August 2019 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

It’s Time for a New Library in Downtown Santa Cruz: County Scoop August 2019

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 14:25:49 +0000

It’s Time for a New Library in Downtown Santa Cruz County Scoop August 2019 By Deb Tracy-Proulx As a parent, advocate for education, and former librarian, I have a deep understanding of the vital role public libraries play in the lives of children in our community. The Downtown Santa Cruz Library is where I brought my own young children for story and craft time. Then they went as third graders to learn how to do research for their California history projects. As middle and high school students, they went to our public libraries to meet classmates for group studying and tutoring. Many Santa Cruz kids spend their after school hours in our public libraries working on homework, doing online research, or reading graphic novels with friends while they wait for their parents and family members to get off work. The Downtown Santa Cruz library is the largest and most central branch of our local library system. Yet it has no dedicated teen spaces and the children’s room is too small and antiquated. Construction professionals say that because the current building is in such poor structural condition, and features a significant amount of dangerous asbestos that needs to be removed, a renovation will result in a less usable library. Specifically, there would be less square footage and no room for a teen space. In fact, we would also lose the current children’s space upstairs. A smaller library also means fewer professional library staff members, and therefore less programming and services for our kids. A smaller library will also deeply affect the majority of homeschool and independent school students who currently rely heavily on the Downtown Branch as their primary library. We can do better. Our kids want and need safe, accessible, and imaginative public spaces where they can think and learn and create. A completely brand-new, 21st century library is exactly what our kids and our community deserve — and what voters approved in 2016 when they passed a bond measure to fund it. Building the new library as the central feature of a mixed-use project will maximize library bond funding in order to retain the current amount of square footage, while also building in state-of-the-art technological infrastructure and expanded free technological services. Additionally, the cost-savings from being a part of a mixed-use space partnership will give our library the capacity to expand vital librarian-provided services and programming to youth and teens. This is also an idea that our local school librarians strongly support. Among the many reasons why remodeling the existing Downtown branch is not a good idea is that doing so would require the library to be completely closed for at least two full years. That means two years with no access to books and librarians, no story time or other services and programming for children, and no safe public space downtown for kids to do homework and research. Furthermore, the current library is rife with asbestos. A library renovation will only mask, not remove, 100 percent of this carcinogen from the building. Critics argue that the asbestos is not a problem. But I am not okay with asbestos in a public space used heavily by children — are you? The new center would be located where the Farmer’s Market is now, the parking lot across from Calvary Church and Hula’s. Calvary Church is going to develop the parking lot it owns (the city currently rents it for public parking) and so the Farmers Market is going to lose its adjacent parking. If the mixed use project goes in, the city will help the Market relocate to another lot it owns behind Kianti’s and will also build a permanent storage structure for them. The Farmers Market supports this move. Ten local residents volunteered to serve on the City of Santa Cruz’s Downtown Library Advisory Committee. This group worked closely with an architectural consultant and spent several months reviewing the feasibility of renovating the existing library, completely rebuilding it in its current location, or building a brand new library in a mixed-use space. After many meetings that included a lot of public input, the committee recommended the mixed-use space option as having “the desired square footage balanced with the fiscally responsible price.” Based on their extensive study of all potential options, the committee concluded that a mixed-use space library “has the potential to be a beautiful and vibrant asset to the community.” As a member of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries’ Library Advisory Commission, I studied the DLAC’s process and report in depth. Along with my fellow commission members, I endorsed their recommendation to pursue a new library in a mixed-use space. Building a brand new library is a win for our kids and our community as a whole. The proposed mixed-use project will also include desperately-needed affordable housing and new, permanent home for the Farmers’ Market, as well as “shared parking” that will bring a greener, 21st century approach to addressing parking needs. After well more than a year of research and community input, I’m confident the proposed project is the right one for Santa Cruz. To learn more and draw your own conclusion, I encourage readers to visit www.downtownforward.org. Deb Tracy-Proulx serves as a trustee on the Santa Cruz City Schools Board of Education, as well as a member of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries Library Advisory Committee and a board member of the Teen Kitchen Project.

