June 2025 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

It’s All Fun and Games for Local Designer

growingupsc — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:30:10 +0000

Do you love playing games and meeting new people? Have you ever met a board game or card game creator? Well, here’s your chance! The Golden Gate Gamemakers are opening a local tabletop gaming chapter in Santa Cruz. Originating in the Bay Area, GGG has created a safe, fun space for board gamers of all ages and skill levels to come together and enjoy gaming. Whether you’re an aspiring game designer wanting to test new games, an experienced tabletop enjoyer, or someone brand new to the gaming world, the GGG is for you. Growing Up: What are the Golden Gate Gamemakers? Why was it created? Courtney Laschkewitsch: The GGG is a community organization that brings together board game creators and players. Whether you’re interested in playing new games that have never been seen before, you want to learn what a game designer does, you want mentorship, you want to get in the tabletop space, or you’re a gamer that wants to have fun playing games—the GGG is for you. The biggest takeaway is that if you live in or visit the Bay Area, including Santa Cruz, and like board games, you should consider going to some of our events. You can network really well with experienced tabletop gamers in real life. Q: Where was GGG first created? How are the GGG chapters in other locations successful? CL: In Spring 2023, GGG became an official organization and serves hundreds of local players each month. Events are small, ranging from 5-35 players–usually 10-20 players–per event on average. The Guildhouse in San Jose is the largest and most successful chapter. Almost everyone gets a game from free raffles held there. The Santa Cruz South chapter will have raffles at every event as well. Q: Is the GGG beginner friendly? Is it just for game designers, or gamers of all levels? CL: GGG is super super beginner friendly, even if you’ve never played a board game before, we will welcome you with open arms. We need a lot more players to test out our games, and more game designers to bring new, fresh ideas to the table. All you have to have is a love for board games or a curiosity for them! We do recommend ages 12 and up to enter the community. Although we have family games needing to be play tested, and other games for adults Q: How does the GGG bring the community together? CL: When you play games, it creates an immersive experience that everyone is going through. Usually a world, or story, and you end up being interconnected to the other players for 30 mins-1 hour. Through this experience, you are playing together, working together, and are being creative with strangers or new friends. New games can help you understand new perspectives by playing with others; and by playing you can learn about the gaming space, and learn how to give invaluable feedback to game creators. You can make new friends, appreciate other people’s personalities and reactions to the games. Tabletop gaming is incredible because of the people you meet and play with, not necessarily the game. Q: Why bring GGG to Santa Cruz? CL: I wanted to create a lowkey, safe and inviting environment for game designers to play test their games, for wanna-be game designers, and for those who love playing games to come together and help each other grow. Gamers don’t have to travel far to the Bay Area if they don’t want to, they can come together with their local community and play. There are actually a lot of game designers in Santa Cruz that serve as valuable resources for the community. Q: Where will GGG meetings take place? What sort of community has the Santa Cruz chapter created so far ? CL: GGG meetings will take place at People’s Coffee, Santa Cruz, every second Tuesday of the month from 6pm to 10pm. We also do a raffle, and one-third of players per event will bring home a free game. Raffles are random and are held at every event, and if they win, they can choose a game to take home. I want people to walk in and stumble upon this magic. You do not need to attend the entire event–feel free to drop by for 30 minutes or an hour! Drop by and consider playing some games for an hour or more on a Tuesday night! Meet new people and play new games! Q: What are your hopes and goals for the GGG South chapter in Santa Cruz? CL: To try to make the event as large as possible–I want to get attendance up so every event has at least 20 people of all levels. I want people to try new games so aspiring designers can get feedback and push their games out, get attention, go to publishers, and show off the talent of our smaller city of Santa Cruz. Many people don’t realize how immersive and fun tabletop gaming is–it is nothing like Life, Scrabble, Monopoly, etc. There are beautiful, mechanical, creative hobby tabletop games that immerse you into a whole new world, beyond the games at Target. A big part of my passion is for more people to realize how incredible the game space is by being exposed to a variety of games, in hopes of it becoming a hobby for people to get involved, inspired, and have fun. I would like to show people how immersive and fun the game space is, so they fall in love with the hobby like I did. Q: How are the game designers of Santa Cruz supported? CL: As the event organizer and host, part of what I’m doing is trying to find sponsors by contacting game publishers and companies to see if they’re willing to donate games to our monthly raffle OR to our up-and-coming game library which will soon be created inside People’s Coffee, where anyone can come at any time regardless of GGG, and they can play the games of the library. One sponsor is Trick or Treat Studios, and they are a local game and high-end halloween mask company. They are right by People’s Coffee, they are incredibly successful, and they are our first official sponsor. They have donated games already. Other sponsors is Wise Wizard Games and they have donated games to the raffle and library as well. This has helped us with incredible networking companies where they support us and we are supporting them. We are helping boost each other as a community. Larger conglomerates like what we are doing, support us, and want more game designers in the game space too. Sometimes members of these companies come to the events and offer great insight to our games. Q: How are the events going at GGG Santa Cruz chapter so far? CL: First event was huge, I contacted seven local game stores and let them know about the event. They have flyers in their locations, we had store owners join us at our first event. We had nineteen for our first event, which is a great number. The next event was twelve people, which is a little smaller than what we were hoping, but we are growing, and vamping things up as we create the game library, do the raffles, get the word out. This is People’s Coffee’s very first event ever, so we are very lucky, and the cafe will remain open during the events. They are very motivated as well and are willing to pull out all the stops to bring the community together. You can observe from a safe distance and decide if you want to join the event! Q: Where can I find events with GGG in Santa Cruz or otherwise? CL: Definitely recommend our website, which has a calendar of all our events. We also have a Facebook page and a very robust meetup page. goldengategamemakers.com/calendar.htmlmeetup.com/playgoldengate/ meetup.com/playgoldengate/ playgoldengateevents/305184940/?fromSeries=true&slug=playgoldengate&eventId=305184940 Our GGG events in the bay area: https://www.meetup.com/playgoldengate/?eventOrigin=event_home_page By Joanna Jenkins

