July 2022 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Family Favorites 2022

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 20:07:09 +0000

We asked you to send us your favorite places to bring your kids and to do special things with your families…and man, did you ever respond. We got so many great suggestions that we will make this an annual feature and next year, we’ll add in some of our favorites (although we do that every issue and on our website, growingupsc.com) Thanks to everyone who nominated and voted. Some of these businesses didn’t submit nominations and didn’t even know they had won. That really shows us and them that you cared enough to let all of our readers know the places you love most. Thanks for helping out! the editors Camps Day CampsMount Hermon After School Adventuremounthermon.org/afterschool Residential CampsMount Hermonmounthermon.org Dining Bakery The Buttery702 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz831-458-3020butterybakery.com DeliErik’s DelicaféOrder.EriksDeliCafe.comThank you for voting Erik’s as your Favorite Deli! Our pledge of a warm and inviting atmosphere, and quality food served fast with friendly service has been the same for over 45 years. Our sandwiches, soups, and salads are made with fresh, quality ingredients and are full of “character”. DinnerCowboy Bar & Grillfeltoncowboy.com/ Fine DiningCrow’s Nest Restaurantcrowsnest-santacruz.com/ Grocery StoreWild Roots Market6240 CA-9, Felton 13159 Central Ave, Boulder Creekwildrootsmarket.com Ice CreamMarianne’s Ice Creammariannesicecream.com/ LunchTaqueria Vallartataqueriavallartaonline.com PizzaRedwood Pizzaria6205 CA-9, Felton SushiSushi San6231 Graham Hill Rd, Felton TaqueriaTaqueria Vallartataqueriavallartaonline.com To GoKianti’s Pizza & Pasta Barkiantis.comVoted 1st place in To Go! Offering curbside, take out and delivery for our entire menu including Kianti’s signature cocktails and Kianti’s handcrafted tequila, rum, gin and vodkas. Take home family style meals or delicious catering dishes. Visit kiantis.com or call 831-469-4400. Thank you Santa Cruz for your votes! Extra Curricular After School CareMount Hermon After School Adventuremounthermon.org/afterschool/ ArtBlue Apple Art 245 Sea Ridge Road Aptos831-588-5412info@blueappleart.comblueappleart.com DanceInternational Academy of Dance (IAD)320 Encinal Street Santa Cruz, CA 95060831.466.0458info@iadance.comiadance.com MusicMountain Music SchoolMountainMusicSchoolSV.comMountain Music School is thrilled to be a Family Favorite Business this year! We are also celebrating 5 years of music education this summer, and none of it would have been possible without our incredible community of students and families. Thank you for choosing us as your music school! Sport JuneBug’s Gym831-464-BUGS (2847)june@junebugsgym.comjunebugsgym.comJuneBug’s Gym is a fun and safe place for children to explore movement and learn FUNdamental motor skill development and gain foundational gymnastic skills on gymnastic equipment. We offer classes from crawling to 8 years old, birthday parties, Open Gym, and Parents Night Out. Come join the FUN! SwimmingCougar Swim Schoolcougarswimschool.com/ TheatreCabrillo StageCrocker Theater6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos831-479-6154cabrillostage.com Family Services BanksBay Federal Credit Unionbayfed.com House of WorshipTwin Lakes Churchtlc.org InsuranceJim FlynnState Farmstatefarm.com/agent/us/ca/felton/jim-flynn-w6wtb1ys000?cmpid=buhq_blm_0001 PhotographerKassandra Thomsen Photographykassandrathomsen.com RealtorCari WadeDavid Lyng Real Estatecariwade.comThank you kindly for your votes! Your confidence in me is truly appreciated! After 16 years in the business, I still love what I do. But it’s really all about YOU! Buying or selling? Know someone who is? I can help! Health DentistAlison K. Jackson, DDSChildren’s Dentistrysantacruzkidsdentist.comThank you for voting us your favorite dentist! We’ve all been through a