December 2020 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

2020 Holiday Guide

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:57:45 +0000

To say these holidays are like no other is an understatement, but if there’s one positive thing to come out of this pandemic, it’s the realization that we need to support our neighbors and help each other. As Bookshop Santa Cruz owner Casey Coonerty Protti says, “Amazon doesn’t need your money, our local merchants do.” This is a good time to stop browsing online, support local businesses, find special gifts and explore your community all at once. This gift guide highlights local businesses countywide to help you bring a little piece of Santa Cruz County to your holiday celebrations Aptos Red Apple Cafe – AptosDeer Park Marketplace783 Rio Del Mar Blvd. Ste 15Aptos, CA 95003831-685-1224info@RedAppleAptos.comRedAppleCafeAptosHappy Holidays! Thank you for all your support this year. Our New Covid Hours are 8:00am – 3:00pm Daily! Take Out or Indoor/Outdoor seating available. St. John’s Helpful Shop 246-A Center Ave., Aptos831-332-7711 or 831-708-4238helpfulshop@st-john-aptos.orgst-john-aptos.org/helpful-shop.htmlFeel good about your holiday shopping at your neighborhood thrift store located near Marianne’s Ice-cream. Mention Growing Up in SC and receive $5 off your purchases. Sat-Sun Noon – 4pm/ Wed 1-4pm. Wonderland Toys & Classroom Resources19B Rancho Del Mar Aptos CA 95003(831) 316-7261wonderlandsantacruz.comAt Wonderland we believe in the wonder of childhood. We are both moms and educators and we are proud to be a resource to our WONDERful community. Wonderland has quality educational materials and specialty toys designed to inspire creativity and wonder in the next generation. We pride ourselves on our customer service and we’d love to hear from you about your Wonderland experience! Thanks for shopping local! Felton Felton FeedPet Parents6221 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-1212Instagram @FeltonFeedFamily owned and operated pet supply and feed store focusing on natural and raw pet foods and treats. Serving our community for over 25 years! The Gilded LilyTattoo Heaven6237 Hwy 9 | (831) 426-1716Established in 2004Instagram @thegildedlilytattoosThe Gilded Lily offers quality tattoos in a variety of styles. premade and custom designs. We look forward to making you more beautiful. Heads UpHair Salon6259 Hwy 9 | (831) 239-7506hairbylochness.wixsite.com/headsuphairstudioVivid hues and styles found here in a comfortable, yet intriguing environment. Anything from color corrections to balayage, rainbow hair and beyond. Hallcrest VineyardsFamily friendly379 Felton Empire Rd | (831) 335-4441hallcrestvineyards.comFamily run and dog friendly boutique winery established in 1941. Specializing in Pinot Noir, Organic Wines, and Hard Ciders. Open on Thursday-Monday. Lanctot Art ServicesFraming Experts6222 Hwy 9 | (831) 338-3232artservicesbystevelanctot.comArt Services by Steve & Mary Lanctot, Custom Picture Framing, Fine Art Restoration, Local Artist’s Gallery. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5. 39 Years in SLV. Roaring Camp5401 Graham Hill Rd, Feltonroaringcamp.comHoliday Tree Walk at Roaring CampSee Redwood forests from 100-year-old Steam Trains. At Roaring Camp, view the Holiday Tree Walk. Weekends only; November 27-December 20. Reservations required. Go toroaringcamp.comDrive in Movies at Roaring CampTake the family to the movies. See popular movies In the comfort and safety of your car, Fridays/Saturdays at 6:15 pm, weather permitting. Reservations required. Go to oaringcamp.com. SimpaticoHome, Life & Style6223 Hwy 9 | (831) 704-7420simpatico-ca.comGifts, artisan goods and treasures for a life well lived. A locally-owned shop nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains supplying style with substance. Skavenge Art GalleryArtist Nook6245 Hwy 9 | sczontos@gmail.comskavengeartgallery.comAn ever-changing collection of nature-inspired visionary art and hand crafted goods. All made right here in the heart of Felton. “Live a life uncommon.” White RavenBest Pour House6253 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-3611Instagram @ white_raven_pour_houseEnjoy delicious tea, coffee, and espresso drinks, with a large selection of alternative milk, sweet pastries, and savory bites. Home of Larry’s Famous Chai. Wild RootsNatural Groceries6240 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-7322wildrootsmarket.comFriendly Service, 100% Organic Produce, Natural Groceries, Meats, and Bulk Foods. Full Service Deli, Salad and Soup Bar, Juice Bar, Vitamins, Body Care, Local Beer and Wine. Wylder SpaceGood Eats6249 Hwy 9 | (831) 704-7494Wylder Space is recreating the social dining scene- bringing people together with good food, good drinks & great company. This is the “art” of entertaining. Santa Cruz Adventure Sports Unlimited303 Potrero St, Suite 15Santa Cruz, CA831-458-3648Adventure Sports is known for sharing the love of water. This holiday season give your young, loved ones a lifetime of fun and memories with Swim Lessons at ASU. For your older explorer, our dive shop is filled with gear for the deep, cold ocean in Santa Cruz and beyond! Jim Booth SwimmingGIVE THE GIFT OF SWIMMING FOR LIFE831-722-3500A Gift Certificate to Jim Booth Swim School is a lasting present that anyone can use. Treat someone you love to swim instruction in our comfortable 94 degree pool. Give the new mommy and daddy in your family a set of lessons or help the older kids or adults to improve their swimming. We teach year around at our Santa Cruz and Watsonville locations. $128 for a set of lessons. Kianti’s Pizza & Pasta Bar1100 Pacific Ave, Downtown Santa Cruz831-469-4400kiantis.comStart your holiday shopping early and shop local. Treat your family to great gifts from Kianti’s. Choose from Gift Cards, Kianti’s Wine, Sweatshirts, Blankets, Kianti’s Handcrafted Liquor: Rum, Gin, Vodka & Whiskey or a gift basket. Kick up your feet while you shop on our heated patios. Santa Cruz Gymnastics Center2750 B Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz831.462.0655scgym.comAt Santa Cruz Gymnastics we believe in the power of gymnastics to strengthen our bodies and minds! This winter, give the child in your life the gift of gymnastics! At SCGC, they will run, jump and tumble in our safe 9,000 square foot facility. Check scgym.com or call for info. Ultraderm | California Skin Institute3311 Mission Dr., Santa Cruz 95065(831) 272-0936californiaskininstitute.com/locations/ultraderm-santa-cruz/ Treat your beauty queen right by giving her the best – medical-grade skin care products. We carry the Obagi Skin Care line, Epionce, and our own California Skin Institute products. Gift cards are available. Online and Outside Hilde Hauc CollectionInstagram & Facebool @HildeHaucCollectionHildeHaucCollection.comEclectic home decor and vintage treasures. Find what you’re looking for from hand-poured soy wax candles in enamel mugs to wine barrel stave bottle openers. MusicalMe, Inc.Locations throughout Santa Cruz and Santa Clara County831-438-3514registrar@musicalme.com | musicalme.comGive the gift of the lifelong love of music to the children in your life from Birth to 8 years. We offer gift certificates in any amount for each of our three award-winning and research-based music enrichment programs: Music Together©, Canta y Baila Conmigo™, and Rhythm Kids©. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural Historysantacruzmuseum.square.site/The Museum’s Online Store features a wide array of books, field guides, gifts and toys for nature-enthusiasts of all ages. Shipping and curbside pickup available.