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What’s cooking at theme parks? Always Amused August 2019

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:45:10 +0000

What’s cooking at theme parks? Deals, healthy options now on the table Always Amused August 2019 By Erik Chalhoub A theme park without food is like a car without wheels — you can’t operate one without the other. With most guests at parks making their visit a day out of it, coupled with the amount of walking to and from attractions, it can be a good workout, and a great way to work up an appetite. But theme park food is notorious for being greasy, unhealthy, heavily-processed grub. Worst of all, it’s overpriced ($40 pizza, anyone?). Sadly, that is still the case, but fortunately no longer the entire story. Over the last few years, theme parks have taken notice that their price-conscious guests are demanding healthier options. Two major chains that operate theme parks in our region — Cedar Fair (Gilroy Gardens and California’s Great America) and Six Flags (Discovery Kingdom) — offer deals to make their food more appetizing. Great America, in particular, offers an “All Day Dining Plan,” where, for $32, guests can enjoy an entrée and a side at more than 15 dining locations throughout the park. Even better, there’s only a 90-minute wait between meals (if you are really that hungry). When one meal can easily exceed $20, the dining plan is enticing. Frequent visitors to the park who hold season passes may want to consider adding the All Season Dining plan to their passes for $94. For the entire operating season, pass holders can eat lunch and dinner on every visit. It essentially pays for itself after two visits. Discovery Kingdom offers similar passes. Its Deluxe Season Dining Pass is currently on sale for $80, and includes lunch, dinner and a snack for the rest of 2019 for both Discovery Kingdom and the Hurricane Harbor water park in Concord. The Basic Dining Pass is currently being offered for $40, and includes lunch and a snack for every visit. A one-time Family Meal Deal at Gilroy Gardens for $37 includes an entrée and four 20-ounce fountain drink at three restaurants in the park. Keep an eye out for deals throughout the year at all of these parks. These prices are known to change, and could also be combined with other deals depending on the promotion. Sure, the prices may be relatively inexpensive, but would you actually want to eat the food? Great America stands out above the rest of the parks in the area, and has made an effort to improve its food offerings over the past few seasons. Led by Executive Chef Erick J. Ponce, the park has not only invested in new restaurants and its existing ones, but it is pushing the boundaries of typical theme park fare. Its two food festivals, Red, White and Brews and Taste of Orleans (held in June and July), have become a growing tradition at the Photo by Erik Chalhoub. California’s Great America Executive Chef Erick J. Ponce demonstrates how to cook a catfish slider. Santa Clara park. Just take a look at this sampling of the menu, and you wouldn’t believe it comes from a theme park: chicken lollipops over apple slaw, brisket burnt ends over corn pudding, deep fried frog legs with Creole aioli, praline bread pudding and more. Photo by Erik Chalhoub. California’s Great America Executive Chef Erick J. Ponce demonstrates how to cook a catfish slider. You also wouldn’t think the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk would offer more than just hot dogs and cotton candy, but it does. One of its newest restaurants, Cruzin’ Crêpes, offers just what it promises: made to order crêpes with either sweet or savory fillings. Wraps, bowls, quesadillas and other types of cuisine are offered at various locations throughout the seaside park. And you have to indulge in the deep-fried cheesecake. It’s almost a requirement for Photo by Erik Chalhoub. The finished blackened catfish slider with tangy slaw. a Boardwalk visit. Gilroy Gardens not only offers the traditional hamburgers, pizza and hot dogs, but its restaurants also have non-fried foods, reduced calories, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Those who are health-conscious will appreciate digital menus that are now being implemented at most food spots across all parks, which showcase calories and other nutritional information for each offering. If none of this sounds tempting, you can always leave an ice cooler filled with food from home in your vehicle and head out for a parking lot picnic at lunchtime. You won’t be the only one. Photo by Erik Chalhoub. The finished blackened catfish slider with tangy slaw.