The post It’s All Fun and Games for Local Designer first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Building a Thriving Santa Cruz County for Our Youth

Comcast — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:15:08 +0000

Santa Cruz County leader and philanthropist Diane Porter Cooley (1928-2022) knew what it takes to build a thriving community, and she left us instructions. “Community is about living life together. It’s about getting through hard times, floods, and fire; camping with girl scouts; serving meals and building clinics; helping kids and planting trees.” Diane and her husband Don were some of the founding members of Community Foundation Santa Cruz County, a center for giving where people can make philanthropic contributions that have a lasting impact. Since 1982, generous families have empowered $279 million in local grants and scholarships, including $2 million in the Foundation’s 2025 Community Grants. This annual initiative supports over 100 nonprofit organizations. These grants are made possible thanks to the generosity of dozens of families who entrust the Community Foundation with their charitable visions or have made a gift to the Greatest Needs Fund. The organizations receiving grants benefit from the flexibility to apply funds where they’re needed most, rather than for restricted purposes and 25% of those grants go to nonprofits supporting the health and wellbeing of youth through social services, education, and arts and culture. Helping Local Youth Succeed in School & Life A thriving childhood is built on a foundation of play, learning, dance, art, music, cultural celebrations, environmental stewardship, and healthy eating—fundamental aspects nurtured by community grants.One of the thousands of local youth supported by a Community Grant is River Loftus. When River walks into the Live Oak Clubhouse run by Boys & Girls Club of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC), he feels a deep sense of community and purpose. Currently a junior at Harbor High, River started attending the Live Oak Clubhouse when he was a 6th grader at Shoreline Middle School—right when the Live Oak club opened. But now when he heads to the club after school, it’s as a junior staff member. River is part of the club’s workforce readiness training program that helps teens like him learn how to write a resume, apply for a job, learn how to interview, and work as a volunteer where he gains valuable service hours and experience that strengthen his professional skills and college applications. “I like helping out,” says River simply. “I also like how it helps me build responsibilities and, of course, I like playing with the kids.” At their three sites in Santa Cruz, Live, Oak, and Scotts Valley, BGCSCC serves more than 2,000 youth each year from all social and economic circumstances, helping them develop the skills needed to succeed in school and life. Like many youth organizations across the county, BGCSCC is noticing an increased need for services. Executive Director Lis DuBois says, “Our organization continues to see a growing request for scholarship support as the cost of housing, food, and essentials continue to rise.” She adds, “The $30,000 grant from the Community Foundation will allow us to continue to provide the things local youth need most: meals, mentors, and safe places to create, learn, grow, and play.” Supporting Youth Today… and Tomorrow Kevin Heuer is the Foundation’s Director of Engagement and Impact and runs the Community Grants program. He says, “The charitable funds that families have established here serve as our community’s permanent resource for addressing the issues of today and tomorrow. Thanks to our community’s generosity, we are making a Santa Cruz County where we live life together, and take care of each other, our children, and future generations.” For more information about the Community Foundation, visit: cfscc.org Jenny Kurzweil is the proud mom of two sons, a recent college graduate from Arizona State University and a first-year student at Cabrillo College. She’s also the Senior Communications Officer for Community Foundation Santa Cruz County.