lot during the past two years. It’s good to know that one thing will never change – we will always do everything we can to keep your kids healthy and happy! Call us and schedule an appointment soon! FitnessToadal Fitnessinformation@toadalfitness.comtoadalfitness.comDown Town: 831-423-3764Live Oak: 831-464-3764Cabrillo: 831-475-5979Scotts Valley: 831-430-9200Westside: 831-466-3764” HospitalSutter Health- Santa Cruz Center 2025 Soquel Ave Santa Cruz(831) 458-5537sutterhealth.org PediatritiansPalo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)sutterhealth.org/pamf/services/pediatric ReproductivePlanned Parenthood 1119 Pacific Ave #200, Santa Cruz831-425-0106Plannedparenthood.org TherapistRelational Resourcesrelationalresources.org/ Outdoors Amusment ParkSanta Cruz Beach Boardwalk400 Beach Street, Santa Cruz831-460-3395sondra@scseaside.combeachboardwalk.comHonored to be voted Favorite Amusement Park. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is open daily. Buy your wristbands online and visit weekdays, and save $30 per person! Buy a Season Pass online and save $10, it pays for itself in two visits! BeachSeabright State Beach1305 E. Cliff Drive, Santa Cruzparks.ca.gov HikingHenry Cowell Redwoods State Parkparks.ca.gov/?page_id=546 Personal Care Hair SalonFaith’s Hair Studio4858 Scotts Valley Drive #B, Scotts Valley831-234-0606 SpaYoso Wellness Spayosowellness.com Resources LandscapeGood Earth Landscape and Design831-359-6211info@goodearthlandscapedesign.comgoodearthlandscapedesign.com Radio StationKZSC1156 High Street, Santa Cruz 831-459-2811KZSC.org Pets KennelBed & Biscuits Groomingdales2625 Chanticleer Ave, Santa Cruz,(831) 475-15801hotelfordogs@gmail.combedandbiscuits.com Pet SuppliesFelton Feed & Pet Supply6221 , Highway 9, Felton8Thank you Growing Up SC readers for voting our little family owned shop 1st place for pet supplies in Family Favorite businesses for 2022. We are beyond humbled and extremely honored to carry on a local tradition over 25 years strong and we couldn’t do it without this amazing community! VeterinarianJeanne Koploy, DMV Del Mar Pet Hospital7525 Sunset Way, Aptos(831) 688-2016delmarpethospital@gmail.comdelmarpethospital.com Retail Art SuppliesPalace Art & Office Supplypalaceartsupply.com/ BabyZinnia’szinniasgiftboutique.com/ Bike ShopsEpicentter Cyclingepicentercycling.com/ Children’s ClothesLittle Trends1052 South Green Valley Road, Watsonville831-536-5070info@littletrendsllc.comlittletrendsboutique.com Children’s clothing storeGift ShopThe Farm Bakery Cafe & Giftsthefarmbakerycafe.com/ Home DécorSimpatico6223 Hwy 9, Feltonsimpatico-ca.com Nursery/GardenScarborough Gardensscarboroughgardens.com/ Skate/SurfSkateworks Santa Cruz131 Center St Santa Cruz, CA 95060831427-4292skateworks.com Teen ClothingCali Style222 Mt Hermon Rd, Scotts Valley ToysWonderland Toys & Classroom Resources19B Rancho Del Mar, Aptos(831) 316-7261info@wonderlandsantacruz.comwonderlandsantacruz.com Women’s ClothingPacific Trading Co.Santa Cruz and CapitolaSanta Cruz : (831) 423-3349Capitola: (831) 476-6109info@pacific-trading-co.compacific-trading-co.com/Thank you for your votes and ongoing support of our local, family-owned boutiques! We have been family owned and operated since 1985. We offer a curated collection of clothing, jewelry and accessories from the best designers and brands. Thank you for your support! Schools Charter SchoolPacific Collegiate School3004 Mission Street, Santa Cruz(831) 479-7785pacificcollegiate.com/ Elementary, Middle School, and High SchoolSan Lorenzo Valley Unified School District (SLVUSD)slvusd.orgWe are proud to have SLVUSD schools recognized as the best schools to attend in Growing Up Santa Cruz. These accolades confirm what we in the Valley already know is the best place for students and staff. We thank everyone for the support they provide in making us SLV STRONG! PreschoolBaymonte Preschoolbaymonte.org/academics/preschool/ Private SchoolBaymonte Christian Schoolbaymonte.org

