Growing Up in Santa Cruz October 2021

OCT 2021

o t o h P y b a B

BIRTH HAPPENS STOPPING VIOLENCE

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Your music school for families with children from Birth to 8 years old

GATEWAY SCHOOL

Kindergarten–8th grade | Founded 1970

W H E R E E X P E R I E N C E A N D I N N OVAT I O N M E E T www.gatewaysc.org | 423-0341 | 255 Swift Street, Santa Cruz

(831) 332-9002 | MusicalMe.com

Features

08 Hallie Greene is Making a Difference

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OPEN YOUR KIDS UP TO MORE

Jim Booth Swim School

Evenings • Saturday Classes • Birthday Parties

The BEST in Baby Swimming!

Start at 4 months in our 94 ° indoor pool!

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What the Kids are Saying About Sports and Mental Health

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Staying Healthy with Nature's Favorite Berry

Editors' Note.......................................4 Local News: A Santa Cruz First...........5 Ask Nciole...........................................6 Always Amused...................................7 Birth Matters......................................9 County Scoop.....................................10 Education...........................................11 Adeventures in Momming..................12 Teacher's Desk....................................13 What the Kids are Saying....................15 Swank Farms......................................16 Halloween Fun & Events.....................17 Local News: Sea Walls.........................18 Parenting: Birth Stories......................21 Baby Photo Contest Runner Ups.........22 Healhty Eating....................................23 Parenting: Child Tax Credit................24 Moms Who Make a Difference............25 Coloring Page.....................................26 Coloring Contest Winners..................27 Prgenancy and Birth Guide................28 Gift Guide...........................................29 EDITOR/PUBLISHER

Brad Kava, Jennifer Ford, Steve Dinnen ART DIRECTOR

Zelzi Belle | Christy Shults DISTRIBUTION & SUBSCRIPTIONS

Susan Bernstein CONTRIBUTORS

Patty Benson, Lisa Catterall, Erik Chalhoub, Leslie Funk, Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson, Brad Kava, Laura Maxson, Mikayla Shults, Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy, Suki Wessling, Nicole Young

IN-CENTER AND VIRTUAL CLASSES available

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Aptos 8035 Soquel Dr., Ste 27 Aptos, CA 95003 831.508.8200 Santa Cruz 740 Front St., Ste. 150 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831.824.6284 Scotts Valley 218-D Mt. Hermon Rd Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831.508.0909

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Now enrolling for the 2021-2022 school year for children 18 months to 14 years Santa Cruz Montessori Wavecrest Junior High A unique program designed to meet the needs and interests of 7th and 8th graders

*Enroll between 09/01/21 and 10/15/21 to waive the Registration Fee of up to $50. See Center for applicable terms and conditions. © 2021 Kumon North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

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SEPTEMBER 2021 | VOL. 26 NO. 9

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Growing Up in Santa Cruz copyright 2021. Printed in the U.S.A. All views expressed represent those of the individual authors. The contents of this publication are meant as information only and should not take the place of a medical doctor’s recommendations.

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

More information at scms.org or call 831-476-1646 GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

A kid in our 5-year-old’s kindergarten class at Rio Del Mar Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19 and the school went right into action.

All the students in the class had to get tested right away on school grounds and then again several days later. None of them tested positive.

That was so reassuring and told me clearly that masks work.

When the pandemic started plenty of science deniers claimed kids were losing their freedom by being forced to wear masks and they argued that youngsters didn’t have the discipline to keep their masks on and distance themselves when necessary. I worried about that also.

But my boy, Parker, has been stellar about wearing his mask properly, just the way he’s religious about making sure his car seat is buckled and that we all have our seatbelts on and stay off our phones when driving. (His photo is above.)

These kids aren’t stupid. In fact, they are old souls who have the ability to do the right thing even when faced with something scary that makes them uncomfortable.

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to the teachers and administrators who are protecting our children and teaching even the youngest and most fragile of them how to handle one of the most terrifying challenges of our time.

That said, the news this week is that California, the most populous state, has the lowest COVID-19 numbers in the country with 25 cases per 100,000 people Contrast this with maskless Florida, which has 262 cases per 100,000 residents. Our politicians and state workers are clearly doing the right thing

encouraging vaccines, masking and distancing, despite criticism from the people who push unfounded rumors about hydroxychloroquine, drinking bleach or taking de-wormers.

They sound convincing but their arguments are more like the ones made by those who don’t believe we landed on the moon or think con trails are chem trails.

It’s ironic that Republicans would spend $275 million attacking Governor Gavin Newsom in spite of his effectively taking charge of the problem. History will look back at the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers and cringe at their sheer ignorance in what should be a more enlightened age. In the pandemic of 1918 people were jailed or fined for not wearing masks. Were they smarter than us? (When you see the poor quality of the masks they were wearing, you shudder.

But they had the right idea.)

One Red Cross public service announcement at the time said “the man or woman or child who will not wear a mask now is a dangerous slacker,” according to a report in history.com.

The same holds true today for the antiscience crowd.

Four Santa Cruzans have died from COVID-19 since the arrival of the Delta variant. All of them weren’t vaccinated.

What more do you need to know?

We have a chance to beat this thing and we have the tools to live through it.

We just need to stop falling for snake oil salesmen.

Thanks for reading and supporting Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

About the Cover James Powars Wilder. Named after his grandpa Jim Wilder and great grandma Patricia Powars. He’s known around town as Sweet Baby James. He was born March 15th 2021 and just turned six months.

Both his parents were born and raised in Santa Cruz and he has a huge extended

family that are all close by! He has two older sisters whom he absolutely adores (and vice versa) He loves to laugh and be the center of attention. His smile, baby rolls and chubby cheeks bring joy to all that cross his path!

LOCAL NEWS A Santa Cruz First Children Receive College Funds for Going to the Dentist County get an early start on saving for their child’s continuing education. The partnership connects SCCV’s Semillitas program, which provides a college savings account to every newborn in the county, with Dientes’ oral health care to ensure children get a head start on a bright future and bright smile.

HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:

Did you know children from lowincome households with savings of just $1-$499 for post-secondary education are three times more likely to go to college— and four times more likely to graduate?

Starting children with savings early in life can improve their social-emotional development, a proven predictor of increased academic achievement later in life. College Savings Account programs

send all children the message that they have the potential and the support needed for academic success and economic mobility, regardless of where they come from or their family’s finances. ?

Dientes Community Dental and Santa Cruz Community Ventures (SCCV) have announced a new partnership as part of College Savings Month that provides up to $200 to help parents in Santa Cruz

Every child born to Santa Cruz County parents after December 31, 2020 receives a gift of up to $50 toward their education in a special Semillitas savings account.

Funds will be held in ScholarShare, California’s 529 college savings plan, where parents can monitor its growth.

The goal is to have the funds reach $500 by the time a child enters kindergarten.

Upon graduating high school, the funds can be used for that child’s college or vocational education at accredited and qualified schools.

Dientes is the first partner to step forward to celebrate oral health milestones with gifts towards a bright future! There are three ways Dientes will contribute to a child’s Semillitas account during milestone visits, including a child’s first tooth or first

birthday visit, annual visits (ages 2-5), and sealant visit (age 6).

Dientes is working to make prevention more common than treatment, and that begins when a child’s first tooth appears. This partnership between Dientes and Semillitas gives parents an extra incentive to prioritize regular dental checkups while investing in their children’s health and education at the same time.

Education and medical care are primary social determinants of health that affect a wide range of outcomes throughout a child’s life. Investing in both early on can improve children’s wellbeing and social-emotional development, which has been a proven predictor of increased academic achievement later in life. Through Semillitas, Santa Cruz County is sending a strong message about the importance of instilling college going expectations and a sense of hope in families— regardless of a child’s background.

For more information, visit semillitas.org.

DISCOVER THE JOY OF LEARNING AT KIRBY SCHOOL. Have you scheduled your child’s 1st tooth or 1st birthday dental visit?

Medi-Cal accepted Affordable rates for uninsured patients Kirby School is an independent college preparatory day school in Santa Cruz for grades 6-12.

Our challenging program is available both in person, for on-campus learners, and online, for at-home learners.

Join us at an Upcoming Virtual Open House in October. Scan the QR code to sign up and to view a list of upcoming Admissions events.

Social and emotional well-being is a top priority and vital to student success. Our caring team is committed to ensuring your child thrives.

We offer a test-free application and Tuition Assistance.

425 ENCINAL ST. | SANTA CRUZ 95060 | KIRBY.ORG

Santa Cruz Mid-County

1830 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz (near Dominican Hospital) 831.464.5409 open Mon-Sat 7:30am - 4:00pm

Santa Cruz Beach Flats

302 Riverside Avenue, Santa Cruz (near the Boardwalk) 831.464.5411 open Mon-Fri 7:30am - 4:00pm

Watsonville

1430 Freedom Blvd, Suite C, Watsonville (near Cardenas) 831.621.2560 open Mon-Fri 8:30am - 5:00pm

www.dientes.org GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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ASK NICOLE When Violence Happens at School

BY NICOLE M. YOUNG, MSW

Early Head Start Support for

feelings right away (or at all). Continue to look for signs they’re ready to talk or want to process their feelings non-verbally through art, music, writing, or physical activity. They might want to be near you more than usual or have noticeable changes in moods, behaviors, eating, and sleeping. If you’re concerned about their emotional well-being, seek support from a mental health professional at their school or in the community.

Dear Nicole, I’ve been worried ever since the violent incident at my kids’ high school. I worry about their safety but am trying not to let it show. They don’t want to talk to me about it, but I know they’re hearing rumors at school and on social media. How can I be supportive without being pushy?

- Mariana

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Dear Mariana,

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Our community is still grappling with the tragic, violent death of a high school student on campus. It’s been weeks since it happened and I didn’t know the students involved, but I still get emotional when I imagine the pain of losing a child. Many people responded with compassion, honoring the student who lost his life and donating money to the family. Others shared strong opinions about whether to have more law enforcement or mental health counselors on campus. And some shared their theories about what causes violence in the first place (hint: it’s usually framed as a parenting failure). It left me feeling emotionally raw and heavy, but I’m still hopeful that I live in a caring community that will continue to find creative, effective ways to support the well-being of all children, youth, and families.

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.

OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Good question. It will take time, but you and other adults can play an important role in restoring a sense of safety and security. Here are a few tips to try with kids of all ages: Maintain a supportive family environment. Spend quality time with your kids every day. Give them your full attention frequently and consistently, even if it’s briefly. This reassures them that you see and value them and are available during the joyful and challenging times. Give descriptive praise to encourage their efforts and positive behaviors. Be kind and affectionate to teach your kids what healthy, loving communication and relationships look and feel like.

BE AVAILABLE TO TALK

Calmly ask open-ended questions such as, What have you heard? How do you feel? or Can you say more about that? to gauge what your kids know and how it’s affecting them. If they ask questions, respond with accurate, age-appropriate information. Reassure them all feelings are okay, and they might feel a range of emotions for a while.

Encourage conversations but follow their cues. Children and teens may not want to talk about the incident or their

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR OWN REACTIONS

Violence is always frightening, but it can be even scarier when it happens unexpectedly in everyday places like school. Children and teens may worry they and their friends are in greater danger, and adults’ reactions will influence how they react. If adults declare that schools are unsafe, express a lack of confidence in school administrators, or make hurtful, judgmental comments about other families in front of their kids, children and teens can end up feeling less safe and more anxious. They might also adopt and repeat the same beliefs, which can perpetuate fear and be hurtful to others.

Review safety rules for home and school and discuss what to do if they feel unsafe — whether it’s due to a natural disaster, someone who makes them feel uncomfortable, or physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional violence they’ve witnessed or experienced. Help kids identify at least one other adult they can go to for help and support. Encourage your kids to follow their gut instinct and tell an adult if they see or hear something that makes them concerned about their own or others’ safety.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Preventing or handling violence at school is not a simple task that is the sole responsibility of parents and caregivers or of school staff. And there’s rarely one, singular thing that causes violence, which means we need multiple strategies to increase safety and well-being. I hope we can start with listening, empathy, and kindness—at home, in schools, in workplaces, and in the community.  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, www.facebook.com/ triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@ first5scc.org.

ALWAYS AMUSED The Return of Halloween Events Theme Parks Announce Scarefests After 2020 Hiatus

BY ERIK CHALHOUB The Boardwalk is always hiring. To view available jobs, visit beachboardwalk. com/Jobs.

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD

Halloween Horror Nights is back on select nights from Sept. 9 to Oct. 31, with eight haunted mazes.

Rising through the ranks

SAVE THE DATES

Theme park jobs offer a great opportunity for career growth, and we recently saw another example at the Boardwalk.

Omid Aminifard, who began his 36year theme park career as a park host at SeaWorld San Diego, was promoted to general manager and vice president of the Boardwalk in August.

He joined the Boardwalk as the director of Arcades and Attractions in 2000, and six years later was promoted to director of Boardwalk Operations. Prior to his most recent promotion, he was vice president of Boardwalk Operations.

“I enjoy the varied and unique challenges of an open-gate amusement park,” Aminifard said. “We have developed an outstanding team of dedicated and caring professionals who understand the importance of delivering world-class guest and employee experience.”

I’ve been surprised over the past few weeks as theme parks throughout the state have been slowly announcing their Halloween offerings this year.

Curious, mostly, over how events that rely heavily on “in your face scares” can survive and adapt in a world where a pandemic rages on, and where social distancing is still prominent. The parks have so far been mum on what modifications their Halloween festivities will have in light of Covid-19 and its variants.