The post Building a Thriving Santa Cruz County for Our Youth first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

Falling in Love for the First Time

growingupsc — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 19:04:18 +0000

One of the true joys of volunteering at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter is witnessing the moment a person falls in love. It happens almost every day. A potential adopter walks in, scanning faces covered in fur, and then it happens. Their whole body changes. You can see it in their shoulders, their eyes, their stillness. They’ve just found their animal. Like falling in love with a person, this moment doesn’t come out of nowhere. Most adopters have been circling the idea for a while. They’ve talked about it at dinner, followed the shelter’s social media, and imagined where the bed or litter box might go. They’ve thought about morning walks or after-school routines, the cost of food, the logistics of vacations, the joy of companionship. Some are experienced pet people, returning after the loss of a beloved companion or expanding their pack. Others are new to the idea entirely, wide-eyed, curious, hungry for guidance. Regardless of background, the scene is almost always the same. They meet a pet who tugs on something just beneath the surface, and suddenly, it’s not theoretical anymore. This animal belongs to them. It’s not a transaction. It’s a recognition. The next steps unfold with a mix of nerves and hope. Paperwork is filled out. Information is shared. A meeting is arranged. A tail wags. A hand is licked. Time slows down. Some adopters go home to think it over. Some can’t leave without their new companion. Either way, the heart has already made the leap. And then, they’re home. Those first few days are thrilling, a bit chaotic, and, if you’re a parent, incredibly rich with teachable moments. The dog circles the living room endlessly. The cat hides under the bed for three days. The rabbit stares, unblinking, from a corner. Children hover, checking again and again: Is he still there? Does she like her new bed? Can I hold them now? This is when families discover the invaluable wisdom of the “3-3-3 rule”, a guideline for pet’s adjusting to a new home. The first three days, your new pet is likely overwhelmed and unsure. The first three weeks, they’re settling into a rhythm, tentatively learning the sights and sounds of your home. After three months, if you’ve been patient and consistent, they begin to trust. Their real personality emerges. Bonds take root. For kids, this timeline is gold. It teaches patience, empathy, and the idea that love isn’t just felt, it’s built. It’s tempting to rush, to expect instant cuddles or perfect behavior. But the best thing a child can learn from a new pet is that trust takes time, especially for someone who’s had a confusing or rough start. On June 7th, shelters across California will celebrate Statewide Adopt an Animal Day by waiving adoption fees. If your family has been mulling over the idea of bringing a new animal home, this is your nudge. Walk the kennels. Meet the rabbits. Let your children see what love at first sight can feel like. And if someone locks eyes with a whiskered face behind the glass—lean in. The story of your next great love might begin with a head tilt, a purr, or a quiet, hopeful stare. ______________________________________________________________________ Ready to Adopt? Here’s How: Start online. Visit www.scanimalshelter.org to view adoptable animals. When you’re ready, fill out an adoption application and list your top three animals of interest. Visit the Shelter. Bring your completed application to our location at 1001 Rodriguez St. in Santa Cruz. You can also fill out an application in person, no printer required. Meet your match. Once you arrive, our staff will review your application, talk with you about the animals you’re interested in, and schedule a meet-and-greet. If your chosen animal is at the shelter, you may be able to meet them that same day. If they’re in a foster home, we’ll help schedule an appointment. Already have a dog? If you’re hoping to adopt a dog and already have one at home, please bring them with you so we can do a safe and friendly introduction. Be prepared. Adoptions are first come, first served. Please bring proof of home ownership or landlord approval. This helps us ensure your new pet has the stable home they deserve. Please note: We are unable to review adoption applications submitted by email. Adoption hours are 11am to 5pm, and all meet-and-greets must begin before 4:45pm Thank you for considering adoption from your local community shelter! Sarah Krummel is a Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter Foundation board member and a Program Specialist for Santa Cruz City Schools. Connect with her at sarah@scanimalshelterfoundation.org

