While you and your family were sheltering from torrential rains, Manuel Rodriguez, 50, and his brother Joel, 58, were digging underground conduits to help restore power to Aptos. Not only was the work torturous in horrid conditions, but the two were far from their homes in San Luis Obispo County working six days a week, staying in a mobile home in Watsonville and driving back south for one day to see their wives and children. And, to make matters worse, the retaining wall around Joel’s house in Atascadero had collapsed and friends there were helping him out with sand bags. He figures there was at least $15,000 to $20,000 of…
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Community Comes Together
If there’s a silver lining to all the storms we’ve faced—besides fighting back on the long drought—it’s the way our community has come together. People have taken both big and small steps to help each other. Big corporations, once considered the Evil Empire around Santa Cruz, have rushed forward to help bring service to so many people stricken by the floods, often not seeking publicity for their efforts, but thanked by residents nonetheless. While everyone praises first responders from police and fire departments, we rarely see enough credit given to workers who climb poles in torrential rains to bring back electricity, cable and phone service. We’ve tried to call out…
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How You Can Help the Storm Cleanup
The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz is organizing storm cleanup efforts in Felton Grove for the next several weeks. To sign up to be an emergency response volunteer, request flood clean-up assistance, or donate to the Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County and support its efforts, visit scvolunteercenter.org. For more information call 831.427.5070. This Google Map set up by Coastal Watershed Council leader Laurie Egan has a number of contacts for area cleanup supervisors: bit.ly/3j37NjfThe Community Foundation Santa Cruz County has launched a disaster fund to help residents and small business owners. The money will go to nonprofits serving vulnerable populations. Donations will also go to small businesses in coordination…
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Out & About
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Open Houses
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Nothing Like the First Grandchild
My first grandchild arrived seven months ago. A little girl (at least for now) called Grace. I’ve wanted to be a grandmother for a long time. I always thought I’d be a young grandmother. I had my children when I was young, and my mother was only forty-six when she became a grandmother. So, becoming a grandmother at sixty seems old to me. Still, I am surprised, or maybe just disappointed, that no one is shocked to learn that I am a grandmother. I have yet to hear the words “you look too young to be a grandmother!” On the upside, having a grandchild has taken the sting out of…
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Supporting Mental Wellness
I’m grateful for the little moments that start to feel like pre-pandemic life. Before 2020, I never thought that going to a grocery store or a friend’s house without being afraid to touch things or breathe air was cause for a celebration. But after nearly two years of the pandemic, these “small” things make a big difference. While I’m hopeful that the worst of the pandemic is over, I’m deeply concerned about the extent of the pandemic-related emotional and behavioral health challenges faced by many children, youth, and adults. The holidays can be a challenging time anyway for mental health, so it’s even more important that we care for ourselves…
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The Excavators on the Playground
I spent three years involved in writing and defending the California Preschool Foundations. State-sponsored preschool is a marvelous concept, and there were hundreds of well-intentioned people who needed to have a say in what the curriculum ought to be. The meetings required microphones and convention centers to accommodate everyone who knew about preschool. I was proud of the results, and very happy that all preschoolers in my state would have strong art, science, physical education and SEL (social-emotional learning). Years later, specialists in our county were making a learning plan for my preschool daughter with special needs. They pulled out the books I helped write to decide what her goals…
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Teen Twins Fight Water Pollution at TEDxMeritAcademy
Kids these days! We’ve left them holding the bag of unintended consequences of our own indulgences, yet our children are still vested in righting our wrongs. What solutions might they find if given the opportunity and resources?Ishan and Alisha Bhatia are twins. People ask: Do you think alike? You could say so. Both tackled the same global crisis: water pollution, each from a unique perspective. Before they were out of high school, each had discovered viable solutions and showcased them in talks at TEDxMeritAcademy. Here’s what they have to say: Ishan Imagine a contagion that popped out of nowhere, threatening 385 million lives with cancer, birth defects, and DNA degradation.…
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About the Cover
Everyone has been affected in one way or another by this winter’s devastating storms. This includes the youngest of Santa Cruz County’s community members. Our Natural Bridges Children’s Center preschoolers have been coming to school every day talking about their own family experiences and through play have been processing the beautiful ways in which they have seen community helpers, neighbors and complete strangers working together to rebuild their town. This photo captures our kind and thoughtful Lily clearing a road so that she and all of her tricycle riding friends and classmates could get home. This embodies everything that we stand for and believe in at NBCC: Inspiring Learning ~ Creating Community ~ Building Bridges About the photographer: Our…
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What Do You Do When Your Kid Knocks Out a Tooth?
