February 2021 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Unique Preschools

growingupsc — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 17:38:07 +0000

Creating New Ideas for Preschools By Jeanette Prather Thinking outside of the box in education has become a super norm as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor schooling becoming more popular, more accessibility to personalized learning and governmental funding supplementing early education, to name a few of the scholastic pivots. Some preschools are taking these opportunities to continue developing their own new and alternative curriculums. “This year, I’ve set up a classroom outside so that we can safely be together,” said Westside Parent Education Nursery School (WPENS) director and teacher Cory Cherk, who is also a 25-year veteran of the preschool co-op scene and a current parent education teacher with PVUSD. “The kids are really thriving outdoors because it’s fun.” WPENS’ preschool curriculum maintains a learn-through-play stance with their students, stating that, “While parent education is the focus for the adult, learning through play is the work of the child.” According to wpens.org, “Children freely choose from a variety of materials and play equipment depending upon their own interest, learning style, level of readiness and mood for the day. Allowed this freedom of choice, the child’s play can be free, spontaneous, vigorous and creative.” Says WPENS’ Board Vice President, Sarah Camp,“It’s not just about dropping your kid off so you can get a few hours to yourself. It’s about building a group of families that will be a part of your child’s life for years to come. It’s a higher level of relationship building for both kids and adults.” Through an original approach to the preschool structure, a typical 2.5-hour class at WPENS would include free choice activities and open play, circle time, snack time, outdoor play and a goodbye circle, all facilitated by student family volunteers in collaboration with the WPENS staff. “We’re not just a preschool, we’re a whole community who raises the children collectively,” said Cherk. “It’s the parents who work in the school, know each other’s children and a way to raise them if you can. The confidence and kindness that comes from the children as a result is amazing. They feel the quality of parenting and the program.” Alongside a growing trend for students to take their education into their own hands, seems to be educating in nature. The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) offers a nationwide alliance to help support other nature-focused early education institutions. The Natural Start Alliance believes “that hands-on experiences in nature help build stronger, smarter, and happier children, [and] that quality education for young children includes regular opportunities to connect with nature and the local environment,” according to naturalstart.org. “We also believe that as children learn to care for themselves and others, they also begin to learn to care for the world around them.” Locally, there are two preschools associated with the Natural Start Alliance: The Santa Cruz Forest School (SCFS) and Nature’s Nursery School, the latter offering a summer-only program before the pandemic. “We believe that Mother Nature is the best teacher, that children and adults are equals and co-learners [and] that work and play are one,” they say on thesantacruzforestschool.org. “The outdoor classroom offers engaging learning experiences that develop all of our senses. It offers open-ended materials, opportunities for imaginative play, and both large and fine motor challenges, all of which are necessary for early childhood development.” A parent should expect their SCFS student to engage in activities like climbing, building, and crafting from the natural environment; stick-whittling; finding and naming plants, mushrooms, insects, lizards, and salamanders; participating in dramatic play and hide-and-seek; digging holes, stomping in mud and dancing in the rain; and searching for creatures in various locations. “The best part of forest school is the forest!” said Amanda Bell, of the Forest School. “Children spend their days exploring the fairy rings, playing games in the field, visiting with the farm animals, and building a community of play with their peers.” SCFS director and local mom, Bell, developed her passion for the outdoors as a child, and continued fostering her love for outdoors while in college and beyond. “Being in nature is one of the best things we can do with young children. The natural environment is rich beyond what any indoor environment can provide. Our loosely-structured, child-led approach to education is anchored by caring and attentive teachers who are always on the lookout for opportunities to learn – and there are plenty of these when nature is your classroom. The best days are when the children dig into their surroundings (oftentimes literally), and get lost in the worlds they’ve created together through imaginative play.” Discovery Preschool and Family Center applies the Reggio Emilia Approach to education. through “an innovative approach to early childhood education [we] value your child as strong and capable, rich with wonder and knowledge. It’s our mission to bring families and educators together to enrich a child’s early development and education,” says its website. The