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Organic vs GMO’s

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:40:26 +0000

Organic vs GMO’s By Kris Holden Summer is in full gear, kids are out of school and the pantry and refrigerator are expected to be stocked with plenty of snacks for hungry active kids. Thankfully, the summer season brings a variety of delicious fruit that kids enjoy snacking on as well as sweet cherry tomatoes and corn. But how does one navigate buying produce if organic is too expensive or not available? What about GMO’s? The Environmental Working Group puts out a Dirty Dozen list. The Dirty Dozen is a list of the 12 fruits and vegetables that contain the highest concentrations of pesticides AFTER washing and peeling. The Clean Fifteen, is a list, also put out by the EWG, consisting of 15 fruits and vegetables containing the fewest concentrations of pesticides, which they believe are the safest foods to buy conventionally. The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen lists are updated annually, as the lists do fluctuate. For instance, kale is now on this years Dirty Dozen list, ranked at number 3. Strawberries have maintained their number 1 spot, for the past 4 years, as being the most contaminated with pesticides. I like to keep a copy of the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen list on my phone for quick reference while shopping. Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO’s are another thing that I pay attention to while grocery shopping. These are prevalent in many of the foods we all eat, including produce, meat, eggs, dairy and up to 75% of all processed foods. GMO, refers to plants and animals whose genetic material has been changed in ways that do not occur naturally. When you see the “non-GMO” seal it means that the food is made without ingredients that were derived from genetically engineered organisms. The USDA requires manufacturers to disclose if their products are “bioengineered” or contain genetically modified ingredients. The issue is that there are many ways for the manufacturers to get around having to disclose this. For meat, poultry, dairy and eggs the “non-GMO” seal claims that animals were not fed a diet containing GM crops, but the USDA does not require on-farm inspection or yearly paperwork audits. For processed foods, plant-based foods, eggs and dairy products, there is no common standard that companies have to meet for labeling if it’s made with GM ingredients. The Food and Drug Administration or FDA, does not require safety testing or safety assessments of genetically modified crops before they are sold. The 10 most genetically modified crops in the US are: soybean, corn, sugar beets, canola (rapeseed), cotton, Hawaiian papaya, alfalfa, apples, potatoes, and summer squash. Much of the corn and soybeans, as well as alfalfa, are used as animal feed for beef, pigs, poultry and dairy cows. Most produce, grown in the US, is GMO-free with the exception of those listed above. With all this being said about pesticides and GMO’s it’s far more important to continue to eat mostly fruit and vegetables, regardless of it being organic or not, as the health benefits outweigh the risks. There are a few ways you can choose to avoid GMO foods. When looking at labels on packages there are some verified seals that will assure you the food does not contain GMO ingredients or pesticides. Look for: Non-GMO Project Verified, GMO Guard, USDA Organic Seal, Certified Organic or 100% Organic. Additionally, Aptos Natural Foods store has committed to being GMO-free as well as 100% of their produce organic. Lastly, preparing your own food at home, with the ingredients of your choosing, is always the healthiest way for you and your family. The following is a treat that our whole family enjoys. Kris Holden is a mother of three teens. She’s always been passionate about health and nutrition and eager to share with others what’s worked for her and her family. She’s a Feel Good Coach with focus on healing and energizing through a plant based whole foods lifestyle. You can view other recipes and healthy food selections on Instagram @feelgoodpicks. Email: feelgoodpicks@gmail.com Recipe: Banana Ice Cream Ingredients: 2-3 overripe, frozen bananas* optional milk of choice, if needed. (oat milk, coconut milk, nut milk) pinch of salt Instructions: 1) Start with bananas that are turning brown, they’re sweeter. Peel and cut into several pieces, then freeze in an airtight bag or container. (You can freeze a whole bunch at once so they’re ready whenever you want to make banana ice cream or a smoothie.) 2) To make the ice cream, put around, the equivalent, of 2-3 frozen bananas into a high speed blender or food processor. 3) Add a pinch of salt and 2-4 tbsp of milk for a smoother blending, if desired. 4) Blend until you achieve a soft-serve consistency. 5) You can serve immediately, or transfer to a container and freeze an additional 30 minutes, then scoop out with an ice cream scoop. There are a variety of flavors that you can add with this base. Our favorite is adding 2-3 tbsp of peanut butter and 3 tbsp of cocoa powder. You can also add your favorite berries or fresh mint. For a pina colada flavor use 1/4 cup canned coconut milk and 1/2 cup frozen pineapple. Recipe by chocolatecoveredkatie.com *Bananas provide 3 grams of fiber, 450 mg of potassium, vitamin C and a variety of other vitamins and minerals. The 2019 Dirty Dozen List: Strawberries Spinach Kale Nectarines Apples Grapes Peaches Cherries Pears Tomatoes Celery Potatoes The 2019 Clean Fifteen List: Avocados Sweet Corn Pineapples Frozen Sweet Peas Onions Papayas Eggplants Asparagus Kiwis Cabbages Cauliflower Cantaloupes Broccoli Mushrooms Honeydew Melons

