“Oh, I’d want to keep them all.” This tenderhearted response is the most common one I get when I tell people that I foster kittens for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. I just smile, saying that my husband and I call ourselves The Mackenzie Finishing School for Felines. We enroll a new class, help them grow in all the ways, they graduate and go on to their new forever lives, and then we get some more! I’ve been known to bring kittens back and take new ones home the same day, earning me the title of ‘The Kitten Flipper.’ My experience with fostering has been with the SCCAS, so…
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Breaking Up With Amazon
Ending a relationship is never easy, but in this case the reason was undeniable. Right there in black and white. Line after line after line (after line!) on my Visa statement. It was time to break up with Amazon. No one said this was going to be easy. Amazon can be an addiction: the convenience, the returns, the anonymity. But there must be a better way. But who would I start seeing instead? Wanting to keep things light, I fooled around a little with Facebook Marketplace. At first, that seemed to have decent potential. But it’s weird how quickly it starts to feel like a dating app. And not in…
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Can We Stop Bullying in Schools?
We all watched the bully in junior high school. But imagine that you are the younger, or the smaller, or the less assertive one. Or maybe you’re the neurodivergent kid, or you are gay, or you speak with a French accent. Somehow, you are different. You start getting tripped in the hallway, your books are knocked out of your hands, chocolate milk is poured down your shirt while dozens of kids howl with laughter and gather around the bully, clapping him on the back. You’re called harsher and harsher names, your bicycle is wrecked, kids throughout the school smirk as you pass by. Your bully convinces you that he wants…
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Spring’s Spiky Treasure: Why It’s Time to Love Artichokes
Spring’s Spiky Treasure: Why It’s Time to Love Artichokes May is peak artichoke season here in Santa Cruz — and all along the Central Coast. Just a short drive down Highway 1, you’ll find Castroville, the proud Artichoke Capital of the World, where these quirky green globes grow in abundance. This is when the harvest is in full swing, and the local markets are overflowing. At first glance, artichokes might not scream kid-friendly. They look a bit like alien pine cones with an attitude. But looks can be deceiving. Once cooked, their soft, mild flavor and tender leaves make them surprisingly versatile — great as a side dish, a salad…
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Democracy Begins At Home
In Solidarity, Compassion and Action We’d like to acknowledge that many of us feel scared, angry, overwhelmed, and powerless in the wake of political decisions that threaten people, institutions, and our democracy. While no easy solution exists, it may be helpful to remember to “think globally; act locally” and to “be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Along those lines, also remember that Positive Discipline isn’t just a parenting methodology; it’s a global organization practiced in more than 90 countries worldwide, and it’s a social change organization strengthening democracy through the development of respectful relationships. The Parenting Styles We Inherited Parents are their children’s first teachers,…
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Panda Inn Undergoes Transformations Under New Management
The newly revamped Panda Inn in Aptos, located at the Deluxe Plaza, has undergone a flavorful transformation under new management. The restaurant is now proudly family-owned and operated, emphasizing quality and authenticity. The joint now features house-made flavors and Szechuan spices that perfectly balance sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors. The all-new menu, to be released this month, includes vegetarian and gluten-free options.Now open daily from 11:30 AM to 9 PM (except Tuesdays), Panda Inn has streamlined its once-extensive 100+ dish menu to a refined selection of 50 items. Owner Yana Smith, a seasoned restaurant manager with over a decade of experience in Ashland, Oregon, purchased the joint in September last…
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What’s Good and Healthy on the School Menu?
Some of the meals they serve us at Live Oak Elementary School, where I’m a fourth-grader, are kind of simple, like bagels with cream cheese, which they serve us almost every day, sometimes with apples (like in the picture below). My favorite foods at school all start with the letter “P.” I like the pizza, of course, because pizza is my favorite food, and the pizza at Live Oak is pretty good quality and has enough cheese. I also like the pesto pasta, especially the pesto part; I used to make pesto at home when I was eight with basil I picked in our garden, olive oil and parmesan cheese,…
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From Hand-Held to Hangouts: Growing Up Downtown Santa Cruz
Downtown Santa Cruz is more than just a place; it’s a living, breathing chronicle of childhood memories, a rite of passage, and a path toward blossoming independence. For generations, local kids have watched it transform alongside them, from a magical urban wonderland guided by parental hands to a familiar, self-navigated terrain. The Enchanted Early Years: For many Santa Cruz children, downtown’s magic begins with the simple pleasures. A trip to Bookshop Santa Cruz to read books and sit on the rocking horse. The aroma of popcorn and the flicker of the movie screen at Santa Cruz Cinema or the Del Mar create lasting impressions. And of course, no downtown visit…
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Kids Will Like Cauliflower’s Cousin Romanesco
With its lime-green color, and quirky and cone-shaped florets, a head of Romanesco could have been picked from Dr. Seuss’ back yard. Beyond the surface beauty it’s a versatile veggie packed with flavor and nutrition. A cousin of cauliflower, Romanesco’s mild, nutty taste is as delicious raw served with dip as it is roasted to and topped with kid-friendly seasonings. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamins, fiber, and all the good-for-you nutrients that make seasonal eating a win-win. If the first thing that pops up is “my kid will never eat that”, local nutritionist Rebecca Hazelton shares some simple tips to get your picky eater on board. “First, remember that you’re…
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Volunteer to Bring Joy to Animals and Fill Your Heart
One of the most rewarding experiences in my life has been to volunteer with the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. I started volunteering when my beloved 16-year old chow-shepherd rescue passed away and my husband was not yet ready to adopt another dog. I was longing for the company of dogs again, and there was the Shelter, ready with all kinds of mixed mutts and pure breeds! Being an open door Shelter, many different types of dogs are surrendered or found lost/stray, some even confiscated from cases of neglect and abuse. But they were all adorable and needing lots of love, and I was ready to oblige (and even adopted…
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Banana Slug String Band Celebrates 40 Years at Rio