Reggio Emilia Approach is founded upon “collegial and relations-based work for all workers; the daily presence of a plurality of educators and teachers with children; the atelier and the person of the ‘atelierista;’ in-school kitchens; the environment as educator; documentation for making creative knowledge processes visible; the pedagogical and educational practice coordinating group; and the participation of families.” What does this all mean? The Reggio Emilia Approach is an educational philosophy that centers around children already possessing strong developmental potentials and foundational rights who learn through infinite imagination boundaries (referred to as ‘100 languages’ within the philosophy) and growing within the relation with others. “The child is made of one hundred. The child has a hundred languages, a hundred hands, a hundred thoughts, a hundred ways of thinking, of playing, of speaking,” wrote early Reggio Emilia method pioneer, Loris Malaguzzi in a poem titled, “100 Languages – No Way. The Hundred is There.” “The school and the culture separate the head from the body. They tell the child to think without hands, to do without head, to listen and not to speak, to understand without joy, to love and to marvel only at Easter and Christmas” … “And thus, they tell the child that the hundred is not there. The child says: No way. The hundred is there.” “My vision for the school is to foster the professional development and personal growth of our educators to become life-long learners and strong leaders in our educational community; additionally, I strive to create programs for families to feel supported and nurtured throughout the often challenging and ever-changing lives of early childhood!” Said Discovery Preschool and Family Center owner, Sara Balla. “Each day I am humbled by the strength of community, family and early childhood education created here at Discovery!” Another approach to pioneering early education is learning a language. “We uncover children’s cognitive potential through language immersion,” writes L’Academy Preschool on its website at lacademyschools.com. “Our ultimate goal is to develop each child mindfully with love and compassion through a language-rich curriculum!” L’Academy Preschool focuses on social compassion through the immersion of language, communication and play. “Research has shown that exposure to a second language early in life is one of the best tools for cognitive development,” the website explains. “Throughout our curriculum of meaningful activities, our children are shown pathways to become confident, creative, expressive, and compassionate citizens of the world.” Because there are a handful of L’Academy Preschools sprawled throughout the Bay Area (one being in Santa Cruz), the curriculum varies depending on location. The Santa Cruz-based L’Academy currently offers a Spanish immersion program and focuses on promoting diversity, compassion and tolerance among different cultures. “Learning a second language is also a great way to gain cultural awareness,” writes L’Academy Preschool. “Our ultimate goal is to develop each child mindfully with love and compassion which will ultimately make them successful citizens of society.” L’Academy offers a preschool experience through mixed-age classrooms and project-based curriculum centering on math, science, art and/or music, depending on the size of the class. One common thread throughout all the innovative preschools above is the harboring of a play-based and social-emotional component to their curricula. “Social and emotional awareness describes the ability to identify your own and others’ emotions, as well as to empathize with someone, even when you feel differently,” writes L’Academy Preschool. “Children’s social and emotional health affects their overall development and learning.” “Listening is a skill we cultivate at Forest School – listening to our feelings, our friends, our bodies, and our surroundings,” writes thesantacruzforestschool.org. “My hope for WPEN graduates, is the development of social-emotional skills, self-confidence, academic-readiness, creative thinking and lifelong friendships,” said WPENS director and teacher, Cory Cherk. “Shouldn’t we always be aiming to learn through play?” Added Sarah Camp, WPENS’ Board Vice President. “Play is the best! I hope my children can play as much as possible throughout their whole lives and that I can join them as often as possible.” Looking for more preschool resources? At the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, the Child Development Resource Center is dedicated to helping families find a suitable child care match or preschool program. Its bilingual services supply a variety of resources for families. It also offers many supports for preschool teachers and child care providers. Utilizing a referral database that contains all licensed preschools and child care programs in Santa Cruz County, they can work up a free listing based on your family’s needs. “It is challenging for people to find what they want right now, mostly because of COVID but also because the supply is diminishing. We are on a mission to recruit new people to open family child care homes and run small preschool programs in their homes.” Do you know of an unusual and interesting preschool teaching approach? Please write us about it at editor@growingupsc.com Read More Parenting Articles