Santa Cruz County is an adventurous and active place. We love to see kids outside running around, riding bikes, surfing, skating…. having fun. However, pediatric dentists don’t love the damage that sometimes happens to teeth when kids get tripped up during all that fun. We all hope it won’t happen to us, but it’s good to know what to do if it does. There are three true emergencies associated with dental trauma. These are the “you need to take action NOW” injuries; 1) head trauma 2) uncontrolled bleeding that may require stitches and 3) a knocked out permanent tooth. Often, the knocked out, displaced or broken tooth can look really…
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Are Video Games the Next Theme Park Frontier?
An exciting new trend is gaining traction in the theme park industry, one that could create worlds like no other that we’ve seen off the screen. While video games and theme parks have gone hand-in-hand for decades, namely in the form of arcades, entire themed areas dedicated to a video game world has gone largely untapped. Until now. Super Nintendo World is set to open Feb. 17 at Universal Studios Hollywood, featuring attractions based on the Super Mario franchise, known among gamers since the 1980s but now exploding in popularity with a film coming to the big screen in April. At Super Nintendo World, you’ll be dropped right in the…
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Santa Cruz’s Oldest School Celebrates 160 Years
When Holy Cross Catholic School opened its doors on top of the hill overlooking downtown Santa Cruz for the 1862-1864 school year, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing the slaves, the Union Army was starting to turn the Civil War toward victory and the country celebrated its first Thanksgiving. Patty Patano has been the school’s principal since 2016. Before that she was head of school at an independent school in Los Angeles. Her favorite part of the job is being part of the lives of her students. “They are smart, funny and examples of what it means to have pure joy,” she says. “Helping them navigate times of conflict…
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Picky Preschool Eating
There’s a reassuring element in knowing that you’re not alone in dealing with a parenting challenge. For example, having a child who’s a picky eater. According to nutritionists, parents and MyPlate.gov, this is a very common occurrence, especially among the preschool age groups. “Picky eating is typical for many preschoolers as they grow up and become more independent,” confirms MyPlate.gov. Some strategies for getting your preschooler to eat healthy foods that the institution suggests, is to try and balance the amounts and types of foods eaten over one week; offer a variety of different foods; maintain small portions at meal and snack times; introduce new foods alongside familiar foods; and…
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Coloring Contest Winners
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Coloring Contest
Submit by Feb. 15
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A Library Lover’s Tour of the Coast
Many people collect items as a hobby. I have friends who collect vintage video games, comic books, even quilts. I’m a different kind of collector, however. I collect library visits. For fun, I like to visit community libraries and photograph what I find there. My love of libraries took root in childhood. My mom, a teacher, would take my sister and me to the San Bruno library on Saturday mornings, and I’d check out the maximum 10 books every time. I’d stuff them into my Hello Kitty tote bag, then start devouring them as soon as I got home. Now I’m a teacher and my love of libraries hasn’t dimmed.…
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What is Your Favorite Way to Observe Valentine’s Day
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Breastfeeding Coalitions Offer Support
By Laura Maxson Families and healthcare providers know that lactation support takes many forms. More than just an appointment with a lactation consultant, it’s also a call from a lactation peer-counselor, a helpful Facebook group, or supportive lactation legislation. How does all this come together? Breastfeeding coalitions are providing this strong foundation of support both locally, and statewide. The California Breastfeeding Coalition’s mission is: “To improve the health and well-being of Californians by working collaboratively to protect, promote, and support lactation. We do this by cultivating collaborative relationships among state and local organizations, government agencies, hospitals and health care providers, employers and community-based chest/breastfeeding support organizations throughout California. Our vision…