Will plexiglass separate the monsters from the guests? Will capacity inside mazes be extremely limited, therefore requiring reservations? We should find out more this month.

But most of all, I’m excited to see the return of my favorite theme park events of the year. It gives me goosebumps to see the teaser videos coming from Knott’s Berry Farm, and to see promotional materials announcing monster hiring events.

Here’s what we know so far. This information was accurate as of late August, so check with your favorite park’s website for cancellations and other information before attending.

SANTA CRUZ BEACH BOARDWALK

No Halloween announcements so far from our local seaside park. But remember, you can experience the scares year-round at the Fright Walk, a walkthrough attraction upgraded in 2017 that features some wild special effects and an unnerving atmosphere.

GILROY GARDENS

Come in and Get Spooky!

Expect to see the return of day and night Halloween events at the gardens in October. Live musical shows, trickor-treating, the “Boo Train” and other spooky festivities are a staple of this family-friendly event.

CALIFORNIA’S GREAT AMERICA

Halloween Haunt is back after last year’s hiatus, running select nights from Sept. 24 to Oct. 31. Full details have yet to be announced, but the park has hinted at the return of such mazes as Backwoods and the lights-off Wax Museum experience, where a small, too-dim flashlight is your only way to navigate the creepy labyrinth. Want to be a monster this year? Check out the various positions that the park is now hiring: bit.ly/3j3MNpK.

The Boardwalk’s Fall Girl Scout Overnight takes place Oct. 1-2, followed by the Fall Scout Overnight on Oct. 8-9. Registration ends later in September. To register, visit beachboardwalk.com/events.

Professional and amateur chefs will face off for the title of Best Chili at the Boardwalk’s annual Chili Cook-Off on Oct. 23. The registration deadline for competitors is Oct. 18. A portion of the proceeds from Tasting Kit sales will benefit Your Future is Our Business, which provides work-based learning opportunities to elementary, middle and high school students as well as internships for post-secondary students within Santa Cruz County. For information, visit beachboardwalk.com/ Chili-Cook-Off.

6225 Highway 9 Felton

VARIOUS HALLOWEEN CRAFTS ALL MONTH LONG!

SIX FLAGS DISCOVERY KINGDOM AND MAGIC MOUNTAIN

Fright Fest opens Sept. 11 at Magic Mountain and Sept. 25 at Discover Kingdom, with “thrills by day” and “frights by night” through Oct. 31, the parks tease. Details are to be announced soon.

Fall Garland

Halloween Wreath

Watercolor & Pen Cat

KNOTT’S BERRY FARM

Often described as the “granddaddy of Halloween events,” Knott’s Scary Farm (my personal favorite) returns for its 48th season Sept. 16 through Oct. 31. The Southern California theme park will be transformed with eight mazes (one of which is new), four new shows (for a total of six) and five scare zones (including a new experience).

Drop in Maker's Space Workshops Private pARTies For more information: www.crookedbeautyart.com GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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Maternity care born from humankindness.

Your journey to motherhood is a precious time. That’s why Dignity Health – Dominican Hospital’s Family Birth Center is here to support your big day with a customized birthing experience focused on you. From live virtual classes and birth center tours, to our midwifery program and Level III NICU, Dominican Hospital offers the highest level of care in the Monterey Bay area. See for yourself how we’re safely delivering humankindness at DignityHealth.org/DominicanBirthCenter.

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

BIRTH MATTERS Birth Happens

BY LAURA MAXSON, LM Shared experiences help us understand our world. Local midwives have committed to sharing their combined wealth of knowledge and history around childbirth. “Our efforts are focused on highlighting midwifery and homebirth,” says midwife, Elizabeth Yznaga. She and Kate Bowland, both highly experienced certified nurse-midwives, are partners in the Birth Happens project.

The influence of homebirth and midwifery changed obstetrics in the U.S. due in part to the courage of the women and families of the San Lorenzo Valley.

They were pioneers in bringing birth back home, while reinventing childbirth education and attending births as midwives. Birth Happens puts a spotlight on local history with this exhibit while working toward a national exhibition at the Smithsonian honoring the beauty and power of birth, covering homebirth history and art, as well as legal issues.

Documenting women’s work is important.

The Birth Happens exhibition at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum in Felton is a rare opportunity to explore the unique role the Santa Cruz area has played in childbirth history. This exhibit will be a stroll down memory lane for some, and for many others it will be an eye-opening peek into a little-known and underappreciated past.

The exhibit is open now through January 2022, with a grand opening reception on Sunday, Oct 3 from 1-4 pm that includes special guests and festivities.

Historically, childbirth was a community-supported, family-based experience. The Birth Happens exhibit provides glimpses into local history beginning with the wisdom of local indigenous people’s practices around pregnancy and birth. Many birth practices today stem from ancient beginnings. Interviews with elders of the Mutsun and Rumsen Ohlone people were the basis of material shared.

The move from community-based birth to birth as a medical event followed the eradication of midwives in the early 1900s.

Midwifery was discouraged as doctors

Free Event!

took over childbirth and eventually moved birth from home to the hospital. This concerted effort by the medical profession resulted in an end to midwifery as a legal profession for decades.

An unfortunate era of extreme medical domination with the relinquishment of autonomy around birth was ushered in with “twilight sleep,” a labor medication that necessitated the use of leather straps to tie women to their beds in labor. More often than not, drugged babies pulled from unconscious bodies with forceps became the norm. Newborns then experienced hours to days of separation in the nursery, contributing to dismal breastfeeding rates.

Santa Cruz was no exception to this over medicalization of childbirth, but was on the cusp when it came to fighting for the right to give birth awake and aware, in their full power.

The exhibit documents one family who gave birth at home in the Santa Cruz mountain community of Brookdale in the early 1960s, which immediately kindled interest from others hoping to avoid hospital birth restrictions.

Information and experiences were shared in the community and families responded. Birth at home was gaining popularity and midwifery began to reinvent itself, underground.

In 1972, Celeste Philips, RN, and Dr. Joseph Anzalone attended the Birth Seminar in Ben Lomond put on by underground midwives and homebirth families. Inspired by what they learned from these self-made midwives, they began to change hospital practices. One of these self-made midwives, Raven Lang, is highlighted in the exhibit as the author of “The Birth Book,” one of the first natural childbirth books focusing on homebirth midwifery.

From these first few homebirths came a midwifery school and birth center providing prenatal care and support for homebirth. After an undercover sting operation, members of the birth center were arrested and taken to court in 1974.

Kate Bowland and others were charged with practicing medicine without a license. The California Supreme Court made the final decision, dropping the charges while suggesting a legislative remedy - get licensed.

It was the push needed to finally enact the Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) Act in late 1974. Midwives who wanted to practice homebirth legally had to become CNMs, which is what Kate and others did. At the same time, other underground “lay” midwives worked on legalizing homebirth midwifery as a license separate from CNM. The

California Association of Midwives and others worked hard to get legislation passed in California to create a pathway for Licensed Midwives (LM) in 1993.

Midwives currently provide birth services in homes, a free-standing birth center, and all three hospitals in Santa Cruz County.

Birth Happens - Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 1-4pm, Friday 4-7pm San Lorenzo Valley Museum, 6299 Gushee St., Felton, CA 95018 Reception - Sunday, Oct 3, 1-4pm Birthnet.org - Listing of homebirth midwives

Need help with breastfeeding?

Call Nursing Mothers Counsel to speak with a trained lactation counselor

Virtual Meet the Doulas

Wednesday, November 10, 7-8pm 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

All services, including home visits free of charge 831-688-3954 www.nursingmothers.org GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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COUNTY SCOOP Showing Up for Youth

BY SHEBREH KALANTARI-JOHNSON Whether or not you’re a parent in this community, each of us has been impacted by the tragic stabbing at Aptos High School that led to the death of a 17-year old child, as well as the arrest of two other children.

This has led me to reflect on the impacts of adults in my life when I was a child, and my role, our role as caring adults.

When was a time when a caring adult who wasn’t your parent comforted, uplifted and gave you space to grow?

I remember my fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Donovan. Little in size, big in heart, gray-haired, with red lipstick. I had only been here in the United States for a couple of years and my English was accented, and my grammar incorrect.

Mrs. Donovan saw me crying in the hallway. It wasn’t the first time. The other kids were calling me a terrorist. This was 1987. The Iran hostage crisis still permeated my classmates’ parents’ minds. What they heard at home, they repeated at school.

She came up to me, put her arm around my shoulder and said, “Shebreh, you can be whoever you want to be. You can and will do great things. Don’t let anyone make you think otherwise. So who do you want to be, how do you want to show up, and how can I help you get there?”

This incident has stayed with me over the years. It was one of the first times that I saw something different for myself.

I’ve reflected on the role Mrs. Donovan had in my life, and undoubtedly so many other children. How do we ensure that every child in Santa Cruz County has the opportunity to meet a Mrs. Donovan?

We, as a community, need time to grieve. In our grief and anger, it is easy to jump into blame and shame without pausing and deeply reflecting on how each of us, as individuals, and the systems we are intertwined with, can contribute to a different and better reality for our youth.

After giving yourself time to feel the heartbreak of this loss, I invite each of you to reflect on the following questions: •

• •

What policies, cultural-norms and systems need to shift for us to create safe thriving environments for our youth?

What is my role, and how can I contribute to these shifts?

We can get stuck in the seemingly impossibility of a task, or we can find the openings that are unique to our role in the community.

Here are some of the ways I am engaging: 1.

I’m working to bring forward a framework that ensures that the city keeps the needs of young people at the forefront of decisions, including budgets and government policies. This framework will help our community make children and youth a top priority, even during times of political change and financial upheaval.

2. I’m also working with some of my colleagues on Santa Cruz City Council, and committed community members, on the passing of Measure A, which will be on the November 2021 ballot. Measure A will allow the voters of Santa Cruz to make the Children’s Fund law. The Santa Cruz Children’s Fund provides resources for services such as childcare, after-school programs, and scholarships for summer and outdoor learning opportunities to the most vulnerable children in our community (to learn more: https://www. yesonsantacruzchildrensfund.org).

3. Finally, and maybe most importantly, I’ve been asking the children and youth in my life what Mrs. Donovan asked me all of those years ago, “Who do you want to be, how do you want to show up, and how can I help you get there?”

I also ask this question to the community.

•

How can we contribute to creating healthy, safe spaces so that all youth can thrive?

Each of us, as adults, can create lasting change to uplift children and youth.

There are many opportunities in our community, including: • • • • • • •

Voting on November 2021 Volunteering and/or contributing to organizations that support our youth, such as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) ( https:// casaofsantacruz.org/) Big Brothers Big Sisters (http://www. santacruzmentor.org/) Community Action Board (https:// cabinc.org/) Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance (https://www. pvpsa.org/) United Way of Santa Cruz County (https://www.unitedwaysc.org/)

If you’ve made it to this part of the OpEd, you are likely invested in the well-being of our youth, and so I invite your thought partnership.

I’m with you. I’m grieving with you.

Let’s work together to create a space for all children and youth to thrive.

Shebreh Kalantari-Johnson shebreh4santacruz@gmail.com

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

EDUCATION 6 Tips for a Winning College Application

BY SUSAN TATSUI-D’ARCY College-bound seniors are off to a busy season as they juggle their 12thgrade classes and between 7-20 college applications. This year looks different because colleges are still reeling from COVID challenges with SATs and ACTS, campus tours, and interviews. Here are 6 tips to consider when organizing your college applications:



CHOOSE COLLEGES BASED ON THE MAJORS OFFERED Most students make the mistake of choosing colleges based on their rankings or locations. Instead, research the majors you’re considering and choose the colleges that have programs that align with your interests. Check out their required courses and electives. You’ll be surprised to see the difference in courses offered at different colleges.

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WHEN TO SUBMIT SAT/ACT SCORES IF THEY’RE “TEST OPTIONAL” Colleges know that students who are good test takers will find ways to take and submit the SAT or ACT. Some students travel hundreds of miles to take them. If your test scores are stronger than your GPA, submit them. If they’re weaker than your GPA, don’t submit them if test scores are optional. Some colleges are

Test Blind, which means that they won’t consider test scores even if you submit them. The University of California (UCs) and California State University (CSUs) are test blind.

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HOW TO WRITE INTRIGUING ESSAYS AND PERSONAL STATEMENTS When reading essays, admissions officers hope to learn something about you that isn’t included in the application. Tell stories that illustrate your personality and your passions.

Don’t write about throwing that winning touchdown because thousands of other students will be writing similar stories.

Instead tell them what makes you unique. Open with a hook that intrigues them so they’ll see what you’ll bring to their incoming class.

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HOW TO ASK FOR STRONG LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Teachers write hundreds of letters of recommendation every fall and most use a few templates to streamline the process. By organizing a comprehensive resume with photos listing your projects, volunteer work, employment, and extracurricular activities, you’re giving them the insight and incentive to write a descriptive and positive

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recommendation. Include a cover letter to thank them for something valuable they’ve taught you, tell them something unique about yourself (project, business, extracurriculars), and give them a glimpse into what you hope to study in college. Make time to establish a positive relationship with them.

HOW TO ORGANIZE APPLICATIONS SO YOU DON’T MISS DEADLINES To reduce stress, enter each application’s deadline in a planner or digital calendar. Then starting with your first deadline, write first drafts of the essays and resumes, create portfolios for art and music applications, and collect other documentation. Enter each task into your planner by blocking off time to complete each item. Continue to add a new college every week. You’ll be juggling many colleges at various completion stages throughout the application season.

Minimize extracurricular activities so you have time to manage all of your applications while maintaining good standing in your classes.

Colleges expect students to do their own work – so as tempting as it may be – parents, don’t write your kids’ essays, set up their interviews, or complete their applications. This is a good opportunity for your child to take responsibility for organizing each application and meeting all deadlines. Your child will mature and transform into a confident young adult during this senior year. Sit back, watch and marvel.

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WHEN TO APPLY EARLY DECISION, EARLY ACTION, AND REGULAR ADMISSION While your odds of getting in are better if you apply Early Decision (ED) or Early Action (EA), only do so if your grades, SAT/ACT scores, and your projects are good. If you’re still trying to boost your GPA during the fall semester, apply regular decision so your extra weighted grade will be calculated in the overall GPA. If you’re hoping for better scores on a future SAT date, it’s better to wait for regular admission dates. However, if your GPA and test scores are solid, and your project is complete, then apply early and hear from the colleges by mid December.

Remember ED decisions usually don’t include the best scholarships because colleges know you’re going to matriculate and they save their big scholarship offers to entice other students to enroll.

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

TEACHER'S DESK The Educational Needs of This Generation Technology, Engineering and Art

BY LISA CATTERALL

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Our schools will improve if they deliver quality arts education to all students. The students deserve nothing less. - James S. Catterall

My office just became host to a tray of smiling, blinking robotic bees happily keeping me company as I prepare for my classes. I met my first graders today and their teacher introduced me as their “makers teacher,” and I said, “Oh no, these bees are going to teach you this year.”

They were not yet impressed. I also explained that we were not going to have “makers,” we were going to have “T.E.A. time, which stands for Technology, Engineering, and Art.” Now they were entirely unimpressed.

It must have sounded like a mouthful of esoteric nonsense to them. We went around the circle, and I discovered that three of the nine children had already written more than one computer program. I had a group of six-year-olds who were already coding!

I was a little worried, but as we started working with our smiling bee robots, I realized I had a lot to teach them.

The bees are designed to teach coding, but they are also good for keeping a classroom of kids joyful as they learn.

Even the advanced first grade coders had a lot of debugging to do to solve the problems I gave them and their robot bee (no pun intended). When I mentioned that the bees could hold brush pens and we would be using them to make works of art later, the classroom really started to “buzz!”

Art is a universal human language.

Direct connections exist between how much art students learn and their success in all academic subjects and as members of communities. When we teach art, there is art technique, or the part that is like teaching any tool for any subject

where you learn skills, and there is selfexpression, which is something we can encourage and develop. It’s an unfolding, and a process of self-discovery and also one of empathy and compassion. What if students learn different tools and techniques than they traditionally get in an art class, but use those to express themselves, to communicate universally, to create meaning, and to create beauty?

If technology, engineering, and art occupy the same spaces in the world ahead of our students, there is great promise and potential in having them occupy the same space in a classroom.

Along the way, of course, it will not hurt that students are solving open-ended problems in infinite ways, collaborating, finding out about how to unearth problems that need solving, innovating, showcasing, iterating, failing and recovering, and learning the creative process. This is the magic and the promise of a program that combines technology, engineering and art.

On the other end of the age spectrum at our school, I am taking juniors and seniors in high school to Catalina Island. Normally, this is a science trip for younger high school kids, but they missed it during the height of the pandemic. We are building and bringing our own fully owwperational underwater ROVs, and we have two weeks to build them. We are creating herbariumpress works of art with watercolors using the incredible ocean plants on the island, and we have a day to learn how to do it.

When we put this out to the students, asking for volunteers to build and learn, more than half of them flocked to their teachers to give up their lunches and after-school hours to take part in it. I was shocked, then I realized that they want to learn these integrated skills just as much as we want to teach them.

Art is a universal human language. Direct connections exist between how much art students learn and their success in all academic subjects and as members of communities.

This year, we added a T.E.A. program for grades one through 12. I was shocked by the ease with which this longtime dream of mine became a reality. It was as if last spring, coming back from the most challenging teaching year in recent memory, we all collectively had the courage and the motivation to go out on a limb and try something new. There was no call to simply pour energy into surviving the year, the flexibility the pandemic forced us to have actually held some allure. What if we could flex and try new things and better things, and do it and “go beyond” for the sake of our students’ future, not to simply make it through COVID? The ability to solve novel problems is the foremost ability that needs to be fostered in our up-and-coming

generations. There is a direct link between asking students to engage in activities that bring multiple disciplines into the same space and students’ ability to synthesize what they have learned into brand new solutions and ideas. Art, engineering and technology are parallel spaces, and the education needs of this generation pull them together.  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.

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Last October was not what anybody had hoped for, yet all of these kids and their families found a way to make Halloween memorable. The most popular places around San Lorenzo Valley were Riverside

and California Dr. in Ben Lomond, which isn’t different from any other year.

Almost everyone took a stroll around their neighborhood, where families created contactless forms of trick-or-treating;

Cooper, 9

Killian, 8

Last Year: Neighborhood and California Dr This year: Riverside, neighborhood, California Dr

Last year: Goddess went to Riverside This year: Miyo, Riverside and annual house party

BY MIKAYLA SHULTS

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

shooting candy down tubes, throwing treats at kids, and the classic: leaving a bowl on the front porch. Some went to a Halloween parade with masks and social distancing in Santa Cruz.

Now that older kids and parents can be vaccinated, don’t fear the Covid, fear the Reaper. Check out what the kids are saying about Halloween 2021 and remember to be safe this fall.

Finn, 11 Last year: Hot dog, Riverside This year: Going to Riverside and annual party

Ella, 9 Last year: Zombie Bride This year: Devil

Claire, 12 Last year: Zombie Girl Scout This year: Fairy

Helena, 2 Last year: Frog, went to parade with Denise This year: Elsa

Denise, 2 Last year: Owl, contactless parade in Santa Cruz and people threw candy in their wagon This year: Tiger/cheetah

Garret, 12 Last year: Miguel from Cobra Kai, neighborhood and California Dr This year: Kevin Hart-type comedian, going to the same spots

Tia, 11 Last year: Dead doll

Wesley, 12 Last year: Wounded skater This year: Soccer player

Tommy, 4 & Ivy, 6 Stella, 11 Dylan, 11

Last year: Riverside This year: Prisoner, Riverside

Last year: A neighbor set up safe trick or treating for the kids in the neighborhood This year: Going to Roseville to trick or treat with cousins, getting rapid tests first and wearing masks, then slumber party with crafts.

Last year: He was a dancing clown and went to Riverside This year: Surfer with fin in his head, Riverside and neighborhood

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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A-Mazing Halloween in the Fields

BY BRAD KAVA

When you think about a corn maze, unless you are a big Stephen King fan, you figure you can get though one in five or 10 minutes—if you get out at all!

Not at Hollister’s Swank Farms, where last year’s record time was a speedy 25 minutes and that was by some people who really worked hard to get through seven acres of twisting turns. Others may want to bring a picnic to survive.

The Swank family, who manage 25 acres of fun, have let their imaginations run as wild as their crops and, besides

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their two Sunflower Experience weekends in September (featuring two acres of smiling plants), have put a year’s worth of effort into making Halloween bigger, brighter and scarier.

This year’s month-long haunt will feature entertainment for littles and biggers, including a kid-friendly trail of lights with pumpkins and lights and— parental advisory here—a “Field of Frights” featuring among other things, characters with chain saws who jump out at you.

OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

“We really try to scare you,” says Dick Swank, 65. “A corn field and darkness is a wonderful combination.”

But don’t worry, there are things to entertain all ages. There is goat fishing.

Yes, really. You take your pole and corn husks and catch goats, which “go crazy” for the sweet corn. For those who missed them at the Santa Cruz County Fair, there are pig races, which drew scores of watchers to Watsonville last month.

There is a giant 18-foot-high slide and another slide mountain kids ride down in gunny sacks. “They go fast, but not too fast,” says Swank. “No one ever gets hurt.” The kids have to climb back up the hill, which they do like people in snow haul sleds up the mountains.

“Parents love it,”says Swank. “It’s an energy eater.”

There are giant pillows for all ages to bounce on. And when we say giant, we mean literally, 80 feet long by 40 feet wide. One is for teens and the other for their younger siblings and parents.

When the Swanks started their Halloween-themed attractions in 2000, they feared people wouldn’t travel so far out of the Bay Area. But in the tradition of “if you build it, they will come,” they did and still do, once they see how much can be done in a giant rural space.

Many venture from Santa Cruz—and some are surprised by how much warmer it is inland so dress accordingly (hot in the day, cooler at night).

Over most of a century, the Swanks have showed how ingenuity can help farms that have to deal with so many struggles, not the least of which are water and weather.

They started in 1928 with a 60-acre “home” farm in 1928 with prune and peach trees. Those were replaced with a variety of vegetables such as celery, carrots, tomatoes and mustard along with colorful zinnias as seed crops.

Sometime after, they rented a farm to raise dairy cows.

“One of the hardest things about having a dairy is the cows never take a day off, always needing to be milked seven days a week rain or shine or Christmas!” recalls Dick Swank. “At some point my father and I became partners and continued in the dairy business until the government bought us out in the mid 80’s. Imagine getting paid NOT to produce milk!”

Next they grew tomatoes, green beans, sweet corn, English peas and melons along with fall ornamentals consisting of several varieties of Indian Corn, pumpkins and gourds. The farm grew to 210 acres and you could buy their crops at farmers markets.

“I love farming but the struggle for the small farmer to stay in business seems to only get harder,” says Dick. Then a friend suggested the Halloween theme, which his wife, Bonnie, a designer, went all in on. (She designed the mazes and died shortly after last Halloween. This year’s maze is named in her honor and was designed by her son.)

They also moved to organic produce the rest of the year, which has kept them profitable. And they’ve built a giant barn on the property, which is used for destination events such as weddings, quinceañeras and celebrations of life. In it they serve their own custom-brewed Swank Beer, which is a Halloween highlight.

“We think about Halloween all year long,” says Swank. “We really enjoy it like bringing our produce to a farmers market. It’s a tremendous amount of work and investment, but the whole family loves it.”

The Halloween event runs on all weekends through October from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are around $30 with additional fees, or 16 percent cheaper online than at the gate at swankfarms.com.

HALLOWEEN FUN & EVENTS

Halloween Movie SATURDAY 2 Countdown  Addam's Family  Beetlejuice  Casper  Coraline  Corpse Bride  Hocus Pocus  It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown  Frankenweenie  Nightmare Before Christmas  Paranorman

pumpkin picking Arata 185 Verde Rd, Half Moon Bay9 Capitola Produce Pumpkin Patch 700 Bay Ave., Capitola Crystal Bay Farm 40 Zils Road, Watsonville Gizdich Ranch 55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville Live Earth 1275 Green Valley Road, Watsonville Post Street Farm 122 Post St., Santa Cruz Rodoni Farms 4444 Coast Road (Highway 1) Sunnside Produce Pumpkin Patch 2831 Daubenbiss Ave, Soquel Swank Farms

4751 Pacheco Pass Hwy, Hollister

SUNDAY 24

Roaring Camp: Harvest Faire & Steam Festival 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Harvest Faire & Steam Festival presented by Kinetic Steam Works and Roaring Camp Railroads. Welcome Fall with heritage children’s activities like scarecrow making, pumpkin patch picking, candle making, and gold panning.

Behold a variety of steam and belt-powered equipment on display. Admission is free for the whole family.

Trick or Treat Tote Decoration 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Crooked Beauty, 6225 Highway 9, Felton Come in during operating hours and decorate a tote bag to Trick or Treat with! All materials provided, including tote. $15 For more information, go to crookedbeautyart.com/workshops-events/ Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch 10:00 AM-4:00 PM See Ocr 23.

SUNDAY 3

TUESDAY 26

Fall Leaf Garland 12:00 PM-4:00 PM $20 All materials provided for making a 5 ft. garland to decorate the house with. Registration not required, first come first served through out the month, during open hours. Thurs. & Fri. 3-6, Sat. 12-6, Sun. 12-4.

Roaring Camp: Harvest Faire & Steam Festival 11:00 AM-5:00 PM See Oct 2.

THURSDAY 7 Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4:00 PM Every Thursday. We invite you to discover the stories and secrets found within Evergreen Cemetery, one of the oldest public cemeteries in California, on a self-guided or private tour of the grounds. Bring your curiosity as you explore the final resting place of Santa Cruz's early settlers. The 45-minute tour uncovers the stories and tombstones of the people who made Santa Cruz what it is today. Designed for the daring, the curious, and the history-loving.

SUNDAY 10 Watercolor and Pen Cat Painting 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Crooked Beauty 6225 Highway 9, Felton Come in during hours of operation to paint a simple but lovely cat silhouette. All materials will be provided to make this spooky and fun project. $20 For more information, go to www. crookedbeautyart.com/workshops-events/

SATURDAY 23 Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch 10:00 AM-4:00 PM The Live Oak Glass Pumpkin Patch at Live Oak Grange returns with golden leaves and autumn breezes!

The Halloween Experience 12:00 PM-8:00 PM Haunted House and Mask Making Festival. Mask Making from 12-4pm Family-friendly Haunted House from 12-3pm (FREE) Scary Version of the Haunted House 6-8pm ($5 admission) Join the Thrill the World Dance at 3pm Intro to Tarot: Magic in the Cards 2:00 PM-4:00 PM It’s the perfect, spooky season for tapping into the magic of tarot cards! Learn a short history of the tarot, basic meanings of the 78 cards, how to ask them questions, and a special card spread for checking in with our thoughts and feelings and learning to make empowered decisions. The best part? You’ll learn that the magic’s all in you! Join Sarah from Hawthorn Mountain Tarot for this FREE CLASS for teens. This program will be capped at 10 teens; first come, first serve.