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Valentine Gift Guide

growingupsc — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:20:00 +0000

Ann’s Picks Norrie’s Gift & Garden Shop UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden shopucscarboretum.com/ arboretum@ucsc.edu Offering unique, interesting, and beautiful plants in the outdoor nursery or buy online. Also shop for household items, jewelry, gifts, and more. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 1305 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz 831.420.6115 santacruzmuseum.org retail@santacruzmuseum.org Unique gifts for all ages celebrating the beauty and nature of Santa Cruz County, including apparel, books and field guides, science, souvenirs, surfing, and more. Woodhouse Blending & Brewing 119 Madrone St. Santa Cruz woodhousebrews.com beer@woodhousebrews.com Offering delicious small-batch traditional & non-traditional beers as well as handcrafted barrel-aged blends. Delicious Brazilian-inspired cuisine by @sampakitchensc. Live music. Spacious interior and plenty of outdoor heating! BobbiJo’s Picks Little Trends Boutique 1052 South Green Valley Road, Watsonville (831)536-5070 littletrendsboutique.com Shop our selection of adorable tutu’s and cool tees for any little in your life. We offer a variety of adorable and fun wear that your little will be sure to love. Shop online or in-store, we have a little bit of everything for mama’s, babies, toddlers and kids! Order online for in-store pickup or local delivery, call or email if you would like assistance with shopping for a special someone or delivery. Sacred Tree 831-761-3000 sacredtreenursery.com The greatest gift you will ever give, starts with the Sacred Tree. Whether you are buying 1 olive tree for a dear friend, 25 for a special baby shower, or 100 for an incredible wedding, olive trees are an unforgettable gift. Add in a personalized card and a beautiful planter, and you have a gift unlike any other. Brad’s Picks It’s Sugar 10 Cooper St. #100C, Downtown Santa Cruz If your valentine has a sweet tooth, a sense of humor, and likes nostalgia, you can’t go wrong with It’s Sugar, the downtown candy store that has a lot of gag gifts as well as crazy treats. There are giant versions of your favorite sweets, Ruth Bader Ginsburg socks, mugs, sample candy boxes from past decades, and plain goofiness, like a box of only the marshmallows from Lucky Charms. Camouflage 1329 Pacific Ave. , Downtown Santa Cruz For a present to share when the kids are gone, we suggest Camouflage, just across Pacific Avenue from It’s Sugar. Lingerie and cute outfits are out front; risqué stuff you want to keep in brown paper coverings are in the back of the store. You are sure to find some romantic items there. christy’s Picks Hallcrest Vineyards 379 Felton Empire Rd | (831) 335-4441 hallcrestvineyards.com Family run and dog friendly boutique winery established in 1941. Specializing in Pinot Noir, Organic Wines, and Hard Ciders. Open on Thursday-Monday. Simpatico 6223 Hwy 9 | (831) 704-7420 simpatico-ca.com Gifts, artisan goods and treasures for a life well lived. A locally-owned shop nestled in the Santa Cruz mountains supplying style with substance. Wild Roots 6240 Hwy 9 | (831) 335-7322 wildrootsmarket.com Friendly 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. linda’s Picks Zinnia’s Gift Boutique 219 Mt Hermon Rd C, Scotts Valley (831) 430-9466 Offering an assortment of delightful items and gifts for the home and garden; gourmet cooking items, fine furniture, jewelry, clothing, handbags, men’s items, an ever expanding children and baby lines, Melinda’s Gluten Free Bakery 1420 41st Ave, Capitola | (831) 316-5081 Treat your Valentine to decadent chocolate brownies that have been dusted with powdered sugar and kissed with chocolate ganache or our much loved donuts.

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Kiddos, Coloring, and Cookies

growingupsc — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 17:39:50 +0000

Ryker and Asher Big Foot Coloring Contest Winners January coloring COntest Ryker and Asher colored our January Big Foot coloring page at their preschool Play, Laugh, and Learn and each won a dozen cookies generously donated by Cookies Cruz! Do you want your chance to win great prizes? Entries for our March Coloring Contest end March 20. Your kiddo could win a fun filled box from Bookakery Boxes.