The post 2020 Holiday Guide first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

The Nutcracker Must Go On

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:48:36 +0000

The Nutcracker Must Go On Out of the Theater and Into the Parking Lot by sarah hirshland For 13 years running, the students and staff of the International Academy of Dance (IAD) have gifted us with their interpretation of the famous ballet, The Nutcracker, performed every year at the Cabrillo College TheaterThat show has been cancelled because of the pandemic. Now, the troupe has re-imagined what can be done so the show goes on.The students, who range from ages four to adult will be putting on a curbside show. They will perform in a large parking lot at 320 Encinal St. where the audience can watch safely.Shows will be Saturday and Sunday Dec. 12 and13 at 1:45 and 3:45 in the afternoon. The shows will run 45 minutes on a small stage that the IAD has built for the event.“We are creating improvements to our stage to create a safe dance floor where we also hold outdoor classes,” says director Shannon Chipman. Shannon has been the owner and director for the last 16 years.The IAD will also be streaming the Nutcracker on Facebook live @International Academy of Dance Santa Cruz, and through January 1st you can watch the show live and download the full magic at www.iadance.com. “The dancers are very excited and dancing so beautifully, we couldn’t skip a year of Nutcracker… somehow the show must go on!” says Chipman. “Being able to share their artistry and joy with the community makes it all even more worthwhile, as a gift from our family to yours,” says Chipman.

The post The Nutcracker Must Go On first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Hollyann Dickinson

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:43:49 +0000

Hollyann Dickinson Local Artist My name is Hollyann Dickinson and I am 10 years old. In August, my life turned upside down because I lost my home in Boulder Creek to the Santa Cruz Complex fire. It was the worst day of my life because I lost everything I cared for and many of my friends also lost their homes. I am thankful that we safely evacuated with our dog Rufftin and our bearded dragon Willy. After we evacuated, we moved five times. Everywhere we went, there were really nice people that helped us. We finally settled in Mount Hermon and I met a new friend named Sarah. Everyday I look forward to seeing her and playing with her. She taught me how to do a front flip on a trampoline. What has also helped me feel better is art. Art makes me forget about all the bad stuff because I get to create. I like drawing, acrylic and watercolor painting. Sometimes I like to doodle with my paintbrush, turn my picture around and look at it from a different angle. When I do this, I sometimes see different shapes that remind me of an animal or something that I didn’t mean to draw at first.