National Pumpkin Day Pumpkins are so much more than just a fun holiday accessory. Not only are they one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene (an antioxidant converted to vitamin A in the body), but pumpkins are loaded with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Try some on National Pumpkin Day (and of course have a little fun carving them).

FRIDAY 29 Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Drive-in Movies 6:30 PM-10:00 PM Enjoy a screening of The Lost Boys movie on the beach in front of the arcades! Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk are forever linked to this cult classic and there’s nothing like watching it right where it was filmed with the smell of corn dogs and saltwater taffy filling the air.

SUNDAY 31 Halloween Halloween on October 31 is undoubtedly the creepiest, most ghostly holiday of them all. Children dress up as Batman, the Joker, Wonder Woman, or some other favorite character; go to parties or walk their neighborhoods with jack o’ lanterns full of sweets as they go trick-or-treating.

Spooky decorations fill windows and porches and screams can be heard in living rooms up and down the country as we collectively binge our favorite horror movies.

Magic Day Magic Day actually takes place during National Magic Week, which is an entire week dedicated to celebrating the art of allusion and the craft of magicians everywhere! And while Harry Houdini may be the most famous illusionist out there, there is plenty to celebrate this week and day!

National Caramel Apple Day As if October 31 wasn’t awesome enough with costumes, ghouls, candy, and spooky things galore – it’s also National Caramel Apple Day! Caramel apples and Halloween go together like ghosts, goblins, tricks, and treats. The tradition stretches back decades to the day a creative Kraft confectioner invented the wonderfully simple recipe while trying to figure out what to do with a bunch of excess Halloween caramels. We say, “Bravo, sir! Excellent idea!” And then we take a big, sweet, crunchy bite.

Halloween at the Boardwalk 12:00 PM-7:00 PM Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating and spooktacular Boardwalk fun! Spooktacular Fun: Costume Contest: Stop by Neptune’s Stage to take your photo and enter the costume contest for your chance to win a MyBoardwalk Card. Frightwalk: Are you brave enough to venture under the Boardwalk? Get spooked with this walk-through attraction.

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

LOCAL NEWS Santa Cruz Gets 19 New Ocean-Themed Murals During a week-long flurry of “artivism”—activism through art—Sea Walls Santa Cruz transformed 19 outdoor walls into vibrant murals. The festival was the latest edition of the PangeaSeed Foundation’s Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans program that invites engagement with ocean advocacy. You’ve likely already noticed some of the murals, since they’re located in high traffic areas, such as along Mission Street on the West Side, on either side of Soquel Avenue in Midtown, and in various locations downtown, including the bus depot and the Front Street garage.

Taylor Reinhold and the Made Fresh Crew, the local artist collective producing the event, have been helping to plan and organize this week for months, but on-theground work began in early September. “The prep work was extensive,” said Erika Rosendale, a member of the crew and a Sea Walls Santa Cruz ops team member. “We spent two weeks scraping, cleaning, and priming all the walls so they would be ready to go as soon as the artists got here. Some of the walls were easier than others, but by coordinating and combining our collective strengths, we made it happen.”

Artists came to their supersized outdoor canvasses from as far as Hilo, Hawaii and as close as down the street, in the case of Caia Koopman. Koopman’s giant sea goddess graces the corner of Soquel and Pine, just down the street from where she lives. “I felt some added pressure to make sure my mural was extra good, but it was also awesome to be able to paint right here in my neighborhood for a cause that is so close to my heart.” Other Santa Cruz artists included the Made Fresh Crew, Abi Mustapha, and Jimbo Phillips, whose bold, skateboard-style graphics may be familiar to readers of Growing Up Santa Cruz from his profile in a recent issue.

Because of the walls’ prominent locations, their transformation was a very public event. As spray cans, paint guns, brushes, and other tools transferred the artists’ sketches onto cinderblocks and stucco, people of all ages gathered to gawk at the process. An artists’ talk, film screening, and beach cleanup were also held in during the week in an ongoing effort to foster marine stewardship and raise awareness around these murals’ themes.

While the festival itself is over, Santa Cruz residents will get to enjoy and interact with these murals for years to come. A downloadable map showing the locations and themes of each of the murals is available at seawalls. org/activation/santa-cruz-usa and at several locations around town. A video chronicling the event should be posted on the Sea Walls website (seawalls.org) soon. “We especially hope that the 19 murals we’ve created here will capture the imagination of the youth and spark a sense of curiosity and care for our coastlines, the ocean, and the life that calls it home,” said Tre’ Packard, PangeaSeed Foundation Founder and Executive Director.

The PangeaSeed Foundation, a Hilo, HI-based non-profit organization that works to promote ocean conservation, spearheaded this event. Through their 17 prior Sea Walls festivals, they’ve helped to get over 400 marine-themed murals onto walls throughout the world. The City of Santa Cruz Department of Economic Development, Lost Coast Plant Therapy, and the Save Our Seas Foundation contributed supporting funds to the project.

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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Family Guide Flying High Arialist Cover Story

PARENTING Pandemic-era Birth Stories Unknowns, Rainbows, and Hard Choices

BY SUKI WESSLING Pregnancy and birth are full of unknowns even in the best of times. During a pandemic, everything you thought to expect gets thrown by the wayside.

Three moms talked to me about their experiences with birth during this time.

Two of them were first-time moms and so their experiences were all new.

One was having her third—and her experiences were all new as well!

I want to thank these moms for their openness and sharing. Although each related struggles associated with pregnancy complications, Covid restrictions, and mental health challenges, their stories—like all good birth stories—are about perseverance and strength in the face of adversity.

If you are pregnant now or wondering whether you should consider it, please read these stories knowing that three happy moms and healthy babies were the result of all the pain and difficulties that they describe.

VANESSA “You’re lucky you’re cute because that pregnancy was horrific!”

Vanessa Garcia and her husband Albert had decided to have a third child after years of hesitation. Vanessa was by then an ‘older mom’, 36, living with her extended family in Aromas and working as a site coordinator for PVUSD’s Watsonville Children’s Center. Many monthly pregnancy disappointments helped Vanessa develop great empathy for first-time moms experiencing infertility, and when the pandemic started to approach, she and Albert made the decision to stop trying. They had a happy, healthy family of four already.

That’s when a plus sign appeared in the indicator panel.

And that’s when the pandemic hit and Vanessa and her two children (12 and 9) were sent home for distance learning. At first, although she was uncomfortable with turning an early child development program into a distance learning program, she was happy to spend more time with her kids, and made a fortuitous discovery about the younger one.

“I got to see some of Adrian that I hadn’t seen since I’d been working full time since he was pretty young,” Vanessa explains. She realized that his challenging behavior, which had been an ongoing issue, was tied to a learning disability. But she hardly had time to consider options when she faced the first challenge of her pregnancy: hyperemesis.

Made famous by British royal Kate Middleton, this condition causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.

“On Zoom meetings I’d have to turn off my camera to throw up in my little garbage can next to my desk,” Vanessa remembers. And the medication wasn’t much better. “I’m trying to work from

home with two kids doing distance learning, one of whom had unidentified special needs, and [I’m supposed to] take these meds that are going to make you fall asleep and I’m, like, ’yeah, that’s gonna work’.”

Vanessa ended up taking leave from her job until the symptoms abated.

In the meantime, she had the time to pursue a diagnosis for her son—severe dyslexia. “[When the tester] said, ‘he is profoundly dyslexic’ I was laughing like a crazy person. What I’m saying about my kid is real.”

But Vanessa’s pandemic-era pregnancy complications didn’t stop there. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a few months before her due date, and once again had to take a leave of absence under doctor’s orders. At this point, the stress compounded. She was anxious about her health and the baby’s health, anxious that they’d have to perform an early c-section, and concerned that Albert wasn’t able to take part in the pregnancy as he had with the other children.

“Albert didn’t get to come to any of the ultrasounds so he was having a hard time connecting with the pregnancy,” she remembers. “Birth is already so emotionally raw and vulnerable and to add those layers, like Albert had to be wearing a mask when he saw his baby being born. It was weird.”

Vanessa and family are now doing well, and Benji truly is a cute baby!

ROXANNE “Being a first-time mom then to have a frickin’ world pandemic going on, it’s a little different, to say the least!”

Getting pregnant didn’t come quickly for Roxanne Sweeting, a 32-year-old medical assistant from Capitola. It was her first baby, and after nine months of a relatively normal pregnancy she entered the hospital to give birth—right when the shelter-in-place ordinance was announced.

Roxanne was completely unprepared for the experience of pandemic-era birth. She was distraught that her sister couldn’t be with her, and though she has nothing but the warmest praise and admiration for everyone from her husband to the staff who cared for them, her mental health took a sudden and severe dive after the birth.

First of all was the magnification of all of the typical problems that a new mom might face. Roxanne’s milk didn’t come in, so she had to bring her dehydrated baby to the Sutter Lactation Center when he was only two days old. It’s typical for new moms to feel inadequate if they need help with breastfeeding, but to have this happen at a time when leaving the house felt risky brought it to a new level.

“They were all stars in making me feel I wasn’t a terrible human,” Roxanne says

Vanessa. Photo credit: Luis Cubas Photography

Leilani. Photo courtesy of Leilani Kanter

of those who cared for her in this time.

But it wasn’t enough. No one in Roxanne’s close family was able to visit except by video until her son was four months old. During this time, postpartum depression hit—and hit hard.

“Being so excited to be a new mom and not be able to share with one person in your family besides the people in your own home was heartbreaking,” Roxanne says.

She says that she remembers very little of these months, describing the disappointment she felt in herself for not being able to find joy in her life as a new mother. “There’s this expectation for you to be head over heels and love at first sight with your baby,” she says. “[With postpartum depression] that’s not the case. It’s traumatizing, and there’s also this fear—this pandemic going on.”

At the same time, record numbers of others were seeking mental health care.

Roxanne found that practices were full up. When she finally did get a therapist, her therapist had to go on pregnancy leave herself. Although many people were sympathetic and supportive, offhand comments like a receptionist on the phone compounded the hurt. “Like I was just another mom going through motherhood problems.”

Still, Roxanne says of her overall experience, “There’s so many providers that you could say thank-you thank-you thank-you to because they’ve done so much.” She especially appreciated the help of women’s health practitioner Dana Ramsey (our mom of the month!).

Roxanne is better now, back to work with a healthy son and an intact family.

But she struggles to find the silver lining in this experience. “My son is my world and my everything, but the experience was so—I wouldn’t want to do it again.

My husband and I are talking about baby number two and I’m terrified.”

“It was just a tornado of all the bad stuff happening at once.”

unexpected sweetness that a family enjoys all the more because of the negative backdrop. That’s how Leilani Kanter, a 32-year-old Santa Cruz resident, relates her birth experience.

“I had always envisioned a homebirth but had decided to deliver in the hospital for practical reasons like insurance,” Leilani explains. Then came the pandemic, her husband Matt’s job loss, and the uncertainty of her own business, Botanic and Luxe in downtown Santa Cruz. Against that backdrop, Leilani and Matt made a sudden choice.

“I was born at home and it made me feel so empowered that I made that huge decision last-minute and made it happen,” Leilani explains.

The pandemic also brought a very different experience to the early months.

With her husband at home, Leilani found peace in nurturing her family at a time that might have been hectic.

“Day-to-day life was amazing during the pandemic,” she remembers. “I had such a sense of relief that all the plans and obligations I thought I’d have to juggle with a new baby were canceled.

Sadly, [they were] events like weddings and bachelorettes, but I was looking at the bright side that at least I got to spend that time with my baby.”

In the meantime, Matt got to act on his plan to further his education in preparation for a career change. After four weeks, however, Leilani found it necessary to return to work.

“I own the business with my best friend and she was drowning by herself as all of our employees were laid off,” Leilani remembers. “It was so hard leaving my baby so little but ultimately what the times called for and the decision I made.”

Leilani says that they feel grateful for the way a pandemic gave them time, for living in Santa Cruz, and for being able to pursue their dreams.

“Overall, I felt so happy and lucky most days to be in the sweetest little baby bubble with my girl.”

LEILANI “It was such a sweet time for our family!”

A worldwide pandemic is not good.

But sometimes adversity leads to

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

21

We couldn’t choose just one.

They are all too cute!

Jay

Carlos

June

Rylah 22 OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Jessie

Lazlo

Lance

Scarlett

Lillith & Stella

Walker

HEALTHY EATING Let’s Cook Dinner!

Two Quick and Easy Meals to Feed Your Family on Weeknights

BY LESLIE FUNK Hello Parents!

School just started and the pace of daily life is increasing. Chances are you feel a bit burned out when faced with the question, “What’s for dinner tonight?” The nutritional goals of a home cooked meal are; lean protein, complex carbohydrates from plant sources that provide energy, fiber and nutrients, and heart-healthy fats. By making dinner at home you can insure your family gets the nutrition they need, while avoiding added sugar, bad fats and highly processed ingredients typically found in pre made store meals, restaurant food and fast food.

Here are three nutritious and delicious meals to try, complete with shopping lists and directions. Consider having your kids help with dinner preparation, it is a great way to teach them life skills while doing something together. Try giving options by asking your child to help make dinner tonight or help clean up the dishes after dinner. Odds are, food prep and cooking sound infinitely better than dish washing!

Onward to the recipes!