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February 2021 Celebrations

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:45:03 +0000

Monday 1 Sutter Maternity Postpartum Wellness Group Mondays 10:00-11:30am Call 831-477-2229 for log-in Santa Cruz County Moms onlyNational Freedom Day This day was founded to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy as U.S. citizens, freedoms that we should never take for granted. Specifically, the holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when President Abraham Lincoln signed what would later become the 13th Amendment. This amendment is so important because it effectively ended slavery in the United States. Freedom is one of the founding principles of the United States of America National Get Up Day National Dark Chocolate Day National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day Tuesday 2 Gateway Tours by Appointment February 2 and 3, 9:15am-3:15pm Gateway School, 255 Swift Street Come and learn how Gateway School inspires curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking through innovative education for a fast-changing world. You’ll have the opportunity to see the health and safety protocols of our facilities while also learning more about our curriculum. Visit www.gatewaysc.org to make an appointment for a personalized, individual tour of our campus. Sutter Maternity New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am Babies 0-9mo Call 831-477-2229 for log-in New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 1:00-2:30pm Babies 0-1yr Email Beththedoula@gmail.com for Zoom link Taking Care of Mama Pregnant & New Mom Support Tuesdays 2:00-2:45pm Call (415) 544-2395 or Email Barbara.Sheehy@Dig nityHealth.org for meeting linkDignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 pm Call 831-457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/do minican/pep to register Groundhog Day Groundhog Day on February 2 is when we ask are we in for six more weeks of Winter? Only a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil knows for sure. Each year on Groundhog Day, people flock to Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to await the forecast of the local rodent celebrity. Originating with German settlers, who came to Pennsylvania in the 1700s and brought their seasonal superstitions with them, legend has it that if Phil sees his shadow on February 2, the winter chill will continue. Oddly, if the weather is cloudy and he doesn’t see his shadow, we can expect warmer temperatures and early spring. Candlemas Day Wednesday 3 Dignity-Dominican Hospital New Mom’s Support Group Wednesdays 11:30am-1:00pm Call 831-457-7099 for more information Email for Zoom Link: Journey@Dancingbirth.com Hosted by: Journey Talkovic, RN, CNM, WHNPDignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group Wednesdays 5:30-7:00 pm Call 831-457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/dominican/pep to register National Women Physicians DayPictured Above: Pediatrician Jeanne Gallagher The event celebrates Elisabeth Blackwell’s birthday; she was the first female medical doctor in the U.S. It’s a time to honor women doctors across the country, and the progress they’ve made since Blackwell’s time. Nationally, there are still fewer female doctors than male doctors, but the progress is steady. In 2017, for the first time in history, women made up more than half of all those in medical schools. Gateway Tours by Appointment See Feb 2 National Golden Retriever Day National Signing Day Thursday 4 Luma Yoga Mom & Baby Circle 12:00-1:20pm Thursdays Call 831-325-2620 or visit lumayoga.com for more info National Thank a Mail Carrier Day World Cancer Day Friday 5 Give Kids A Smile The first Friday of February is when we turn those frowns upside down and begin the Give Kids A Smile program. The initiative, created by the American Dentist Association (ADA), is an opportunity for kids who can’t normally afford to see a dentist to get some free dental care. Dentists, as well as dental hygienists, assistants, and other volunteers, use their time and talents to ensure that children are given the dental care they need and deserve all across the country. National Bubble Gum Day Saturday 6 National Frozen Yogurt Day Time to Talk Day Sunday 7 The Westside Marketplace – NEW! 11am-4pm 1st Sundays at the Wrigley! Old Wrigley Parking Lot, 2801 Mission St., Santa Cruz Shop Local at the NEW Westside Marketplace! Featuring LOCAL art, handmade & vintage shopping + Food trucks & pop-ups…all outdoors at the Old Wrigley Parking Lot on Mission FREE admission! Presented by your friends at SCM Makers Market & Food Trucks A Go Go National Fettuccine Alfredo Day National Send a Card to a Friend Day Monday 8 Sutter Maternity Postpartum Wellness Group Mondays 10:00-11:30am Call 831-477-2229 for log-in Santa Cruz County Moms only National Boy Scout Day On February 8 we celebrate National Boy Scout Day to honor those who are trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. Founded in 1910, by American W.D. Boyce, the Boy Scouts of America has helped shape many of our nation’s leaders. According to legend, Boyce was lost on a foggy street in London when an unknown Scout helped him by guiding him back to his hotel. When the boy refused a tip, explaining that he was only doing his duty as a Scout, Boyce was inspired to bring the teachings of the British Boy Scout Association back to the U.S. National Kite-Flying Day Tuesday 9 Sutter Maternity New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am Babies 0-9mo Call 831-477-2229 for log-in New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 1:00-2:30pm Babies 0-1yr Email Beththedoula@gmail.com for Zoom link Taking Care of Mama Pregnant & New Mom Support Tuesdays 2:00-2:45pm Call (415) 544-2395 or Email Barbara.Sheehy@Dig nityHealth.org for meeting linkDignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 