The post Family Favorites 2022 first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

July Winners

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:51:38 +0000

The post July Winners first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Firecracker

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:47:36 +0000

Fourth of July Submit your coloring page for a chance to be in our paper Editor@growingupsc.com More Coloring Pages

The post Firecracker first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Real Estate

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:34:08 +0000

Is the Santa Cruz Real Estate Market Toast? By Seb Frey What a difference a few months makes! It was just this past March when I wrote an article for Growing Up in Santa Cruz asking if the Santa Cruz real estate market was boiling over. As I write this in June, nobody’s asking that question anymore. Instead, everyone seems to be asking if the market is headed for some kind of crash. And that’s a fair question, because anecdotally and numerically, it’s apparent that the Santa Cruz County real estate market – and every market across the country that I’m aware of – has hit the brakes. Whether it has hit a wall too remains to be seen. I’ve heard countless stories from realtors near and far who report sharp decreases in open house attendance, offers received on listings, and buyer inquiries on homes for sale. Factually, the number of homes for sale in Santa Cruz County has spiked above 2021 levels – about 25% above this time last year. The number of homes going under contract to be sold, and closing the sale, are likewise down about 25% versus this time last year. The median single-family home price as derived from MLS listings data show that the median sale price for single-family homes in Santa Cruz County was $1,290,000 in May of this year…down from $1,405,000 in April of this year, and down from $1,600,000 just one month prior, in March. However, the median price a year ago in May 2021 was an even $1,300,000 – just $10K higher than this May, so home prices have decreased less than 1% versus where they were a year ago. A less-than-1% drop in year over year prices is weak evidence that prices have collapsed. Although in the year since May 2021, inflation has surged to 8.6%, the highest rate in 40 years. The Federal Reserve is moving aggressively to combat inflation, by rapidly and sharply raising the interest rate it charges. While mortgage rates are not directly tied to the Federal Reserve’s lending rate, they often move up and down together in an awkward harmony. The Fed’s rate rose by 0.25% in March, then another 0.5% in May, and now in June, the rate was increased by a further 0.75%. In only about two months, the Fed’s rate has jumped 2%. In that time, mortgage interest rates have surged almost in lockstep by equal or greater measure. The real estate market seemed to downshift when mortgage rates started rising in early March. Then the market appeared to take a clear step back in the days following Fed’s announcement of the 0.5% rate increase in early May. Most transactions closed in May had already been in motion for contracts signed and loans locked in April. And then, uncharacteristically for the year’s prime selling season, May saw far fewer closings than the month prior. That could be an anomaly, but May closings were also down 28% from May 2021. There’s no better number to look at to see that the market has indeed changed, because a 28% year-over-year drop in homes sold is significant. However, the market is always changing. It never stays the same. It goes up, and it goes down. It’s gone up by a lot, and it’s mostly stayed there so far, although it is off the highs from just a few months ago. It’s quite possible that home prices will drop in the short term. It almost seems as they have to now, because the tremendous surge in mortgage interest rates, combined with almost stratospheric increases in home prices, have cut down affordability to the point where logic would dictate something has to give. Many homebuyers are looking at loans in the $1 million range. But even if you’re looking at a loan of half that amount – “just” $500,000 – you’re still seeing a massive increase in monthly cost. That $500K loan was $2,108 per month on a 30-year fixed mortgage when interest rates were at 3%. With interest rates at 6%, the mortgage will run you $2,998 – or almost $1,000 more a month. While inventory remains low, it’s possible that prices will remain stable, even with 6% interest rates. But you’ll want to keep a close eye on rising inventory. If inventory does climb above the 6-8 weeks presently in Santa Cruz county – perhaps above a 3-month supply, or 12 weeks – I would expect to see prices that are clearly dropping. Will our real estate market be able to shrug off these higher rates, or at least bear the burden without collapse? This is an open question, and we will know more in another month. Keep a sharp eye on this space to see how the market is faring we head into the long hot days of Summer. Seb Frey was the 2019 President of the Santa Cruz County Association of REALTORS. He’s been selling homes locally since 2003 and is the author of Get It Sold! (available at TheSoldBook.com) and stars on his own YouTube channel at YouTube.com/SebFreyTV Read More Your Home Articles

The post Real Estate first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Wildfire Season

