July 2019 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz https://growingupsc.com Sun, 14 Jul 2019 22:51:32 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 https://growingupsc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-Favicon-01-32x32.png July 2019 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz https://growingupsc.com 32 32 The Biggest Collection of Photos from the Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019 https://growingupsc.com/the-biggest-collection-of-photos-from-the-aptos-fourth-of-july-parade-2019/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-biggest-collection-of-photos-from-the-aptos-fourth-of-july-parade-2019&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-biggest-collection-of-photos-from-the-aptos-fourth-of-july-parade-2019 https://growingupsc.com/the-biggest-collection-of-photos-from-the-aptos-fourth-of-july-parade-2019/#respond Fri, 05 Jul 2019 17:05:44 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7659 The Biggest Collection of Photos from the Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019 …Aptos World’s Shortest Parade 2019The largest collection of photos from the world’s shortest 4th of July paradeAptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 682height 485Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 381height 507Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 673height 497Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 701height 495Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 376height 377Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 672height 501Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 666height 463Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 675height 506Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 679height 499Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 678height 493Aptos Fourth of July Parade 2019originaldate 1/1/0001 6:00:00 AMwidth 636height 500Aptos Fourth of July 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]]> https://growingupsc.com/the-biggest-collection-of-photos-from-the-aptos-fourth-of-july-parade-2019/feed/ 0 Shelter Dogs and Other Blessings https://growingupsc.com/shelter-dogs-and-other-blessings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shelter-dogs-and-other-blessings&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shelter-dogs-and-other-blessings https://growingupsc.com/shelter-dogs-and-other-blessings/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:50:24 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7549 Shelter Dogs and Other Blessings By Sheila Borgman On a Sunday morning in May, my 14-year-old daughter Eva sulked as we drove to the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter (SCCAS). The night before I’d told her she couldn’t go to a bonfire with older kids and she’d been giving me the silent treatment ever since. We were headed to our weekly volunteer shift at SCCAS, something we’d been doing since Eva turned 13. Looking back on our eight years at the Shelter, I realize now that our time together went far beyond hanging out with dogs once a week. It was a way to connect during the spooky teenage years when communication is hampered by emotional landmines and slammed doors. As soon as we arrived at the shelter, something shifted in my daughter. While gathering our supplies, Eva began to chatter about which dogs had been adopted since our last shift. We made our way to the kennels and stopped in front of a young brown-and-white Pit Bull named Hopper, who’d been dubbed “Everyday Sunshine” by the Shelter staff for his friendly, goofy demeanor. “Do you want to try getting him out, Mom?” Eva asked. From the start, my daughter was a better dog handler than I was. Weighing in at only 100 pounds, she was no match for most dogs size-wise; her strength came from her calm, confident demeanor. “Sure, I’ll try,” I said, watching Hopper pogo around his enclosure. I bent to unlock his kennel, my slip-leash ready. We retrieved him from the grooming station at the end of the hall. “This time I’ve got him for real,” I said, moving in with my leash. We retrieved him from the toy bin by the Animal Care office. He had a stuffed squirrel in his mouth. “Want me to get him, Mom?” “Please.” Open Door, Open Heart SCCAS is an open-admission facility serving the neediest animals in Santa Cruz County. The shelter admits all domestic animals no matter how injured, sick, aggressive, or shut-down. An amazing array of creatures come through SCCAS’s doors: from dogs and cats to pigs and horses to snakes and goldfish to chinchillas and parrots. Over 5,000 animals are housed by SCCAS annually, and in the past 10 years the shelter has performed 32,332 spays and neuters, returned 11,047 animals to their owners, and facilitated 18,881 adoptions. In addition, the shelter’s outreach services provide free and low-cost spay and neuter procedures, vaccinations, pet supplies, and more. The Extra Mile program, funded by private donations, allows severely sick or injured animals to receive advanced medical care, and after-school programs and summer Critter Camp help educate kids about animal welfare in fun, interactive ways. Staff provides extensive training and support to the hundreds of volunteers who care for the animals onsite and through the Shelter’s foster program. Eva