pm Call 831-457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/do minican/pep to register National Pizza Day Wednesday 10 Dignity-Dominican Hospital New Mom’s Support Group Wednesdays 11:30am-1:00pm Call 831-457-7099 for more information Email for Zoom Link: Journey@Dancingbirth.com Hosted by: Journey Talkovic, RN, CNM, WHNP Dignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group Wednesdays 5:30-7:00 pm Call 831-457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/dominican/pep to register Thursday 11 Luma Yoga Mom & Baby Circle 12:00-1:20pm Thursdays Call 831-325-2620 or visit lumayoga.com for more info International Day of Women and Girls in Science The International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11 allows us to honor women’s significant achievements in science and place a much-needed focus on girls entering Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. As the fastest-growing segment of jobs with employers finding it hard to find available talent, STEM needs women. Have some fun today by learning about women charting their course as techie trailblazers and by supporting young women to pursue their passions in STEM. National Guitar Day National Inventors’ Day National Make a Friend Day Friday 12 Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday Chinese New Year Saturday 13 National Tortellini Day World Radio Day Sunday 14 National Donor Day Valentine’s Day Monday 15 Sutter Maternity Postpartum Wellness Group Mondays 10:00-11:30am Call 831-477-2229 for log-in Santa Cruz County Moms only Presidents Day All the presidents in American history are remembered and honored for their exemplary work in making America the great country it is today. Tuesday 16 Sutter Maternity New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am Babies 0-9mo Call 831-477-2229 for log-in New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 1:00-2:30pm Babies 0-1yr Email Beththedoula@gmail.com for Zoom link Taking Care of Mama Pregnant & New Mom Support Tuesdays 2:00-2:45pm Call (415) 544-2395 or Email Barbara.Sheehy@Dig nityHealth.org for meeting link Dignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group Tuesdays 5:30-7:00 pm Call 831-457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/do minican/pep to register Mardi Gras National Almond Day National Pancake Day Paczki Day Wednesday 17 Dignity-Dominican Hospital New Mom’s Support Group Wednesdays 11:30am-1:00pm Call 831-457-7099 for more information Email for Zoom Link: Journey@Dancingbirth.com Hosted by: Journey Talkovic, RN, CNM, WHNP Dignity-Dominican Hospital Prenatal Support Group Wednesdays 5:30-7:00 pm Call 831-457-7099 or visit dignityhealth.org/dominican/pep to register Random Act of Kindness Day If you’re anything like us then you are constantly mumbling things to yourself like, “People these days are just rude. What happened to the good days when everyone was polite?” Sound familiar? Of course it does. For those of you that wish you could change the world, National Random Act of Kindness Day (February 17) is just for you. Ash Wednesday Thursday 18Luma Yoga Mom & Baby Circle 12:00-1:20pm Thursdays Call 831-325-2620 or visit lumayoga.com for more info Friday 19 National Chocolate Mint Day Tug of War Day Saturday 20 Clam Chowder Cook-Off ReImagined It’s the 40th anniversary of this event, and we have put together a concept to make it happen with covid-safety in mind, even in our current stay home order. Guests will be able to pre-order a Chowder Tasting Flight online, and drive-through to pick up on Saturday, February 20. They will be able to taste chowders from restaurants throughout Santa Cruz County and vote for their favorite online! A complimentary parking coupon for 2/20 will be included in the Tasting Package. Guests are welcome to park in the Main Parking Lot and enjoy their chowder on the beach, park bench, or park tables. Or they can enjoy the chowder in the warmth of your own home or vehicle. National Love Your Pet Day There are many things that differentiate humans from the rest of the animal kingdom, but one of the more unusual behaviors is our longstanding tendency to keep other animals as pets. Gallup reports that sixty percent of Americans are current pet owners. It only makes sense to commemorate something that’s so important to so many people. National Muffin Day Sunday 21 National Sticky Bun Day Monday 22 Sutter Maternity Postpartum Wellness Group Mondays 10:00-11:30am Call 831-477-2229 for log-in Santa Cruz County Moms only National Walking the Dog Day Tuesday 23 Sutter Maternity New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 10:00-11:30am Babies 0-9mo Call 831-477-2229 for log-in New Parent Support Group Tuesdays 1:00-2:30pm Babies 0-1yr Email Beththedoula@gmail.com for Zoom link National Dog Biscuit Day World Spay Day Wednesday 24 National Tortilla Chip Day Thursday 25 Luma Yoga Mom & Baby Circle 12:00-1:20pm Thursdays Call 831-325-2620 or visit lumayoga.com for more info National Chili Day Friday 26 National Pistachio Day Yukon Heritage Day Saturday 27 International Polar Bear Day nternational Polar Bear Day on February 27 raises awareness on the issues facing polar bears and the ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint. Climate change is a huge threat to polar bears’ existence and it’s up to us to take action and protect their future. Polar bears are classified as marine mammals, carrying with them a thick layer of body fat and a water-repellent coat to keep them insulated against the icy cold air and water they encounter on the sea ice of the Arctic Ocean. With their territory melting away beneath them, International Polar Bear Day is an important opportunity for us to remind ourselves what is at stake here, preserving the future of these magnificent mammals. National Pokemon Day National Protein day Sunday 28 National Chocolate Souffle Day Rare Disease Day Source: NationalToday.com