The post Hollyann Dickinson first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

You Can’t Afford Not to Own a Home in Santa Cruz

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:36:12 +0000

You Can’t Afford Not to Own a Home in Santa Cruz By Sebastian “Seb” Frey In the column I wrote last month for Growing up in Santa Cruz, I shared a lot of information that would-be Santa Cruz homebuyers need to know right now. Yes, the market is hot, and prices are up…but what else is new? I’ve been a Realtor in Santa Cruz since 2003, and while I can say that this market is more difficult for buyers than any market I have known – it’s not that much harder. People – people who are not so different than you – are buying homes every day in Santa Cruz, and if you’re planning on staying here, I recommend that you make buying a home a top priority. I know what you’re saying – real estate in Santa Cruz is so unaffordable! And that is very true. It has been true, for a very long time. Without researching the very latest statistics updated for Q4 2020, I can tell you that Santa Cruz has the lowest affordability of just about any county in California. I’ve read a number of articles over the past few years showing that Santa Cruz actually has the lowest affordability in the country, and one of the lowest in the entire world. Yikes! But just how unaffordable is Santa Cruz County? Last I checked, it had been determined that only 12 percent of Santa Cruz households could afford the median-priced home, assuming a 20 percent down payment. With the median price recently up over $1 million, that means a $200K+ down payment. Do 12 percent of households even have $200K to put down on a home? I’m not so sure. But how do “they” determine that someone can afford a home? It’s a function of your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio. A home is considered “affordable” if the monthly cost (loan principal repayment + interest + property tax + insurance, or PITI), plus your existing debt service costs (student loans, car payment, credit cards, etc.) is less than 36 percent of your gross monthly income.As an example: if your household income is $100,000 per year, that means you’re making $8,500 per month (pre-tax). 36 percent of $8,500 is $3,060 – so if you had no debt, your maximum all-in monthly mortgage payment would be $3,060. However, most people carry some amount of debt. If your debt service costs are $500/month, that means your maximum mortgage payment would be $2,560 per month. So now the question is, how much home would be “affordable” for you?To answer that, I broke out my trusty mortgage calculator. With a $480,000 purchase price and 20 percent down, you’d have a loan amount of $384,000. Assuming a 2.5 percent mortgage interest rate, you’d have a payment of $2,043 per month which includes $1,517 for principal + interest, $460 for property tax, and $67 for insurance. These are rough numbers, of course, but they give you an idea of how mortgage qualification works. Obviously, $480,000 does not buy a lot of home in this town. It is important to understand a few more things, however. Most lenders do not have a maximum DTI of 36 percent. In fact, it’s more common that a maximum DTI for a conventional loan is in the neighborhood of 43 percent. Depending on your credit score and the type of loan you’re applying for, your max DTI could be 50 percent, or higher. And, as I mentioned in last month’s column, most Santa Cruz homebuyers don’t put 20 percent down. It’s very common for first time homebuyers to put down 3.5 percent to 10 percent on their homes. And yes, most sellers will be happy to help you pay your closing costs, with a sufficiently high offer. Let me guess: your eyes are watering. For a lot of you, these are going to be staggering, and seemingly insurmountable, numbers. You may be thinking there’s no way you will ever be able to afford to buy a home in Santa Cruz. And now we come to the tough love part of this column.If you plan to stay in Santa Cruz for the long term, the truth is: you can’t afford not to buy a home in Santa Cruz. That’s because renting a home in perpetuity in Santa Cruz is a ticket to poverty. There may be a certain romanticism that goes along with being broke at age 30, but at age 60, it’s practically a crisis. According to a U.S. Federal Reserve study completed in 2016, homeowners in the USA enjoy a net worth that is 45 times greater than renters. You read that right! The net worth of renters in the study was $5,200 – but the net worth of homeowners was $231,400. Of course, buying a home isn’t going to add $226K to your net worth overnight. But here’s how to understand the impact of homeownership vs. renting over time. When you buy, you are locking in your monthly housing cost, which will rise over time but at a rate far lower than the rate of inflation. When you rent, over the long term, you can expect that your rental costs will rise right along with inflation. Let’s examine what that looks like, after just 10 years. Year 1Mortgage Payment (PITI):$3,000 ($559K loan @ 2.5%, $700K purchase price)Rent Payment: $3,000 Year 10Mortgage Payment (PITI):$3,250 ($418K loan balance, $896K Fair Market Value)Rent Payment: $3,840Equity Accumulation: $337,000 ($141,000 mortgage pay-down + $196,000 appreciation)Saved Rent vs. Mortgage Payment: $51,500 (estimated)Total Advantage Owning vs. Renting: $388,500 I’ll give you the standard caveat emptor, which is that these numbers are approximate and the assumptions going into them will change over time. Interest rates will change, as will the rate of appreciation. It’s worth noting here that for purposes of this exercise, I assumed an appreciation rate of only 2.5 percent per year (the same rate as I used for inflation). If I change that assumption to say that home prices rise 4 percent per year on average over 10 years, the $700K home is then worth $1,036,171 after 10 years and the total increase in your net worth would be $528,671. As I hope should be clear, renting a home in Santa Cruz for the long haul is an exceedingly expensive proposition, compared to buying a home. While the path to homeownership may not be one you’re ready to take today, you owe it to yourself – and your kids – to get on it as soon as possible. Realtor Seb Frey is the author of the book Get It Sold! Besides selling houses, he gives seminars on important issues for homeowners and does a podcast, and has TV Channels, on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more on his website and reach him at sebfrey@sebfrey.com

The post You Can’t Afford Not to Own a Home in Santa Cruz first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Winter Wellness

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:25:44 +0000

Winter Wellness A Different Hustle and Bustle and Self Care goes Double Time! by gretchen heimsoth Here we are! December 2020! We made it! Let’s bring this crazy and intense year to a close! Well done! I know it’s not been easy, and we will have lingering challenges into 2021 and beyond. Administrations change, but we are steeped in the ravages that have been thrust on our environment. Our area felt its layer of trauma this year with the CZU fire. And for many, the trauma is not over. Families are still displaced. Many are not sure if they can or want to rebuild, fears of what will happen in the scar areas as the rains come, and insecurities surrounding water safety. The concerns and stress are real. Winter wellness is often about pulling in and supporting the body and heart as the elements show us their sharper sides. This year, self-care has come to the forefront as a non-negotiable! Indeed it always was; however, I feel it was easier to justify excuses for not engaging in self-care, and the effects of not doing so did not feel as strong. The holidays are upon us. I can tell everyone is looking forward to changing the backdrop of all the intensity with holiday libations, lights, sparkle, and loved ones. We will still need to think outside the box when it comes to community gatherings. Distance, outdoors, masking, but it’s clear that our community needs to feel its connections. I believe we can do this and keep safety for our community at the forefront. A few foundational health principles should be the flooring of your winter wellness. Try to minimize sugar. It is the holidays, but that does not buffer you from the cascade of sugar’s adverse effects on our systems. Try to skip caffeine after 2 pm. Allow your adrenals time to rest and move into the evening so you can sleep better: sleep 7 to 8 hours on average for almost all adults. Get out and move and eat some greens! I thought a couple of winter wellness tonics would be good to focus on for this time of year. One for immunity and inflammation, one for mental clarity! I find the time I take to prepare these can become a space for a meditation practice in the middle of your day. A standing one, but a reminder in your day that you and your health and headspace matter. A time to refocus and ground the monkey mind! Plus, they are tasty and rewarding on the palate!

The post Winter Wellness first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Boardwalk Rides Reopen, Then Quickly Close

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:19:19 +0000

Boardwalk Rides Reopen, Then Quickly Close Shopping, Dining Areas Still Open at Seaside Park By Erik Chalhoub For just one weekend in Santa Cruz, life was almost back to normal.During Nov. 7-8, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk became the first amusement park in California to reopen its rides following an eight-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There were limited options, to be sure, but one couldn’t help but feel hope for the future when stepping into the Giant Dipper’s coaster train for the first time in what seemed like forever. Just a few days later, however, the rides went dark again, indefinitely. How did we get here?California health officials released Covid-19 reopening guidelines on Oct. 20 that allow theme parks and stadiums to resume limited operations.Smaller theme parks, which are those with a capacity of less than 15,000 people, can reopen with 25 percent capacity, if the counties where they reside are in Tier 3 as outlined in the state’s reopening guidance. To be considered for Tier 3, known as the “Orange Tier,” counties must have Covid-19 positivity rates between 2 to 4.9 percent, among other metrics. Only residents of the county the parks are located at are allowed to visit.Santa Cruz County moved into the Orange Tier on Oct. 27, and shortly after, the Boardwalk announced its ride reopening plan. Santa Cruz County residents had to make a reservation to access the ride area for a two-hour session. Only 500 people per session were allowed. However, the county was pushed back to the more restrictive Red Tier of the state’s Covid-19 reopening plan on Nov. 10 as Covid-19 cases began to surge, effectively closing the Boardwalk’s rides once again. The Boardwalk Bowl and Neptune’s Kingdom have also closed.“While we are disappointed to close rides and attractions, we anticipated the likelihood Santa Cruz County might move back and forth within the tiers and have prepared to adjust our operations accordingly,” Boardwalk spokesperson Kris Reyes said. “The health and safety of our guests and employees is of the utmost importance during these challenging times and this will remain our priority in the weeks and months ahead.” Even though the rides are closed, guests can still experience other aspects of the Boardwalk. The colonnade and main Boardwalk plaza remain open daily with free admission for all guests to eat and shop. Face masks are required while visiting.Season passes for 2020 have also been extended through 2021.Smaller special events are still taking place at the park. Hoppy Hours Food & Beer Pairing take place Fridays and Saturdays from 3-7 p.m., featuring Bay Area craft beers paired with foods prepared by Boardwalk private event Chef Scott Meyer.Agape Dance Academy’s “Nutcracker the Movie” will be performed Dec. 18-20 at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Attendees can watch the performance from their vehicles.Operating hours and offerings change daily, so guests are advised to visit beachboardwalk.com. What else is going on with California theme parks?Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo is continuing its Marine World Experience on the weekends. While the rides are closed, guests can visit the park’s animals, including lions, penguins, sharks, sea lions and others. Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia recently announced a drive-thru Holiday in the Park event that runs through Jan. 3. Guests can drive through the entire park to view millions of lights and other holiday displays. Disneyland is still closed, but its Downtown Disney District shopping area has begun a phased reopening. Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park is offering a food event, Taste of Merry Farm, through Jan. 3. Guests can sample dozens of culinary treats while walking through the park that is decorated with holiday displays. Rides are closed. Universal Studios Hollywood’s CityWalk is open, while SeaWorld San Diego is offering holiday treats and displays. Gilroy Gardens and California’s Great America remain closed with no special events on tap. The latter, however, has been keeping fans updated through social media on the numerous park enhancements that are taking place during this extended offseason. Gilroy Gardens is targeting a May 2021 opening.