and I have never been injured while at the Shelter, unless you count the time she drilled me in the stomach with a tennis ball hurled from a Chuckit. The Hopper Effect On that Sunday morning in May, Eva and I spent a long time with Hopper. He played fetch, sat for treats, and rolled over for belly rubs. After several weeks at the Shelter, including a week with us in foster, he was adopted by a nice woman and her young daughter. She contacted me soon after to report that everyone loved him—even the cat. Eva and I still do our Sunday shifts whenever she’s home from college. She’s now 21 and an Animal Sciences major at Cal Poly, where she’s taking the prerequisites for vet school. Her shelter experience gave her a boost during the hectic admissions process and helped her land a great internship with a local vet. While the endless tide of homeless animals coming through SCCAS’s doors can take an emotional toll on those who care for them, success stories prevail. I wouldn’t trade my shelter time with Eva for anything, and I imagine she’d say the same. Not only did we get to know multitudes of dogs over the years, we got to know each other. And that’s definitely worth a Chuckit to the stomach. For more information about volunteering at SCCAS—either onsite or as a foster home—visit https://www.scanimalshelter.org/become_a_volunteer/. Children can start working onsite with the animals at age twelve with an adult guardian who has also completed training. The website also has more information about camp and afterschool programs for kids. Sheila Borgman is a science editor and writer. She lives in Capitola with her human and furry/feathered family.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/shelter-dogs-and-other-blessings/feed/ 0 Summer School of Rock https://growingupsc.com/summer-school-of-rock/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=summer-school-of-rock&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=summer-school-of-rock https://growingupsc.com/summer-school-of-rock/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:45:46 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7545 Summer School of Rock Local music school offers kids a chance to join a band and play gigs By Nik Jones  Bathed in colorful stage lights and shrouded in a dense, milky cloud from a fog machine, the six members of Full Disclosure rocked the stage of the Rio Theatre in June. They were one of four bands recording an original song written during Be Natural Music’s weeklong summer band camp. “There’s something about having that opportunity to be on stage at a really good gig, and not having to stress about all the issues that come with being in a band,” said Emily Marschall-Niswonger, 15, who played saxophone and synth for Full Disclosure. “They have it there for you and you just get to play and totally shine.” Be Natural Music offers these “Real Rock Band” classes year-round, and the bands get gigs in well-known venues around town, including the Kuumbwa, Louden Nelson and Don Quixote’s. Matthew Pinck started teaching music classes more than 20 years ago, and Be Natural Music evolved out of that. “We do professional photography and videography and then we make a band page for each band,” he said, which he believes sets them apart from other local music schools. “They can use it to get gigs.” “I play bass,” said Natasha Ackerstein, 10, who participated in the summer band camp. “It was hard to find music lessons but we found Be Natural and then I started.” For kids who are just picking up an instrument, they have private lessons, and once they can hold a beat and play in key, they can join one of the bands. “There were times when my daughter didn’t feel like she had a whole lot to live for and Be Natural was there.” Said one of the parents who attended the recording session at the Rio. “It gives the kids a chance to get on stage and get over the whole stage thing. They have a lot of fun and it’s been really good for them.” There are usually openings in some of their bands, including right now an all-girl reggae band is in the works and seeking a drummer and a bass player. Find out more information at benaturalmusicsantacruz.com

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/summer-school-of-rock/feed/ 0 Navigating the Ups and Downs of Friendships: Ask Nicole July 2019 https://growingupsc.com/navigating-the-ups-and-downs-of-friendships-ask-nicole-july-2019/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=navigating-the-ups-and-downs-of-friendships-ask-nicole-july-2019&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=navigating-the-ups-and-downs-of-friendships-ask-nicole-july-2019 https://growingupsc.com/navigating-the-ups-and-downs-of-friendships-ask-nicole-july-2019/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:32:32 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7536 Navigating the Ups and Downs of Friendships: Ask Nicole July 2019 By Nicole M. Young, MSW When my kids were little, their closest friends were the children of my closest friends. Life was simple when I knew and trusted their friends and their friends’ parents. Now, my kids mention friends I’ve never met before, and I know that friendships can begin and end on social media without ever having any face-to-face interactions.  