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The Answer to “I’m Bored” Part 2

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:25:36 +0000

The Answer to “I’m Bored” Part 2 By Mary Gaukel Forester Read “I’m Bored” Part 1 HERE. In this month’s article I will continue to share summer and on-going opportunities for career exploration. Many summer experiences, courses, clubs, events can help a young person learn more about their own interests, skills, talents, and values. Adults in their lives can help youth see the connection between their interests, skills, talents, values, and potential career pathways. Bike Tech Teacher and Student/Santa Cruz County Office of Education EV3 Robotics: programming, engineering, construction Create Advanced mechanical devices and program motors with EV3 Lego Mindstorms. Ages 10-17 building, programming and commanding your own LEGO robots with materials provided in the class. Santa Cruz Public Libraries, www.santacruzpl.org. Youth Writing Workshop- author, journalist: Join Debra Niemira’s Writing Workshops Wednesdays July 10th through July 31st from 1:00-2:30p at the La Selva Beach Library. Open to aspiring writers grades 6th through 12th. Santa Cruz Public Libraries, www.santacruzpl.org. Elkhorn Slough – Naturalist, Biologist, Botanist, Environmentalist Camp SEA Lab fosters lifelong excitement, scientific understanding, and stewardship of our coasts and ocean by providing quality marine oriented programs that promote Science, Education and Adventure for youth. campsealab.org Natural History Nature Camps – Naturalist, Historian, Archaeologist. Can you Dig it? Entering grades K-2 Unearth the fossils, rocks and ancient history of Santa Cruz! Spend a week exploring the many surprising things you can learn from digging in the ground.Art and Science in Nature Entering grades 3-4Calling young artists and scientists curious about nature! This summer, young explorers will join us on a journey to investigate symmetries, patterns and curiosities in the natural world.Biomimicry Entering grades 5-6 Explore sustainable solutions by finding inspiration in nature! Spend the week navigating challenges and engineering solutions that promote sustainable living. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, www.santacruzmuseum.org. SPCA- Veterinarian: Volunteer (16 years+): Be trained and provide Canine TLC and Exercise, Feline TLC and Socialization, Dog Bathing and Grooming, Foster Care, General Animal Care. www.spcasc.org/volunteer/Summer Camp (1st-7th grades) Every summer, the Santa Cruz SPCA offers eight sessions of Summer Camp (each session is one week long). Campers learn key elements of animal care, experience shelter animals firsthand, take part in animal themed arts and crafts, and enjoy a variety of animal “visitors” from other local organizations. https://spcasc.org/events/summer-kids-camp-2019/ Habitat for Humanity – Construction: (16 years+) Volunteering at a Habitat construction site is a uniquely rewarding experience. Under the direction of the site manager, volunteers work alongside our experienced, dedicated construction team and partner families to build affordable homes for low-income families, while having a great time learning construction skills. Volunteers assist with construction tasks as assigned, according to the progression of the build. No previous construction experience is necessary, however, willingness to follow Habitat’s safety standards and construction practices is a must. www.habitatmontereybay.com/volunteer. Summer of Service Institute– computer science, agriculture, teaching.This free, 6-week program helps youth recognize their passion, share their talents and realize their power to transform our community through service. Each year up to 20 Summer Service volunteers are hosted at local non-profits for dedicated youth in grades 7-11. Santa Cruz Volunteer Center, scvolunteercenter.org/programs/junior-volunteers-summer-of-service Bike Church: transportation, engineering: The Bike Church is a community bicycle shop and tool collective where people (youth, also) can learn to repair their bicycles with the help of knowledgeable mechanics. We offer sliding scale services and affordable used and new parts. As a collectively run organization, we are committed to honoring the contribution of individuals while recognizing the importance of collaboration. thebikechurch@gmail.com Whether your child is 8 months or 18 years old, I hope that the above offerings inspire you to look for activities for your child that you can help them connect to careers. Next month I will begin a series on the career awareness/exploration offerings at our local school/school districts. Knowing about them will help you initiate career conversations. Reach Mary at marygaukel@gmail.com