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:26:57 +0000

5 Easy Steps to Prepare For Wildfires by Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy Children, and adults, are anxious about the negative effects of wildfires and climate-related disasters. The uncertainty of when they will strike and the restrictions it puts on after-school activities, family vacations, and even on-site classes are taking its toll on all of us. I recently hosted the North Rodeo Gulch Firewise event to encourage residents to take action to mitigate wildfires. With over 17 expert speakers from Supervisor Manu Koenig to Central Fire’s top brass to SC County Sheriff to ARES (ham radio), they addressed concerns and offered excellent tips on how to navigate the upcoming fire season. My daughter, Dr. Nicole D’Arcy, ER physician at Valley Medical Center in San Jose, spoke about how to treat burns and injuries when emergency aid is not available. Sean Gomez, my 9th-grade student, spoke about his cyber deck project that can give us vital information when we are cut off from all forms of communication. You can watch the entire presentation at NRGfirewise.com/events.Here are the 5 steps you can take now to prepare for the inevitable wildfires – and to ease your stress knowing that you are proactive in protecting your family and home. Pack Go-BagBesides food, water, meds, toiletries and clothing, add these vital items: butterfly bandages, duct tape, ACE wrap, headlamp, tweezers, gauze, antibiotics ointment/medi-honey, goggles, respirator N95 masks, the list of all your medications, and all your essential prescriptions (inhalers, EpiPens, heart medications). Keep these in your bag so you’re always prepared. Sign up for CodeREDThis reverse 9-1-1 system will alert you about emergency evacuations, severe weather, missing persons, and more. You’ll be notified by cell phone or landline. Go to scr911.org to sign up. Purchase a MURS RadioWhen your power goes off and/or you lose cell phone reception, you will be able to communicate with neighbors using the MURS radio system to get emergency updates from the OR3, fire department, sheriff/police, etc. We recommend the Dakota Alert or the BaoFeng UV-82C radios. You don’t need a license to use these radios and you can talk to ham radio operators to relay your emergencies. Clear all Combustible Materials 5 Feet Around your HouseRemove all wood, plastic, or anything that is flammable that touches your house and work your way outward 5 feet. That means your patio set, stacks of firewood, planter boxes, and any vegetation. I just cut 100-feet of gorgeous wisteria that completely wrapped around my house. The fire inspector told me the vines would act like a wick to ignite my house; that’s all I needed to hear before I pulled out my shears. Reduce Fire Risk by Limbing up Trees and Clearing RoadwaysThink about what you can do to keep wildfires from igniting on your property. Limb up tree branches to 6-10 feet from the ground. Thin trees so their canopies don’t touch each other. Weed whack brush to 2”-4” tall. Clear trees and overhanging branches so a fire apparatus can safely drive up your roads. The road should be cleared at least 26 feet wide and at least 13 feet 6 inches tall. Fire fighters will not drive up roads that are unsafe for their teams. Work with your neighbors to clear your roads and maintain them. Create a plan that gives you several months to complete your fire prevention preparation. Lay it out in your planner or calendar; having it written will help ensure that you get it done. Continue to make plans into the future so you can take steps that work within your budget and free time. Check out NRGfirewise.com for resources and more tips. Susan Tatsui-D’Arcy is the founder of Merit Academy (one-on-one classes) and Merit Educational Consultants (college and educational advisory). She is the leader of the North Rodeo Gulch Firewise community. She has written books on projects, free child care, education, and parenting. Susan hosts TEDxMeritAcademy for students to present their innovative projects and solutions. In 2019, she was California Mother of the Year. meritworld.com Read More Parenting Articles

The post Wildfire Season first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Community Loss