It almost makes me miss the “simpler” days of my childhood when social groups changed only as fast as you could dial the phone or write a note on paper. Although life feels more complicated these days, I have to remember I’m doing my best to teach my kids tools to handle the ups and downs of their social relationships – and then trust they’ll be able to use those tools when the time comes. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is helping raise children, based on the world-renowned Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have a question or idea for a future column, please email me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole, My 12-year old daughter has been spending a lot of time alone lately. Her usual group of friends has become more interested in social media, shopping, and watching YouTube videos (and who knows what else) – and my daughter isn’t interested in any of that. It doesn’t seem to bother her to be alone, but I haven’t heard her talk about making new friends either. Should I be worried?  —Jamila Dear Jamila, That’s a good question, and it’s important that you’re noticing changes in your daughter’s social life. As kids grow older, their social groups often change as they develop different interests and meet new people. It’s possible that your daughter naturally grew apart from her usual group of friends, and it may just take time to form new friendships. Or, this change could be a sign that something else is going on and your daughter could use support. Here are some tips to try: Have a casual conversation with your daughter. Ask about activities or hobbies she’s interested in and the people she spends time with online or face-to-face. Listen for signs that her interests – and therefore her social group – may have changed by her choice, or listen for signs that she feels left out and left behind by her friends. Ask how she feels about the changes in her friendships. Tell her you’ve noticed she’s been spending less time with her usual group of friends and you’re wondering how she feels about it. Ask open-ended questions to encourage her to share her thoughts and feelings – “How do you feel about spending less time with those friends?” – then gradually ask more specific questions to gauge whether your daughter feels there is a problem  – “Did something happen that changed the friendships?” or “Do you wish you were still close to them?” Watch for clues about how your daughter is coping with changing friendships  If she becomes upset or talks about being isolated and lonely, then ask her what she would like to do and if she wants your help. Hold off on giving advice or solutions unless your daughter asks for it. Instead, try asking, “Is there anything I can do to help?” then let her answers guide your actions. If your daughter seems interested in other people and activities but says she just outgrew her old friends and needs some time before making new ones, then let her know you’re there if she needs someone to talk to. Keep having casual conversations about her interests and social life and offer help if she asks for it. Encourage your daughter to form new friendships. Even if your daughter enjoys being alone, she might still need some support and encouragement to meet and make new friends. If she’s not sure where to start, help her identify her strengths and interests, then look for activities that provide an opportunity to meet people with similar interests. This can help start new friendships and build social skills. Final thoughts: Navigating the ups and downs of friendships is hard for many kids (and adults), especially in the midst of physical and hormonal changes and pressure to project an image of the “perfect life” on social media. With support from caring adults, children and teens can learn important social and emotional skills, like expressing their feelings, staying true to their values, and dealing with disappointment or rejection. Although adolescence eventually ends, the importance of having positive relationships never goes away. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 15 and 19, who also manages Santa Cruz County’s Triple P – Positive Parenting Program, the world’s leading positive parenting program. Scientifically proven, Triple P is made available locally by First 5 Santa Cruz County, the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency (Mental Health Services Act) and the Santa Cruz County Human Services Department. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, www.facebook.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/navigating-the-ups-and-downs-of-friendships-ask-nicole-july-2019/feed/ 0 New, Technologically Advanced Coaster Opens in Vallejo: Always Amused July 2019 https://growingupsc.com/new-technologically-advanced-coaster-opens-in-vallejo-always-amused-july-2019/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-technologically-advanced-coaster-opens-in-vallejo-always-amused-july-2019&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-technologically-advanced-coaster-opens-in-vallejo-always-amused-july-2019 https://growingupsc.com/new-technologically-advanced-coaster-opens-in-vallejo-always-amused-july-2019/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:28:15 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7527 New, Technologically Advanced Coaster Opens in Vallejo: Always Amused July 2019 By Erik Chalhoub With theme parks in Southern California getting all the hype this year — Star Wars: Galaxy Edge recently opened at Disneyland, a new quadruple-launching coaster is being built at Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Universal Studios Hollywood is about to debut its re-imagined Jurassic World attraction — parks in Northern California have been relatively quiet in 2019. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk added two new family rides — Twirlin’ Teacups and Crazy Surf — while California’s Great America is prepping for a yet-to-be-announced water park expansion. Gilroy Gardens, meanwhile, is still riding high with its 2018 Water Oasis expansion that helped it enjoy a record-breaking year for attendance, according to park officials. Thankfully, for the Northern California thrill seekers, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom opened a new coaster on Memorial Day Weekend that is sure to put riders head over heels, literally: Batman: The Ride. Known as a 4D Free Spin coaster manufactured by S&S Worldwide, Batman stands at 120 feet tall and rocks riders up a 90-degree lift hill. Depending on the weight of the riders, guests can expect to flip at least six times as the train traverses its twisting I-box track frame. While each seat rotates freely, several sections of the track features magnets that force inversions. The ride also includes two beyond-90-degree drops that give riders a feeling of weightlessness as they flip their way through the twisted track. Eight riders can fit per vehicle, with a total of five vehicles. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 24, Discovery Kingdom President Don McCoy thanked everyone involved in making the ride a reality, which he said involved a “tremendous amount of planning, collaboration and hard work.” “Based on one of the world’s most iconic superheroes, Batman: The Ride brings cutting-edge ride technology to the West Coast,” he said. “This is really an exciting day.” The 4D Free Spin is a popular installment among Six Flags parks, with the first debuting at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in 2015. Discovery Kingdom invited members of the American Coaster Enthusiasts to the media day, and I had the chance to try the ride before it officially opened to the public. The towering, vertical lift hill is very intimidating as you step up to the ride. Once seated and dispatched, the rocking motions of the ride vehicle while climbing the lift took me completely by surprise, just as I was enjoying taking in the view of the park. Once it crests the lift hill, anything goes. Of the four times I rode it, each time through the course was unique, due to the weight of the riders. You’ll be flipping many times on one ride, while others you may be hanging upside-down as you whip around the beyond-vertical drops. I was out of my seat longer than I was actually sitting in it, and the cushy restraints made the ride a lot more comfortable than I had imagined it would be. Batman: The Ride is a great addition to the park, and offers new thrills that you can’t experience anywhere else on this end of the state. For park operating hours, visit sixflags.com/discoverykingdom.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/new-technologically-advanced-coaster-opens-in-vallejo-always-amused-july-2019/feed/ 0 She Catches Fish to Save Them: Santa Cruz has its First Fish Veterinarian https://growingupsc.com/she-catches-fish-to-save-them-santa-cruz-has-its-first-fish-veterinarian/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=she-catches-fish-to-save-them-santa-cruz-has-its-first-fish-veterinarian&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=she-catches-fish-to-save-them-santa-cruz-has-its-first-fish-veterinarian https://growingupsc.com/she-catches-fish-to-save-them-santa-cruz-has-its-first-fish-veterinarian/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:09:22 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7521 She Catches Fish to Save Them: Santa Cruz has its First Fish Veterinarian By Susan Landry If you’ve ever wondered about that quirky clownfish car driving around town, you’ll be even more fascinated by the woman inside it. Dr. Jessie Sanders is the first of her kind – a fully trained veterinarian who focuses her practice exclusively on pet fish. The Soquel-based clinic treats more than 30,000 different species of fish. “If it swims, we’ll see it,” Sanders says, though much of her client base consists of koi and goldfish. Sanders pioneered her field shortly after graduating veterinary school, when she realized the dearth of care available to aquatic animals. “The amount of pet fish in this country and here in this area are completely underserved,” she said. Now, Sanders is doing everything she can to change this. Her fully mobile clinic travels to homes from Ventura all the way to Roseville, spanning 22 counties across the West Coast. “I have to be able to catch my patients, so I travel with a lot of nets,” she laughs. On site, Sanders provides everything from surgeries, to vaccines, to simple diagnostics and even cancer treatments. Recently, she is keeping busy treating an especially pervasive outbreak of koi herpes virus. Don’t worry though, it’s nothing like the human kind. Even when treating her smallest patients, like beta and goldfish, Sanders