The post Boardwalk Rides Reopen, Then Quickly Close first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Movie Night

Laura Maxson — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 17:05:27 +0000

Movie Night By Laura Maxson, LM People are sticking pretty close to home with the recent COVID-19 flareups in our community. Families know the drill by now. Everyone already has a plan in place to safely shop, order food to go, and function in our partially functioning society.One thing that is often missing in this partial lockdown is casual conversation among friends and the opportunity to make new acquaintances. For those currently pregnant, there is no more lingering in the midwife’s waiting room to finish a conversation with someone who has the same due date, comparing childbirth education classes, or setting up playdates for kids. Considering all the lost opportunities to talk with others, expectant parents might need some extra prompts to help them explore birth options and learn about alternatives in care. All the good shows have already been binge watched over the past year, so this might be a great time to check out some good childbirth-related movies and documentaries. It can be helpful to explore some of the issues that might get glossed over or missed entirely in childbirth classes online. There just isn’t time to cover everything in a Zoom meeting format, and chatting around the refreshment table just isn’t happening. Understanding the choices around homebirth, unmedicated birth, and other options can help parents make decisions about their own birth plan. Someone doesn’t have to choose a homebirth to benefit from the discussions around that choice. A birth plan in any setting includes options stemming from topics covered in films with a broad range of interests like these below. Why not home? whynothome.vhx.tv/Created by nurse practitioner Jessicca Moore to highlight the choices parents make when considering where to give birth. Set in Northern California, Why Not Home tells the stories of real parents who are also nurses, midwives, doctors, and OBs. Guerrilla Midwifekimdb.com/title/tt1949187/ 2011 CNN Hero Ibu Robin Lim is featured in this documentary about her work as a midwife and clinic director in Indonesia. Robin shares her passion for childbirth and caring for her community after an earthquake, tsunami, and terrorist attacks. BabyBabyOhBabyNurturing Your Gorgeous & Growing Baby By Breastfeeding.vimeo.com/ondemand/breastfeedingDavid Stark provides a beautiful and informative film about breastfeeding. Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum issues are addressed with parents sharing their experiences, animation to help with positioning, and many gorgeous images. Birth StoryIna May Gaskin and the Farm imdb.com/title/tt2395155/This is the story of Ina May Gaskin, an influential midwife from the 1970s onward who helped bring the importance of midwifery to a more mainstream audience. A hippie caravan led to the founding of a commune and creation of a birth center that persists today; Birth Story documents one aspect of midwifery history. The Business of Being BornNetfix/amazonprime/YoutubeAbby Epstein and Ricki Lake explore the state of maternity care in the United States. Parents have choices around home and hospital birth, midwives, and OBs, as well as philosophies around pain relief and natural birth. It’s My Body, My Baby, My Birthitsmybodymybabymybirth.com/Home.htmlMaria Iorillo, licensed midwife, put together this short video about homebirth and women’s experience of birth. Parents speak about pain, decision making, and their choices. Orgasmic BirthThe Best Kept Secretorgasmicbirth.com/Debra Pascali-Bonaro’s film highlights seven births. While not everyone is going to have an orgasmic birth, the possibility of labor being a pleasurable event is refreshing. The basic needs for privacy and trust are explored. Born in the U.S.A.patchworksfilms.net/born-in-the-usa/Presenting birth from three perspectives: home, hospital, and birth center. An obstetrician, licensed midwife, and certified nurse midwife provide their insights into childbirth. Laboring Under an IllusionMass Media Childbirth vs. The Real Thingamazon.com/Laboring-Under-Illusion-Childbirth-Download/dp/B006GWFCOKPeople are influenced by childbirth portrayals in the media. TV shows, movies, and documentaries have all played a part in how each person might view birth. Childbirth clips from Marge Simpson and the Coneheads, to I Love Lucy and classic birth documentaries are covered. Lots of laughs in this informative film. Birth Dayvimeo.com/ondemand/birthdayenglishLovely family-oriented film of a midwife who is giving birth to her third child at home in Mexico. This is a very gentle and peaceful movie suitable for most children. Birth Network has resources for childbirth education and more birthnet.org