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:23:23 +0000

Help Save Watsonville Community Hospital Not only is it the place most babies are born, but it provides invaluable emergency services countywide. By TONY NUÑEZ When news broke late last year that Watsonville Community Hospital was facing imminent closure there was a panic among people that understood what the loss of the 106-bed acute care facility would mean for local health care. Quickly, a coalition of public entities and nonprofits—now known as the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District Project—formed to purchase the hospital and stave off what would have been a catastrophe for the Central Coast. The hospital employs 620 people and has a medical staff of over two hundred physicians. It provides a range of services to roughly 70,000 residents in the Pajaro Valley, including an emergency room, OB-GYN, pediatrics, medical-surgical care, wound care, gastroenterology, orthopedics and cardiovascular care. And it provides these services to some of the most vulnerable populations: Around 80% of its patients are on MediCal and Medicare—this includes older adults living on fixed income, and blue-collar workers and their families that are the foundation of our service and agriculture industries. In addition, Watsonville Community Hospital delivers more babies than any other hospital in the county. Leadership from the County of Santa Cruz, City of Watsonville, Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley and Salud Para La Gente have raised roughly 75% of the $63 million needed to complete the purchase of the hospital by a fast-approaching Aug. 31 deadline. Jurisdictions such as Santa Cruz ($5.5 million) and Monterey ($3M) counties have already chipped in. So, too, have health care organizations: Kaiser Permanente ($3M), the Central California Alliance for Health ($3M), Stanford Children’s Hospital ($1M), Blue Shield of California ($1M), and Dominican Hospital ($300,000) have all contributed. And, not to be outdone, the Pajaro Valley community—and the greater Santa Cruz County—has also pitched in. Driscoll’s berry company ($1.75M), Dobler & Sons ($100K), the hospital’s medical staff ($55K), the Chinese Community of Watsonville ($50K), Rowland and Pat Rebele ($50K), and the Simpkins family ($50K) have all made significant donations. Along with these monetary investments, our state representatives have pulled off Herculean tasks to get us to this point. This includes State Senators John Laird and Anna Caballero, and Assemblymembers Robert Rivas and Mark Stone.In all, around 300 donors, advocates and contributors—big and small—have realized that losing Watsonville Community Hospital would be devastating for our region. Three months ago I was appointed by the County’s Board of Supervisors to the Pajaro Valley Health Care District (PVHCD), the new public agency tasked with providing oversight of the hospital once the purchase is completed. I serve alongside John Friel, former CEO of Watsonville Community Hospital who has overseen multiple California health care district hospitals; Jasmine Nájera, licensed clinical social worker with 20 years of experience working for the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency; Dr. Katie Gabriel-Cox, OB/GYN Chief of Watsonville Community Hospital and with Salud Para La Gente; and Marcus Pimentel, fiscal expert and a former Board member of Salud Para La Gente currently serving as Budget Manager for Santa Cruz County. Together, we have worked tirelessly with a stellar group of consultants to complete the purchase of the hospital. Importantly, we believe we have a clear, strong, and achievable roadmap to not only buy the hospital but turn it around after more than two decades of jarring administrative turnover and ensure that Pajaro Valley residents have access to the health care that they deserve.Some of the initiatives we plan to implement to increase revenue include strengthening billing procedures, resulting in reduced denials of payments; adjusting the hospital’s billed charges to better align with insurance reimbursement; and renegotiating commercial insurance contracts. Initiatives relating to decreasing expenses include improving in cost of supplies; aligning physician payments to market rates; and more efficient staff scheduling. Other initiatives include subletting of vacant non-hospital space; using excess space for skilled nursing, rehabilitative services, or behavioral health care; and building volume through physician recruitment and health care partnerships. The hospital has undergone 21 administrative turnovers in as many years. This volatility has made it all but impossible to adequately serve the community and run a sustainable operation. Our new not-for-profit model will give us access to funding sources that were previously unavailable to the hospital, and it will give the community oversight of the direction of the hospital. Perhaps most importantly, it will also guarantee that all of the profits will be reinvested back into the facility and the community. If you have not yet donated, I urge you to do so. Don’t think of your contribution as charity. Rather, think of it as an investment into a promising startup that will provide a sustainable service. Because of our hard-working, nose-to-the-grindstone mentality, we Pajaro Valley residents don’t often ask for help. But this situation is the exception. We need help to accomplish this feat. I’m asking everyone in Santa Cruz County—and the greater Central Coast and Bay Area—to help us complete the purchase of Watsonville Community Hospital. The health of your neighbors, coworkers, employees, friends, and family depend on it. Tony Nuñez is a member of the Board of Directors for the Pajaro Valley Health Care District, regional newspaper editor and lifelong resident of Watsonville. Contact Nuñez at tony.nunez@pvhcd.org. For information on the health care district, visit PVHCD.org. To donate to the Project, visit PVHDP.org. Read More Parenting Articles

The post Community Loss first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Healthy Lamaze