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Celebrating Our Fathers

Jamie McFaden — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:13:37 +0000

Let’s cheer this month for all the dads who take their job in fatherhood to heart! Our kids, families and communities are blessed to have you in our lives and the world is better because of YOU. One father in particular I am going to feature in this month’s article is someone who has been so generous and kind and a pillar in our community, yet expects nothing in return – he is a father and “like a father” to many, a leader in the Santa Cruz community – none other than the owner of Growing Up in Santa Cruz, Brad Kava. Brad and I met a few years back when I got a chance to be interviewed and featured for a Mother’s Day issue and what a great way to express gratitude and celebrate the man who has dedicated his life to being a great dad and sharing all the great Santa Cruz vibes with local parents. Psychology Today has stated in many articles, “Children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, confident to explore their surroundings, better social connections” There are many reasons why we can celebrate the awesome dads of the world and specifically right here in our community. Tulsa magazine states the top 10 things that make a great dad and I agree: He shows up He sets a good example He treats the mother of his children with respect Takes joy in his kids Disciplines fairly He listens He verbally and emotionally expresses love and compassion Spends quality time He is protective He is supportive He is a leader of the family dynamic and community. I decided to ask some deep questions to Brad and I’ll be the first to say he was nervous to do this and didn’t want the attention – I am so grateful he decided to say yes especially knowing how hard he has worked to be a great dad and to support other moms and dads Here they are: How has becoming a father changed you? I never knew how self-centered I was until I became a father. All I had to do before was take care of myself. Then, suddenly everything changed, like changing diapers, setting a sleep schedule around an infant, making school lunches and trying to make healthy dinners, waking up to drive to school, learning about after school activities, from Little League to art and piano lessons. I was no longer the center of my world: my son is. I can’t make any decisions without keeping him in mind. And I realize I have to be careful about everything I say and do because he will pick up on it all and imitate me, even when I think he’s not paying attention. I once had a friend tell me that becoming a father will make me more conservative politically. Nope. It’s made me care about the environment and helping other people as much as possible to make the world better for him. What is the best part of parenthood? Being a parent makes me a kid again. I see the world through his innocent eyes and feel like I’m seeing things I’ve taken for granted for the first time. I also have someone to share my favorite things with and luckily he likes most of them as much as I do. Then, there’s singing songs together in the car and playing games we make up, like guess the tune I’m humming or guess what I’m thinking based on rhyming words. I used to hate driving; now I love it with his company. What is the most challenging part of parenthood? The most challenging part is giving up sleep; having to be on my best behavior at all times; making myself the second priority; cooking chicken nuggets; finding food that is healthy and kid -friendly; navigating schools and bullies and seriously bad kids; keeping him doing activities that don’t involve a screen, which means I have to be attentive to him more than myself; finding time to work. What is the greatest thing you hope your children will learn from you? Somehow he’s already learned to be kind and treat kids and adults with respect. I’m not sure how he learned those things, but I’ll take some credit. I can’t think of anything more important than that. What is the greatest thing you hope your children will learn from you? I NEVER wanted to be a dad. I loved kids but didn’t feel worthy to have one. Now that I have one it’s the greatest thing ever. It’s broadened my mind and activities more than I ever could have expected. I bought this magazine to learn to be a better father and community member and it’s paid off mentally, if not financially. I’ve learned so much from our writers and readers and love sharing experiences with the Growing Up community. Sometimes my son teaches me as much as I teach him. For example, I was never much into classical music. But he chose to play it on the piano and suddenly, I’m going to the symphony and learning about Mozart and Beethoven. I’ve visited playgrounds the way I used to visit clubs and bars. I now know every superhero’s secret identity. I’ve seen every Marvel movie multiple times, because that’s how kids watch movies. Being a dad has made me a better, more conscious person, aware of the world around me so I can explain it to him. I am so grateful for Brad Kava and these answers which brought tears to my eyes immediately I’m sure so many of us parents can relate to much if not all of this in our own way with our kids. I’ve seen him with his son and it is truly priceless to know this deeper story behind who he is as a father. I hope this will inspire you to ask a dad you love these questions and remember we are all doing the best we can on this journey.to the dads out there who despite how tough it can be make the effort and put their kids first and do their best to lead by example- THANK YOU. We honor you and the fathers in our community this Father’s Day Here’s to DADAS 🙂 we love you! And as a mama thank you

The post Celebrating Our Fathers first appeared on Growing Up in Santa Cruz.

From Cap and Gown to Countdown

Bay Federal Credit Union — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 02:11:08 +0000

This season brings feelings of pride, nostalgia, excitement, and, let’s be honest, financial worry to many. Whether your child is heading off to college, taking a gap year, or jumping straight into the workforce, the next chapter comes with some major money decisions. And while most curricula do not teach today’s youth how to manage real-world finances, Bay Federal can help. Here are some simple ways to set your grad up for success! Think big picture: Is student debt the only way? Student loans can feel like a rite of passage for college-bound students, but it’s worth asking: Are they the only option, or even the best one? The truth is, student debt can follow graduates for years, impacting everything from credit scores and housing choices to career flexibility. Before your grad signs on the dotted line, encourage an open conversation about what borrowing really means. How much will repayment cost each month? How long will it take to pay off? What kind of salary might they realistically earn in their field? Also, talk about alternatives that can reduce or even eliminate the need for loans: Scholarships and grants: These don’t need to be repaid, and thousands are available for all kinds of students. Community college and transfer paths: Locally for general ed classes can significantly lower costs without compromising education quality. Work-study and part-time jobs: These options build work experience and help cover everyday expenses. High-Yield and other savings accounts: If you’ve been able to save, now’s the time to make those dollars stretch. Location, location… tuition? The idea of going to your dream school, out-of-state or even abroad, can be exciting. But it can also be costly. Making well-informed choices about where to study can keep that number from multiplying. Having your grad compare in-state tuition costs to their dream schools can be eye-opening. That doesn’t mean settling, but it does mean choosing a financially sustainable path. Remind them: where you study matters less than what you do while you’re there. Internships: Worth their weight in gold (and paychecks) A degree is important, but so is experience. Finding employment without experience can be difficult, which is why internships are key. Internships can help grads dip their toes into potential careers, grow their network, and earn some extra money along the way. Internships often lead to job offers, making them not just a resume booster but a foot in the door. Even unpaid or short-term opportunities can open long-term possibilities. Encourage your grad to apply early and often—these positions tend to fill quickly. Budgeting 101: The best gift you can give Budgeting is tricky if you haven’t done it before, and even more challenging when you consider living with roommates. Ask your grad if they feel comfortable managing a budget. If not, walk them through the basics: planning, tracking spending, and preparing for emergencies. You will be thankful you did when you don’t get a panicked call asking for money. Here are a few essentials to cover: How to track income and expenses Why having an emergency fund matters What happens if you ignore your bank balance for too long Living independently, juggling classes or a new job, and managing finances all at once? It’s a lot. That’s why a crash course in budgeting is one of the best graduation gifts you can give. It’s not about perfection— It’s about preparation You can’t control every decision your grad will make, but you can set the tone. Financial wellness isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions and learning from each step forward. So, as you watch them cross the stage in their cap and gown, know that helping them navigate this next chapter isn’t about swooping in, but showing up with support, information, and maybe a little tough love when needed. And if you need backup? Bay Federal Credit Union is always here with tools and resources to help guide your grad toward a financially healthy future. Bay Federal Credit Union proudly serves families in Santa Cruz County and along the Central Coast, offering savings and checking solutions that grow with your child. With just five dollars, you can open an account with no monthly fees and easy-to-use mobile banking, making it simple to teach financial wellness habits. Visit a local branch today to learn more about how we can help set your child on a path to a bright financial future. Helping Your Grad Start Strong Financially

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New Ice Cream Shop in Live Oak Features Fresh, Unique Mexican Flavors

growingupsc — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 02:09:05 +0000

In the world of food, there are some classic combinations that have stood the test of time…peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, coffee and donuts and wine and cheese. The owners of El Jardin in the Live Oak neighborhood of Santa Cruz want to add another great pairing to that list: Mexican food and ice cream. El Jardin has been serving award-winning Mexican cuisine to Santa Cruz families for 16 years. The current owners, Manuel “Manny” and Jerry Rangel, have each worked at the restaurant since the early days, starting as busboys and dishwashers and moving up to become wait-staff and eventually managers. In 2017, they were given the opportunity to purchase the Santa Cruz location of the restaurant and they jumped at the chance. Like many businesses, Covid hit El Jardin very hard. Fortunately, they survived, but after the pandemic they were looking for ways to grow and expand the business. They had two main goals. First, they sought to attract more families. Second, was to bring in more Hispanic customers. As they brainstormed, they thought of things that would get kids to ask their parents to take them to the restaurant. They considered an arcade or game center and other kid-focused activities. Then the perfect idea came to mind – an ice cream shop! Quickly thereafter “Jerry’s La Michoacana” was born. There was a small space in the back of the restaurant that was being used for storage and as an employee break area. It was just big enough to create a small café, with a key advantage being that it had its own entry, so customers could access the shop without having to come into the restaurant…unless they wanted to. A partnership was formed with Marianne’s ice cream and they now feature 16 flavors. Another partnership was formed with La Michoacana – a favorite ice cream brand from the State of Michoacán in Mexico – and they offer 8 flavors with more expected soon. “Our mission is to share with the Santa Cruz community all the great flavors that Mexican culture and cuisine have created,” said Manny Rangel. “Here locally, La Michoacana is not yet as well-known as Marianne’s, but it is extremely popular among the Mexican community. By bringing these two much-loved brands together, we can offer Santa Cruz a unique experience.” In addition to Marianne’s and La Michoacana ice cream, Jerry’s La Michoacana offers Aguas Frescas, and they take a unique spin on that as well. “Most people are familiar with Horchata and we have that,” Manny Rangel says. “But we also offer flavors like Tamarind and Chia Lime, among others. We want to give our Santa Cruz customers a richer variety of flavors. And for those customers who come in for Happy Hour, they love how our Aguas Frescas can be mixed with rum or vodka for a refreshing and unexpected cocktail option.” This idea of unique and fresh flavors extends to their selection of Mexican snacks as well. Case in point: the “Mangonada” combines mango sorbet, fresh mangoes, tajin and chamoy. The result is a rush of flavors on the tongue – sweet, spicy, salty and sour – with the smooth, coolness of the mango sorbet underneath it all. Extremely refreshing! Other snacks include “Fresas Con Crema” which features strawberry sorbet, fresh strawberries and sweet cream and “Esquites” which combines corn in a cup with lime, chili powder, salt, cotija cheese and mayonnaise. Just as interesting and innovative is the “Dorilocos” or “Tostilocos” which brings together Doritos or Tostitos chips with cucumber, jicama and lime, in either a spicy or mild seasoning. They also offer more than 10 flavors of popsicles. Again, Manny Rangel emphasizes the importance that El Jardin places on bringing a broader range of Mexican cuisine, culture and flavors to the Santa Cruz community. “Our customers have been very receptive to experiencing these new flavors that have been favorites among Hispanics for quite some time. They also love the idea of having an ice cream shop in Live Oak that offers a local favorite like Marianne’s with a longtime Mexican favorite like La Michoacana. This marriage of local culture with Mexican heritage is very well received in Santa Cruz.” Open from 11am to 9pm, Jerry’s La Michoacana can be accessed directly from the Capitola Rd. side of the building in which El Jardin operates. Customers can also visit the ice cream shop as part of their dining experience at El Jardin. By Joan Hammel