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Kitty Coloring Page

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:21:47 +0000

Ballerina Kitty Coloring Contest Deadline March 20 Submit your coloring entry to christy@growingupsc.com and we will select one to win a Bookakery Box! You can also mail them to Box 3505, Santa Cruz, 95063

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Sand Mining Ends in Monterey

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:11:57 +0000

It’s A Big Deal Sand Mining on Our Sanctuary Shores Ended Katherine O’Dea, Save Our Shores Executive Director | Santa Cruz The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the removal of that sand was causing the highest rates of erosion along the entire California coast. This month marks the final taking of sand from the last coastal sand mine operating in the U.S. on the shores of our Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Marina, CA. The closure was achieved as a negotiated outcome of a multi-year advocacy campaign initiated by concerned citizens and activists in Monterey County including Ed Thorton, a Professor of Oceanography at the Naval Post Graduate School, Marina Mayor, Bruce Delgado, Marine City Council Member, Kathy Biala, the Monterey Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and joined by Save Our Shores in 2016. Save Our Shores was responsible for elevating the campaign through several high visibility activities, while also expanding broad grassroots activism. Among those actions were screenings of the documentary Sand Wars, a protest march along the beach to the mining site, the organization of sign-carrying opposition groups attending and speaking at California Coastal Commission and State Lands Commission meetings, and postcard petition signing events where signers could scoop a small amount of sand into cellophane envelopes that accompanied the more than 2,000 cards delivered to relevant state agencies, legislators, and even former Governor, Jerry Brown. That Cemex has finally had to stop stealing a public resource for profit, is a big deal. Its Marina operation was removing 350,000 cubic yards of sand, annually. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the removal of that sand was causing the highest rates of erosion along the entire California coast. In some areas, between Marina and Monterey, that erosion was 80% higher than anywhere else in the state and responsible for the loss of Stilwell Hall at Fort Ord Dunes State Park. Marina also lost 75 acres of beach that was prime endangered Western Snowy Plover habitat. And, walking parts of the shore south of the Cemex facility became virtually impossible during high tides. The end of sand mining on the shores of our Sanctuary is indeed something extraordinary to be grateful for during a year when bad news seemed to be never ending. Thanks, therefore, go to the thousands of community members who participated in this campaign. Thanks also go to the Coastal Commission, States Lands Commission, and the City of Marina who joined forces to negotiate the closure. After stopping the threat of offshore oil drilling in our Monterey Bay, helping to facilitate an end to Cemex stealing sand from our beloved shore is one Save Our Shore’s greatest achievements.

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Vaccine Timeline

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:46:53 +0000

Understanding Vaccine Timeline and Questions By zach friend, county supervisor TUES | FEB | 2Supervisor Zach Friend hosts a COVID -19 Tele-Town Hall, 6-7 pm Supervisor Zach Friend will host a tele-town hall on Tuesday, February 2, 2021, from 6-7 pm with Dr. David Ghilarducci, EMS Medical Director and Deputy Health Officer for the County of Santa Cruz. Dr. Ghilarducci is a board-certified EMS Medical Director with extensive public safety and front line experience. Dr. Ghilarducci was previously a Fire Captain and Acting Battalion Chief with the Santa Clara County Fire Department and after transitioning to medicine served as president of the Emergency Medical Director’s Association of California, EMS Medical Director of the Santa Clara County EMS Agency, and later co-director of the Stanford University EMS Fellowship Program. He is also an Emergency/Urgent Care Physician with Kaiser-Permanente. He is one of the leads in the County’s COVID-19 response and will speak about local hospital capacities, the latest vaccine information, local and state COVID trends, and more. Ample time will be made available for your questions. Call-in info is the same: Call in: (831) 454-2222 Meeting ID: 145384# COVID-19 continues to have significant impacts on our local community. As of the time of writing this article, our County has experienced approximately 13,000 local cases, over 110 deaths and has little to no ICU bed availability. Vaccines are one of the strongest elements of hope and distribution has started in Santa Cruz County. While information is constantly being updated I wanted to provide some answers to frequently asked questions regarding the vaccine and timeline. Please visit the County’s vaccine website to look at the latest information in case things have changed: .santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus – click on the “Vaccine” tab. How Effective are the Vaccines? The vaccines developed by Moderna and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines were approximately 95 percent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, according to phase 3 trial results. How are Vaccines Distributed? In partnership with the California Department of Public Health and Center for Diseases Control there are currently four avenues to distribute the vaccine. Federal Pharmacy Partnership: Facilities work directly with local pharmacies (CVS and Walgreens) to receive and administer the vaccine. Facilities such as long term care, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities fall within this category. Multi-County Entities: These are large healthcare systems, such as Dignity Health, Kaiser Parmanente, Sutter) that coordinate with the California Department of Public Health directly to receive and administer their allocation of the vaccine. CalVAX State Distribution: CalVax allows individual providers to enroll in the California COVID-19 Vaccination Program and order/administer vaccines. These are for independent physicians or dentists and others. Local Health Jurisdictions: County Public Health coordinates directly with the California Department of Public Health to receive and distribute and/or administer for all other facilities that aren’t within the Federal Pharmacy Partnership or Multi-County Entities categories – regardless of insurance. This may include agricultural workers, for example, or others that fall outside of standard health care settings. When will I receive a vaccine? Vaccines are being distributed through a tier system that provides for priority through risk and other factors determined by the California Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control. At this point, there is no way to know exactly when vaccines will become widely available enough for the entire community to be vaccinated or even when, with the limited weekly distributions that are coming into our County, some of the highest priority tiers will be fully vaccinated. While the tiers have been modified recently by the state, we are currently in Phase 1A which includes acute and healthcare staff, assisted living facility staff/residents, EMTs, paramedics, dialysis center staff, home health and in-home supportive services, public health, primary care staff, Federal Qualified Health Clinics & urgent care clinics, dental/oral health workers, lab workers, pharmacy staff, specialty clinics and those that are 65 years and up. If I am a PAMF, Dignity or Kaiser Permanente Member How Do I Schedule an Appointment? Eligible Kaiser Permanente members can call 866-454-8855 or use their online portal at mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine to schedule an appointment. Sutter/PAMF patients, in the current Phase, can contact 844-987-6115 or visit sutterhealth.org/covid-vaccine for an appointment. Dignity Health patients in the current Phase can contact your primary care provider to schedule an appointment or use the patient portal. For the latest info you can also visit dhmf.org/dominican. How Many Doses are Needed for Each Person?The current COVID-19 vaccines available use two shots. and you must use same vaccine brand for both. The shots are given several weeks apart. According to the CDC, the first shot primes the immune system, helping it recognize the virus, and the second shot strengthens the immune response. How are they Stored? Both of the current available vaccines require very cold storage. The Pfizer vaccine requires storage at -70 to -80 degrees Celsius (which requires a special freezer and/or dry ice for storage). The Moderna is stored at approximately -20 degrees Celsius, which can be done more readily. How can I get more Information? Visit the local vaccine website at .santacruzhealth.org/coronavirus (click on the Vaccine tab) or you can call County Health at 454-4242. Additionally, you can visit the State site at cdph.ca.gov. As always, I appreciate any feedback you may have on this (or any other County issue). I’m maintaining regular updates on social media at .facebook.com/supervisorfriend and during the shelter-in-place order I’m hosting regular tele-townhalls with County and community leaders monthly on the first Tuesday from 6-7 pm. The call in information for the town halls is 454-2222 with the Meeting ID: 145384# – you are welcome to speak about any issue during the town halls or you can always call me at 454-2200.