The post Movie Night first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Head Start Perseveres

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:51:07 +0000

Head Start Perseveres Caring for the Children of Those Who Care for the Rest of Us By Suki Wessling “Three-quarters of the folks I work with never used email until May!” exclaims Maria Castro, director of Migrant/Seasonal Head Start, which serves the largely Latino migrant worker community in South County. Head Start, the half-century-old early childhood education program, has strong bipartisan support—a rarity in these times. Castro’s corner of Head Start, which is specifically designed for the migrant worker population, went through a painful transition last spring.“We couldn’t have our traditional monthly meetings and trainings,” Castro explains. Her care providers had to learn Zoom, and Castro had to try to make sense of chaos. “At the beginning, the [federal] requirements were changing every other week.” A triple threat challenges a fragile programErendira Guerrero is the Director of the Child and Family Development Programs at Encompass Community Services, which administers Head Start centers. In the early days of the pandemic, Guerrero called the government daily, checking to make sure that she had heard correctly: the feds were letting coordinators know that they could be flexible with requirements. “We’re heavily regulated! We were like, are they kidding? Is this for real?” It was for real, and Head Start coordinators and providers shifted to providing services during a pandemic that was piled on top of existing stressors.“There was a triple threat,” Guerrero explains. “Natural disaster, racism, Covid. For us it’s probably been four years that we’ve been supporting families in crisis mode.”Because families that benefit from Head Start in our county are overwhelmingly Hispanic, immigration raids made some providers and participants wary of participating in a government-sponsored program. That fear was compounded by the pandemic and then the fires. “There’s some real concern about the mental health of fear being in people’s lives for such a long time now,” Guerrero points out. “Will we be together? Will somebody get sick?” Passion for a causeMost of us are probably vaguely aware of Head Start as a government-funded, pre-kindergarten program. Some of us may remember headlines about a study that showed that Head Start conferred no lasting benefit to kids—though not the follow-up stories that showed the study was deeply flawed. If you ask people who are involved in local Head Start, however, there is no debate that Head Start is necessary, useful, and effective. “I drank the Head Start Kool-Aid many years ago!” Erendira Guerrero jokes. “I fell in love with the structure of not just working with the child but with the family and the community.” “The childcare industry is fragile,” explains Sita Moon, coordinator of the Child Development Resource Center at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. “There are high expectations but very little financial reward. But without a sufficient supply of childcare our economy is affected.” Moon has a lot to coordinate. Traditional Head Start offers only Licensed Childcare Centers, which provide group care in institutional settings. These were forced to close last spring and now deliver their services online. Migrant Head Start administers Centers but also Licensed Family Childcare Homes, where an adult runs a small, independent daycare out of the home where they reside. These homes, with guidance by Maria Castro, were allowed to stay open, with restrictions. Persevere and thriveMaria Castro saw ingenuity and flexibility on the part of the families she works with in Migrant Head Start as they tried to keep the Licensed Homes open. “At first, everything that’s inside, they have a modified version outside. That made it easy to get the children outside to do social distancing. Then the smoke came. We were running around trying to get air purifiers for their homes. Once the smoke went away, we were like, ‘Oh, good, it’s just a pandemic!’” Erendira Guerrero said that Head Start had to adapt quickly to new needs. “When we started the pandemic, there were fewer resources, especially for families who didn’t have a child in the public school system. For example, there was a lag time before we were ready to provide diapers and formula because you can’t normally find those things at a food bank.”Despite the challenges, the program has risen to the occasion, exceeding its original mission as a childcare program. As a result of the pandemic, says Castro, “We are the main source of information to farmworker parents. We’re sending them information about Covid and how to protect themselves twice a month.” Impressively, there have been very few Covid infections tracked to Family Childcare Homes. The bad news is that the program has truly been devastated by the triple threat. The childcare centers have been closed indefinitely.“We’re worried about all the folks that are on unemployment now from the centers that are closed,” Sita Moon explains. “Will there be jobs for them when the centers are able to open?”The program has correspondingly seen a drop in enrollment—about half of the families have dropped out or are no longer in contact. Homeless families, who can no longer visit centers for services, are of particular concern. But in every cloud, the silver liningTo be involved in a program that serves young children, you need a certain amount of unshakable optimism. And everyone involved can cite the ways in which the program and its participants have blossomed during these difficult times.“On the positive, the parents have been so thankful,” Maria Castro reports. “These are folks that if they don’t have childcare, they can’t work in the fields, and if they don’t work there’s no income. They have no savings. We have also been able to pay the childcare providers when they have to shut down.” Castro also points out that her providers, many of them women in their sixties, are particularly proud of being essential workers who have new training in technology.“For families we work with, we are their primary source of connection,” Erendira Guerrero says. “We work with them and connect them with other families and resources. We never closed our services, but when we closed our in-person services, staff immediately jumped into making home wellness calls to the families. For those families that were more isolated this was really helpful. We did lose connection with some of our highest risk families, like our families that were homeless. So we had to work with the county and the foster families to rebuild that connection.” Sita Moon says that these trying times have only strengthened the resolve of those who work to make sure that childcare is available to everyone. “Early educators are incredibly strong and resilient and our community is fortunate to have so many people engaged in this work.” Suki Wessling is a local writer and teacher and the mother of two college students. Read more at SukiWessling.com.