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Meals Without Meltdowns: A Parent’s Guide to Dining Out with Kids in Santa Cruz

growingupsc — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:30:15 +0000

I remember a heavy conversation with my then 4-year-old son in a restaurant where we watched pelicans hunting fish. Fish eat worms and bugs, I explained. Then birds eat the fish. Then bigger birds or sharks eat those birds and then other predators eat those animals. “It’s a good thing we don’t eat animals,” he replied. “We eat food.” A kick under the table from his mother told me not to get into the details, so I kept quiet for a while. Eventually, I continued up the food chain and today, although he hates the idea of killing animals, he eats meat because, as he explains, “We are animals and we do what other animals do. And it tastes good.” Kids and food is a perennial challenge for parents. I swear if I could eliminate one word it would be nuggets. Chicken nuggets are a mainstay for him and so many other kids. Particularly the ones shaped like dinosaurs. He didn’t fall for the veggie nuggets I tried on him. And an even bigger challenge with toddlers and up is taking them out to a restaurant. How do you do it without a meltdown? Please send us your tips and suggestions for best kid-friendly restaurants. We will make it a regular feature. We have some listed in this issue and plan for many more. We have some restaurants that really aren’t kid appropriate but plenty of others really do cater to the mini-set. Like Dharma’s, which has a bunch of plastic dinosaurs and animals around for them to play with. That got us through many a meal. (And, sorry, that was my kid who put them in the fountain.) Kids menus have become pretty standard and most come with some kind of drawing to color or games to play. Bless all of you who do that for us. We played so much tic-tac-toe that now he can beat me almost every time. What’s been your biggest meltdown and how did you handle it? What’s your favorite place to eat out with the tykes and why? Please, please help our struggling parents out. We will print your suggestions and your favorite kids menus. Cooking for them at home? Check out our Healthy Eats columnist Elizabeth Borelli’s suggestions every month. She has suggestions to get them off their nugget addiction and keep them eating whole, healthy foods that taste great and are easy to prepare. It’s a parent’s dream come true. Write us at editor@growingupsc.com Thanks for reading. Brad Kava, Editor and Publisher

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La Manzana’s Summer Lunch Program Returns

growingupsc — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:28:10 +0000

The annual Summer Lunch program, sponsored by La Manzana Community Resources (LMCR), a program of Community Bridges’ Family Resource Collective, will kick off on June 9. Kids 18 and younger can pick up a free lunch at various sites in Santa Cruz and Watsonville through early-August. Most Watsonville sites will distribute lunches through August 8. Through Community Bridges, the Summer Lunch program has served 20,000 meals over the last three years, helping combat local childhood hunger and its harmful impacts on the area’s youngest residents. When school districts close for the summer many students who are not attending ongoing educational programs miss out on what sometimes is their only complete meal. It is estimated that more than 30 million children across the U.S. depend on free meal programs such as these and it’s even more critical when the traditional sources of that access are closed for summer. “Community Bridges Summer Lunch sites are easily accessible to local youth,” said LMCR Program Manager Liliana Zamora. “Some sites are in apartment complexes; others are in local parks and community centers. This allows youth to access lunch close to their residence instead of getting transportation to local school sites, removing another barrier for families to remain nourished through the summer.” Free meals will be provided to all children without eligibility documentation, at the following sites from 12-1pm, Monday through Friday. Serving dates are June 9– August 1. Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz: 543 Center St., Santa Cruz Nueva Vista at Beach Flats Park: 131 Leibrandt Ave. Santa Cruz Free meals will be provided to all children 0-18, without eligibility documentation, at the following sites from 121pm, Monday through Friday. Serving dates are June 9– August 8. La Manzana Community Resources: 521 Main St., Watsonville Stone Creek Apartments: 300 Bree Lane, Watsonville Vista Verde Apartments: 45 Steward Ave., Freedom Corralitos Creek Apartments: 125 Pajaro Circle, Freedom Free meals will be provided to all children without eligibility documentation, at the following sites from 12-1pm Monday through Friday. Serving dates are June 23-July 31. Sunny Meadows: 220 Ross Ave., Freedom Schapiro Knolls: 33 Minto Rd., Watsonville Free meals will be provided to all children, without eligibility documentation, at the following sites from 12-1pm Monday through Friday. Serving dates are June 23 – August 1. Sparrow Terrace: 139 Miles Ave., Watsonville A combination of state and local funding supports most of the Summer Lunch Program costs. But approximately 30 percent of the cost of this program is covered through donations. Those interested in making an individual donation to support the program may do so by visiting communitybridges.org/donate and selecting “La Manzana Community Resource Center.” Those interested in volunteering to help serve lunches, or to support any of our other programs, should visit communitybridges.org/volunteer.

