January 2021 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

New Year Editor Note

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:26:30 +0000

New Year Editor’s Note BY BRAd kava Can we make the new normal better? That’s our goal for 2021, to take what we’ve learned during the long shelter-in-place directive and save some of the best things for the new year. Those include more board games and less video games; more walks and fewer drives; more socializing with neighbors; more time spent looking over homework and school work; more time to slow down and quit running around like an Uber service. One thing we’ve learned is that the county’s bike lanes aren’t safe. We’ve spent more time cruising on two wheels than ever and now we are really worried about what happens when kids go back to school and smash their bikes into ubiquitous potholes and road crack. An article in the current issue by Supervisor Zach Friend notes that our county is fifth worst in the state for bike collisions. No wonder, when the bike lanes look like obstacle course and bikes have to pull out into the roadway. Once upon a couple of decades ago, Santa Cruz looked like it was in the cutting edge of bike safety with marked lanes for bikes, something that few other states had. Now, through neglect and lack of financing, those lanes are like a minefield. In his County Scoop column, Friend notes there is funding for two new bike and pedestrian bridges and five miles of buffered lanes along Soquel Drive. Yay. That’s great news. But it’s just a start. There’s no reason with tens of thousands of students in town, we can’t do more to protect them. Sometimes it just takes riding the roadways on two wheels to realize what a crisis we have here and how much better we can be doing. Have you traveled in the Netherlands? Bikes there are treated like the top mode of transit. You will even see students riding on two wheels to their prom in tuxedos and evening dresses. There are so many reasons to get out and bike, not the least of which is that it helps save the environment. And now, even older people or those who can’t negotiate an unpowered bike, can buy E-bikes and make them serious commuting vehicles most of the year. Some bikers reported that Department of Public Works head Matt Machado has responded to urgent problems, such as a big crack on the hill at Rio del Mar, near the area where one rider recently died when he lost control of his bike. You can file a report with Machado by searching for the Public Works page or linking to it via the My Santa Cruz County App, available at all your app stores. You can also use your camera or GoPro and send them here (editor@growingupsc.com), where GUISC is compiling a list of the most dangerous streets to see if we can spur some action. The videos really paint a picture of how bad and dangerous our roads are. If we show them the problem, we hope officials will find more money to help fix it. Other issues in this new year’s GUISC include an article showing what local schools are doing to keep students safe for in-class lessons during the pandemic.On the positive side, we have a great feature on a new Eco-teaching boat tour through Elkhorn Slough. What a great thing to do as a family. We have good reason to worry about one of the most beautiful local pieces of nature, our orange and black Monarch butterflies. Their numbers have been dismal this year and they are on the verge of being an endangered species. What can you do? Our experts will tell you.Can a pandemic be the right time to have a baby? Writer and mother Ashley Carone says, yes. Read her article to see why. Let’s hope our vision for 2021 isn’t just better than the misnamed and muck-laden 2020, but that we figure ways to come back from a tragedy with brilliant and inspiring new ideas. Thanks for reading. Brad Kava, Jennifer Fordand Steve Dinnen

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Bigfoot Coloring Page

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:23:13 +0000

Local Artist Logan Ryan

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:13:23 +0000

Logan Ryan Local Artist Fourth Grade | San lorenzo valley elementary Logan Ryan is a fourth grade student at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary. Besides drawing he loves playing with his two hamsters, Peanut and Goober, playing the piano, baking sweets and playing video games. Logan has always enjoyed drawing and prefers drawing in pencil.

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Paying for your Santa Cruz Home

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 21:06:18 +0000

The Santa Cruz real estate market is being reshaped by out-of-towners moving in now that so many people can work anywhere they choose. However, it seems not to have occurred to many people here that they can do the same thing: get an “out of town” job without the commute out of town. There are many well-paying jobs “over the hill” that no longer require a daily commute.

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Eco Tours

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:44:26 +0000

One of our guiding philosophies is that viewing the natural beauty of the Elkhorn Slough should have minimal impact on the wildlife and environment

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Giving Birth During a Pandemic

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:39:08 +0000

The silver lining of the pandemic is the added layer of insulation that it gives new parents.

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Lovingkindness Meditation

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 20:26:57 +0000

Practicing loving kindness meditation ultimately changes how we relate to ourselves and others; we start to feel less isolated and more connected.

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Saving the Monarchs

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 19:57:11 +0000

The decline of the monarch butterfly began in the 1980s and continues today but there is hope. Many species have been brought back.