Laura Maxson — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:14:55 +0000

Six Healthy Birth Practices by Laura Maxson LM Parents looking to develop a birth plan can often feel a little bit lost, wondering where to start, and what do I want? Lamaze International’s Six Healthy Birth Practices is a great place to start. Lamaze has a rich history of supporting parents in childbirth since the 1960’s. The Lamaze website provides parents with vital information including the Giving Birth with Confidence blog, videos, and many articles about pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices Let labor begin on its own. Walk, move around, and change positions throughout labor. Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support. Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary. Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urges to push. Keep mother and baby together – It’s best for mother, baby, and breastfeeding. When implemented, these six evidence-based practices mean less high-tech medical-model care and more low-tech midwifery-model care; fewer surgeries and more time allocated to laboring; more naturally starting labors, with fewer inductions; and more power to pregnant families, and less to care providers. Facilities and providers accepting and implementing these steps can help initiate the paradigm shift sorely needed in childbirth. In the United States, technology and the medical model have long been the norm. Procedures and interventions adopted (often without adequate research) have proven difficult to change. Decades of medical tradition and cumbersome hospital protocols often wedge parents and care providers into power struggles and turf wars. Individual practitioners and parents together will be the ones to turn the tide. Change, however, often triggers roadblocks from a variety of directions. In other words – it’s political. Parents can get a conversation started and figure out how to best incorporate these six ideas into their birth plan. Routine recommendations don’t necessarily meet everyone’s needs. Ask questions and make your birth plan individualized. Go to Lamaze.org for more in-depth exploration of each of these steps. Let labor begin on its own.Induction of labor more than doubled between 1990 and 2005 with no corresponding increase in medical need, resulting in poor outcomes for babies born between 37 and 39 weeks. This caused the March of Dimes and others to initiate programs to decrease the number of labors induced before 39 weeks with good results. Walk, move around, and change positions throughout labor.Tethered to the bed by IV lines, electronic fetal monitors and epidurals, many in labor are denied the ability to use one of their most powerful tools – movement. Not moving can increase labor pain, leading to other interventions.Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support. Although birth doulas are proven to shorten labors and diminish the need for interventions including cesarean surgery, they are routinely discouraged by some practitioners, outright banned at some hospitals, and rarely covered by insurance. John Kennell, MD, said, “If a doula were a drug, it would be unethical not to use it.” Avoid interventions that are not medically necessary.After routine episiotomy was found to cause more harm than good, it took 30 years to fully change protocols, and there are still some doctors who routinely perform episiotomies with no medical indication. Rupturing the bag of waters, IVs, routine electronic fetal monitors, and many more interventions that ought to be used based only on medical need are instead routinely performed in many hospitals and by many care providers. Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urges to push.Women are often asked to push in the position most convenient for the practitioner. Utilize the squat bar, birth stool, and other more upright positions, such as hands and knees or a birth stool, to help push effectively. Keep mother and baby together – it’s best for mother, baby, and breastfeeding. Baby-Friendly practices in all three Santa Cruz County hospitals are helping families get breastfeeding off to a good start. Skin-to-skin is respected and encouraged for the first hours after birth. Birthing people are better served when aware of the limitations and influences of current obstetric practices on low-risk pregnancies. Check out the many resources at Lamaze, March of Dimes, and Birth Network’s listing of local providers including: doulas, midwives, childbirth educators, and so many more. Free Lamaze Healthy Birth Practices videos – www.Lamaze.orgBirth Network provides a listing of providers – www.birthnet.org:Meet the Doulas (virtual) – July 20, 7pm – www.mtd2022.eventbrite.com Read More Birth Matters Articles

The post Healthy Lamaze first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