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Strawberry Season in Santa Cruz is the Berry Best Time of Year

growingupsc — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:26:36 +0000

In Santa Cruz, strawberries are practically part of the scenery—we’re surrounded by some of the biggest berry farms in the country. But even with berries in stores year-round, there’s something extra magical about local, in-season strawberries. The kind you find at the farmers market or roadside stands in June? Juicy, ruby-red, sun-sweetened perfection. And guess what? These little fruits aren’t just tasty—they’re bursting with nutrition. One cup of strawberries has just 46 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and a solid helping of vitamin C, manganese, and folate. Basically, they’re nature’s candy—with benefits! Strawberries are a kid favorite for a reason—they’re sweet, snackable, and perfect for everything from lunchboxes to smoothies. Pop them straight from the basket, slice them over pancakes, or dip them in chocolate for a treat that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Quick tip: rinse local berries just before eating to keep them at peak freshness. So go ahead—celebrate June the Santa Cruz way, one sweet, juicy bite at a time. Berry Fun! Easy & Tasty Ways to Enjoy Strawberries with Your Crew Strawberries are sweet, simple, and seriously fun to eat—especially when they’re local and in season. Here are some kid-approved ways to turn these ruby-red beauties into snacks, treats, and easy meals: Strawberries + Yogurt = Yum Top a bowl of yogurt with sliced or whole berries for a healthy snack or dessert that feels like a treat. Strawberry Shake-Up Blend strawberries with milk or yogurt for a quick, cool drink—perfect after a beach day or bike ride. Fruit Salad Fun Mix sliced strawberries with bananas, grapes, or whatever fruits you’ve got on hand for a rainbow-colored snack. Berry on Top Pile strawberries onto pancakes or waffles for a burst of morning sweetness (weekend brunch win!). Chocolate-Dipped Delicious For a special treat, dip strawberries in melted chocolate. Kids can help—and lick the spoons. Strawberry Oatmeal Glow-Up Stir diced berries into warm oatmeal for a sweet, fiber-filled start to the day. Fruit Skewers Thread strawberries onto skewers with other fruits for a snack that’s easy and fun to eat. DIY Strawberry Pops Puree fresh strawberries and freeze in molds for homemade popsicles—cool, sweet, and 100% summer. Now that you’re bursting with berry ideas, the big question is—where to pick up the freshest local strawberries? Farmers markets are a fantastic option, but let’s face it, they don’t always fit into your busy week. Good news: Shopper’s Corner has your back. They bring in sweet, sun- ripened strawberries from three nearby farms, so you can grab peak-season berries anytime you’re ready—no weekend schedule shuffle required! Looking for more uber-nutritious recipe ideas? Sneaky Strawberry Smoothies: A Morning Win for Parents and Kids Mornings can be a wild ride, but sending kids off with a brain-boosting, energy-lifting smoothie? That’s a parenting win. We might not know exactly what they’re eating the rest of the day—but if we can sneak in some goodness before they head out the door, we’re off to a great start. The best part? This smoothie is a master of disguise. Start with two kid-approved fruits—think banana, mango, blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries. Then (shhh…) blend in a handful of spinach or a little avocado. My kids claim they “don’t like” those, but somehow, when they’re blended into a berry smoothie, they’re totally on board. Toss in some flaxseed for protein and fiber, and a touch of sweetener—and boom! You’ve got a super-powered breakfast they’ll actually drink. Here’s a pro tip: keep your secret ingredients in the same color family as your base fruit. Blueberries, for example, are great at hiding greens like spinach or even sprouts. A little trial and error will help you land on the combo your crew loves most. Stevia is a great sweetener option—since fruit already brings plenty of flavor, you’ll never notice the aftertaste. And it keeps added sugar off the breakfast menu, which is always a win. Cheers to happy mornings and smoothies that sneak in the good stuff! Ingredients: – Choose 2 fruits (2 cups total): fresh strawberries, banana, fresh or frozen mango, blueberries, raspberries are favorites. -Choose 1 liquid (1 cup total): rice milk, almond, soy milk, dairy milk – Sweetener: ½- 1 tsp. stevia – Protein Booster: 2 tbsp. flax seeds – Options (1/2 cup total): cucumber (peel off), spinach, sunflower sprouts or avocado Add all ingredients to a blender, food processor or Vitamix and puree until smooth. Quick trick: premake “smoothie packs” by pre measuring and packing your solid ingredients together, placed in the freezer until ready to use. So many ways to enjoy fresh strawberries this June! Don’t miss your chance to make the most of them! By Elizabeth Borelli

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Power Dynamics in Parenting: A Kinder, Stronger Way Forward

growingupsc — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 00:21:32 +0000