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Letter From the Editors August 2019

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 13:23:08 +0000

Letter from the Editors August 2019 Dear readers, Talk about being pulled in two directions. August is really the cruelest month. On one hand we are still in the giddiness of summer, hitting the beach, going to camps, taking those last minute trips. On the other, we are in the grips of back to school seriousness. Some Santa Cruz schools start before Labor Day; others, after. So, we have two back to school issues, for August and September. This month, we still have some fun and important summer stories. Miss Placed has a new column helping you get organized for the last days of summer and for next summer as well. Erik Chalhoub looks at the good and bad of Theme Park food. Sure it always tastes great as a guilty pleasure, but now some parks have found ways to take away the guilt. To GMO or not to GMO, that is the question answered by Kris Holden, in a must-read family article. Speaking of MUST READ, Karen Kefauver got off her bike and took a trip to the dump, uh, recycling center, and got down and dirty with what you need to know about staying green while you get rid of your trash. It’s so important for all of us trying to be better global citizens. No family with teens should miss Mary Gaukel’s guide to career pathways for your kids. There is no better guide to teens’ futures anywhere. Don’t miss her important column here. There are so many other great stories this issue, including legal advice for divorced parents, advice on keeping flea free, help with getting kids back to school and making sure kids play, play, play. Please let us know what you like and would like to see in future issues. Contact us at editor@growingupsc.com and share your opinions. Thanks for reading. Brad Kava Jennifer Ford

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Alien-Nation

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 12:45:26 +0000

Alien-Nation By Bob Derber and Judge Paul Marigonda Custody disputes are difficult and seldom rewarding. More so, where a parent alienates the child against the other parent. This is not a norm for families. But custody disputes are high conflict situations and alienation is often present. Alienation can be hard to identify. It might be the child calling the new ‘significant other’ Dad or Mom, off-hand comments to the child that the other parent is irresponsible or the scheduling of doctor visits difficult for the other parent to attend. Where there is positive co-parenting, these matters may simply reflect circumstances. But if active alienation is involved, this behavior destroys parent/child. The child is the real loser. Judges face a difficult task sorting alienation from occasional parental frustration. Sometimes it’s obvious, as when a parent ‘coaches’ the child to excess. More often, proving alienation requires professional input. The solution may be therapy for the alienating parent. But what therapy is successful if the person is not open to therapy? So what should you do when you are the alienated parent: Educate: Educate yourself on how to temper alienating conduct. Engage: Be an active parent; take responsibility for your child’s life. Document: Journal, keep text messages and a calendar of events to help identify alienating behaviors. Protect: Consider therapy for the child to help them identify and process the confusion and uncertainty alienation creates. Educate: An alienating parent seldom changes, but you can understand the behaviour and actively neutralize its affect. Books and videos abound on the subject. Organizations provide helpful resources and forums. A therapist can help you develop coping strategies that fit your circumstances. Engage: Be present for your child. Know the teacher and coach or manage the team. Attend doctor visits: schedule them yourself! Review regularly your school’s on-line attendance, conduct and grading system. Document: Journal to identify and recall alienating events. You may need to prove this in court, but more importantly, you will sharpen your own understanding of the challenges you face. Protect: Get a therapist involved with your child who specialized in alienation. This is not a ‘recognized’ specialty, but there are individuals trained in the area and it is terribly complex. So how can a court help? Our courts often order parents to not speak poorly of the other parent or discuss a family law case in front of the children. These orders are difficult to enforce but they provide a foundation for the judge to make custodial adjustments if alienation is suspected. You may need a court order requiring therapy for a child, or even the other parent, and the court may require the therapist report his or her findings. Two major judicial tools exist where alienation is suspected by the court: 1) a Custodial Evaluation and 2) a parental Psychological Evaluation. Both options are expensive, but the court can allocate the cost between the parents based upon the circumstances. Custodial Evaluations are in-depth analyses to identify parenting issues and propose solutions to the court. They take several months and multiple visits with a professional so that s/he can analyze your matter in-depth and help find solutions. The professional may interview parents, children, teachers and others who have experience with your child. Specific guidelines exist for the process and a detailed report is typically issued. The Psychological Evaluation is a more ‘radical’ tool typically focused on the parent suspected of challenging conduct. It is far more expensive and is performed by a psychologist or psychiatrist. Court’s will hesitate to order this. There must be a strong suspicion of a parent’s conduct before this tool is used. Like the Custodial Evaluation, it is a several months’ process involving multiple visits with the professional. Alienation can reflect parental conflict, but it may also result from a parent’s psychological disorder. We are lucky in Santa Cruz to have judges who are trained in child development and take alienation matters seriously. But they are also aware that parents often allege alienation to get an upper-hand in custody battles, and they are not equipped to identify complex parenting issues without help. If your circumstances require a more in-depth analysis for input to the court, consider the above tools From the Bench By Judge Paul Marigonda Never involve children in parental matters, and never speak poorly of the other parent. No matter what you think, display a neutral attitude toward the other parent. Court orders typically require this. When we see alienating conduct, you can expect ordered therapy for your child to protect him or her and to inform the court if alienation is a factor we need to address.