LGBTQ+ Booklist

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 19:01:23 +0000

Task Force Releases LGBTQ+ Booklist for School Libraries by Santa cruz county BOARD OF EDUCATION A task force convened by the Santa Cruz County Office of Education has released a booklist called the “Top 40 LGBTQ+ Books that Every School Library Should Have,” a project undertaken as part of a commitment to safety and inclusiveness for LGBTQ+ students The final list of 40 books includes fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, anthologies and picture books. Ten titles were selected for each of the gradespans of PreK-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. “When students see themselves reflected back in culture, curriculum, and media they are empowered to work harder and dream bigger,” said Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Faris Sabbah. “We hope this list serves as useful resource for schools here in Santa Cruz County and beyond, especially during a moment in which some are actively working to censor LGBTQ+ voices from our classrooms.” The LGBTQ+ Book Selection Task Force was made up of 16 people including public and school librarians, a student, educators, and representatives from Bookshop Santa Cruz who have regularly met since February. Selection criteria included that the main character must be part of the LGBTQ+ community and positively represented; that the book must be well-written and include a complex storyline, represent different genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations; and that the book was published in the past 10 years. The decision to convene the selection committee emerged from a local student-led project to highlight LGBTQ+ books as well as requests from educators across the state. In 2020, transgender student Q Licht created the Purple Sticker Project during his freshman year at Scotts Valley High School after noticing the lack of representation at many libraries and bookstores. “I didn’t see myself reflected in books,” Licht said. “Any books with LGBTQ+ representation were out of the way – they were way at the top of bookshelves out of reach or at the bottom collecting dust.” Licht worked with the school librarian at Soquel High School to place square purple stickers on LGBTQ+ books and to create an ongoing list of media.During a similar time frame, Rob Darrow, LGBTQ+ Support Consultant for the Santa Cruz COE and a member of the Santa Cruz Safe School Project (SSP), was hearing from educators around the state about the need for a recommended LGBTQ+ booklist organized by grade level and aligned to state curriculum standards and frameworks. Following an LGBTQ+ Town Hall webinar in October 2021 sponsored by the Santa Cruz COE, Darrow spoke with Q about the idea of extending the Purple Sticker Project to a countywide effort. “The next phase will be finding the funding to purchase these books for all of the school libraries throughout Santa Cruz County and to notify the authors about their book selections so hopefully we can have these authors visit our area in the future,” Darrow said. In addition, the COE has allocated funds this summer to support teachers to create curriculum guides to incorporate the books into lessons. The curriculum resources are expected to be ready by October, LGBTQ+ history month. Organizations that have supported the booklist project include the Santa Cruz COE, the Queer Youth Task Force, the Safe Schools Project, and Bookshop Santa Cruz. The booklist can be viewed online at sccoe.link/lgbtqbooks. A recording of Tuesday’s announcement is available on the Santa Cruz COE YouTube channel. Grades: PreK-2 A Family is a Family is a FamilyO’Leary, Sara (Qin Leng, illust.)2016 Born Ready: The True Story of a BoyNamed Penelope Patterson, Jodie2021 Cuando Amamos Cantamos/When We Love Someone We Sing to ThemMartínez, Ernesto J, Maya C. Gonzalez, and Feliciano J. G. Martínez2018 Grandad’s CamperHarry Woodgate2021 Ho’onani: Hula WarriorGale, Heather, and Mika Song2019 Julían is a MermaidJessica Love2018 Sewing the RainbowPitman, Gayle E2018 Stella Brings the FamilyMiriam B. Schiffer2015 When Aidan Became a BrotherKyle Lukoff (Kaylani Juanita, illus.)2019 Who’s Your Real Mum?Green, Bernadette2020 Grades: 3-5 Ana on the EdgeA.J. Sass2020 Beetle and the HollowbonesAliza Layne2020 CattywampusAsh Van Otterloo2020 Derby Daredevils #1:Kenzie Kickstarts a TeamKit Rosewater & Sophie Escabasse2020 Goldie Vance: The HotelWhodunit Lilliam Rivera2020 High Five for Glenn BurkePhil Bildner2020 Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow FlagRob Sanders2018 Rabbit ChaseElizabeth Lapensee2022 Sharice’s Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman 2021 The Moon WithinAida Salazar2019 Grades: 6-8 High Five for Glenn BurkePhil Bildner2020 FlamerMike Curato2020 Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World Ashley Blake Herring2018 King and the DragonfliesKacen Callendar2020 Redwood and PonytailHolt, K.A. The Girl from the SeaMolly Ostertag2021 The Magic FishTrung Le Nguyen2020 The Mighty Heart ofSunny St. JamesAshley Blake Herring2019 This Is Our RainbowKatherine Locke2021 Too Bright to SeeKyle Lukoff2021 Grades: 9-12 A Queer History of theUnited States for Young PeopleMichael Bronski2019 Anger is a GiftMark Oshiro2018 Cemetery BoysAiden Thomas2020 Gender QueerMaia Kobabe2019 Heartstopper Series 1-4Alice Oseman2019 The Henna WarsAdiba Jaigirdar2020 Last Night at the Telegraph ClubMalindo Lo 2021 PetAkwaeke Emezi2019 The Stars and theBlackness Between ThemJunauda Petrus 2020 Ziggy, Stardust and MeJames Brandon2019 Read More Local News Articles