Whether we recognize it or not, power is at play in every interaction between people. Eve Trook wrote about power dynamics between teachers and children in the early 80s. The work was groundbreaking, and to this day, when I present it, I see lots of light bulbs going off over people’s heads, so I thought I’d share it with you today! She offers that there are different types of power and that power is not positive or negative in and of itself. Power On Power On is power that takes away another person’s choice. Parents need this type of power, for example, when their child runs out into the street, we don’t want to crouch down, use a soft voice and have a conversation about whether that is a good idea or not. Power On is a very valuable type of power when used in the right circumstances. And in fact, if we are also using other types of power, we can ‘get away with’ using Power On when another type is more ideal, but we just don’t have the time or wherewithal to choose something else. For example, when everything just took longer than we thought and now we are late to a doctor’s appointment, a parent/child relationship that experiences a lot of power sharing can weather a “because I said so” or “I just need you to stop and get in the car right now”. But ideally, we use this type of power sparingly and look for other ways of using power that offer more to our children and, therefore, our relationship. Power For Power For is power used to facilitate another person’s experience or ability. We naturally use this as parents when we lift a child up to wash their hands or get them velcro close shoes before they are ready to learn to tie a bow. When we can select Power For instead of Power On, we build our children’s ability to do more and more things for themselves. If we overuse this type of power, though, we can find ourselves depleted. This is often because we are doing things for our children that they could be doing for themselves. Power With Power With is power used with another person so that we are experiencing something together, learning, or doing. Positive Discipline (PD) has many resources and tools for expressing this type of power because it is new to many of us when we begin to implement PD concepts and strategies. Sharing power doesn’t have to be exactly equal, but it can be. For example, if we go to a parent-and-me class, we are experiencing the activity or learning together as equal participants in the class or group. It could also be that we are setting up some limited choices for our children, all of which are okay with us, but sharing the power of choice WITH our children. Family Meetings are a quintessential PD tool for Power With. We sit down with a list of items to discuss. We might share a bonding moment (like one good thing and one challenging thing that happened today, or ‘something I’m proud of today is…’) We lay out any challenges to solve, bed time routines, who is driving whom to practice each day, or the state of the laundry baskets. And then we share ideas about how to resolve the challenge and make an agreement that we can all live with and take responsibility for. Anyone can add a topic to the family meeting agenda at any time. This is also a great way to set aside a conflict to discuss at a time when everyone is calm and ready to problem solve. I will never forget the day I got to the end of my rope doing all the chores in the household and brought “chores” to our family meeting. Together with my 8 and 6-year-olds, we brainstormed all the things that it took to keep our home and lives running smoothly. Then I asked them what things they were willing to take responsibility for because I was, at the time, doing them all, and I felt overwhelmed. I would NEVER have assigned them as many chores as they volunteered for that day. My ‘Power On” would have been poorly received, and I would not have received as much help as I got. I was in shock and so very grateful and proud. If we are used to using Power On a lot in our families, moving toward Power For and Power With can look like a huge time suck. It is true that, especially at the beginning, using Power For or Power With takes significantly more time. But I like to think of continuing to only use Power On as a game of Whack-A-Mole. We use the power, get what we need, and then have to turn around and use it again as soon as we turn our backs. When we invest in transferring power to our children, the initial time is paid back over and over again every time they do something for themselves and we don’t have to do it for them, or even eventually, to remind them to do it. One of the first activities we do in Positive Discipline parenting classes is an activity called Two Lists (feel free to grab a piece of paper and play along!) On one side of the page, we list all the things that challenge us about our children. On the other side, we list all the positive attributes we want our children to have as future adults. For example, we might note that our children are always asking questions, need our attention all the time, or are fighting with their siblings or friends. Then we note that we want our children to become wise, affectionate, problem-solvers. As you might have guessed already, the last step in seeing these two lists side by side is to notice that all the challenging behaviors on the left side can actually be seen as opportunities to teach one of the positive attributes on the right side. By helping our children investigate answers to their questions, they become wise/curious/able to learn. We can help them learn positive ways to ask for attention and give them tools for engaging in successful adult relationships. In interactions with our children, there is a natural imbalance of power because we, as parents, have wider life experience, a more developed logical brain, advanced skills, and greater responsibility. Challenges in parent/child relationships often arise when we use our power without understanding it, or even realizing that it exists in a conscious way. Three things that can happen when we use our power unconsciously: Our children feel disconnected from us, grow resentful or meek and helpless. We, as parents, feel exhausted because we are doing so much. We take away our children’s opportunity to learn. When we choose parenting actions that help our children learn life skills, we avoid the negative results of unconsciously using our power over them. When we use power consciously and carefully, these things can happen: Our children trust us, come to us in learning moments, and ask for our input and guidance. We transfer some responsibility for all the things that need to get done every day to our children. Our children feel like they are contributing to the family and have a sense of belonging and significance. Our children experience opportunities to fail and learn, become resilient, more capable, understand themselves better, and are able to make good choices without our constant input. If you take only one thing away from this article, I hope it is the simple awareness of how you use your power as a parent. Often it is simple awareness, not requiring yourself to make seachanges overnight, but just putting your attention on something, that can shift your success, gently and with appreciation for everything you are doing already, especially as a parent who is choosing to read an article like this one! Have compassion for yourself! You are doing it! Shira Coleman Hagar is a Positive Discipline parent educator and PD in the classroom facilitator. She is the mother of two teen boys, 18 and 15 and the wife of high school English teacher Jeffry Hagar. She is also a swing dance teacher and owner of DesigningWell. She has been gratefully using PD in her own relationships and work for the last 16 years. By Shira Coleman Hagar

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