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What Could Be More Natural? Birth Matters August 2019

Laura Maxson — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 12:39:32 +0000

What Could Be More Natural? Birth Matters August 2019 By Laura Maxson, LM People have a wide variety of expectations and experiences when it comes to breastfeeding. Many can be surprised when breastfeeding turns out to be harder than they expected. Although most go on to have an enjoyable breastfeeding experience for months or years, they will often remark that they thought breastfeeding would have been more natural. The terms natural, second nature and physiological are often used interchangeably, but they can mean very different things. Lactation is a physiological process – babies have a sucking reflex and breasts produce milk. In that respect, breastfeeding meets one definition of natural. However, while lactation is natural, the act of breastfeeding will feel natural and become second nature only after repetition results in muscle memory and reflexive response. Eventually women breastfeed without thinking too much about what they are doing. In fact, if she does try to analyze it step-by-step, she might find it difficult to describe what she is actually doing. Think about how a student driver feels sitting in the car, drivers permit in hand, as she prepare to make a right-hand turn for the first time. Now compare this to the last time you made a right-hand turn. Chances are you simply knew you had a right turn coming up and you didn’t think about it at all, you just did it. However, no amount of rehearsing will result in the student turning with the same relaxed, competence of an experienced driver because that only comes with practice. Breastfeeding, like driving, is not always easy at first. In fact for some, it can feel hard and scary. Breastfeeding is a life skill that will become as natural as driving or riding a bike. Once you have the basics down you’ll hardly give it a thought. But it takes time to lay down that muscle memory, not only for you, but also for your little one as well. When it comes to honing skills, we know that practice makes perfect (or at least good enough) and anyone with a newborn will get plenty of practice time. Breastfeeding soon becomes second nature for most, but unfortunately, not all. There are those who have a more complex relationship with breastfeeding. Issues with latching or milk supply can result in pumping, bottle feeding, supplementing with formula, or using nursing aids that can really add to the learning curve. A rocky start often resolves with time and help, but specific situations and medical conditions can result in on going issues no matter how much practice, pumping, or helpful advice is given. It can be a real heartbreak when breastfeeding doesn’t work out as expected. Everyone begins at the beginning – doing everything for the first time – holding baby in arms, arranging pillows, recognizing the wide-open mouth at just the right moment to pull baby into the breast for a good latch. Appreciate the intention and effort as your journey plays out. No matter how those feedings go, remember to take a breath, drop your shoulders and drink in that beautiful baby as she drinks in her meal and your love.