The post LGBTQ+ Booklist first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Letter From Managing Editor

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 17:20:12 +0000

You Are Not Alone A Letter From the Art Director|Managing Editor by christy Shults It’s like screaming and fighting in a dream, but you have no voice, and your flailing arms have no force. I’m helpless; I have no control.. The day the paper was to be sent to the printer was also the day the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade and gave guns more rights than women in one fell swoop. I cried for my daughters, nieces, and every other person born with a uterus—the day consumed by anger, frustration, fear, sadness, and discouragement. A numbness fell over me between the tears and commiserating with female friends. What alternate reality is this? I could shout at the top of my lungs, but the only ones who would hear me were my sisters. It’s like screaming and fighting in a dream, but you have no voice, and your flailing arms have no force. I’m helpless; I have no control. I wish I could be one of those clever heroes in a movie who plays out the perfect plan to do good and stop the foreseeable trauma that will affect so many lives. Some people celebrated. Their personal ideologies won over the autonomy of one’s own body. This decision was not about babies because if it had been, there would be a discussion about accessibility to healthcare, childcare, food, and mental health services. This decision was about controlling women. Abortion will not disappear. Those states immediately banning abortion are creating a death sentence for those with an ectopic pregnancy, a septic uterus, a miscarriage that your body will not release (a stone baby), victims of incest and rape, and every other situation that would require a safe abortion. Our rights as women have been stripped. Our human rights and those of so many others are in jeopardy. However, there is always hope. We must never stop fighting to regain our rights. What does the good fight look like? Speaking your truth; letter campaigns, protests, raising funds, and most importantly, education. If you are not of voting age, you can still do all of these, and when you can vote, vote like your life depends on it because it does. Send your opinion to editor@growinupsc.com Read More Parenting Articles

The post Letter From Managing Editor first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

History in the Making

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 17:16:16 +0000

Students Witness Supreme Court History by Grace Timan Being too young to vote, and old enough to be affected by a policy puts you in an interesting position. At this in-between age, it can feel helpless at times. Throughout my teenage years, one thing that has characterized my interests is a passion to fight for what I believe in, in any capacity possible. As I move through life I am learning what exactly this means for my life and how to get involved in a productive manner. When I found out about the recent leak of the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade, I was on a school trip to Washington D.C. I was with all of my friends and you could immediately see the shock that shrouded the room. Being too young to vote, and old enough to be affected by a policy puts you in an interesting position. At this in-between age, it can feel helpless at times. We are constantly told by adults that our generation will be the change, that is our job to fix the problems that have been left behind. We hear this calling almost daily, yet without the capacity to vote it can be frustrating. It brings up the question, what can we as teenagers even do? In D.C. we were interviewing people working in public service in different regards, everyone from senators to museum curators. Throughout all interviews, there was a theme that today’s problems are integral for our generation to work on and resolve. We took advantage of the opportunity to be in such a significant place and went to the Supreme Court to observe, learn and participate in the protest. This was one of the most surreal experiences I’ve ever had. Everyone is passionate, it’s hard not to get aggravated by these opposing opinions. The adults stressed to us the importance of supporting one another as opposed to arguing with the other side. Fighting for this cause made me so emotional. It felt hopeless, like my actions were insignificant, especially due to my age. It wasn’t until hours after the protest that I got a message that I was on the cover of the New York Times. Just hours ago, it felt like I couldn’t make a major impact as a teenager, but there I was on one of the biggest media outlets in the world fighting for something I believed in. After this experience, we carried a new perspective into the interviews, asking all of these individuals how we could further make the change as teenagers. As I mentioned before, throughout the interviews we noticed a plethora of overlapping lessons. The main takeaways we gained as a group were first, to never be complacent. As teenagers, and in this case, specifically as women, we can no longer assume that our rights are guaranteed. Secondly, we were told to pick one issue we care about deeply and then put all of our energy into finding solutions. Finally, find places where our work is going to make an impact in a palatable yet sizable way. We were encouraged to do deeper research, for example finding local smaller nonprofits with fewer resources in which our time, money, and talents would be put to use in a more direct application. Overall, we must always continue the fight and work to move progress forward. Read More Youth Writer Articles

The post History in the Making first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.