They are no different than any other band, except for the fact that The Banana Slug String Band has endured for 40 years. Four men, with four dynamic characters. Doug “Dirt” Greenfield, “Airy” Larry Graff, “Solar” Steve Van Zandt, and “Marine” Mark Nolan. Each inhabiting a precise image, like Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po, but more elemental (earth, air, sun and water). The Banana Slug String Band has toured the world, and been heard by millions, but what keeps them going after four decades? Doug Dirt explains, “How do we sustain this? All the children and families who have supported us. For 40 years we have seen positive changes in…
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Teaching Kids to Speak Pet
Kids and pets share a special kind of magic, and like any relationship, communication is key. Understanding body language can help kids know when their pet is happy, playful, or in need of some space. Teaching kids to recognize a pet’s body language strengthens the bond between them and fosters empathy and respect – skills transferable to any relationship. It’s similar to teaching kids how to navigate social cues with a new friend. Just as they learn when to crack a joke or when to back off, they can learn to read the signs that say, “Pet me!” or “Please, not now.” Pet Body Language 101 Before kids can interact…
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Understanding Consequences the Positive Discipline Way
The well-being of children is entrusted to every adult, and we parents, caregivers, and educators have to be very mindful of the decisions that we make to protect and teach children. Having a developmentally appropriate understanding of consequences as a parenting tool is essential to using them in ways that support children’s positive relationships and guide their positive behaviors. Psychology and Science The Positive Discipline idea that children do better when they feel better is supported by renowned psychologists Alfred Adler, Rudolph Dreikurs, and Abraham Maslow and informed by the study of neuroscience and trauma-informed care. Positive Discipline helps children experience belonging and significance, is mutually respectful and encouraging through…
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School Budgets in Trouble
The Pajaro Valley Unified School Board made a bold and some say careless decision last month, choosing not to layoff teachers, aides and vice principals to save $5 million from a budget that is headed toward deficit spending. Four of the seven board members voted to hold off on the cuts, which Superintendent Heather Contreras warned could make the problem significantly worse next year. This is one of the toughest challenges for the county’s largest school district with 27,000 students. Contreras explained to the board that the district was shrinking by 600 students over the next year and funding that was given to support schools during the pandemic has been…
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A Review of School Lunch
Some of the meals they serve us at Live Oak Elementary School, where I’m a fourth-grader, are kind of simple, like bagels with cream cheese, which they serve us almost every day, sometimes with apples (like in the picture below). My favorite foods at school all start with the letter “P.” I like the pizza, of course, because pizza is my favorite food, and the pizza at Live Oak is pretty good quality and has enough cheese. I also like the pesto pasta, especially the pesto part; I used to make pesto at home when I was eight with basil I picked in our garden, olive oil and parmesan cheese,…
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Discovery Preschool and Family Center Celebrates 10 Years
Discovery Preschool and Family Center celebrates 10 years of operation serving over one thousand families throughout the last decade. Founder, Sara Balla, started Discovery as a home-based preschool program when her children were preschool aged. “All of the teachers working with me either brought their own children or they were pregnant. I felt like I had my village, every day supporting one another’s babies, making snacks together, and trusting one another to love and nurture our own precious children. I always wanted Discovery to be a place where teachers were honored for their hard work and respected for their huge role in the development of a child”. Today Discovery is…
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‘Moana 2’ Shows You Should Never Give Up
I really loved the tropical setting for the new movie “Moana 2” with all the bright green palm trees and plants and also the deep blue of the ocean, which the main character, a girl named Moana, considers her friend. She can control the ocean. I don’t know how she did it. I also liked how there were so many different fun characters, starting with Moana’s friends, a little pig Pua and a skinny little chicken Heihei. Some characters were alive, like Moana’s little sister, Simea, who is really cute. Some other characters are dead, but still talk. There are actually a lot of dead characters in the movie, like…
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Program Provides Reduced Tuition Rates at Colleges
By many accounts Northern Arizona University has a very credible degree program in industrial and emerging technologies. It attracts students from all across the land, and out of state residents are paying a $28,650 tuition. Californians are in luck here, because a program available to students in select western states caps their tuition at participating publicly operated schools at no more than 150 percent of their in-state rate. A Californian, in this instance, would pay tuition of $17,532. That’s a discount of 40 percent over what out of staters typically would pay. This program is called the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), and is managed by the Western Interstate Commission for…
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Teaching Kids to Plan and Shop with Purpose
Helping kids learn to meal plan and grocery shop isn’t just about sharing household responsibilities—it’s a valuable lesson in financial wellness. Teaching these skills early equips children with tools for a lifetime of smart money management. Let’s break this process into clear, actionable steps that feel like a real-world classroom. Step 1: Start with What You Have Before heading to the store, take inventory of what’s already in your kitchen. Open the fridge, pantry, and freezer to involve your kids in identifying items that can be used in meals. Activity: Ask your kids to help sort items into categories, like proteins, vegetables, and snacks. Then, brainstorm meal ideas using those…
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Disaster Preparedness for Pets
When disaster strikes, it often comes with little warning, leaving families scrambling to ensure everyone’s safety—including their pets. According to a 2021 ASPCA survey conducted after Hurricane Ida, only 46% of pet owners had a disaster preparedness plan in place, despite 83% living in areas affected by natural disasters. This lack of preparation can lead to heartbreaking scenarios, as nearly half of surveyed evacuees reported leaving pets behind. The CZU Lightning Complex Fire in 2020 reminded Santa Cruz County residents how quickly emergencies can escalate. The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter played a vital role, sheltering displaced animals and reuniting pets with their families. This showcased community resilience but also…