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Flea Meds, why are they not working!?!?

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 12:22:42 +0000

Flea Meds, why are they not working!?!? By Dr. Nichole M Brooks, DVM Fish are not the only things biting this summer! Fleas are out there and plaguing our pets. A frequent frustration expressed to me by owners is why the expensive flea medications are not working. The truth is that fleas are incredibly tough to get rid of and can take months to eradicate. Several years ago I treated a young cat with such an intense flea anemia that she needed a blood transfusion. She went on to live a normal healthy life once we got her fleas under control. And just the other day I was looking at my Mom’s 17 year old cat….. Fleas! On my Mother’s cat! Fleas are all around us, as they love the weather as much as we do, and they live naturally in our environment. They can overpopulate and infest our world in a blink of an eye without us even knowing its happening. Fleas are a small wingless insect that feed on the blood of animals. Although there is close to 2,000 species, the most common culprit is Ctencephalids felis, the cat flea. The flea goes through several phases: Eggs, larval, pupal, young adult and adult. An adult female flea can shed 40 to 60 eggs a day which fall to the ground wherever they are. It takes about 1 to 6 days to hatch into the larvae which take cover in cool dark places such as carpet, under furniture, cracks in a floor or other hidden places. The larvae goes through a pupal phase which is near impossible to eradicate and can survive in their cocoon phase for over 150 days! The pupae will become immature adults in about 1 to 2 weeks and then the adults seek out for their first meal on any unsuspecting animal. Flea bites are one of the most common causes for skin allergies in our pets. If a pet has an allergy to fleas it only takes one bite to trigger a massive outbreak of itchy skin. Some pets do not have an allergy and can live with fleas on them without a single sign of itchiness. Often animals with flea allergies present with missing fur, secondary skin infections constant scratching and even tapeworms. So what do we do about this epidemic of fleas? The answer takes work and dedication. Sadly no flea product can guarantee a 100% repellent against fleas. A good quality medicine can be extremely effective at defending our pets from fleas, but we have to do more in the presence of even 1 identified adult flea. If you find 1 you can assume there are hundreds lurking around. You may hear your Veterinarian recommend treating the environment as well as your pet. We often recommend treating the most frequented areas to reduce the amount of exposure, however many of us here have the occasional visit from our local wildlife. We cannot apply flea meds to our visiting squirrel but you can tackle and limit the amount that live in your yard or house. There are several types of flea products available. There are adulticides that kill adult fleas, insect growth regulators that stop young fleas from becoming an adult, insect development inhibitor which stops fleas from forming their outer shell and there a combinations of all these drugs. Treating your yard and your house can be challenging. No one wants to spray harsh toxic chemicals in their home or yard. I don’t either! However, I really don’t want fleas around biting my dog, cat and kids. Treating the house usually means treating the bad spots or the places your pets spend the most time (with or without carpet). Exterminators use a combination of Adulticides and an insect growth regulator, but even these professionals may have to treat a second time around to keep your home free from infestations. There are a variety of flea medicines available today. There are products that are applied to the skin, taken by mouth, or worn full time as a collar. Each flea medicine targets a certain part of the flea life cycle When it comes to choosing the right flea medicine use what has worked for you. All flea medicines as long as they are a good quality product work to the best of their capability. There are so many choices that the decision about which one is complicated. Don’t be persuaded by powerful expensive marketing schemes use what your animal tolerates. If you don’t like the greasy or wet spot ones, try an oral flea med. There is even a collar (when used appropriately) works for 8 months. One tip I will give about flea medicines is that if it says give monthly give it every 30 days, this will ensure that your pet has coverage and there is no issue when some months are shorter and others longer. Overall, fleas are sneaky and elusive and can infiltrate without us knowing. With a little dedication you can eradicate an entire infestation. Ask your Veterinarian for help if you get frustrated with fleas and your animal is itching out of control! We can help! Let’s all work together to make our pets healthier and happier so we can all worry less!! Tips for Effective Flea Control Treat every pet in the household every month (or as prescribed, some flea medications last 3 to 8 Months) Make sure it is applied /given correctly. Treat fleas all year round Thoroughly vacuum areas frequented by your pets Empty your Vacuum bag (flea eggs can hatch inside the bag ) Wash pet bedding in very hot water Treat environment as needed eggs can be in the environment for months Dr. Nichole M Brooks, DVM is a vet at Del Mar Pet Hospital.