takes extreme care to prevent discomfort. Often, she employs numbing creams and even low dose fish tranquilizers to minimize pain or potentially harmful movements by the fish. “These are essentially muscular, slippery torpedoes, so I don’t want them to hurt themselves while I’m trying to give them an exam,” she says. Sanders’s dedication to caring for fish extends far beyond the operating tank. She’s even penned a children’s book series, Boo & Bubbles, to help explain to kids and parents all the basics of caring for your new pet fish, and how to maintain a healthy tank. Sanders is constantly doing outreach, updating her website, blog and Youtube channel with information, care tips, and even live videos of surgical procedures to help get the word out. “A lot of people just don’t know there’s a fish doctor out there that you can call,” she says. While certain crowds might not understand the value of fish care, Sanders doesn’t give them much thought. “Those people aren’t our clients,” she says. “The people we work with form attachments to these animals, they become a part of their family.” Sanders began developing her love for fish during her time as a marine biology major at the University of Rhode Island, where she volunteered at Mystic Aquarium’s fish and invertebrate department. “I loved every single second that I was working with those things and always wanted to learn more about them,” she recalled. Shortly after her time at URI, Sanders went on to veterinary school at Tufts University, where she earned her DVM.  In the six years since starting her own practice, Sanders began nothing short of an aquatic revolution. She went from not a single client in her first two months, to helping hundreds of fish every year, and creating an online platform that reaches thousands more. Throughout it all, her motto stayed the same: “We value fish just as much as you would any other pet. We’re here as a resource to anyone who wants to make sure their pet receives the best care, and we’ll help you out any way we can,” she says.      For more information on Dr. Sanders and her practice, visit www.cafishvet.com.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/she-catches-fish-to-save-them-santa-cruz-has-its-first-fish-veterinarian/feed/ 0 Cabrillo Festival Family Days Coming Up in Downtown Santa Cruz https://growingupsc.com/cabrillo-festival-family-days-coming-up-in-downtown-santa-cruz/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cabrillo-festival-family-days-coming-up-in-downtown-santa-cruz&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cabrillo-festival-family-days-coming-up-in-downtown-santa-cruz https://growingupsc.com/cabrillo-festival-family-days-coming-up-in-downtown-santa-cruz/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2019 01:47:18 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7508 Cabrillo Festival Family Days Coming Up in Downtown Santa Cruz Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music is coming up in August with something for everyone in the community. This highly respected cultural organization has strived to include more and more free family programming to its already brimming two weeks of activities built around new music for orchestra. Beginning on Sunday evening, July 28, the downtown Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium becomes the hub of festivities that include free Open Orchestra Rehearsals, conducted by Music Director Cristian Măcelaru.  The rehearsals provide a fascinating opportunity to watch the creative process as 70 orchestra musicians, composers-in-residence, and conductor bring the works to life. Visitors are welcome to attend the rehearsals, arriving and departing at their leisure, so long as they’re quiet and respectful of the working environment for these professional musicians. The full schedule is online at www.cabrillomusic.org, and includes rehearsals in the morning, afternoon, and evening. A great way to introduce curious young people to the orchestra, it is also a luxurious musical escape for parents seeking a break from the hectic pace of family life. With the annual Church Street Fair on Saturday and Sunday, August 3 and 4, the Festival has created two full days of educational and artful activities specifically designed for the whole family to enjoy. This popular event takes place on Church Street outside the Civic Auditorium and celebrates Santa Cruz’s vibrant cultural scene with non-stop performances from diverse global traditions. The line-up includes young performers from Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Raizes Do Brasil, and El Sistema Santa Cruz; plus performances by Desert Dream Dance (Middle East), Tammi Brown (American jazz/blues), Watsonville Taiko (Japan), Flor de Cana (Carribean/Latin), Elie Mabanza (African guitar), and more. Vendors will fill the tree-lined streets with delicious fare from local food purveyors, vintners and brewers, and the fine art and crafts of regional artists and artisans. Free activities for children include hands-on workshops in the Creativity Tent for Kids, conducted by professional artists and instructors and including a broad range of mediums from printmaking, painting, 3-D sculpture, and a Music Together circle time for the littlest ones. “Cabrillo Festival seeks to provide enduring inspiration to all members of our