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February Teachers of the Month

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:31:38 +0000

The Pinnacle of Dedication A tribute to the Mount Madonna School Faculty by Christine Smith As we wind down 2020 and welcome 2021 with cautious optimism, I tip my hat to a group of individuals who are as good as it gets, and maybe even better: the faculty at Mount Madonna School! Blessedly, our world is full of good – good art, good innovation, good people. So, when it comes time to recognize a person for their contributions, the choice can be tough. Look at Time magazine, which has often chosen a group of individuals rather than just one person for its coveted recognition as “Person of the Year” – the American soldier in 1950 and 2003, U.S. Scientists in 1960, and American women in 1975, to name a few. As we wind down 2020 and welcome 2021 with cautious optimism, I tip my hat to a group of individuals who are as good as it gets, and maybe even better: the faculty at Mount Madonna School. I’m a long-time parent of a student at Mount Madonna School and a member of its Board of Directors. Nevertheless, I find myself overwhelmed by the skill, commitment, and love demonstrated by this group of educators during the Covid crisis. In March of 2020, when in-person teaching pivoted to online instruction, the teachers at Mount Madonna took a collective breath and had our students engaged online essentially overnight. Then, when it became evident the Fall semester would not begin with instruction as we knew it, our teachers shifted to outdoor instruction (yes, they teach outside) in the open-air classrooms the school constructed, taking advantage of its mountain-top setting. Then, as Covid numbers rose and learning temporarily pivoted back to an online format, not one beat was missed as teachers provided students with each and every tool they needed to pick up precisely where they left off while on campus. It’s impossible to name all of the activities that have kept our students interested, engaged and learning, whether socially distanced on campus or at home. But, from packed-up science kits so students could conduct science experiments together on Zoom in family kitchens, to virtual scavenger hunts, P.E. classes to remind kids of the importance of exercise, and a live stream of the students’ holiday caroling to keep music in their lives – and many, many more – Mount Madonna teachers have filled our students’ hearts and souls with love and laughter and, when needed, have “held their hands” through frustrations and disappointment. If my words are not enough to convince, on the last day of the Fall semester, our students – from pre-K all the way to grade 12 – demonstrated their gratitude for their teachers with a socially distanced horn-honking and sign-waving caravan at school. It was a sight to behold. The Mount Madonna School faculty has gone above and beyond in providing our students with an outstanding education during these challenging times. And dare I say maybe even more importantly, they have modeled for our students that time-tested life lesson – “Yes, we can.”

The post February Teachers of the Month first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Just Wear the Mask

