• January 2024

    Reb Leaves Behind Legacy of Generosity

    If you passed by the intersection of highways 9 and 1 you’ve seen the sign on the Rebele Family Shelter. If you’ve seen Shakespeare in the Park, the Santa Cruz Symphony, or sent kids to the teen center at St. John’s Church, or Cabrillo College or UCSC, you’ve benefited from their generosity. Or if you’ve gone to Watsonville Hospital, or read this magazine, the Rebeles had a hand in your life. It was a sad day November 25 when Rowland Rebele died at the age of 93 after a lifetime of service and philanthropy. Many will be reeling from the loss for a long time. Reb, as he preferred to…

  • January 2024

    Kids Learn Good Nutrition is Cool at Cooking Clubs

    “Ewww…it’s so green – I don’t want to eat that!” When kids first join one of Second Harvest Food Bank’s Cooking Clubs, this can be a common reaction to the Vegetarian Pesto Pasta recipe. But rather than being an obstacle, it becomes an ideal learning opportunity. “Our Cooking Clubs are all about exposure,” said Vanessa Arizmendi, Wellness and Nutrition Director for Second Harvest Food Bank. “They are designed to introduce young people to nutrition concepts, ingredients, spices, cultural dishes, and other food-related concepts that support a holistic approach to health and wellbeing. We want to open their minds and their taste buds!” Second Harvest’s overall mission is to address the…

  • January 2024

    High School Chemistry Students Conduct Seasonal Experiment

    Recently, Mount Madonna School 10th grade students explored “redox reactions” – a high school chemistry class version of holiday crafting – during a lab activity. A redox reaction, also known as oxidation reduction, is a reaction that involves the transfer of electrons between “chemical species” or the atoms, ions or molecules involved in the reaction. The students were transitioning between studying ionic compounds and chemical reactions and teacher Lisa Catterall offered them a “perfect experiment” to reinforce their learning and to prepare them for the next unit. “As students performed a four-step reaction inside a glass ball, the result of the final reaction is that silver ions are deposited on…

  • January 2024

    Considering a Faith-Based School for Your Kids?

    If you’re thinking about sending your child to a faith-based school, there are many factors to consider, just like shopping for any private school. You’ll want to weigh out academics, enrichment opportunities, location, and price, to name a few. But with faith-based schools, there are additional factors you’ll want to consider. This guide will help you to make an informed decision, so you can choose the school that best fits your family’s values and meets your objectives for your child’s education. Why do parents choose faith-based education? Many parents of various faiths and even of no faith contemplate the idea of sending their kids to a faith-based school. For those…

  • January 2024

    2024 Parenting Goals

    New year, new parenting goals! Positive Discipline has so many great ideas for nurturing the relationship between the parent and child. A healthy, mutually-respectful relationship is the greatest parenting tool we can have. There are so many ways to improve our relationship with our children (connection before correction, using kindness and firmness at the same time, understanding the belief behind the behavior, etc.) and there are just as many ways to hurt this important relationship (using punishment, shame, humiliation, blame, etc.) It can feel daunting to try to implement many new parenting techniques at once. With this in mind, here’s a month-by-month guide with a different Positive Discipline parenting tool…

  • January 2024

    Vizzusi’s Glass Featured in Collections Around the World

    For the past 40 years glass artist Peter Vizzusi has been blowing molten glass into wildly colorful tumblers, goblets, bowls, and just plain beautiful objects. Based in Santa Cruz, Vizzusi’s studies in the Bay Area and Italy fueled his ambitious career. Now his blown artglass can be found in museums and collections all over the world. – Christina Waters Q: How did you chose making glass art as a profession? 
 PV: I found my life’s work, inadvertently- seeing hot glass action across the hall from the ceramics studios at San Jose State where I was an avid student, then at Old Town, Los Gatos, where the self-styled glass maesetro…

  • January 2024

    Which Type of Education is Best for Your Child?

    One of the most significant decisions parents make for their kids is where to send them to school. A child’s educational path influences them in so many ways. Not only is it the starting point of their learning career. It’s also where they spend most of their time, engage in multiple relationships, and have formative experiences. There are many types of schools to consider. Each offers different experiences and resources for students. To choose the best school experience for your child, consider your child’s personality and individual needs as well as what’s best for your family as a whole. Keep in mind that what works for one child doesn’t necessarily…

  • January 2024

    Embrace Baby Steps: Building Healthy Habits in 2024

    As we step into a brand new year, the air is filled with excitement and the promise of new beginnings. It’s that time when resolutions are made, and we set grand plans. However, instead of overwhelming ourselves with lofty goals, let’s take a different approach in 2024. Let’s embrace the power of baby steps and focus on building healthy habits that will last a lifetime. In 2024, let’s shift our focus from resolutions to building healthy habits through baby steps. By starting small, being consistent, practicing self-compassion, finding joy in the process, and building a supportive community, we can create lasting change in our lives. Remember, it’s the small steps…