May 2018 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

In Celebration of May Flowers: Book Recommendations

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 22:53:59 +0000

In Celebration of May Flowers: Book Recommendations By Michelle Spence The old English proverb “April showers bring may flowers” provides an anchor for this month’s book recommendations and an excuse to peruse seed catalogs, regardless of whether or not you will be planting a garden this spring. Here is a smattering of old and new gardening stories to share and inspire your gardening dreams or realities. Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert Bulb planting in the fall and seed sowing in the spring set the stage for a colorful flower garden all summer long. in the deceptively simple board book Planting a Rainbow, we discover the pace of a garden, the names of over 20 common flowers, and the progression of colors in a rainbow. A Seed Is Sleepy Written by Dianna Hutts Aston Illustrated by Sylvia Long For a more technical exploration of seeds and their grand diversity, the picture book A Seed Is Sleepy expands the botanical world from flowers to flowering plants. Sylvia Long’s beautiful ink-and-watercolor illustrations take us inside the spectacularly varied seed pods as well as underground to witness the seed become a sprout. The Rose in My Garden Written by Arnold Lobel Illustrated by Anita Lobel In this cumulative tale, we start with a single rose and travel along the garden path as the border grows hollyhocks interwoven with marigolds that lean over the daisies and nod to the pansies that are tucked under the tall sunflowers. And all of this setup before the action truly begins! Sort of like the act of gardening itself. Lovely to listen to, and really fun to read. The Gardener Written by Sarah Stewart Illustrated by David Small Lydia Grace’s letters to Uncle Jim, in preparation for her arrival, and to her mom, dad, and Grandma, in anticipation of her return, describe the emotional journey of a young girl sent to the big city while her parents secure work back in their rural town. Along with the hope that things will improve for her family, Lydia Grace brings with her a suitcase full of seeds and dreams of a garden. David small’s full-bleed illustrations read like those of a graphic novel, filling in the fine details of each letter while propelling the story forward. Gardening and good intentions abound. Tokyo Digs a Garden Written by Jon-Erik Lappano Illustrated by Kellen Hatanaka This modern-day fairy tale begins with a familiar trope. On a sunny spring day, a young boy named Tokyo is gifted with three magical seeds and instructed to “Plant these seeds…and they will grow into whatever you wish.” Tokyo, his parents, and a cat named Kevin live with his grandfather in a small house that has been dwarfed by the skyscrapers and billboards of their city. Lifting up a brick in his barren backyard, Tokyo sows the seeds in a smidgeon of soil and dreams of the forest that used to surround his grandfather’s house. He wakes to find three flowering plants, followed quickly (in hours!) by spongy moss, dense shrubs, and tall trees that grow up and over and through the buildings until the entire landscape is transformed into a lush and wild place. His father asks, “What are we going to do?” and Tokyo wisely responds, “I think that we will just have to get used to it.” Kellen Hatanaka’s mesmerizing illustrations combine ink, watercolor, and collage to stunning effect. What are we going to do? Michelle Spence is a children’s book-seller at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Her favorite books are the ones her kids can quote by heart.