The post Head Start Perseveres first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

How The Pandemic Shrunk Our Homes

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:40:19 +0000

How The Pandemic Shrunk Our Homes Families Get Creative To Find Space During The Pandemic By Martin Spierings Lives changed dramatically for Santa Cruz County families when the shelter-in-place order, one of the very first of the nation’s pandemic response, was put into place on March 17. Businesses were shuttered, schools were closed and families were largely confined to their homes. While everyone’s situation was unique, invariably families were spending much more time between their four walls than they had ever anticipated. Homes that were completely empty during the day, because both parents worked and any kids were at school, were now occupied 24/7. How did Santa Cruz families react to these new demandson their living spaces? Between March and October the median price of a single family home in Santa Cruz county rose 15 percent to $1,055,000, according to Liz Kroft with Sol Property Advisors. Total sales (as recorded on the MLS Listings for single family homes) is 4 percent higher than it was in 2019 with two months left in the year. Buyers, particularly city dwellers who were no longer bound by an office and desired more space at home, became attracted to the area. Sylvia and Sean Vitousek initially set their sights on a three bedroom home in the region. In discussions over the course of the pandemic with their realtor Lance Hulsey it became clear they could use some extra space. “With a 3-year-old who’d be at home, both parents working and a baby on the way, it was clear to me three bedrooms might not be enough,” recalled Hulsey. They eventually found a four-bedroom home among the redwoods in Scotts Valley. The extra room they didn’t think they needed became critical when they had their new baby. Mr. Vitousek’s mother was able to quarantine in a downstairs bedroom while waiting for a COVID-19 test result before being able to stay and support the family. Rooms were converted into offices for both working parents and another into a playroom for the 3-year-old who was now home for the foreseeable future. Other families have turned to building entire new structures to accommodate the increased occupation of their living spaces. “Our homes are now multi-functional spaces,” explained Jamileh Cannon, co-founder of Workbench, a design-develop-build firm in Santa Cruz. When shelter-in-place restrictions started to lift, Cannon saw a renewed urgency in homeowners to complete accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which Workbench specializes in. Suddenly college students were back at their family homes, children needed places to do school work and newly remote workers needed dedicated office spaces. The best option for some was to convert an existing outdoor structure outside the main home or build one from scratch. Coincidentally, this endeavor was made easier at the start of this year with the state of relaxing some of the regulations that made it hard, or more expensive, for these types of additions to be built. Of course, major renovations weren’t an option for everyone and some residents had to make the most of the space they had. Crystal DeClercq rents a two-bedroom townhouse in Aptos with her husband and two elementary school children. The shelter-in-place order impacted them all. Her husband Mike, a buyer for Whole Foods, had to find space to work at home and Crystal, a personal trainer restricted from doing in-person activities, needed somewhere to conduct online classes. “We definitely use our space strategically,” explained DeClercq. “Mike has a corner of the garage for his office, with two screens and a stand up desk. I have the other corner as a gym set-up. Previously the garage was just used for storage.” Their girls, Keely and Harper, share a bedroom which they rearranged so they could fit two desks to learn remotely. While they’ve been able to make the forced adjustments, it’s accelerated their timeline to find a more permanent solution. “We have a renewed motivation to buy a three-bedroom sometime in the future,” said DeClercq. Sol Property Advisors is a full-service, real estate brokerage representing clients across Santa Cruz County & the California Bay Area in a broad spectrum of classes, including residential, commercial, land, investment, and leasing. Visit SolPropertyAdvisors.com for their services.

The post How The Pandemic Shrunk Our Homes first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

You Think Covid-19 Rules are Tough?

growingupsc — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 16:28:17 +0000