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Gymnastics on a Horse

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 10:30:08 +0000

Gymnastics on a Horse This Aptos 13-year-old has been riding, jumping and competing since he was 4 Extreme Adventures August 2019 By Kevin Painchaud Growing up, many kids fantasize about riding a horse through the dusty streets in the old west, jumping over fences and aiming their six-shooter at bad guys. Cole Giraldo, 13, may not be wearing a cowboy hat and spurs, but he is sure living the dream of riding horses and competing at a high level. It was a hot sunny day at White Rock Ranch in Watsonville when I sat down and spent some time talking and taking photos of Cole and his horse that he gets to train with, KP: Where do you go to school? CG: I’m in 8th grade at Aptos Junior High. KP: When was the first time that you rode a horse? CG: The first time I rode a horse was when I was 4 years old. I did a horse camp with a pony named Mickey Blue Eyes at my preschool. I actually ended up riding Mickey for a few years and even showed him in my first show. He is now retired and stabled in Soquel and I visited him recently. He belongs to my first trainer, Brittany. KP: What inspired you to ride? CG: I don’t know. It’s just something that I’ve always wanted to do. KP: What’s your favorite thing about riding? CG: I get to go spend time at my barn and hang out with the horses. I get to work on my jumping and my flat skills. KP: When did you start riding competitively? CG: I did my first show when I was 9. I was nervous but I ended up winning lots of first places and I was the grand champion of the show. KP: Many people are not familiar with the different styles of riding, can you explain them to us? CG: Some styles of riding are English, Western and Vaulting. I do English riding, which involves jumping. English is different from Western because in English riding the saddle is smaller. In Western riding there is a horn on the saddle. In Western riding you do barrel racing and other events in the cowboy style of riding. Vaulting is like gymnastics on a horse and it takes a lot of balance and strength. I do vaulting too. Vaulting is really fun because you are standing on a horse and you’re really high up. KP: What style do you compete in? CG: I compete in English riding. KP: What’s your favorite event that you compete in? CG: Jumping. I practice jumping a lot at my home stable so it’s fun to jump at shows. I just did a two-day clinic at my barn that was all about jumping. KP: Is your family supportive of you riding and competing? CG: Yes, my family has been really supportive. They watch my lessons, come to all my horse shows and drive me to the barn constantly. They also come with me to the barn to watch me do free rides, which is when we can ride without our trainer present as long as we don’t jump. KP: If you could create your future, what would it be? CG: My ideal future would be living on a nice ranch with a stable, having my own horses, and a nice arena that I can jump in. I’d also like to compete in bigger shows and train horses. KP: If there are other kids in the Santa Cruz area that are interested in riding, where can they learn? CG: If kids are interested in riding, they can start by taking lessons once or twice a week. They will need to find a trainer or a program with the kind of style they want to learn. My trainer Laurie teaches kids of all ages and levels. The older kids at a barn also help the younger kids learn how to do everything. That’s how I learned. KP: Have you had any scary moments when riding? CG: Yes, I’ve fallen off, usually when horses stop before a jump. Horses have also galloped and bucked, but I managed to stay on. Sometimes horses get spooked by things that happen around the arena, like if they see something that startles them. KP: Have any final words or thoughts for our readers? CG: I guess just do what you love to do. For me, it’s riding horses. It’s really fun and such a huge part of my life.

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Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Summertime Coloring Page

growingupsc — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 09:46:54 +0000

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Summertime Coloring Page Send your finished pages to editor@growingupsc.com or post to our Facebook page!

The post Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Summertime Coloring Page first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.