy Beal and Company’s KEEP ON TRUCKIN!

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

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

York School Summer Bridge Program

9501 York Rd., Monterey, CA 93940 831-372-7388 york.org/summer Welcoming students in rising grades 8–12!

We are offering fun and safe summer programs on York’s 100-acre campus for local middle and high school students.

Whether you’re looking to brush up on academics, get moving with athletics, explore your creativity in the arts, or enhance your social-emotional wellness, we have a program for you! Camps will run weekly with morning, afternoon or all-day options, starting in June. For more information, please visit york.org/summer or email us at summer@york.org.

PRESCHOOLS Rocking Horse Ranch Preschool

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

RECREATION Adventure Sports Unlimited

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

Community Boating Center, UCSC

790 Mariner Park Way Santa Cruz, CA 95062 831-425-1164 Recreation.ucsc.edu/youth/juniorsailing/

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

Cougar Swim School

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

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

Junebug’s Gym

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

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

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County 831.332-9002 MusicalMe.com Our online & outside classes offer the best in Early Childhood Music Learning for ages Birth to 8 years. Music Together®: A music program for children birth to age 6—and the grownups who love them, enhancing children’s learning in multiple domains (mentally, physically, socially, etc.), increasing family engagement and, adding richly to each family’s “toolbox”. Siblings are welcome, especially infants who may attend free if they are 8 months or under. Canta y Baila ConmigoTM: A unique curriculum for young children (ages Birth to 6 years) with dual, complementary goals of music education and language immersion.

Designed for beginners and native speakers alike, CyBC creates a playful, interactive atmosphere where language learning is integrated naturally and organically into the musical experience. Rhythm Kids®: A drumming, music, and movement, program for children ages 4–8 years.

Classes naturally support children’s rhythm development and help them prepare for formal music lessons. Contact us today to try a free class and bring the joy of music into your family’s life.

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SUMMER ACTIVITES GUIDE Santa Cruz Gymnastics

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

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

SUMMER HEALTH Ultraderm | California Skin Institute

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

SUMMER EATS Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar

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

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

White Raven

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

Wild Roots

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

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

Santa Cruz Farmers Markets

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

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

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

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

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

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

- last Tues. Oct

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is your Sunday destination.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Restoring joints since perms were all the rage.

Now, with minimally invasive surgery.

The hospital that’s been serving Santa Cruz for decades is the same one with the most advanced technology available today. Our O-arm™ Surgical Imaging System allows for minimally invasive surgery—helping our patients get back on their feet faster. At Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital, our years of experience allow us to always be looking ahead.

GrowingUpSC.com | MAY 2021

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40 MAY 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz