Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Curiosity Fills the Dad

Was it really a year ago I was walking outside Cabrillo’s Crocker Theater and saw a mom and her daughter eating lunch between the young one’s performance in the Nutcracker? I couldn’t resist stopping to...

Community Bridges Offers Affordable and Robust Preschool Program

The first five years of a child’s life are an essential period for their development, and providing access to high quality, nurturing and affordable early education is crucial. In Santa Cruz County, the Community Bridges...

Help, It’s the Holidays! 

The holiday season is a busy time. Parties and events with friends and extended family can leave pregnant and new parents feeling frazzled. Here’s some help to navigate some potentially stressful holiday situations. It’s not...

Finding Peace and Joy During the Holidays

There have been many devastating events happening the last several years, one right after another. Lives and homes have been lost, and it feels as though the tidal wave of tragedies is relentless. It’s emotionally...

Holidays with Kids: Keeping the Magic and Joy at the Center

Over the years, I have been privileged to teach with and to hear several talks given by one of our local treasures, Julie Olsen Edwards, Cabrillo College’s retired early childhood education faculty member, author, editor...

Moment of Gratitude

Wishing you a very healthy and happy holiday season. I want to take a moment of GRATITUDE and Thank you for reading my column this year, I hope you have implemented some of the self-care...

The Importance of Supportive Spaces for Queer and Trans Youth

At age 16 I began questioning my sexual orientation and sought out community to find safe and accepting spaces. Trying to process and better understand my identity was a confusing and isolating experience. In an...

Behind the Scenes of the Nutcracker

It’s that time of year again Nutcracker time! The tune of the “Waltz of the Flowers” plays in department stores and Nutcracker dolls are abundant in holiday displays. What exactly does it take to put...

United Way’s Innovative 211 Program Delivers Free Meals and Much More

While everyone is familiar with calling 911 for emergencies, some may not know about another important resource that offers help with non-emergency issues. The number to call is 2-1-1. Established in 2010 by the United...

David Bowie’s Sax Player Finds Success After Aptos High

When Saxophonist Donny McCaslin and his New York-based band blazed through one of the best-received sets at the 66th Monterey Jazz Festival in September, McCaslin was standing on familiar turf.As he told the audience at...

Easing the Pain of Ride Breakdowns

I recently returned from a few days in Southern California to visit Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain for the first time since 2019. Being that it was my first visit since before...

Ready or Not, Here They Come 

There is so much to think about and do to prepare for a new baby. Nine months of pregnancy can seem like plenty of time, but it can go fast. Suddenly, the baby is here...

An Effective and Unique Parenting Approach

Growing Up In Santa Cruz recently featured Positive Discipline articles discussing the differences between punishment and discipline. These are the key take-aways: punishment is something that usually stems from adults getting angry with children and...

The Family That Studies Together

For the past couple of years, I have watched and supported my husband Bob in his quest to earn his Bachelor’s Degree. I have always admired his tenacity and skill to learn something new. He...

Watsonville Teen is County’s First Student Trustee

The Santa Cruz County Board of Education has for decades made innumerable decisions that affect the lives of students.Oscar Alvarez-Delgado, a 17-year-old senior from Pajaro Valley High School, was chosen from five applicants.Santa Cruz County...

Berry, Berry Fun

Dozens of Radcliff Elementary School students on Monday got a dual surprise: a berry feast from Driscoll’s, along with a free children’s book recently produced by the Watsonville-based company.The book—“A Sofia Special”—tells the story of...

Robot Bees and AI Cars Teach Tech

Students across Santa Cruz county will be learning computer technology from the most unlikely of teachers – robotic bees and artificial intelligence toy cars.As computer technology becomes more of a necessary skill in the classroom...

8 Easy Steps to Build Strong Study Skills

Now that students are back in school, let’s set them up to build strong study skills. I’m teaching these skills to students of all ages – even my high school seniors – to improve their...

Seymour Center Teaches Kids About Climate Change

Devastating floods, fires, and drought – Santa Cruz County has directly felt the impacts of climate change in recent years. To combat the growing crisis through public education and outreach, the Seymour Center has revamped...

Healthy Family Habits for the Holidays

Holiday season is here and whether you are the type who loves all of the seasonal celebrations or not, it’s a time to reflect and focus on wellness as the year comes to an end...

Adventures in Student Directing

In August of 2023 nine ambitious Cabrillo College students were selected by Professor Don Williams and his assistant producer Riley Hartmann to direct eight ten minute short plays for Cabrillo College’s “Authentic Creative Works” festival...

We Love Our Local Community College Cabrillo

On reviewing this issue, Managing Editor Nathan Mixter asked if we had too many stories about Cabrillo College. I hadn’t noticed as I picked the articles we would run. But yes, yes we do have...