December 2019
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How I Learned to Make Money Playing Video Games
How I Learned to Make Money Playing Video Games By Ricky Chavez Many people grew up idolizing movie stars, rock stars and super heroes, but kids today are idolizing an entirely different group of people: gamers. Because of the outstanding success of a video game streaming website called Twitch, watching people play video games has never been easier and it’s inspired many people, including myself, to play video games for the people to watch, and even make money doing it. The superstars of Twitch like Ninja average around 30,000 viewers per stream, making a full time job out of streaming usually streaming longer than eight hours a day. Ninja has…
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Shop Local, Give Local
Shop Local, Give Local By Natalya Dreszer The Holiday Season is just around the corner, and just because we’re going through a cultural shift trying to question our relationship with excess material possessions doesn’t mean that we can’t indulge in the joy of gift giving! Here are 9 holiday gift ideas that support local artists, local businesses, and sustainability: Pacific Edge Looking for the perfect gift to tire out a ball of energy for a day? Pacific Edge is a rock climbing gym that is fun and safe for any rock climbing levels, from first timers to world-class professionals (Chris Sharma started at Pacific Edge)! A day pass, 10-time pass,…
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How Fast is Too Fast? Behind the Teacher’s Desk December 2019
How Fast is Too Fast? Behind the Teacher’s Desk: December 2019 By Lisa Catterall When children create for the world they make it good. When children create for their teacher they make it good enough. — Rushton Hurley Lately, I’ve been noticing a lot of tears and upset in my students when it comes to the idea of grades and competition. Teaching at a college preparatory school, I’ve always had a great deal of competition and a fair share of perfectionists in my class. Perhaps I’m just noticing it more. This year I have a lot of what teachers refer to as “early finishers.” Many teaching resources for…
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Gratitude and the Joy of Giving: Ask Nicole December 2019
Gratitude and the Joy of Giving Ask Nicole: December 2019 By Nicole M. Young, MSW My Nana (my dad’s mom), taught me about the joy of giving versus receiving. When I was a teen, Nana informed everyone she would continue to give all of us gifts for holidays and birthdays, but that she no longer wanted materials gifts from us. Instead, she asked her adult children and their families to volunteer or make donations as their gift to her. My family bought toys for other children during the holidays, and we loved selecting toys and imagining kids opening their presents. I continued that tradition even after I left home, and…
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Yes, Virginia, There are Faeries and They are Magic
Yes, Virginia, There are Faeries and They are Magic By Natalya Dreszer Faerie Cricket brings face painting, giant bubbles, and general whimsy to events of all kinds. She is a “Ground Faerie,” brought to life by Santa Cruzan Haley Brown, 29, a visual and performing artist who addresses disability with her work with children. “I imagine a ground faerie is any faerie that can’t fly for whatever reason,” Haley says. “It’s an allegory for disability or difference or limitation of any kind.” Haley has finished the text of her first children’s book, The Ground Faerie. It’s written as a letter from an older ground fairie to a child ground fairie.…
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Editor’s Note: December 2019
Editor’s Note: December 2019 ‘Tis the season to say ‘tis the season at the start of every news story, greeting card and podcast. Cliché much? We know, we know, we’re kidding, but you can’t blame anyone for being giddy this season, especially if they have a roof over their heads and a family to share with. We feel so blessed to be able to have some time off work and school to be with the ones we love, even if sometimes preparing for the holidays is harder than our jobs. It also gives us pause to remember how lucky we are while others are so much less fortunate. That’s one…
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December 2019 Coloring Page
December 2019 Coloring Page Color this page and send it in and we will pick a winner for two tickets to the Santa Cruz City Ballet Nutcracker at Cabrillo College Dec. 14 and 15. Send your copies by email to [email protected] or in hard copy to Box 3505 Santa Cruz, 95063. Make sure to send your address so we can mail the tickets.
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Holiday Gift Guide for Dogs
Holiday Gift Guide for Dogs By Natalya Dreszer The holiday season is right around the corner and everyone deserves an extra treat – that’s right, it’s time to think gifts for your furry pet! We sat down with a dog expert at Hazeldog to get the best ideas. Hazeldog is a source of information and tools for dog guardians to help them have fulfilling, fun lives with their dogs run by a CTC certified Dog Trainer. Here is a list of some of their favorite holiday gift ideas for you and your dog. The Kong-Wobbler is a go-to intro food puzzle, it’s a durable and dishwasher-safe treat-dispensing toy. Hazeldog suggests…
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Chimney Fire Safety Tips
Chimney Fire Safety Tips Fireplaces are dangerous if not kept up By the Fire Safe Council Fall is here and many rural residents are turning to their fireplaces and woodstoves to heat their houses. Dirty chimneys can cause chimney fires, which damage structures, destroy homes and injure or kill people. Structure fires related to dirty chimneys may also spread and cause damage to adjacent structures or even ignite a wildland fire. Fireplaces and wood stoves are designed to safely contain wood fires, while providing heat for a home. The chimneys that serve them have the job of expelling the by-products of combustion – the substances produced when wood burns. These include smoke,…
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Linking Play to Future Careers: Career Pathways December 2019
Linking Play to Future Careers Career Pathways: December 2019 By Mary Gaukel Forster The holiday season provides opportunities to give career exploration gifts and to reflect with our children about what toys and games teach us about ourselves. Traditionally, we may think of trucks, dolls, kitchen sets, erector sets or video games. Here are some conversation starters for all ages, that link play to future careers, and suggestions for toys and games that entertain and teach. Younger Children Parents can help younger children connect their toys and play with skills, interests, and possible careers through questions and conversation. With practice and observation, a parent can encourage career awareness from a…