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Hands On Cork Boats

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:34:45 +0000

Hands On Cork Boats By Jennifer K. Mahal What You Need -3 corks–same size -2 rubber bands -Toothpick -Construction paper or cardstock -Scissors -Optional: crayons, markers, or paint Look out upon Monterey Bay on any given day and you are likely to see a boat floating in the water. sail boats, row boats, fishing boats, even large Coast Guard cutters all float. But if you throw a rock in the water, it will sink! So how does a large boat made of heavy steel stay afloat while a small pebble ends up in Davy Jones’ locker? In ancient Greece, a scientist and mathematician named Archimedes discovered why things float. He wrote what is known as the Archimedes Principle, which says that when a solid object is placed in fluid, it experiences an upward force (buoyancy) that is equal to the weight of the fluid that the object pushes aside (displaces). If you’ve ever seen the water in your bathtub rise when get into it, you’ve seen Archimedes’ Principle in action. A large steel ship might weigh a lot, but the weight of the water it pushes aside is greater. In part, that’s because ships are built with hollow hulls. Because the water it displaces weighs more than the ship, the ship will float. A solid rock may not weigh much, but the water it pushes aside weighs even less, so it sinks. There is a rock that floats — pumice. That’s because pumice, which is lava that cooled very quickly, has many tiny bubbles of gas trapped in it. Pumice has been known to float for years before sinking. Cork, usually made from the bark of a tree called a cork oak, is also riddled with lots of tiny air pockets. the air in the holes help make cork lighter than the water it displaces. The weight of the cork pushing down is less than the force of the water pushing up. Boats may float with Archimedes Principle, but they also need stability if they want to avoid tipping over. On big boats, how one person moves won’t affect whether the boat capsizes (tips over). In a rowboat, however, where you place your weight changes the center of the boat’s gravity . That’s why sitting or standing on the side of a small boat is a sure way to get you and your gear all wet. Using three corks of the same size (wine corks work well), place them next to each other lengthwise. The corks should make a rectangle, like a raft. Fasten them together by stretching a rubber band around one of the outside edges. Use a second rubber band to secure the other side. This is the most difficult part of the project, as the corks like to slip. If the rubber band is too long, double it up. One rubber band may be enough, just make sure the corks are tightly together. Cut a small rectangle out of construction paper or cardstock. decorate it with crayon, marker or paint, if you like. Gently bend (do not fold) the paper lengthwise. Thread the toothpick from one side to the other. With the paper sail on the toothpick, firmly stick the toothpick into the middle cork. Now your boat is ready to sail on the high seas, or at least the local water table. Discover more science and art at the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery in the Capitola Mall. Learn more at www.sccmod.org. Jennifer K Mahal, who writes children’s books under the name Jenni Kaye, is a volunteer with the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery. She lives in Santa Cruz with her husband and two children.

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One Step at a Time Summer Camp Can Lead to a Lifelong Path

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 21:13:02 +0000

One Step at a Time Summer Camp Can Lead to a Lifelong Path By Bryan Miller The stairs at Pepperdine University were too big for me. They twisted themselves against the large hills of the college, climbing across the terrain for what felt like miles. Back then, scaling the stairs felt unwieldy and improbable, a feat meant for older, more experienced people. A feat for college students. I was not a college student. I was 12 years old. I was there playing tennis for five days as part of a summer camp. It was the first time I remember being exposed to a college campus, and I found it overwhelming. I slept in the dorm rooms at night and had breakfast at the cafeteria in the morning. The days were for playing tennis, the sound of skittering feet and jolted tennis balls filling the air. There was a loose freedom in what I was doing. There were also a lot of stairs, and many of them needed to be climbed. As the years passed, college failed to materialize in the way I thought it would. My collegiate career happened in fits and starts, like a car that wouldn’t turn over properly. Finally, at twenty-nine, I can safely say the engine is rumbling and the finish line is within my reach. The finish line is UCSC. Before that, the race took me through the creative writing program at Cabrillo College. But I’d like to say the race started when I was 12. College, to me, was a place situated along the ocean, a blue sky unfurling above. I’ve been working towards that image that school left me with ever since. Santa Cruz County doesn’t have a private university like Pepperdine, but I don’t think it needs one—it has Cabrillo College. After hearing about underwater robotics programs and a Kuumbwa jazz camp, I found it interesting these programs weren’t geared for college students. They were geared for youth—Cabrillo wants to create future college students. I sat down with them to learn more. I discovered Cabrillo Extension offers a summer youth program with dozens of summer camps fostering curiosity in STEM fields, creative arts, sports, and other careers catering to the burgeoning scientist as much as the novice athlete. “Summer camps like the ones at Cabrillo give students an opportunity to explore things they don’t often have in their mainstream school,” said Marco Lucadano, who teaches the Cabrillo Extension camp Creative Visual design and illustration. “They may discover they have a special talent and then keep exploring it for the rest of their lives.” I stopped playing tennis sophomore year in high-school. Growing up, my interests were not athletic interests. At twelve years old, I was more invested in reading comic books and imagining myself flying an X-Wing. I thought of planets and stars and the life cycle of our galaxy. Looking back on it, I wonder how my life would’ve turned out had I gone to one of Cabrillo’s week-long summer camps that taught kids about space or how to draw comic books. The fact that three of Cabrillo’s camps have the word “Jedi” in their title reinforces my point. Back then, if I had to choose between tennis and Star Wars, I would’ve fought Darth Vader to get off the court. Had I gone to one of the extension’s Jedi-themed camps, I would’ve explored my love of Star Wars while learning about key engineering concepts. I can’t definitively say going to the camp would’ve automatically unleashed a hidden passion for engineering, but I can say the camp would’ve met my passion for Star Wars on my terms, in a way that took it seriously. The program would’ve helped me articulate why I’m passionate about certain things and found ways to express them. It would have reinforced the fact that college was fun and welcoming “College is often portrayed by adults and in media as this monolithic, challenging, intimidating thing,” said Alicia Bierson, who teaches coding, video game design and other technology and science camps through Cabrillo Extension Summer Youth Program. “By attending summer camps on campus, students get to break down some of those myths and actually see the campus and the classrooms.” The Cabrillo Extension’s Aummer Youth Program is in the business of putting kids on a college campus to help them find their passion early on in life, and to make sure they feel at home on their campus. It supports the future athlete as much as it supports the future paleontologist or electrical engineer or farm-to-table chef. At Cabrillo, there are fewer stairs to climb, and there are so many people to help you along the way. It took me a long time to figure out I loved writing, and even longer to realize I loved space. Who knows what would’ve happened if my love of astronomy was nourished at a young age in the same way tennis was. I probably would’ve thought about college sooner—I would’ve realized my passion could be properly conceived and supported by getting a degree. I don’t regret graduating college later than most of my peers. Part of that was because of Cabrillo—they met me where I was and helped me figure out what I was passionate about. I learned you can start your journey early. You can be on a college campus at nine years old, building and programming robots using LEGOs. Or you can walk onto the campus at forty with no idea of what you want to do. Regardless, Cabrillo will meet you. You just have to be willing to take the first few steps. Trust me, in the end—it’s worth it. When Bryan Miller isn’t working in corporate film, he’s hammering away at his novel or reading a good book. He’s very excited to be graduating UCSC in June. You can follow him on twitter @bmiller808. To learn more about Cabrillo Extension go to cabrillo-extension.org or call them at 831-479-6331

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E-Bikes: Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em They’re Here to Stay

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:54:27 +0000

E-Bikes: Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em They’re Here to Stay The Newest Cycle Tech Levels the Playing Field for All Ages By Karen Kefauver Photo Credit: Ivo Obregon. Crystal Obregon pedals her two kids, Carolina, 4, and Sean, 1, in Santa Cruz, on her Xtra- cycle brand electric bike in Santa Cruz in 2007, on the way up to ride trails in UC Santa Cruz. I admit I was a snob when it came to electric bikes. for years, I thought people who rode e-bikes were generally lazy, out of shape and worst of all, a potential danger to those of us who knew how to ride “real” bikes. As friends started buying e-bikes and raving about what fun they were, I quietly dismissed them as lost souls, former cyclists who were abandoning fitness for trendiness. Then, suddenly last fall, my feelings shifted when I finally rode an e-bike for the first time in Big Sur. Throughout the summer, I’d seen glorious photos of friends cycling that world-famous coastline, thrilled to have miles of stunning, car-free highway 1 to themselves after winter storms had destroyed nearly all vehicle access and the road was closed during months of repairs. When my friend Chelsea suggested we rent e-bikes for a Big Sur day trip, I seized this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. though it hurt my ego, I agreed to rent an e-bike, rationalizing that my pal probably wasn’t in shape for the 18-mile ride. At the rental shop, I climbed astride a RadMini e-bike, sporting 20-inch fat tires and weighing a little over 60 pounds. this wasn’t a bike, it was a beast! After a tutorial, I finally understood the difference between throttle and pedal assist. My rental bike, like many e-bikes, had both. The throttle mode is similar to how a motorcycle or scooter operates. When the throttle is engaged, the motor provides power and propels you and the bike forward. A throttle allows you to pedal or just relax and enjoy a “free” ride. With pedal assist, there is only power when you are pedaling. As our adventure unfolded over the next few hours, I was stunned, not just by sweeping vistas of jagged cliffs plunging into the Pacific, but by how much fun I was having zipping along on the e-bike. I was pedaling steadily, even working up a sweat at times, but also savoring breaks by using the throttle to help me up hills, far more hills than I had remembered. e-bikes weren’t just for sissies after all! By the end of the afternoon, the most humbling realization was that I was not nearly as fit as I had thought. In fact, I wouldn’t have reached our destination of the beautiful McWay waterfall had I not been on an e-bike. I returned to Santa Cruz a changed woman and eager to revisit the topic of e-bikes with friends. When they were just becoming popular, I had snickered with my fellow mountain biker David Giannini about e-bikes. “I thought if you can’t ride your bike, take up another sport or hobby,” recalled the 71-year-old Santa Cruz resident. “That was my position until I rode an e-bike. Then I was like, ‘Wow this is a total game changer!’” His change of heart happened when he could no longer keep up with the high school mountain bikers he’d been coaching since 2007. During their three-hour trail rides at Wilder Ranch, he noticed the fun and purpose were fading. But the e-bike leveled the playing field. Ii could keep up with all of the kids,” he said. “It was amazing. All of the sudden, my ability to mentor young riders was restored.” While David was chasing teens on his e-bike, my friend Crystal Obregon was hauling kids. We reminisced about how she had bundled her daughter, Carolina, and son, Sean, then about 4 and a half and 1 respectively, on an e-bike for trips to the farmer’s market, swim lessons and pre-school. “With the e-bike, I could get some exercise and fresh air and not be stuck in the car with the kids,” said Crystal, whose husband Ivo bought the bike to keep them all pedaling together. “It’s not fun to get little kids in and out of the car. it’s easier on the bike and more exciting for them too.” While Crystal’s days of schlepping kids are long gone, Dieter Ramaekers is gearing up for a new cyclist in the family. The Belgian native rides a pedal-assist e-bike with Esme, almost 3, strapped in front while his wife Susie rides alongside on her bike. They’re expecting a daughter this summer and their massive, 7-speed, wooden-framed “Dutch Bakery Bike” has ample space for two passengers with what looks like a massive wheel- barrow in the front. Esme can sit inside it on a bench equipped with safety straps and eventually the baby will have her car seat secured inside. for added fitness, Dieter refrains from using the motor except when climbing the steepest hills. “We ride along West Cliff, through Natural Bridges state Park, to the farmer’s market, downtown, pick her up at school,” said Dieter. “If you’re mindful and careful of traffic and the weather is nice, it’s great. It feels safe for her seated in front of me. The air is nice here, you get some sun, Vitamin D. Life slows down. The kids love it.” Photo Credit: Dieter Ramaekers: Susie Kavanagh Ramaekers rides alongside her toddler, Esme, on west cliff drive while her husband, Dieter Ramaekers pedals the e-bike. The family rides there several times a week for fun in the summer. While I’m now officially an e-bike fan and especially love seeing families biking together, I still believe there are many valid concerns about the safety of e-bikes on roads and trails. As the global market for e-bikes surges towards a multi-billion dollar business, these issues will move to the forefront. Meanwhile, I don’t look forward to the day when an impatient e-biker wants to pass me while I’m huffing and puffing up a single-track trail. What’s changed my attitude towards e-bikes is how they open up a world of possibilities for biking for those who couldn’t or wouldn’t have cycled otherwise. And to those folks, I say, more power to you! Bike Share Program Launches in Santa Cruz The City of Santa Cruz, in partnership with Jump Bicycles, will roll out its new bike sharing program during Santa Cruz Bike Week, May 4-12, with a ribbon cutting at noon, May 22, at City Hall. The fleet of 250 orange e-bikes will be available to the public at 27 locations citywide. The 8-speed JUMP brand bikes are electric assist, meaning they are powered only when pedaling. City of Santa Cruz transportation Planner Amelia Conlen said that Uber’s announcement last month that it is buying Jump Bikes, (for a rumored $200 million) “does not affect the Santa Cruz program – same staff, launch timeline,” said Conlen. “They’re excited about the potential to launch in more cities with Uber’s support.” “We see this as an opportunity to introduce people to biking who haven’t biked before,” Conlen said, noting that the bike share program is designed for short trips around town and ideal for beating rush hour traffic. There are monthly passes and pay-as-you-go options — $2 for 30 minutes and after that, about $.07 per minute. Riders must be 18 years old. For details, visit www.cityof santacruz.com/government/city- departments/public-works/traffic- engineering/bike-share.

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Ask Nicole: Preventing Parental Burnout

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:25:57 +0000

Ask Nicole: Preventing Parental Burnout By Nicole M. Young, MSW Being a parent is hard work, even when you love your kids deeply. In some ways, parenting has gotten easier as my kids have grown older. The days and sleepless nights filled with dirty diapers, tantrums, and shopping trips gone wild are long gone. I have more energy to enjoy being their mom. in other ways, parenting has gotten harder as they’ve grown older. the exhaustion from constantly being “on” when they were little has been replaced by exhaustion from constantly negotiating family rules and trying to figure out when it’s time to be involved in their business and when it’s time to stay on the sidelines. There have been times over the years when the exhaustion has left me feeling frustrated, ineffective and burnt out as a parent. in those moments, I’ve had to remind myself it’s ok to take a step back and take care of my own needs so that iI can step back in and be a positive parent. This monthly column provides tips for anyone who is raising children, based on the world-renowned triple P – Positive Parenting Program, available to families in Santa Cruz County. If you have questions for a future column, email me at triplep@first5scc.org. Dear Nicole, I enjoy being a mother…most of the time. I work full-time and have three kids under age 10. They’re great kids but need a lot from me. My husband is also wonderful, but when he’s not working, he just wants to watch TV. Most of the time, I just keep going because I have to. But sometimes I get stressed and lose my temper, and then I feel like a terrible parent, which makes me more stressed and angry and then no one wants to be around me. What can I do to break this cycle? – Luz Dear Luz, I think you just described the daily life of many parents! Being a parent can be extremely rewarding, and it can be extremely demanding, exhausting, and stressful. many parents experience “parental burnout,” especially when they feel a lack of control, overloaded, underappreciated, or isolated. here are some tips to try: Develop a Self-Care Routine This might seem impossible or impractical, but taking care of your needs will make it easier to be calm, patient, and present. Think about activities that make you feel content, relaxed, relieved, or energized – perhaps it’s exercising, listening to music, sitting in silence, cooking, or socializing with friends. Try building in time to do at least one of those things every day, even if it’s for five minutes at a time. focus on making it part of your daily routine so that it becomes a habit, like getting dressed or brushing your teeth. Ask Your Partner for Support Talk to your husband about the stress you’re experiencing. Give him some examples of ways he could support you – helping with chores, watching the kids while you take time for yourself, or helping with morning or nighttime routines – then ask if he’s willing to support you in this way. Let him know that getting this type of support is important for your physical and emotional health and will help you be fully present and available for the whole family. Teach Your Children to Do Things Independently It might feel like extra work to teach children how to get dressed, feed themselves, help with chores, or cooperate with each other, but the reward will be worth it when these and other daily tasks require less of your time. Teaching children these skills early in life will also build their confidence and ability to learn new skills and behaviors throughout their lives. Have Realistic Expectations and Be Kind to Yourself Recognize when you’re feeling overloaded and resist the temptation to say yes to everything. Remember there’s no such thing as a perfect parent or partner, and it’s exhausting to try to be everything for everyone. When you’re feeling stressed, take some deep breaths and say, “I’ve got this,” or “I will get through this.” If you lose your temper, give yourself permission to take a “time out” away from the stressful situation. Take a few deep breaths and tell yourself, “I’m doing the best I can. I will try again.” Final Thoughts Parental burnout is a real thing. this is why taking care of yourself is one of the core principles of positive parenting. If it feels foreign to put your needs first, start with something small and do it consistently so that taking care of yourself becomes as natural as breathing air. Nicole Young is the mother of two children, ages 14 and 18, 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 De- partment. To find a Triple P parenting class or practitioner, visit http://triplep.first5scc.org, www.face- book.com/triplepscc or contact First 5 Santa Cruz County at 465-2217 or triplep@first5scc.org.

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Coping with First-Time Camp Experiences

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 19:18:37 +0000

Coping with First-Time Camp Experiences by Peg Smith For thousands, the camp experience has been a long-standing family tradition. For others, the camp experience seems almost counterintuitive. Send your child off to camp for maybe weeks at a time? “As parents, recognizing that you and your child are growing and learning on a journey together is key to adequately preparing yourself and your child for any type of separation, including going to camp for the first time,” states Peg Smith, former chief executive officer of the American Camp Association (ACA)*. Following are helpful tips to consider as you ask yourself, “Who’s going through separation anxiety, me or my child?” Separation is a part of growing up. Find opportunities to give your child independence in safe, structured surroundings with caring adults such as the camp environment. Understanding that healthy separation prepares your child to be a confident, productive adult, sometimes makes the process more successful. Understand that separation is natural and necessary; remember your baby’s first crawl, the first time your child stepped onto a school bus, and the overnight at a friend’s or relative’s – these memories are all important developmental phases you and your child successfully encountered. Each successful separation gives your child confidence for the next challenge. Recognize and expect success. Implement steps to help prepare you and your child to have a smooth transition to camp by using the tips in “Preparing Children for the Summer Camp Experience.” Both parents and children benefit from these recommendations. Share the experience. Ask the right questions about the camp you are choosing for your child and be sure to match your child’s interest and age to the appropriate camp atmosphere. “Making the Most of the Interview” can give you helpful ideas about what questions to ask. Gathering information about the camp will make you feel better about your decisions. Recognize separating from your child may be just as difficult for you as for your child, maybe even more so. Opportunities for children to experience healthy, successful separation help your child discover who they are and to recognize their strengths. “As children prepare to eventually leave home permanently, I often wonder who is being prepared during each separation experience throughout a child’s life – the growing child or the maturing adult,” comments Smith. “I think it proves learning is a lifelong process.” *Peg Smith retired as CEO of the American Camp Association on January 1, 2015. Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2018, American Camping Association, Inc. About ACA: The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization with more than 11,000 individual members and 3,000 member camps. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy and evidence-based education and professional development, and is the only national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accredits approximately 2,400 diverse camps nationally. Accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, and overall well-being of both campers and staff. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.

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Birth Happens: Reading Can Help

Laura Maxson — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 18:59:17 +0000

Birth Happens: Reading Can Help By Laura Maxson, LM Birth Happens-Reading Can Help is one of a series of ongoing, collaborative projects from Birth Happens Santa Cruz. Posters of recommended books for expectant parents will be featured on a monthly basis, with the first poster featuring recommendations by Birth Network of Santa Cruz County. Their poster of five recommended books can be seen during the month of May at Bookshop Santa Cruz. Birth Happens is a series of ongoing projects organized by three local midwives, Elizabeth Yznaga, Linda Walsh and Kate Bowland. The three, with the help of other volunteers, have brought us Midwives at the MAH, an interactive exhibit on the history of birth in Santa Cruz County and “Tell us a Good Birth Story” a chance to share and learn from the stories and experiences of others around birth. The Birth Happens group has plans for an exhibit on the history of birth in the Santa Cruz Mountains at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum, more Tell Us a Good Birth Story opportunities, and the anticipation of a book (or two) resulting from these collaborations. Birth Network of Santa Cruz County’s recommended book list is certainly not all-inclusive at just five. There are many options and opinions out there for navigating the journey to parenthood – so many, in fact, that it can be a bit overwhelming. Preparing for childbirth is a process that can benefit greatly from a few good books and Birth Network has given parents a place to begin. The Birth Partner, A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions by Penny Simkin, is newly updated in the 2017 version. Simkin is a well-known childbirth educator and doula who has written many books on birth in her 50 years involved in childbirth. The Birth Partner is a unique resource in that it is perfectly suited for the birth bag. Anyone helping to support at a labor can pick up this book and find helpful tips for just about any scenario. A must read as preparation by parents-to-be, it can also be handed to a sister or friend at a birth to quickly find ways to be supportive or troubleshoot a specific problem. Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation, by Pam England and Rob Horowitz, comes from the childbirth classes of the same name. There are many small chapters featuring stories, projects and information for the expecting parent. From ancient wisdom to high-tech interventions, Birthing From Within helps with exploration of options and feelings as opposed to instructing what to do. The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger is a classic. Although Kitzinger is no longer with us, her words and expertise live on to educate and inspire new generation of families. While the recommendation could easily read “anything by Sheila Kitzinger” The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth is a great place to start. Filled with photos, diagrams and words of wisdom, parents will find reassurance and a clear understanding of the process of childbirth. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by midwife Ina May Gaskin is an important read. Pulling from decades of experience as a midwife on a commune in rural Tennessee, Gaskin knows how bodies work in nature to give birth. Recognizing that most births are not taking place on a commune, she offers parents a mix of birth stories, science and healthy appreciation of the birth process. With a focus on the often-underestimated role of hormones and the environment on childbirth, parents are given tools to begin to shape plans for decisions about care provider, place of birth, and other important options. Sweet Sleep: Nighttime and Naptime Strategies for the Breastfeeding Family by La Leche League International,‎ Diane Wiessinger,‎ Diana West,‎ Linda J. Smith,‎ and Teresa Pitman. Sweet Sleep recognizes that the breastfed baby and parent have specific sleep considerations. Presenting current research, along with La Leche League’s decades of experience with breastfeeding families, this book offers a close look at different sleeping arrangements and sleep expectations. Parents, bombarded with “never ever” safe sleep messages, can end up in unintentionally dangerous sleep situations. This book provides the reasoning behind current recommendations, along with ways to evaluate each individual family’s risk. Parents can feel better informed about making sleep decisions. Books play an important role in opening a dialog and creating conversation around childbirth. Birth Happens group – birthhappenssantacru@gmail.com Book Shop Santa Cruz -www.bookshopsantacruz.com/womens-voices Meet the Doulas – Saturday May 26th 4-6pm Birth Network upcoming events page – www.birthnet.org Happy Mothers Day, May 13

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A Park by any Other Name: The Secrets of Anna Jean Cummings Park

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 18:37:14 +0000

A Park by any Other Name The Secrets of Anna Jean Cummings Park By Ann Carin Niland The Anna Jean Cummings Park is one of the most recognizable in Santa Cruz County, but some don’t even know its real name, still more people don’t know about everything the park has to offer, and almost no one knows about some of the interesting things that have happened at the park known locally as Blue Ball Park. If you only drive by, you would never now that the park is 96.7 acres divided into three uses. The Park’s Name Anna Jean Cummings was the Founder and Executive Director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. She was also a leading member of the Save Soquel group that advocated for the preservation and protection of the O’Neill Ranch for public use and the residents of Soquel. From purchasing the land to the grand opening of the Anna Jean Cummings Park, 20 years passed. Cummings died of cancer before she could see the completion of the park she worked so hard to create. To honor her hard work, the park was named after her. The lower level of the park that can be seen from the road provides a large playground that is split into two age groups so younger children can safely enjoy the structures without being underfoot of the faster moving older kids. There are also large covered pavilion spaces with multiple picnic tables for gathering, as well as smaller picnic tables, some of which are shaded and others let you sit in the sun. There is also a large grassy field that people use to play active games, lounge, fly kites and throw a Frisbee around. This field also provides the park with a buffer against the busy street which helps the park feel safe without having to put up fencing. On the day I visited the park, for Danae Miller 31 and her son Brayden, 3 the field was the perfect place to shoot off a small air compression rocket. But the rocket was temporarily forgotten once he caught sight of the slide. “Both my kids love the slides,” said Miller. She also has a daughter Reese, 5, and she has been bringing her children to the park for years and watching them grow to enjoy more of what the park has to offer. The Slide The slide has gone through three incarnations so far. A hillside slide is never something that rolls off an assembly line, it must be custom made to fit the landscape. The first was a single 5-foot-wide bright yellow fiberglass slide that moved people so fast it had to be closed a week after it opened. “When you got to the bottom and you hit that curve, it semi-ejected you out into the sand,” said the Superintendent of the Parks Department Gretchen Iliff. It also didn’t help that the bright yellow color left its mark on the back side of anyone brave enough to go down it. “I was the first one down it,” said Iliff. “My butt was completely yellow from the paint on the fiberglass.” After only one week all the yellow had been rubbed off the slide, and was no doubt destined for washing machines all over the county. “The skateboarders loved it,” said Iliff. But a lot of safety regulations go into any park structure and after numerous complaints it was clear the first slide had to be replaced. The second incarnation was plastic. Like the slide of today it had the little bumps that slowed riders as they went down. But after only a couple years the plastic was so warped it too needed to be replaced. Thankfully, the Parks Department stuck with the idea of having a slide, and they installed the two metal slides that the park still has today. Metal is long lasting, but they quickly discovered the slides would get extremely hot, so the current large shade structure was added to protect riders from superheated metal. Heart Attack Hill The big hill that’s home to the slides has been nick named Heart Attack Hill. because as you climb the staircase that leads to the upper fields you might feel as if you’re going to be taking a trip to the hospital. It is thought that the hill used to be less steep before construction of Soquel Wish School. The contractors moved a lot of fill dirt into the space making the hill much steeper. If you can brave the staircase you will find two large ball fields for softball, baseball and soccer, surrounded by a level walking path. Beyond the ball fields there is a large greenway with a looping trail that nature lovers use to enjoy light hiking, spring flowers and wildlife. The Road to Recovery If you’ve ever walked the track surrounding the ball fields, you might have missed the brick sized plaques nestled along the edge of the grass. The