SHEET PAN CHICKEN WITH ROASTED POTATOES AND BABY CARROTS Chicken thighs are juicy and flavorful, and a huge hit with my family! Make extra, and you can chop up the meat for a lunch dish or dinner on another night.

Roasted potatoes are delicious, while providing vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Carrots add a sweetness to this dinner, combined with beta-carotene and more potassium.

GROCERY LIST: •

• • • • •

3-5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (adjust the amount based on your family size and if you want leftovers) 1 bag of Yukon Gold potatoes (8-10 medium potatoes) 1 bag of organic baby carrots salt-free seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash, or Trader Joe’s salt free seasoning) olive oil or canola oil non-stick spray 2 Tablespoons olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Use 2 large sheet pans, spray with oil Place chicken thighs on one sheet pan, single layer Wash potatoes, leave skin on Cut potatoes into 1 to 1 1/2 chunks, place in large bowl, add the baby carrots Add 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and a few good shakes of the salt-free seasoning Toss the potatoes and carrots to coat,

then dump them on the second sheet pan Put both sheet pans in the oven Set timer for 30 minutes

AFTER 30 MINUTES:

Check the chicken for doneness (juices run clear, temperature of 165 degrees) Stir the potatoes and carrots; look for caramelization of the edges (browning) Put back in the oven for 10 minutes, re-check The chicken may be done first, so remove it and let cool Roast the potatoes and carrots longer as needed to achieve desired level of browning.

TACO BOWLS Use up any leftover chicken meat in this dish, or make this dish Vegetarian.

Also great with grilled or broiled fish, lean ground beef or ground turkey.

Lots of fresh vegetables make this meal packed full of nutrition and flavor.

With rice and beans, this meal offers plenty of protein as a Vegetarian dish.

GROCERY LIST

Get a protein: fish, lean ground beef or turkey, a vegan meat alternative if desired.

• brown rice • can of fire roasted tomatoes • 2 cans of beans (black beans, pinto beans, or refried beans) • 1 purple cabbage (or precut bagged cabbage)

• • • • • • • • •

2 red bell peppers 2 cups of cherry tomatoes or pear tomatoes 1 bunch cilantro 1 bunch green onions your favorite salsa shredded cheese if desired avocados or premade guacamole pre made taco shells, or corn tortillas or chips Taco seasoning of choice (for the ground meat or on the fish)

In a skillet on the stove, cook up the ground meat then add taco seasoning

Alternative Cooking Instructions

Set the oven to broil, and place fish on an oiled sheet pan, sprinkle with taco seasoning. Put under the broiler in oven for 4 minutes, then check for doneness.

If not done, put it back for 2-3 minutes at time till done.

CHOP UP THE VEGGIES •

DIRECTIONS:

Cook up the Brown Rice You can cook brown rice on the stove, in a pot with a lid.

One cup of dried brown rice will make about 3 cups cooked (I like to make a lot at once, then use it in different meals)

GENERAL DIRECTIONS:

• •

Chop up the cabbage, bell peppers, cilantro and green onions in bitesized pieces Cut the tomatoes in half with a serrated knife Slice up the avocados

Note: I like to put the veggies in little piles on a big cutting board, or in little bowls so people can add what they want to their own custom Taco Bowl

Add one Tablespoon of canola oil or olive oil to the pan. Pour in 1 cup brown rice, sauté it over mediumhigh heat for a few minutes

HEAT UP THE BEANS

Then add 1 &1/4 cups of water, turn up the heat and bring to a boil

SET UP THE TOPPINGS

Put the lid on the pot of rice and turn the heat down to low Let simmer till the water is gone Move off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and stir/ fluff up the rice.

Stir in the can of fire roasted tomatoes Cook up the ground meat or broil the fish

Stove top in a pot, or dump the beans in a microwave safe container with a lid, heat for 3 minutes.

Put out the salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, chips Taco shells can be heated in the warm oven, corn tortillas wrapped in a moist paper towel then microwaved for 1-2 minutes.

Build a bowl! Each family member can now build their own custom taco bowl. I love to crush up some chips into mine for added crunch!

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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PARENTING Child Tax Credit Brings Benefits And Potential Pitfalls

BY SUKI WESSLING The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was signed into law on March 20, enhances the 2021 child tax credit (CTC).

Most families are automatically receiving monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action. This is great news for families, no matter how you cut it. But it adds some complexity over the existing child tax credit, tax experts say.

Read on to learn what the new credit is and how it will affect your taxes.

What is this new CTC and how is it different from the old one?

The major difference is the one everyone is focusing on: More money, more directly! For eligible families, some of the credit is being prepaid directly into families’ accounts. The old CTC was only applied at tax time on your return. And eligible families will see an increase in payments per child.

“For 2021, The child tax credit was increased from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under 6 and to $3,000 for children 6 to 17,” explains Vanessa Platt, a CPA with Chiorini, Platt & Jacobs, Certified Public Accountants in Santa Cruz.

For many families who are having trouble making rent payments or

increasing their work back to pre-pandemic hours because of childcare expenses, this increase will help tremendously.

What should low-income families know?

If your family was able to take the CTC by filing 2019 or 2020 returns but has lost your income source since then, you should still be getting the direct payments.

Families who did not file taxes in those years are eligible for the payments; however, they will need to sign up on the IRS website’s “non-filer sign-up.” (See link below.)

According to the IRS, “These payments do not count as income for any family. So, signing up won’t affect your eligibility for other federal benefits like SNAP and WIC.”

Why is my family not getting payments?

The most likely reason is that you make too much money. Although living in expensive Santa Cruz may not make you feel so wealthy, the feds put a cap on who gets the CTC. “Joint filers with modified adjusted gross income (AGI) between $150,000 and $400,000 ($75,000 and $200,000 for single filers) will get a $2,000 credit per

child,” Ms. Platt says. “For joint filers over $400,000 ($200,000 for single filers), the current phaseout rules apply.”

Check your 2020 returns to see if you filed with an AGI over $400,000.

Another possibility is that you didn’t file to receive the CTC in previous years, in which case you will have to sign up on the IRS website’s “non-filer sign-up.”

(See link below.)

Finally, there could simply be a mistake, in which case (big sigh) you will have to get on the line with your friendly IRS agent to work it out.

more in advance child tax credit than they were eligible for. They may have to repay a portion of the excess amount through an increase in tax liability on their 2021 tax return.”

Finally, the last downside is that unless President Biden can get this change locked in with his proposed American Families Plan, this will be a one-time increase in benefits. Without action by Congress, the CTC is set to revert to pre2021 levels in 2022.

But for now, enjoy having a bit more cash for childcare or other expenses.

Could there be a downside to getting more money?

For more information, visit www.whitehouse.gov/ child-tax-credit.

“It is important to note that the advance credit received will reduce the CTC credit claimed on their tax return,” Ms. Platt says. That means that if you’re used to getting a lot of money taken off your taxes in April, you will actually see less money being taken off at that time (though you got more money in the end).

Another issue is if you happen to be making more money this year than in previous years. In that case, Ms. Platt explains, “they may be in for a surprise at tax time as they may have received

24 OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

“

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.

Dana Ramsey Finds Fertile Ground in Santa Cruz Instead of applying to medical schools, she applied to nursing schools and ended up with a master’s degree in nursing with a specialty in midwifery from Yale University.

Years of working in the field followed, most recently 11 years at Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Santa Cruz. She did every aspect of care for women, and saw an average of 20 patients a day. With two children growing up fast, she knew it was time for a change.

A FLEDGLING SMALL BUSINESS

When she opened her new business two-and-a-half months before Covid-19 hit Santa Cruz, Dana Ramsey remembers feeling her stress level dive.

“It was life-changing to go from practicing full-scope midwifery for the past 15 years to a much slowerpaced, patient-focused practice,” Dana remembers. “It gave me flexibility to pick my kids up from school, take them to afterschool activities, and just be more present.”

Dana had opened Nurture Women’s Health and Fertility, an integrative gynecology practice with a focus on fertility, menopause, and postpartum care. Her budding business provided care to pregnant and postpartum women—

“everything but delivering babies.”

That was quite a change.

Dana remembers her two months of normalcy with fondness. She had decided to specialize in fertility because there were no fertility clinics in Santa Cruz. Because she is not an endocrinologist and wouldn’t offer full in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which is often the last resort for women seeking fertility treatment, she figured that lots of women would try her services first.

She was right.

“I do the full workup,” Dana explains. “I do a lot of lifestyle medicine management. There’s a lot that can be optimized in women’s well-care as well as fertility, that’s kind of by the wayside in traditional [fertility] practices. It makes sense to offer that here before they drive over the hill.”

She was able to finish cycles (treatments based on a woman’s hormonal cycles) with a few of her patients before she had to push the pause button. Patients were disappointed, but her family—her husband, 8-year-old twin boys, and 13-year-old daughter— had to come first.

FROM DOCTOR TO MIDWIFE

KEEPING A GRATEFUL HEART

Dana knew from an early age that she wanted to deliver babies. Each summer when she came home to Santa Cruz from college—just to make sure—she did a student internship. The second summer, instead of being assigned to help doctors, she was assigned to midwives.

“I got to see how much time the midwives got to spend with the patients,” Dana remembers. “That summer I said to my mom, ‘I thought I’ve been premed—I thought I wanted to be an OBGyn. I actually have been pre-midwife all this time!’”

“It was a huge stress on the family dynamics,” Dana says. “We used to

ask my in-laws to fill in here and there, and then we were asking them to fill in full weeks. The hardest thing was my relationship with my husband, because we didn’t have the time together to have good communication, to connect, and we didn’t have babysitters. There was more quality time but there was also more frustrated time!”

The twins also did not thrive in front of screens.

“We started thinking about how we could use our neighborhood to keep them busy and get their activity and energy out,” Dana remembers. “We live in a small neighborhood where everybody knows each other. It was beautiful, we have several retired people and they all were so understanding.”

Eventually Dana was able to open her practice back up, and found a pocket of need. Because of the pandemic, large clinics had wait times up to six months.

She was able to see patients immediately and in a more intimate environment.

Once they were in the door, they realized the value of her approach.

“She is one of the most genuine and hardest working women/mamas I know,” says Roxanne Sweeting, who nominated Dana for this article. “She is a gift to our community.”

Dana says that she has taught her children to be mindful of worrying only about things that they can control, and she tries to live by that advice herself.

“Leading by example is really important in the community,” she says.

“It turns our heart from, ‘Oh, this is such a bummer’ to more of a grateful heart.”

Learn more about Dana and Nurture Women’s Health and Fertility at NurtureSantaCruz.com. m

If you know of a mom who has made a difference, please email us at editor@growingupsc.com GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

25

COLORING PAGE

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

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

26 OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

SPONSORED BY:

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

Isla

Jetty | Age 10

Olivia | Age 5

Tristan

Rebecca | Age 8

Rogan | Age 5 GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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PREGNANCY AND BIRTH GUIDE BABY’S HEALTH Alison K. Jackson, DDS

Children’s Dentistry 7545 Soquel Dr, Aptos 831.662.2900 santacruzkidsdentist.com It’s time for a dental check-up when your child has a first tooth or first birthday. We are preventive-dentistry oriented and very thorough in our evaluations and consultations. We provide comprehensive dentistry in a caring environment for children of all ages. We have a pediatric anesthesiologist on our premises and are able to treat special, challenging children safely and comfortably under a general anesthesia. We have a 24-hour emergency service available for all of our patients.

Dientes Community Dental Care

Mid-County: 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 dientes.org/ Dientes Community Dental Care is a fullservice dental clinic located in mid-Santa Cruz County. We practice whole family dentistry including kids, adults, and seniors; but children hold a special place in our heart–half of our patients are kids seen by our experienced pediatric dentists. As a non-profit dental clinic, our focus is on highquality, low-cost dental services, including exams, x-rays, fillings, sealants and root canals. We accept Medi-Cal and we have affordable sliding scale fees for uninsured patients. Dientes is open 6 days a week. We offer bi-lingual services. Se habla Español!

Dientes, providing dignity through dentistry for nearly 30 years.

BIRTH PREPARATIONS & RESOURCES Birth Network of Santa Cruz County

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.

Dominican Hospital Birth Center

It’s not just newborns entering a brave new world—their parents are too. And they are faced with all kinds of questions as they take on their biggest adventure. Where can I get breastfeeding advice? What do I do about vaccines? Can I find a quality day care? What about kids’ teeth? What kind of classes can we take together? Does playing music in the womb really help? Is a twomonth-old ready to start applying to Ivy League colleges? We can’t answer all of them, but our local providers sure can help.

Our focus in the yearly Pregnancy & Birth Guide is to hook you up with professionals who can help guide you along the best path for your children’s and your future. Luckily, we have many great providers in Santa Cruz County who will help your kids grow up.

Live Oak Acupuncture & Healing Arts

6892 Soquel Ave, Suite B, Santa Cruz, CA 95062 marciaconnelly.com 831-818-7051 Acupuncture is a powerful relaxation tool to have during pregnancy and birth prep. It is more than just needles; it is a reminder to slow down, be present in your body, show up to whatever pathways your labor and birth take and in this process, to connect with your resilience.

1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 831-462-7700 dignityhealth.org/dominicanbirthcenter Dominican Hospital offers advanced maternity care options combined with the comforts of home. Our Birth Center provides a welcoming environment for families and is committed to a positive birth experience.

We are a certified Baby-Friendly® hospital, which means we offer comprehensive lactation support, and your baby will remain by your side throughout your stay.