You Think Covid-19 Rules are Tough? Try Being Pregnant and Needing to Pee By Sarah Hirshland I found out I was pregnant two months into the Covid-19 crisis, and man, oh, man did the universe pick an interesting time to bring a baby into the world. As excited as I am to be carrying my baby girl, I’ve come across unexpected problems.One thing I was not prepared for with Covid in mind…is simply having to pee. I am in my second trimester and currently this takes place every 10 to 20 minutes or so. As a traveling sales person who still does in-person calls, I have urinated in some not so desired places in Santa Cruz, San Francisco, and most of the Bay Area. This includes dirt patches behind buildings, bushes on the side of restaurants, a few neighborhood streets, many beaches and parks, and other odd locations. I promise no one’s yards or playgrounds have been compromised — I’m still a lady. Thankfully my joy of camping and squatting has helped me adjust, somewhat. Why am I doing this?Because when I try to use bathrooms in establishments, I am turned down. Turned down by rude people, nice people, barriers and “out of service” signs intended to keep everyone out of the restroom. I can’t imagine half of California has a plumbing problem all at once. When you’re pregnant, having to pee isn’t just something you can try and refrain from for a while, it’s coming downstream no matter what you think or want to do about it. Sharing this information so publicly might seem appalling to a lot of people, even felt uncomfortable sharing it with friends and family at first. But through the pain of it I wanted to share my story. It has come to a point where I am concerned for the well-being of my baby and want to make my pregnancy as comfortable as I can. I’ve thought of ways to maneuver through the shutdown and keep an eye out for Porta Potties and public parks and beaches with open restrooms. I have also considered purchasing a Shewee — a tube and bag kit designed in 1999 for women who can’t find anywhere else to go—and I feel right now I could make a good spokesperson for their marketing campaigns. Here I thought I’d be buying diapers for my baby, and now I am considering what Depends might be like to help me out. In a world with “out of service” restrooms and bathroom restrictions, it’s literally a wasteland out there for people in need of a bathroom. This includes pregnant women, people who have conditions, children, and more. It’s a matter of danger for all people who need to use a restroom, but for pregnancy it can be a bit more taxing. I have gone through doors when not always permitted, but I make it quick and get out of there just as fast. I would hope that if things don’t open up soon, we can petition for some type of bathroom pass or pregnancy (or medical) leniency program. To make matters more challenging, I work on the road in sales. The next need for a bathroom for me could take place anywhere. I am more than grateful I have a job during these times, and love what I do. However, being turned down constantly by store clerks and blocked barricades of chairs and tables, I have begun to adopt a form of anxiety to get in my car and get going. The anxiety of having to pee lasts most of the day. When I started getting turned down while very obviously showing, I had a bit of hesitation. I didn’t want to cause a scene or become hostile, and at times I would tightly grasp my legs and walk back to my truck and try the next place. The truly frustrating part is that each establishment has these rules and protocols set in place, and it seems most employees don’t even understand them, they are just told to say no. This pandemic has set in so much confusion and we are all very misinformed, to the point that we are putting people’s health in harm’s way while trying to prevent harm. This where sympathy and consideration can take a good lead. Everyone is on edge right now, and following regulations has been instilled in us, but it is also our responsibility to do right by others, be mindful of what we can control and to make sure endangerment is the last toll we are willing to take. Don’t get me wrong, some places will let you use the restrooms, but you have to get good at knowing which chains and which type of place will. Major grocery stores and some gas stations are pretty good about it, but some local stores aren’t as eager to open the restroom doors. Out of the numerous times I have been turned down, there have been some really amazing people through it all who have helped and it really makes a difference. Keeping me and my baby safe is most importance to me, and the big picture is that people and places are really trying to make sure we don’t get compromised, but at what cost? Does this take away our compassion? Another unfortunate aspect of the Covid pregnancy experience are the moments and memories that feel taken from you and your partner. It may be designated to the states that have increasing cases, but your partner cannot go to ultrasounds with you, or any other appointment for that matter. My boyfriend and I have done a couple Zoom meetings, but it’s usually me giving him the details at home. If you want to tour or see the part of the hospital where you will be giving birth, you can’t. You can take a virtual tour, but there aren’t many open spots. As far as delivery goes, you can only have one person in the room with you. Either your partner, spouse, mother, father, friend, Doula etc. The family in the waiting room with flowers and cheers, is something of the past. We must make do with what we can to ensure these moments are still cherished and celebrated.Once your ultrasound is over, you have a quick meeting with your doctor via Zoom to go over the details or concerns. To all the soon to be moms out there, make sure to ask, ask, and ask questions. Some doctors, like the grocery store clerk, give off the impression they are too busy and really only want to give you more time if there’s something alarming in the results. I am a first-time mother, and these meetings and moments mean a lot to me. I am hanging on to anything I can get. I don’t believe that any doctor is trying to brush people off or show they are not diligent, but they have so much on their minds and so much going on, that if new moms aren’t persistent in getting information or asking questions, they won’t get answers. We need to be strong and willing to get what we need from the healthcare system and remind our doctors that we still hope to have a significant experience. I am not a high maintenance woman, I am a first time mom who’s trying to soak it all in. This is just my personal experience, but it has taught me a lot about the drastic times I am bringing my child into. We are overjoyed and thankful to have any doctors or any help at all, it’s merely that the experience now lacks a lot of personal care and excitement that people may have received in the past during the most wondrous time of their lives. Since the pandemic began, I have seen some of the worst treatment in customer care. It’s understandable given these people are so overworked, still some have ignored the out-of-order signs and been humane about my circumstances. It’s not easy to predict where we will go from here, but we must still remember to treat each other with kindness and love through the hard times and confusion of it all. That’s what will take us out of this crazy mess, to be there for one another in the moment, no matter how big or small.

The post You Think Covid-19 Rules are Tough? first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.