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Carry Forward

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:59:55 +0000

The greatest treasure is appreciating coming together and gathering. Truly being grateful for it

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January Celebrations

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 18:51:12 +0000

Friday 1New Year’s Day Saturday 2Happy Mew Year for Cats DayNational Science Fiction Day Sunday 3 International Mind-Body Wellness Day an opportunity to celebrate how a healthy mind and healthy emotions means a healthy body! The mind, body and soul connection plays an integral role in our overall health and well-being. Our emotions, purpose, spirituality, experiences, goals, beliefs, habits and actions all have an important impact on mind-body harmony and overall health. That is why we celebrate International Mind-Body Wellness Day at the start of each year, because nothing is more important than creating the best you possible, and what better time than the new year for a new you?JRR Tolkien DayNational Chocolate Covered Cherry Day Monday 4National Spaghetti DayNational Trivia Day Tuesday 5National Bird DayNational Whipped Cream DayNational Screenwriters DayNational Keto Day Wednesday 6National Bean DayNational Cuddle Up Day Since January has some of the coldest temperatures of the year, it’s a great excuse to warm up by cuddling with those closest to you! Plus, if you’ve got a fireplace and cozy blankets, it’s even better.National Technology Day Thursday 7National Bobblehead Day Friday 8Earth’s Rotation Day Most of us probably know the Earth rotates on an almost-vertical axis every 24 hours, which gives us one Earth day. But this basic knowledge wasn’t always so undisputable. In 1851, French physicist Leon Foucault demonstrated how our planet rotates using his now-famous pendulum. Today, Foucault’s Pendulums are a fixture in science museums around the world. The simple but brilliant contraption uses a suspended lead ball to indicate the rotation of the Earth over the course of a day. The pendulum is surrounded by small pins arranged in a circle, which the pendulum knocks down one by one, eventually completing a full rotation.National Bubble Bath DayNational Winter Skin Relief Day Saturday 9Virtual Led Campus Tour, 4pm Santa Catalina School Virtual Open House Series. January 9–21 See website to for events offered and to register santacatalina.org/upper-school/admission/admission-fairs/open-housesNational Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (Above Image: Sergeant Pascale Wowak with Scotts Valley PD)if you have a police officer as a friend or family member, National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day on January 9 is the perfect time to show officers we understand how difficult their job is. So it’s important to show officers how much we understand their difficult work and appreciate their sacrifice and risk. Sunday 10National Houseplant Appreciation Day Houseplants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for us to breathe, improving the air quality in your home. Plants also release moisture into the air, conditioning it with refreshing humidity that can actually make your house feel cooler! Whether your green thumb has driven you to amass an impressive indoor garden or you’re just kicking around the idea of a low-maintenance cactus for your desk, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and join us in bringing the outdoors inside on National Houseplant Appreciation Day. Monday 11National Clean Your Desk DayNational Human Trafficking Awareness Day National Human Trafficking Awareness Day on January 11 raises awareness of the persistent issue of human trafficking. Though the entire month of January has already been recognized as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, this day is specifically dedicated to awareness and prevention of the illegal practice. This holiday is also separate from the World Day Against Trafficking Persons, as established by the United Nations. Since the Senate established this day of observance in 2007, it has drawn massive public support from individual donations to government-organized events. Tuesday 12Meet Our Students, 4pm. Santa Catalina School Virtual Open House Series. January 9–21 See website to for events offered and to register santacatalina.org/upper-school/admission/admission-fairs/open-houses Mt Madonna School Conversations of Meaning, 7pm-8:30pm. Join us via Zoom for a glimpse into the Values program. Values in World Thought spans 11th and 12th grades and engages students in meaningful conversations. True dialogue is a collaborative process of active listening and discussion that helps the students develop a deeper understanding of the subject matter, and respect and curiosity about the ideas of others. RSVP to school@mountmadonnaschool.org for the Zoom link. Wednesday 13National Rubber Ducky Day The popular toy has seen a lot of variations in its history. First designed in the 1800s when rubber manufacturing began, the duck was then made out of plastic and vinyl during both World Wars, as rubber was scarce. The ducky toy was first patented in 1928 by Landon Smart Lawrence, but the toy was a little heavier back then—he put a weight in it to make sure it would always stay upright. If you’re every out in the ocean, you might just run into a rubber ducky. 28,000 rubber ducks on their way via boat to Washington went overboard during a storm in 1992. It’s been said that the ducks floated north to the Arctic, got trapped in the ice, and were slowly thawed out into the Atlantic Ocean. National Sticker Day Tea with Teachers, a panel discussion with MMS elementary school teachers, January 13, 4:30-5:30pm. Enjoy a cup of tea and join this Zoom discussion to hear from MMS elementary school teachers about our program. RSVP to school@mountmadonnaschool.org for the Zoom link. Thursday 14National Dress Up Your Pet Day Friday 15Martin Luther King’s BirthdayNational Bagel DayNational Hat DayArts & EntertainmentFashion Saturday 16National Fig Newton DayNational Nothing Day Sunday 17Catalina’s Curriculum, 4pm. Santa Catalina School Virtual Open House Series. January 9–21 See website to for events offered and to register santacatalina.org/upper-school/admission/admission-fairs/open-housesMichelle Obama’s Birthday Monday 18Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Each year on the third Monday of January we observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and reflect on the work that still needs to be done for racial equality. This January 18, make the holiday more than just a day off and take time to reflect and take action on civil rights issues across the globe. The concept of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a holiday was promoted by labor unions. After King’s death, US representative John Conyers and US Senator Edward Brooke introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national holiday.National Thesaurus DayNational Winnie the Pooh Day Tuesday 19Gateway School Tours by Appointment January 19 and 20, 2021, 9:30am-3:00pm. 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. Meet Our Parents, 5pm. Santa Catalina School Virtual Open House Series. January 9–21 See website to for events offered and to register santacatalina.org/upper-school/admission/admission-fairs/open-housesNational Popcorn Day Wednesday 20Gateway School Tours by Appointment January 19 and 20, 2021, 9:30am-3:00pm. 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. National Cheese Lover’s DayNational Penguin Day We love penguins for lots of reasons: They walk around in tuxedos, they have a cute waddle, and they’re unique! And to show that we care, we observe National Penguin Day on January 20. While this day celebrates the penguins, it’s also a time to think about saving them. Many penguin colonies have been lost to climate change and it’s estimated that half the population of emperor penguins will vanish by the end of this century. We can start to help these endangered creatures by focusing on environmental issues. Thursday 21In the Classroom, 4pm. Santa Catalina School Virtual Open House Series. January 9–21 See website to for events offered and to register santacatalina.org/upper-school/admission/admission-fairs/open-housesNational Banana Bread DayNational Hugging DayNational Squirrel Appreciation Day Friday 22National Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day Your kitty has questions and January 22 is the day to be answering them, hence it is known as Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day. What child hasn’t promised their cat that if they just reveal they can speak, they’ll keep the secret? On this special day, we’re listening to each meow and trying to understand just what that cat is getting at – we just wish they had speech bubbles above their head like Garfield! Pre/K Preview: Songs, Stories and Learning, January 22, 10:00-11:00am Parents of toddler, preschool and kindergarten-age children are invited with their child to join MMS Pre/K teachers and students in yoga, storytelling, songs and more! RSVP to school@mountmadonnaschool.org for the Zoom link. Saturday 23Spring Hill School Virtual Open House 10:00 am and 1:00 pm. Small classes. Big learning. Email admissions@springhillschool.org. 831-427-2641Birth Network of Santa Cruz County presents this FREE live Zoom event: Meet the Doulas at 4pm. Learn about how doulas support families through the birth and postpartum experience during our current Covid situation. Preregister at BirthNetSantaCruz.EventBrite.com and for more information visit BirthNet.orgBirth Network of Santa Cruz County presents this FREE live Zoom event: Meet the Doulas at 4pm. Learn about how doulas support families through the birth and postpartum experience during our current Covid situation. Preregister at BirthNetSantaCruz.EventBrite.com and for more information visit BirthNet.orgNational Pie Day Sponsored by the American Pie Council (yes, that’s a real thing!), National Pie Day lets us enjoy one of our favorite desserts guilt-free. While pie exists in some form all over the world, the United States has an inextricable relationship with the flaky dessert. Sunday 24National Compliment Day The power of a compliment is pretty remarkable: either giving or receiving one can boost your happiness and confidence — making the act a win-win. You never know when someone could use some good vibes, so spread the positivity by giving someone a reason to smile!National Peanut Butter Day Monday 25National Fun at Work DayNational Irish Coffee DayOpposite Day Tuesday 26National Peanut Brittle DayNational Spouses Day Wednesday 27International Holocaust Remembrance Day From 1941 to 1945 Nazi Germany and its collaborators committed the systematic murder of over six million Jews. The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was Nazi Germany’s “Final Solution” for eliminating all Jewish people within Nazi Germany’s grasp. By the end of this heinous act, roughly two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population had been murdered. The United Nations General Assembly’s resolution 60/7 designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day on November 1, 2005, during the 42nd plenary session. Join us on January 27 for International Holocaust Remembrance Day when remember the Nazi’s act of genocide so that no one else will suffer like that again. Thursday 28 Anastasia Higginbotham- Virtual Event What You Don’t Know Thursday, January 28th, 4:00 pm Join Bookshop Santa Cruz for a special virtual event with author and illustrator Anastasia Higginbotham whose new picture book, What You Don’t Know: A Story of Liberated Childhood, delves into queerness, Blackness, and the love that dismantles whiteness. This online event will include a reading, Q&A, and demonstration of Higginbotham’s disco collage workshop. https://www.bookshopsantacruz.com/higginbothamNational Lego Day Friday 29National Puzzle Day Saturday 30National Croissant Day Sunday 31National Backward Day Source: NationalToday.com

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