Families can rest assured if their newborn needs extra attention, Dominican offers the highest level of care available in the area through a partnership with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital - a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) staffed by Stanford neonatologists and NICUcertified nurses

Nursing Mothers Counsel

Early Head Start – Encompass Community Services

1570 Soquel Dr. Ste 3, Santa Cruz 95065 138-B Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 95060 55 Brennan St. Room 201, Watsonville, 95076 831-475-2200, 831-454-8481, 831-726-0011 SantaCruzPRC.org PRC provides the capable healthcare women deserve in a nurturing environment.

We offer comprehensive medical services and highly qualified counselors to assist you, regardless of your ability to pay. We offer medical services, counseling support, legal information, material assistance (baby clothes, maternity clothes and baby furniture), prenatal care, well-woman care and STD/STI testing and treatment. We take Medi-Cal and cash pay clients. All services are confidential. USE

Encompasscs.org/early_head_start The prenatal months and the first three years of life are periods of incredible growth in all areas of a baby’s development.

Parents too, experience this exhilarating growth as they get to know their baby.

Early Head Start’s prenatal, postpartum, childbirth, early education, and comprehensive services are designed to help you and your family get off to a good start and establish healthy patterns for life-long learning. We partner with you to support your caregiving goals to help your family thrive. Bilingual, telehealth, in-person, and at-home support services available. Contact us for eligibility information or to enroll: 831.688.3802.

Katie Williams, RN, IBCLC

(916) 868-4268 LactationConsultant.org katiewilliamslactation@gmail.com Katie Williams is a local Mom, Nurse, and Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is passionate about helping all families meet their feeding needs, and strives to provide compassionate, empathetic care and education to each of her clients. Katie is available for in-home/office/skype visits.

Please visit her website for more information.

28 OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

831.688.3954 (Santa Cruz) 650.327-6455 (Bay Area) nursingmothers.org Nursing Mothers Counsel, Inc. is a non-affiliated, non-profit organization whose goal is to help mothers and their babies enjoy a relaxed and happy feeding relationship. Our help is provided by telephone, text, Zoom, email, Facebook, FaceTime, and in-home visits. We provide hospital-grade breast pump rentals and grants. NMC services are provided without fee or obligation. Counselors are available from 9:00am – 9:00pm.

If you would like to become a certified breastfeeding counselor please register for our trainings. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Pregnancy Resource Center of Santa Cruz County

BABY AND CHILDREN’S RESOURCES

with parenthood is key to developing love in the home; this love spreads both into the family and the greater community. Trained as an infant care specialist, I help families transition comfortably into parenthood during the first few days, weeks, and months. I am also committed to continuing my education. This allows me to offer a variety of resources to you and your family.

I am certified through Doulas of North America (DONA) in postpartum care.

First 5 Santa Cruz County

831.465.2217 first5scc.org First 5 Santa Cruz County promotes the healthy development of children from birth to age 5. Parents and caregivers of newborns can contact First 5 to receive a free “Kit for New Parents” with parenting videos, children’s books, information on caring for babies and local resources.

First 5 also offers parenting support through the Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, a world-renowned program that strengthens families by building positive relationships. To find Triple P classes or quick tips, visit triplep.first5scc. org or facebook.com/triplepscc REDYPER (Formally EarthBaby): The World’s First Compostable Diaper Service

(650) 641-0975 customerservice@earth-baby.com earth-baby.com REDYPER (formally EarthBaby) is the World’s First Compostable Diaper Service! REDYPER delivers fresh new compostable diapers and wipes right to your doorstep. Soiled diapers are collected weekly, professionally composted, and turned into nutrient-rich topsoil in just 14-16 weeks. Did you know that the average baby will go through 5,500 diapers? Disposable diapers are the 3rd largest contributor to US landfill sites. By using REDYPER, you can enjoy the convenience of disposable diapers without the negative environmental impact. Sign up new and expecting parents within our delivery zone and they will receive 1 pack of compostable diapers, 1 pack of compostable wipes, and 1 month of REDYPER delivery. Pick up, and composting service for FREE! Use code ‘GROWINGUPINSC’ at earth-baby.com

Beth Lilienthal

SPORTS, PLAY AND FUN

SantaCruzBabyDoula.com 831-588-7367 Postpartum doula care for the whole family. Being able to bridge pregnancy

303 Potrero St, Suite 15 Santa Cruz, CA 831-458-3648

Adventure Sports Unlimited

Adventure Sports Swim Babies Swim Babies at Adventure Sports is a parent/infant class for swimmers aged 4 months to 2.5 years. We use subtle and comfortable techniques to introduce your little one to the wonders of water. Classes run from January to December in our 90^ pool 4 times per week. Come play with us!

Jim Booth Swim School

Harvey West pool in Santa Cruz and Watsonville 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 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!

Junebug’s Gym

831.464.BUGS (2847) 3910 Portola Dr., Stes. 2 & 3, Santa Cruz junebugsgym.com Did you know? Activities for babies and toddlers that stimulate balance, movement, and core strength activate the brain for higher learning concepts and lead to later success in school. Join us at June Bug’s Gym for Inchworms — our baby development classes — for crawlers to wobbly walkers. Every Monday and Wednesday from 12:15-1:15

REDYPER (Formally EarthBaby): The World’s First Compostable Diaper Service

(650) 641-0975 customerservice@earth-baby.com earth-baby.com Sign up new and expecting parents within our delivery zone and they will receive 1 pack of compostable diapers, 1 pack of compostable wipes, and 1 month of REDYPER delivery. Pick up, and composting service for FREE! Use code 'GROWINGUPINSC' at www. earth-baby.com

Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources

19B Rancho Del Mar, Aptos (831) 316-7261 wonderlandsantacruz.com info@wonderlandsantacruz.com facebook.com/wonderlandsantacruz instagram: @wonderland_santa_cruz Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources has many WONDERful baby gifts for the little ones in your life. Shopping local has never been so cute and so fun!

Music Together/MusicalMe, Inc.

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County Call/Text: 831-332-9002 registrar@musicalme.com musicalme.com The gift of music-making is something that will last a lifetime. In Music Together’s Babies Only classes (0 - 8 months), families will learn lots of ways to interact musically with their infant. Gift certificates available.

Music Together/MusicalMe, Inc.

Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County Call/Text: 831-332-9002 registrar@musicalme.com musicalme.com In our Music Together Babies class (0 - 8 months), you’ll learn a lot of fun musical activities for babies. You’ll also learn to recognize which of your baby’s behaviors are musical so that you can support their development at the time when your baby’s brain is at its most receptive. The Babies class has other benefits, too! Singing and dancing with your baby is a beautiful way for the two of you to bond. And making music with other parents of newborns is a great way to make new friends in your community who are as sleep-deprived as you. Join us outdoors!

Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources

19B Rancho Del Mar, Aptos (831) 316-7261 wonderlandsantacruz.com info@wonderlandsantacruz.com facebook.com/wonderlandsantacruz instagram: @wonderland_santa_cruz Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources is now next to Safeway off State Park in Aptos! We have a WONDERful selection of developmentally appropriate baby toys and learning materials, including clutching toys, silicone teethers, bibs, soft lovies, shape sorters, push & pull toys, bath toys, pacifier friends, swaddle blankets, rattles, and more! Thanks for shopping at our local, family-owned shop!v

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

– Will Lanz williamlanz@gmail.com

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

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ALL MONTH Natural Bridges State Beach: Monarch Butterflies 11:00 AM-2:00 PM Stroll through the Monarch Butterfly Natural Preserve and be on the lookout for every splash of orange on the walk! The monarch migration is variable, please check the website or contact the park to find out the current population. To arrange a tour for groups of 10 or more, please visit www.thatsmypark.org.

Events made possible by Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and California State Parks.

4 Weeks of Trail Academy Pro Classes Begin 6:00 PM This October, you can spend time with Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship’s professional trail staff learning in-depth concepts that aren’t taught in our free Trail Academy classes! We’ll cover mapping, sustainable trail design, progressive construction techniques, and even more. As a part of Trail Academy Pro, you’ll have access to a private Slack channel with our staff for one-on-one support and get to complete fun homework assignments that will reinforce class lessons.

FRIDAY 1

National Homemade Cookies Day With the average person consuming almost 19,000 cookies in a lifetime, it is no surprise why we celebrate National Homemade Cookies Day! Every year on October 1, bakers, homemakers, and cookie enthusiasts alike, preheat their ovens to serve up these delicious treats.

With a variety of options to choose from, there is no limit to the types of cookies you can create in the comfort of your own home.

FUN-N-TUMBLE at June Bugs Gym 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM Come and join us on Fridays for a hour or more of fun play.

Zipline, trampolines and so much more at our special gym for toddlers and up to 8 yrs of age. Please call to reserve your time slots. Reach us at (831)464-2847 www. junebugsgym.com

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM Every Tuesday and Friday. Organic vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers are sold weekly at the CASFS Farmstand, starting June 15 and continuing through November 23, 2021. Proceeds support experiential education programs at the UC Santa Cruz Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems.

Capitola Children's STEAM projects 2:00 PM-4:00 PM Every Friday. Projects will include STEAM arts & crafts, model building, and exploration of the environment around us. We will be outdoors, wearing masks, and will be well-spaced on tables. You may have to wait for a turn, so please look for books or play on the equipment while you wait.

Please allow at least 30 minutes to complete a project. If it is raining we will try to have the craft materials available for you to complete at home. santacruzpl.libcal.com/ event/8296112

make everyday tools and objects. Knot, weave, build a boat, and try it out in water! Registration required. The program will take place on the Felton patio. santacruzpl.org/ Celebrating the 20th Year of Peace Building Through Art 11:00 AM-3:00 PM Unity Through Creativity Foundation supports artistic programs that help build inclusive and beloved communities, with the Singing Tree Project being its signature program. The 20th Anniversary of the Singing Tree™ Project will be celebrated virtually. Participants will be adding to the 100th Singing Tree – The Singing Tree of Love for Afghanistan. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

The Westside Marketplace 11:00 AM5:00 PM Time for the Westside Marketplace!

1st Sundays at the Wrigley! Featuring LOCAL art, handmade & vintage shopping + Food trucks & pop-ups, and LIVE MUSIC…all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot on Mission. FREE admission! FREE & Easy Parking! Friendly leashed pups are welcome!

LIVE MUSIC from 2-5pm!

SATURDAY 2 Bonny Doon Art, Wine & Brew Festival 1:00 PM-6:00 PM Join us for an afternoon of tastings with local wineries & breweries, artist and craft vendors, food trucks, 3 bands, live auctions, and allaround good vibes. It’s the best little party in the Santa Cruz Mountains!

Roaring Camp: Harvest Faire & Steam Festival 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Harvest Faire & Steam Festival presented by Kinetic Steam Works and Roaring Camp Railroads. Welcome Fall with heritage children’s activities like scarecrow making, pumpkin patch picking, candle making, and gold panning. Behold a variety of steam and belt-powered equipment on display. Admission is free for the whole family.

Central Coast First Peoples: Make a Canoe with Linda Janklow / Peopleologie 1:00 PM The Santa Cruz area is and was home to the Awaswas-speaking Uypi Tribe and the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Learn about ancient traditions using plants to

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open hours. Thurs. & Fri. 3-6, Sat. 12-6, Sun. 12-4.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM Every Saturday and Sunday. Discover what life was like a century ago on this innovative dairy ranch. This hourlong tour includes the 1896 water-powered machine shop, barns and other historic buildings. The vehicle day-use fee is $10.

For more information, call (831) 426-0505.

Spaces are limited and early pre-registration is recommended. Attendees are required to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms when pre-registering. Masks and social distancing are also required at all programs.

Queer Youth Meet-up (ALL COUNTY) 1:00 PM-3:30 PM Every Saturday. LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 11 - 18 who want to meet new people, join a welcoming community and learn the tools of activism and leadership, look no further! The Diversity Center's LGBTQ+ Youth Meetup is the place for you. Join our dynamic team of youth from Santa Cruz County! Bring yourself or bring a friend to this awesome virtual group. Email youth@diversitycenter. org or DM @diversity.youth on Instagram for the invitation to the Discord group.

SUNDAY 3 Saturday Open Gym 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Come join us on Saturday morning for a hour or more of fun play. Zip-line, trampolines and so much more at our special gym for toddlers and up to 8 yrs of age. Reach us at (831)464-2847 www. junebugsgym.com Fall Leaf Garland 12:00 PM-4:00 PM $20 All materials provided for making a 5 ft. garland to decorate the house with.

Registration not required, first come first served through out the month, during

Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) @ Capitola 2:00 PM-4:00 PM ACT is open to all Santa Cruz County young adults, ages 12-18. The main focus of the ACT is young adult services, including programs, events, spaces, and policies. This is a good opportunity for students to fulfill community service credits, obtain job skills, develop leadership abilities, and acquire college extracurricular experience. Questions?

Contact Sandi Imperio (imperios@ santacruzpl.org) Meetings: 1st Sunday of the month, 2:00-4:00p at the Capitola Library, 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola.

Roaring Camp: Harvest Faire & Steam Festival 11:00 AM-5:00 PM See Oct 2.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

MONDAY 4 National Child Health Day Show your support of children’s health, family, and those that work hard to help them. Family income is a major factor in the health of children both physically and mentally. Children from households below the poverty line have a higher obesity rate than those above it, and with the epidemic not slowing down, it’s clear that there’s more that we need to do.

TUESDAY 5 Gateway Tours by Appointment 9am-3pm. Gateway School, 255 Swift Street Come and learn how Gateway School inspires curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through innovative education for a fastchanging world. You’ll have the opportunity to see the health and safety protocols of our facilities while also learning more about our curriculum. Visit www.gatewaysc.org to make an appointment for a personalized, individual tour of our campus.