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:20:23 +0000

Just Wear the Mask by brad kava Wearing a mask during a highly contagious pandemic is no more depriving one of freedom than are laws demanding we wear seatbelts or forbidding smoking in restaurants and public halls. Just wear the mask. Do we really have to say that after a year of a pandemic ravaging the country? I guess we do because there are days at the local parks when two thirds of the kids and parents aren’t wearing them. Maybe they figure they are safe because they are outside, but you know how close kids get when they are playing. Even if mask wearing for the youngest ones is debatable, it certainly isn’t for their parents.We were pleased to see the county recreation department passing out free masks the other day, but surprised it was debatable by some parents who refused to wear them. Then, there are people, many traveling here from San Jose, who have made this a freedom issue. Wearing masks, they say, takes away their liberty and they are harassing clerks in stores and visitors to the farmers markets demanding to go mask-less. Some are even offering “free hugs.” Maybe they should add, “from thugs.” Wearing a mask during a highly contagious pandemic is no more depriving one of freedom than are laws demanding we wear seatbelts or forbidding smoking in restaurants and public halls. People have a right not to be infected by your second-hand smoke or your virus. We never thought we’d see something so rude and self-centered in our largely educated and considerate community, but these are nothing if not crazy times. Someone asked us early on what we would have thought if the last president had required masks and threatened people who refused to wear them with a $200 fine, as they are doing in Australia. We said that would have been the smartest thing he could have done. They called us socialists or some such thing. If socialism means taking care of the people around you and making a small sacrifice to do so, we’ll take it as a compliment. Western Australia, by the way, hands out $50,000 fines to people not wearing masks at the airport. Cities there are reporting 85 percent compliance with mask wearing. Are you seeing that here? To those who say the government is overstepping its bounds, we say, trusting people to do the right thing about masks is like trusting they will never speed in a car or blow through a stop sign. It’s not working as the level of COVID-19 here shows.Australia has had 909 deaths among its 25 million people. California has had 35,000 deaths among its population of 40 million. Think there’s something to be learned here? Some locals have caught on well. The county’s Parks and Recreation Department has been doing mask popups, giving away really well-made masks to anyone who wants one. They are emblazoned with the words “Safe. Strong. Santa Cruz” with a redwood tree as a logo. We found artist and entrepreneur Emily Farmer, giving away masks around town. Sadly, she and her family caught COVID-19 while giving them away, but luckily, they all recovered. She would have kept making them but she got hired at UCSC to teach Early Childhood Education. Bravo! It cost her $4 in materials to make them and hours of sewing. She started selling them for $5 but then began distributing them for free. “It’s so fun to be part of something that helps people and sharing love,” she said. “It’s also funny that seamstresses are saving the world. A lot of people think it’s guns and bombs saving it. But now, it’s sewing machines.” Emily Farmer started making masks last March and is now giving them away around Santa Cruz. With help from her mother, Maryette, she’s distributed 2,800 of her labor-intensive and very colorful face coverings. People helped by donated material and labor. Here she is with her family, well-masked. Max Umney at Anna Jean Cummings Park giving away stacks of much-needed masks. We say that’s a great way to spend our tax dollars, if that’s what it takes to get them on the faces that need them.

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Computer Value

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 17:14:41 +0000

Is a Cheaper Computer Really Better? By Luigi Oppido As the new year comes, and we close off whatever you wanna call 2020, deals abound for new computers with all new technology and brand new software. How do you know when a deal is a deal? Computers break down into four or five basic components. Processor, ram, storage, video card, and if a laptop, screen type. Without getting into each item and diving into the history of computing here’s a brief synopsis of each item: ProcessorThe better the processor, the faster click-to-completion. Meaning, if I want to double-click on a program, how long does it take for it to launch, and allow me to use it. RamWorkers in the warehouse. They allow the movement of data and temporary storage of things from the processor to screen.Storage (hard drive, HDD/SSD)This is your garage space. This is where everything lives including the operating system, programs, and your personal data. Video card (GPU)This is your graphics processing unit. As of today, even the lowest quality GPUs that come out as standard features on computers and laptops are pretty good. If you’re a gamer, then you need to look at your specific game and see what the best specs for your particular application would be and match that to this device. Laptop screen typeThis can run the gamut and also cost a lot of money depending on what you’re getting. Size also equals cost. The new MacBooks have retina screens which include a high pixel per inch ratio which cost more, but looks fantastic. If you don’t know what that, is you probably don’t need to spend more on a screen.Lately I’ve been seeing amazing deals at some of our local electronics stores for machines that seem too good to be true. When looking into the specs, I find that the storage on the machines is less than an updated current version of Windows (the operating system). Meaning, if I were to purchase this computer and install all the current updates up to today, that machine would not have enough garage space to store all the data that I would need to put onto it. It would possibly freeze and stop functioning. That doesn’t count any software I want to install, or any of my data, pictures, videos, etc. So by buying this machine, I am setting myself up for failure because there’s nowhere to go. What to get? Processor: at least intel i3 or equivalent Ram: 4 gigabytes (gb) preferably 8gbStorage: at least 128gb at minimum. I usually got for 1 terabyte which is 1024gb.Video card: check the machine for an HDMI port, if it has one on the side, you’re good.Screen type: look at the letters on the icons. Fuzzy? Clear? If it’s good to you, it’ll do! Of course this is a brief run through of computers, but with these basic parameters you should stay away from the pitfalls of the dreaded sale and the doomed machine.

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