community,” said Ellen Primack, Executive Director of the Cabrillo Festival, “and there really is no better way to ignite a young person’s imagination than to introduce them to the arts and the creative process.” On Sunday, August 4, at 1pm, the Cabrillo Festival will present its annual Free Family Concert. It begins with a rousing percussion demonstration and a guided Tour of the Orchestra that brings kids up-close and personal with the musicians and their instruments, in small groups in and around the Civic Auditorium. When the audience returns to the hall they will see the full orchestra perform É Gol!, a new interactive work by Brazilian composer/vocalist Clarice Assad inspired by Brazilian soccer player Marta Vieira da Silva, considered the best female footballer of all time. The work explores moments of Marta’s life, leading up to a soccer match soundtrack finale as Assad leads the audience to sing along with the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, conducted by Cristian Măcelaru. The Cabrillo Festival offers some exciting opportunities for older kids and teenagers as well, with the Student Staff Program and this year’s special collaboration with the Young Writer’s Program. The free Student Staff Program welcomes students (age 16-24) to participate in a remarkable free music immersion experience, serving as ushers for Cabrillo Festival concerts, receiving master classes from professional musicians and composers, and composing and performing a concert of their own works. The Young Writers Program will facilitate a free poetry workshop for middle and high schoolers from July 31–August 2 during the Cabrillo Festival, led by Poet-in-Residence Megan Levad and inspired by the subject of justice and the Cabrillo Festival’s premiere of When There Are Nine, based on the life and work of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Both programs are actively recruiting now, visit cabrillomusic.org to learn more about the Student Staff Program, and youngwriterssc.org for the Poetry Workshop. From the youngest members of our community, to high school students, to aspiring professional musicians, and to our elder generations, Cabrillo Festival has created programs to engage anyone and everyone at all different levels of participation and involvement. Community members are invited to explore the schedule at cabrillomusic.org or churchstreetfair.org, or to visit the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium for tickets and information.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/cabrillo-festival-family-days-coming-up-in-downtown-santa-cruz/feed/ 0 Our Pet Cover Photo Contest! https://growingupsc.com/our-cover-pet-photo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-cover-pet-photo&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-cover-pet-photo https://growingupsc.com/our-cover-pet-photo/#comments Tue, 02 Jul 2019 01:32:50 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7648 Our Pet Cover Photo Contest! When Bella Herrera was a toddler, she suffered from allergies and her doctor suggested that she eat local honey to try and combat them.  She liked honey in tea and her mom, Veronica, made a daily tea party a ritual.  It stuck. Bella, then 5, loved tea and she shared her party with her English Bulldog, Bubba, shown here without his pinky finger raised in proper English etiquette.  At 12, she still loves tea and her dog. The votes were close for our pet and kid photo of the year. All entrants will get two free passes to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and stay tuned for our infant photo contest in October. Mason and Winnie. Photo by Jennifer Holm. Adalyn McQuirk, 4, and her pet chicken Cupcake. Kaleb and his dog, Bruno. Photo by Rhea Orthner Gabriella Gomez and Shimmer the Beagle. Kian and his cat, Yoda Photo by Rhea Orthner Photo by Kristin Vincent Echo guarding her baby boy, Wyatt. Susan Lindle photo.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/our-cover-pet-photo/feed/ 1 Apply for College…Without Paying $450,000! https://growingupsc.com/apply-for-college-without-paying-450000/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=apply-for-college-without-paying-450000&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=apply-for-college-without-paying-450000 https://growingupsc.com/apply-for-college-without-paying-450000/#respond Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:51:50 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7569 Apply for College…Without Paying $450,000! Local college and admissions specialists discuss the scandal, our local concerns, and what students facing college applications should do By Suki Wessling The recent college admissions scandal comes just as I am writing my last in a series of three articles for GUiSC about preparing for and applying to college. The first article (November) explored “finding your passion” and considering different life paths. The second article (March) explored the idea of “college fit” and how students are often surprised that a less exclusive college might be a better fit for them.  This final article was supposed to be about the application process, but we can’t ignore the reality that hit us all in the face recently: the college application process does not happen on an even playing field. That said, students applying to college have to forge ahead, while parents need to focus on how best to support them. If your student wanted to go to USC, what would your advice be? Get good grades, improve your SAT score, work on a leadership project and excel in sports… For ultra-wealthy parents, there’s one other option:  Buy your way in. Although Santa Cruz might often seem to be its own little bubble, we aren’t immune to the cultural forces that led some high profile parents to their recent arrest. “My employees and I have been offered $10,000+ by multiple parents—whom we immediately fired as clients—to write their kids’ college-application essays,” says college counselor Kevin Hislop. “‘Snowplow parenting occurs among less well-heeled families too. It simply looks different, frequently taking the form of parents bullying teachers to hand out higher grades than deserved or strong-arming athletic coaches to provide questionable legs up in the college-admissions process.” They’re calling it snowplow parenting, because helicopters didn’t quite do the job. These parents mistakenly believe that they can set their children up for success by removing all obstacles in their paths—paths that are often determined by the parents. Counselor Jill Schontag says she’s seen Silicon Valley businesses using language similar to the counselor at the center of the scandal. “ ‘I will guarantee that your child will get into one of the Ivy League schools’,” she quotes. “That sends up a red flag—how can you guarantee that? That never seemed ethical to me.” That the system isn’t fair was not news, since we’ve long had inequity due to legacy admissions, preference for large donors, and athletic recruitment. “The scandal was highly disappointing but not surprising to those in college admissions,” says college counselor Laurie Kiguchi. “At some institutions there are ways for certain populations to game the system, and at any institution there will be weak links where people sacrifice honesty and integrity for personal gain in spite of an institution’s best efforts.”  There isn’t one clear road to success “Unfortunately, parents don’t stop to recognize that they’re probably setting their kids up to fail,” Hislop says. “Their children will have been handed admission to colleges and universities for which they’re likely underprepared.” Schontag has seen that failure as a counselor at UC Santa Cruz, where students would come to her unhappy with their educational path.  “Parents would put pressure on their kids to go to UC because they thought, you’re just going to get a better education,” Schontag says. “Sometimes it was not the right fit, because the student didn’t want to go into academia and study theory.” The reality is that the United States’ college system is highly envied around the world. Yes, we have Harvard, but we also have Reed, Swarthmore, and Cal Tech, all of which send more students on for PhDs than Harvard. Certainly, California’s University of California system offers world-class academics, but the state also offers excellent programs at our Cal State University system for students who want a clear career path, as well as myriad credential programs at our community colleges. The central fallacy of snowplow parenting is that students need a clear and easy path in order to succeed. But every college counselor can recount stories of students who turned failure into success. In Kevin Hislop’s case, it was a student who failed to get into top drama programs at UCLA, USC, and NYU and ended up reluctantly attending Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Southern California. “LMU’s smaller, more personalized setting suited this young man very well.  He excelled in his chosen program, graduated, and is now building a quite-successful acting and producing career.” Given the low acceptance rate of competitive colleges, stories like this are all around us. But despite the evidence, parents of all economic strata are worried and react to the scare stories as if a rejection is a prediction of failure. “I’ve definitely heard the fear that parents have—‘Oh, my gosh, how can I get them into the place where they’ll have the advantages I want them to have?’” Jill Schontag recounts. “I think there’s so much pressure on parents, but there aren’t just three right schools.” Don’t get discouraged—find your place An important thing for students to remember is that this scandal doesn’t prove unfairness at all levels. “The vast majority of college admissions cases are considered fairly and there are wonderful college options for virtually every student,” Laurie Kiguchi points out. “The takeaway for an individual student is to remain optimistic, to put forth their best effort in school and in life so their application will most accurately represent who they are, and to remember that there are many, many colleges where they can obtain an excellent education and have a wonderful college experience.” Schontag reminds students to stay focused on what counts: making sure the colleges know who they are.  “Get it in early, try to personalize it as much as possible,” Schontag says of applications. “If you are doing extra-curriculars, make sure those extra-curriculars are unique to you. There’s nothing wrong with putting down everything you’re doing that’s interesting to you, whatever that is.” Hislop reminds students that although this is a significant life choice, it’s just another step, not the end-goal. “While this is a significant step in your early life, the undergraduate college or university you attend will be neither the most important nor the most deterministic factor in your life’s success.  Find a school where you’ll be fundamentally happy and deeply engaged.” Life isn’t fair, but some parts of it can be made more fair Schontag says that she’s particularly concerned about the economic equity ramifications of private counselors that cater to the wealthy. She encourages counselors at our local high schools and Cabrillo to refer university-bound students to specialty counselors when it might help, even if they don’t think they can afford it. “Don’t be so intimidated that you don’t pick up the phone and call and ask,” she advises parents. “Many counselors work on a sliding scale. Most advisors and counselors have a free consultation time that’s available to them.” Kiguchi agrees that equity is a problem, and points out that the scandal may have a silver lining. “This is a very public and thus compelling situation that is serving to drive the ongoing effort toward transparency and fairness in college admissions,” she says. “The fairness of considering legacy, athletics, and development (fundraising) has been debated for years.” Ganbatte! As I write, coaches are being fired, parents are being charged, students are being dismissed, and universities are taking a good, hard look at their admissions processes. Like any scandal, this one is both particular to the people involved in it and also indicative of our society at large.  In recent years, families have received an onslaught of messages telling them that the stakes are higher than ever, so it’s no wonder that this message has led to unsavory behavior.  I chose to embark on this series this year in part because my second child will be applying to college soon. But I’m also writing from the other side. My older child applied to college a few years ago. He reached high, aiming for the most exclusive university in his area of interest. Not only is he thriving at his “safety” school, having been rejected by his top pick, but he has realized that he landed in the right place. That exclusive university’s program didn’t actually suit his needs. Seeing him happy in his studies bolsters my belief that it’s a parent’s job to support our children but not pave the way for them. All of us let our children get a few bumps and bruises while they are learning to walk. We need to do them the same favor as they move into their adult lives. Resources “Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be” by Frank Bruni is a great book that will help you keep a sense of balance as you support your student Kevin R. Hislop, KRH Education Consulting, Scotts Valley Laurie Kiguchi, LK Educational Consulting, Santa Cruz Jill Schontag, Learning Pathways, Santa Cruz Suki Wessling is a local writer and the mother of a teen and a college student. Read more at www. SukiWessling.com.

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]]> https://growingupsc.com/apply-for-college-without-paying-450000/feed/ 0 Join Plastic Free July: Green Living July 2019 https://growingupsc.com/join-plastic-free-july-green-living-july-2019/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=join-plastic-free-july-green-living-july-2019&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=join-plastic-free-july-green-living-july-2019 https://growingupsc.com/join-plastic-free-july-green-living-july-2019/#respond Mon, 01 Jul 2019 23:36:02 +0000 https://growingupsc.com/?p=7577 Join Plastic Free July: Green Living July 2019 By Meredith Keet of The Zero Shop Join the millions of individuals and families worldwide in cutting your plastic use for Plastic Free July!  This campaign, started by the non-profit, Plastic Free Foundation, has become a global movement that is both decreasing plastic use as well as increasing awareness around plastic pollution.  What can you do?  Challenge yourself, your family, friends and coworkers to use as little plastic as possible for the month of July.   Get started by taking a look at where most of your plastic use come from, then brainstorm ways you might be able to avoid producing that waste.  Choose unpackaged fruits and veggies at the grocery store, refuse a plastic bag at the checkout counter, skip the plastic water bottle and bring your own reusable.  Consider packing your own lunch to take to work, bringing your own takeout container to the restaurant, dine in the next time you’re in the mood for an iced coffee and keep your reusable straw on hand so you can refuse the straw.       Do you have to go plastic free for the whole month?  No!  Choose a day- or week-long challenge and see how you do.  Who knows, maybe you’ll want to keep going plastic free for even longer!   Do you have to be perfect?  No!  Just do your best, share your journey with others, talk about the challenges, the successes, tips and tricks you learn along the way.   Go to www.plasticfreejuly.org for more information or to sign up for the challenge.   Good luck! Going plastic free in July? Share with us on Instagram @thezeroshopsc   Come visit us at The Zero Shop in Capitola Village for more plastic-free resources. www.thezeroshopsc.com

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