OCTOBER CALENDAR World Teachers’ Day Just as Matilda had Ms. Honey, Harry had Dumbledore, and Cady had Ms. Norbury, maybe you’re a teacher working hard to help young people learn and grow. No matter where you are in the world today, remember that teachers matter!

Free Tuesday at UCSC Arboretum 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Community Day at the UCSC Arboretum, free admission on the first Tuesday of every month 9 am-5 pm. Come explore the biodiversity of our gardens, great birdwatching or simply come relax on a bench in the shade.

La Selva Beach Preschool Storytime 11:00 AM Every Tuesday. Join us for a fun interactive storytime. We'll read books, sing songs and use rhythm and movement. This event is suitable for children ages 3-6 years.

There will be an arts and crafts project to take home. This event will be held outside on the back patio. Please bring something to sit on and dress for the weather. Masks will be required.

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM Every Tuesday. Join us in the Secret Garden in Abbott Square at the MAH for storytime! We’ll share stories, songs and rhymes in a safe environment!

This 30-40 minute program is intended for children aged 2-6. Do it yourself craft kits will be provided every week. Every other week we will feature STEM-related stories and concepts.

everyone else, including adults, are required to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

WEDNESDAY 6 Gateway Tours by Appointment 9am-3pm. Gateway School, 255 Swift Street Come and learn how Gateway School inspires curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through innovative education for a fast-changing world. You’ll have the opportunity to see the health and safety protocols of our facilities while also learning more about our curriculum.

Visit www.gatewaysc.org to make an appointment for a personalized, individual tour of our campus.

Tumble-On-Tuesdays 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM Come join us at June Bugs Gym for a hour or more of fun play. Zip-line, trampolines and so much more at our special gym for toddlers and up to 8yrs of age. Reach us to reserve your time slot(s) at (831)464-2847 www. junebugsgym.com Capitola Storytime 10:00 AM-11:00 AM Every Tuesday. Join us Outside on the deck to read stories, sing songs, and chant rhymes. There will be an art & craft project to pick up and complete at home.

This storytime is for children who can sit and listen to at least one story, and will last about 30 minutes. This event takes place OUTSIDE on Capitola's porch, so please dress warmly. Children under 2 do not need to wear a mask, however

THURSDAY 7 TEDxMeritAcademy Countdown and Youth Innovation 1:00 PM-3:00 PM This year’s TEDxMeritAcademy event focuses on Climate Change Countdown and Youth innovation. Students have conducted projects to solve some of our biggest problems, and they will speak about their ideas worth spreading. Come hear these teens and adults speak about climate change, medical solutions, and health care education.

and give you a bag of food if wanted. Be at the warehouse with mask and gloves at 7am, and we will put you to work until at least 9am! Fun group, we all love working here!

Call ahead if you would like to know more.

FRIDAY 8 FUN-N-TUMBLE at June Bugs Gym 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 1.

West Cliff Food Truck Series 2021 4:00 PM-8:00 PM West Cliff Food Truck Series is back for the third great season. Join us at the West Cliff Lighthouse parking lot to enjoy the beautiful view, local food trucks, and LIVE MUSIC! This is becoming a locals favorite and tourists love it as well. The parking lot is close to many wonderful picnic areas where you can relax and take in the scenery. Admission is FREE! Venue details: Lighthouse Point, 700 West Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz Capitola Children’s STEAM projects 2:00 PM-4:00 PM See See Oct 1.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

SATURDAY 9 Agricultural History Project 11:00 AM-3:00 PM 2nd Saturday on the Farm, a family event that focuses on a particular area of agriculture. Visitors can participate in the regular activities of the Ag History Project plus others related to the day’s special focus.

We host over 2,500 visitors each year.

National Walk and Bike to School Day The National Center for Safe Routes to School has been working for more than two decades to create safe conditions for walkable neighborhoods. Being able to walk and ride a bike in the community gives children a strong sense of self-confidence and a better quality of life. And National Walk and Bike to School Day isn’t just for children. We encourage your elected officials to walk and bike, too! $5 Tuesdays at Santa Cruz Cinema 11:00 AM-10:00 PM Every Tuesday is $5 Tuesday! Ticket prices reduced to $5 all day. 3D movies discounted to $7 all day! Bring your friends down and enjoy a movie. Showtimes and Tickets available at santacruzcinema.com.

discussion group is for people (of any age) who identify on the spectrum of trans/ nonbinary/agender/genderfluid and more.

The group also welcomes those who want to explore their identity, but who may not need or want to classify themselves. All individuals are encouraged to explore their individual selves, without concern or pressure that the next step need be ‘transitioning,’ and without concern about fitting into other people's definitions. Visit diversitycenter.org/community-calendar for more information.

Felton Toddler Time 11:00 AM Every Wednesday. Join Librarian Julie on our beautiful Felton patio for Toddler Time.

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. Let's play and learn together! Make sure to bring something to sit on. We ask that adults please wear a mask. Repeats weekly.

Cuéntame un Cuento 4:30 PM-5:30 AM Every Wednesday. Acompáñanos para una hora de cuentos, actividades y canciones en español. Este programa es para niños de 0-8 y sus familias. La hora será miércoles a las 4:30pm. Nos reuniremos en el porche exterior. Se requiere el uso de cubrebocas para todas las personas mayores de 2 años. Cuéntame un Cuento se llevará a cabo en Capitola durante el período de construcción de Live Oak. En caso de mal clima, se cancelará la hora de cuentos.

Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30 PM-9:00 PM Every Wednesday. The support and

Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4:00 PM Every Thursday. We invite you to discover the stories and secrets found within Evergreen Cemetery, one of the oldest public cemeteries in California, on a self-guided or private tour of the grounds.

Bring your curiosity as you explore the final resting place of Santa Cruz's early settlers.

The 45-minute tour uncovers the stories and tombstones of the people who made Santa Cruz what it is today. Designed for the daring, the curious, and the history-loving.

Preschool Storytime on the Felton Patio 11:00 AM Every Thursday. Join Librarian Jackie on our beautiful Felton patio for Preschool Storytime. Preschool Storytime is a weekly early literacy program for children ages 3-5 years old and their caregivers. Music, movement, stories, fingerplays, rhymes, and songs are a fun way for your child to learn. Let's play and learn together! Make sure to bring something to sit on. We ask that adults as well as children ages 3 and up please wear a mask Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7:00 AM9:00 AM Every Thursday. If you are ablebodied and love to work FAST, this is for you!

Grey Bears could use more help with their brown bag production line on Thursday and Friday mornings. As a token of our thanks, we make you breakfast (be there at 7am!)

Open Farms Tour 10:00 AM Saturday & Sunday. Learn what is involved in growing our food and get a behind-the-scenes look into our regions vibrant working agricultural landscape.

Learn about how important sustainable farming methods are to the health of the Earth and our community. Participate in farm activities like apple juicing, tastings, U-Picks, and demos. Learn about the sustainable agriculture methods used to grow our food and spend a day outside getting to know our farming community. openfarmtours.com Saturday Open Gym 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM See Oct 3.

Queer Youth Meet-up (ALL COUNTY) 1:00 PM-3:30 PM See Oct 2.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

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OCTOBER CALENDAR SUNDAY 10

MONDAY 11

World Mental Health Day s our understanding of mental health grows, we grow along with it. Mental health has come a long way since the early nineties when the World Federation of Mental Health (WFMH) officially established the day. Our self-awareness and sensitivity towards it have changed things for the better. Our language surrounding mental health has improved as words like “crazy” and “lunatic” are used less flippantly and we come to better understand that they can be unintentionally hurtful and stigmatizing. While we’ve learned a lot, there’s still so much more we can do to evolve as a society.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day The first seed of Indigenous Peoples’ Day was planted at a U.N. international conference on discrimination in 1977. The first state to recognize the day was South Dakota in 1989. Berkeley, California, and Santa Cruz followed suit. Although the day was still considered Columbus Day up to 1937, many people began calling it Indigenous Peoples’ Day to celebrate the rich culture and the lives of the Native American people.

Triple P Virtual Workshop: Parenting as a team 6:00 PM-7:30 PM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn about: • Parenting issues that often cause disagreements between partners • How to take care of your relationship with your partner and create a positive home life • Tools to help partners support each other and work as a team Presented in English on Zoom by Sandra Rodelo, Community Bridges – LMCR Register on Zoom: https:// bit.ly/Parenting-Team-Oct11 Got questions?

Contact Sandra Rodelo at (831) 724-2997 x211 or sandrar@cbridges.org

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM See Oct 5. $5 Tuesdays at Santa Cruz Cinema 11:00 AM-10:00 PM See Oct 5.

Capitola Storytime 10:00 AM-11:00 AM See Oct 5.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

WEDNESDAY 13

TUESDAY 12 National Stop Bullying Day Schoolchildren, their teachers and their parents spend time learning about bullying and recognizing how they can prevent it. It calls on schools and organizations to bring together children, educators, and parents for the sake of preventing bullying situations.

Bullying can come in many forms, and victims can feel helpless or unsure of how to stop the situation. While bystander intervention is an effective way to stop bullying in real-time, understanding how it can be prevented can be even more important.

Watercolor and Pen Cat Painting 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Crooked Beauty 6225 Highway 9, Felton Come in during hours of operation to paint a simple but lovely cat silhouette. All materials will be provided to make this spooky and fun project. $20 For more information, go to www. crookedbeautyart.com/workshops-events/ Monte Foundation 26th Anniversary Fireworks 7:30 PM-8:00 PM A wonderful family event featuring a spectacular fireworks display. So pack a snack, bring your beach or camping chair, bring a friend and/or your family, and head for Capitola Beach, or the wharf, or the bluffs surrounding Capitola, and enjoy the wonder, awe, and majesty of the Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza.

Remember the “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs” as you look skyward!

North County, Advisory Council for Teens (ACT) @ Felton 2:00 PM4:00 PM ACT is open to all San Lorenzo Valley young adults, ages 12-18. The main focus of the ACT is young adult services, including programs, events, spaces, and policies. This is a good opportunity for students to fulfill community service credits, obtain job skills, develop leadership abilities, and acquire college extracurricular experience. Also, ACT is a great outlet to meet great friends and most importantly, have fun with other like minded individuals.

Open Farms Tour 10:00 AM See Oct 09.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

Farmers Day The profession of farming began around 12,000 years ago with the domestication of livestock as hunter/ gatherers settled down and started to plant their own food. In short, farming is one of the oldest jobs around. So let‘s take a moment to give some love to all the farmers who work tirelessly to feed us year round.

Triple P Virtual Workshop: Helping with homework 4:00 PM-5:30 PM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop to learn: • Why homework time is a struggle in many families • How to help your child develop a good homework routine • Tools to decrease stress for you and your child during homework time Presented in English on Zoom by Cori Burt, Community Bridges – MCR Register to get the Zoom meeting link: https://bit.ly/ Homework-Oct12 Got questions? Contact Cori Burt at (831) 335-6660 x6605 or corib@cbridges.org Tumble-On-Tuesdays 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 5.

La Selva Beach Preschool Storytime 11:00 AM See Oct 5.

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Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4:00 PM See Oct 7.

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM See Oct 5.

Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7:00 AM9:00 AM See Oct 7.

FRIDAY 15 National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day The loss of an infant is devastating. National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day honors those lives lost to miscarriage, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, stillbirth, the death of a newborn, and more. On October 15, take the opportunity to reflect, honor, and come together over pregnancy and infant loss. If you have a loved one who has experienced this loss, take the time to give them the love and support needed to process and recover.

FUN-N-TUMBLE at June Bugs Gym 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 1.

Seacliff State Beach: Cement Ship History Walk 11:00 AM-12:00 PM Learn the history of Seacliff and surrounding Aptos in this one-hour, half-mile history walk. Led by docent Pete Wang, the tour focuses on the Ohlone, Raphael Castro, Claus Spreckels, Aptos Landing Wharf, the development of Seacliff Park – including Paul Woodise, “The Madman of Seacliff” – and the Cement Ship. Tours are free; parking at Seacliff State Beach is $10 and supports the park. Rain cancels, meet at the visitor center.

Felton Toddler Time 11:00 AM See Oct 6.

Cuéntame un Cuento 4:30 PM-5:30 AM See Oct 6.

Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30 PM-9:00 PM See Oct 6.

THURSDAY 14 National Dessert Day Calories don’t count today, so make sure to pick up that box of donuts you’ve been thinking about all week. Cash in those kale salad points and reward yourself with the a warm sugary glaze. You’ve earned it!

Fomentando amistades positivas entre adolescentes 5:30 PM-7:00 PM Asista a este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender: • Cómo el hecho de tener amistades les ayuda a los adolescentes a aprender destrezas sociales importantes • Cómo animar a los adolescentes a desarrollar relaciones positivas con sus amigos y compañeros • Qué puede hacer si los adolescentes tienen dificultad en formar amistades o llevarse bien con los compañeros Presentado EN ESPAÑOL por Zoom Inscríbase por Zoom: https://bit.ly/Amistades-Adolescentes14Oct

Rio Theatre: She Adventures Film Tour 7:00 PM-9:30 PM Born out of a desire to showcase the strong, inspirational, adventurous women of the outdoor world, the She Adventure Film Tour presents a carefully curated selection of short films that will entertain, inspire and enlighten.

Showcasing a 2 1/2 hours program of the most heartfelt, inspiring, and entertaining films celebrating adventurous women from independent filmmakers around the globe.

Capitola Children’s STEAM projects 2:00 PM-4:00 PM See See Oct 1.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

SATURDAY 16 Taller Virtual Triple P: Lidiando con el estrés 10:00 AM-11:30 AM Asista a

OCTOBER CALENDAR este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender: • Las causas comunes del estrés y cómo el estrés afecta la crianza • Cómo reconocer las señales del estrés • Formas saludables para reducir y controlar el estrés de la vida diaria Presentado EN ESPAÑOL por Zoom por Gladys Gómez, Puentes de la Comunidad – La Manzana Recursos Comunitarios Inscríbase por Zoom: https:// bit.ly/Estres-16Oct ¿Tiene preguntas?

Comuníquese con Gladys Gómez (831) 724-2997 Ext. 220 o gladysg@cbridges.org Open House at Mount Madonna School 11:00 AM-2:00 PM featuring a garden party, opportunities to meet teachers and tour the campus. MMS offers small classes, a Montessori-influenced Pre/K, and academically vibrant 1st–12th grades, with project-based science, travel, marine biology, oceanography, buddy program, and more.

Contact 408-846-4042 or admissions@ mountmadonnaschool.org.

Saturday Open Gym 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM See Oct 3.

Queer Youth Meet-up (ALL COUNTY) 1:00 PM-3:30 PM See Oct 2.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

SUNDAY 17 Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market 10:00 AM-5:00 PM Come on out and support local artists and makers at the Downtown Santa Cruz Makers Market every THIRD Sunday of the month! 10am-5pm (Raindate to following Sunday) We are now on the 1100 block of Pacific Ave. between Cathcart and Lincoln Streets near New Leaf and alongside so many amazing downtown restaurants. Support local and shop small with over 30 Santa Cruz County artists and makers!

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

MONDAY 18

Taller Virtual Triple P: La crianza en equipo 6:00 PM-7:30 PM Asista a este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender sobre: • Temas de crianza que pueden causar desacuerdos entre las parejas • Como cuidar de su relación en pareja y crear una vida familiar positiva • Herramientas para ayudar a las parejas a apoyarse mutuamente y trabajar en equipo Presentado EN ESPAÑOL por Zoom Inscríbase por Zoom: https://bit.ly/ Crianza-Equipo-18Oct ¿Tiene preguntas?

Comuníquese con Sandra Rodelo al (831) 724-2997 x211 o sandrar@cbridges.org

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM See Oct 5.

Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7:00 AM9:00 AM See Oct 7.

FRIDAY 22

TUESDAY 19 Tumble-On-Tuesdays 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 5.

La Selva Beach Preschool Storytime 11:00 AM See Oct 5.

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM See Oct 5. $5 Tuesdays at Santa Cruz Cinema 11:00 AM-10:00 PM See Oct 5.

Capitola Storytime 10:00 AM-11:00 AM See Oct 5.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

WEDNESDAY 20 Felton Toddler Time 11:00 AM See Oct 6.

Cuéntame un Cuento 4:30 PM-5:30 AM See Oct 6.

Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30 PM-9:00 PM See Oct 6.

THURSDAY 21

from 12-3pm (FREE) Scary Version of the Haunted House 6-8pm ($5 admission) Join the Thrill the World Dance at 3pm Introto Tarot: Magic in the Cards 2:00 PM-4:00 PM It’s the perfect, spooky season for tapping into the magic of tarot cards! Learn a short history of the tarot, basic meanings of the 78 cards, how to ask them questions, and a special card spread for checking in with our thoughts and feelings and learning to make empowered decisions. The best part? You’ll learn that the magic’s all in you! Join Sarah from Hawthorn Mountain Tarot for this FREE CLASS for teens. This program will be capped at 10 teens; first come, first serve.

Saturday Open Gym 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM See Oct 3.

Queer Youth Meet-up (ALL COUNTY) 1:00 PM-3:30 PM See Oct 2.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

SUNDAY 24 International Stuttering Awareness Day Stuttering is a communication disorder in which repetitions — or abnormal stoppages of sounds and syllables — break the flow of speech. There may also be unusual facial and body movements associated with speaking. International Stuttering Awareness Day shines a helpful spotlight on stutterers and educates the public about the causes.

FUN-N-TUMBLE at June Bugs Gym 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 1.

Capitola Children’s STEAM projects 2:00 PM-4:00 PM See See Oct 1.

Capitola Children’s STEAM projects 2:00 PM-4:00 PM See See Oct 1.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

Trick or Treat Tote Decoration 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Crooked Beauty, 6225 Highway 9, Felton Come in during operating hours and decorate a tote bag to Trick or Treat with! All materials provided, including tote. $15 For more information, go to crookedbeautyart.com/workshops-events/ Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch 10:00 AM-4:00 PM See Ocr 23.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

MONDAY 25 National I Care About You Day

TUESDAY 26

SATURDAY 23

National Chocolate Cupcake Day Chocolate cupcakes were born out of a 1796 cookbook called American Cookery and have since grown into a worldwide craze and dessert staple. So let’s appreciate all there is about deliciously chocolate cupcakes and the happiness they bring to everyone who enjoys them.

National Apple Day a day dedicated entirely to celebrating all things apple: apple pie, apple sauce, apple crisp… The list goes on and on. This holiday reminds us to appreciate the apple in its myriad forms.

On October 21st, pick out your favorite variety and celebrate with apple lovers across the world.

Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4:00 PM See Oct 7.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: Chili Cook-Off 10:00 AM-4:00 PM Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the title of Best Chili! Cook-Off Schedule: 9am10am: Chef’s prep (no heat) 10am-1pm: Chili cook time 10am: Tasting kits go on sale 1pm: Public tasting begins 4pm: Winners announced at the Neptune’s Stage (beachside of Neptune’s Kingdom) Bring your appetite and join the fun as both professional and amateur chefs work their culinary magic and compete for the title of Best Chili!

Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch 10:00 AM-4:00 PM The Live Oak Glass Pumpkin Patch at Live Oak Grange returns with golden leaves and autumn breezes! Beautiful hand-made glass pumpkins and gourds created in the glass blowing studio of local glass artist Chris Johnson. See you at the Patch!

The Halloween Experience 12:00 PM-8:00 PM Haunted House and Mask Making Festival. Mask Making from 12-4pm Family-friendly Haunted House

National Pumpkin Day Pumpkins are so much more than just a fun holiday accessory.

Not only are they one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene (an antioxidant converted to vitamin A in the body), but pumpkins are loaded with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Try some on National Pumpkin Day (and of course have a little fun carving them).

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OCTOBER CALENDAR a este taller virtual GRATIS de crianza para aprender: • Por qué a los niños les cuesta separarse de sus padres y cuidadores • Cómo ayudar a su hijo a sentirse tranquilo y seguro cuando usted está lejos de él • Consejos para ayudar a su hijo (y a usted) a mantener la calma cuando es tiempo de decir adiós Presentado EN ESPAÑOL por Zoom Inscríbase: https://bit.ly/DificultadSepararse-Oct28

cult classic and there’s nothing like watching it right where it was filmed with the smell of corn dogs and saltwater taffy filling the air.

Capitola Children’s STEAM projects 2:00 PM-4:00 PM See See Oct 1.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

FUN-N-TUMBLE at June Bugs Gym 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 1.

SATURDAY 30

Workshop: Promoting language & communication 2:00 PM-3:30 PM Attend this FREE virtual parenting workshop for families with children with special needs to learn: • How to teach children with special needs to communicate without using words • Ways to help children with special needs develop verbal communication skills • Tips for tailoring parenting strategies to your child’s special needs Presented in English on Zoom Register: https://bit.ly/LanguageCommunication-Oct26 Got questions?

Contact Cori Burt at (831) 335-6660 x6605 or corib@cbridges.org Tumble-On-Tuesdays 12:15 PM - 3:15 PM See Oct 5.

La Selva Beach Preschool Storytime 11:00 AM See Oct 5.

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM See Oct 5. $5 Tuesdays at Santa Cruz Cinema 11:00 AM-10:00 PM See Oct 5.

Capitola Storytime 10:00 AM-11:00 AM See Oct 5.

CASFS Farmstand 12:00 PM-6:00 PM See Oct 1.

WEDNESDAY 27 Felton Toddler Time 11:00 AM See Oct 6.

Cuéntame un Cuento 4:30 PM-5:30 AM See Oct 6.

Transgender & Non-Binary Peer Support Group 7:30 PM-9:00 PM See Oct 6.

THURSDAY 28 National Immigrants Day The United States of America is known as the world’s melting pot, and every year on October 28 National Immigrants Day gives us a reason to reflect on just how unique that distinction is among the world’s 195 sovereign nations.

As Americans, we are proud of our long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world and value their contributions that add zest to our nation’s blend of cultures, customs, and traditions.

Cuando su hijo tiene dificultad en separarse 4:30 PM-6:00 PM Taller Virtual Triple P: Que hacer cuando su hijo tiene dificultad en separarse de usted Asista

National Candy Corn Day They are commonplace in store windows and at parties. We eat them like popcorn, by the handful, and so it seems only natural that we celebrate them for a day. Would you believe that technically they are a vegetable? Well, they are. Whether you grab some from your kitchen table or eat small packets, candy corn returns every year and it’s not going anywhere. So, grab a handful and join us for National Candy Corn Day. Queer Youth Meet-up (ALL COUNTY) 1:00 PM-3:30 PM See Oct 2.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2.

Family Roller Party Downtown Santa Cruz 4:00 PM-8:00 PM Come have some FAMILY FUN in the FRESH AIR! Don’t miss this special after-school ROOF DECK ROLLER PARTY in a giant downtown Santa Cruz parking lot! Bring your own skates, blades, boards and scooters! Bring beach chairs too, for comfort. Thanks to local sponsorship, there’s no charge to participate! Walnut Ave | Cedar St | Church St

to the day a creative Kraft confectioner invented the wonderfully simple recipe while trying to figure out what to do with a bunch of excess Halloween caramels. We say, “Bravo, sir! Excellent idea!” And then we take a big, sweet, crunchy bite.

Halloween at the Boardwalk 12:00 PM-7:00 PM Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating and spooktacular Boardwalk fun! Spooktacular Fun: Costume Contest: Stop by Neptune’s Stage to take your photo and enter the costume contest for your chance to win a MyBoardwalk Card. Frightwalk: Are you brave enough to venture under the Boardwalk? Get spooked with this walk-through attraction.

Historic Wilder Ranch Ground Tour 1:00 PM-2:00 PM See Oct 2. * All national day information sourcesd from NationalToday.com

CALENDAR

SUNDAY 31 Do you have an event you want placed in our calendar?

Visit our website to submit the details!

Preschool Storytime in the Secret Garden 11:00 AM See Oct 5.

Grey Bears Brown Bag Line 7:00 AM9:00 AM See Oct 7.

FRIDAY 29 Wilder Ranch: Coastal Birding Walk 9:00 AM-11:30 AM On this 2.5 mile hike, be prepared to walk on uneven surfaces, with many stops to view the many birds, plants, and scenery along the way. You will help each other spot and identify birds! Bring your binoculars if you have them, clothes for variable weather, and good walking shoes. Meet next to the park map in Wilder Ranch’s main parking lot. Rain cancels.

The vehicle day-use fee is $10. For more information, call (831) 426-0505.

Watsonville: Music in the Plaza: “Dia de los Muertos Performances” Our summer outdoor concerts are back! Join us this summer as we welcome back Music in the Plaza to downtown Watsonville. The concert series will feature a variety of bands to help you get your groove on. Grab a bite at our downtown restaurants and join us for the music from 6pm to 8pm. This year’s concerts are brought to you by the City of Watsonville Parks and Community Services Department, the Watsonville Film Festival, and iHeart Media.

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Drivein Movies 6:30 PM-10:00 PM Enjoy a screening of The Lost Boys movie on the beach in front of the arcades! Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk are forever linked to this

34 OCTOBER 2021 | Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Halloween Halloween on October 31 is undoubtedly the creepiest, most ghostly holiday of them all. Children dress up as Batman, the Joker, Wonder Woman, or some other favorite character; go to parties or walk their neighborhoods with jack o’ lanterns full of sweets as they go trick-ortreating. Spooky decorations fill windows and porches and screams can be heard in living rooms up and down the country as we collectively binge our favorite horror movies.

Magic Day Magic Day actually takes place during National Magic Week, which is an entire week dedicated to celebrating the art of allusion and the craft of magicians everywhere! And while Harry Houdini may be the most famous illusionist out there, there is plenty to celebrate this week and day!

National Caramel Apple Day As if October 31 wasn’t awesome enough with costumes, ghouls, candy, and spooky things galore – it’s also National Caramel Apple Day! Caramel apples and Halloween go together like ghosts, goblins, tricks, and treats. The tradition stretches back decades

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

Christy@GrowingUpSc.com

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

GrowingUpSC.com | OCTOBER 2021

35

FALL EXPERIENCE AND

Trail of Lights & Frights OCTOBER 1ST - 24TH THURSDAYS | 10AM - 6:30PM FRI - SUN | 10AM - 10PM OCTOBER 27TH - 31ST Weds - Thurs | 10AM - 6:30PM

Experience a magical night at Swank Farms.

Enjoy a perfect fall night wandering through a starry path filled with Halloween favorites. All ages are welcome to take part in this Spooktacular adventure.

Be prepared to be amazed!

HOST YOUR SPECIAL EVENT AT "THE BARN" AT SWANK FARMS

GET YOUR TICKETS! SWANKFARMS.COM

SWANK FARMS