plaques display words of encouragement from young people that have struggled with addiction and have been successfully rehabilitated. In 2001, a group of parents approached the parks department in about installing The Road to Recovery. The young people that participated in the project wrote short poems or statements in an attempt to persuade other young people not to get involved with drugs or alcohol and to make healthier choices. The parent group raised all the funds necessary for the project. If you can brave the staircase you will find two large ball fields for softball, baseball and soccer, surrounded by a level walking path. Beyond the ball fields there is a large greenway with a looping trail that nature lovers use to enjoy light hiking, spring flowers and wildlife. Birds at the Park Late one night, soon after the park’s grand opening, people living around the park called Iliff to tell her there was an owl stuck in the soccer net. She rushed to the park and called animal control. “They asked ‘what kind of owl is it?’” recalled Iliff. “And I said ‘Well I don’t know. A really mad one.’” When the park first opened the groundskeepers left the soccer nets up all night; now the nets are taken down every evening. Not only does the Parks Department want the owls to be safe, they need the owls’ help to keep the gopher population in check. The superintendent might not have been able to identify the owl’s genus, but there are many people dedicated to the hobby of birding that might have. When they spot a bird they take photographs, log dates and locations. Along with a local favorite the Pygmy Nuthatch, there have been well over 100 birds identified at the park – not to mention three owls. The list of bird sightings can be found here: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1805571 The Artists Behind the Sky Balls Each ball is 6,000 pounds, nine feet in diameter, hollow, constructed out of rebar and cement and they all cost $50,000. “The Sky Balls as we try, and try, and try to call them are a focal point for the park,” said Iliff. Soon after they were installed people started adding their own touches to the art. Someone, somehow, got one of the Green Waste recycling bins up on top of the highest sphere. A few members of the community have tried to add their art to the highest one by painting different things on it. On the list are a man’s genitals, the trucking thumb and the world. Iliff says that she was dismayed to have to paint over the world. “It was cool. But that wasn’t the intent of the installation,” she said. The Parks Department has a large bucket of blue paint and a brush ready and waiting for any such occasion. “For some reason it’s always the top one,” said Iliff. And it has been that way since the very first night the Sky Balls were installed when someone tried to break off the highest ball. “Somebody thought it would be a good idea to roll one of those suckers down the hill,” said Steve Gillman, 72. Gillman and Katherine Keefer, 71, are the creators of the towering public art. What we see today used to be eight individual half spheres. These massive objects had a very active life before coming to live on Heart Attack Hill. Hauled from the San Francisco Bay Area, dangled precariously from a crane, after carefully threading the pole through holes in each of the 3,000-pound half spheres was quite a project. The round molds weren’t perfectly round either and they needed to be aligned exactly right as well. “It was a long process,” said Gillman. The next day the artist came back for finishing touches. “I remember coming back to paint them and someone–probably kids, had set up a fulcrum and a pry bar, and they had bent the pry bar,” said Gillman. “But of course they couldn’t move it because–I don’t even know what it would take to move it… more than a pry bar.” Thankfully the stunt wasn’t successful. “That was a tricky installation,” said Gillman. “Steve is absolutely fabulous at figuring out how to do stuff,” said Keefer. Gillman recalls the process of finding inspiration for the Sky Balls. “Katherine had a bunch of these ceramic balls around another sculpture. They were glazed sky blue.” Gillman asked Keefer, “What are those little blue balls that you put around your sculptures?” Keefer responded “I don’t know. They’re sky balls” Gillman chuckled as he remembered envisioning them on the hill “Wouldn’t that be fanciful.” “It is your vision, but it’s not about you,” says Keefer. “One thing I like about public art is that it’s big, and when you walk into it it’s visceral. Hopefully you’re going to become a part of that whole experience. It’s still a human scale, but it’s not. Your whole body is in relationship to it.” When the art is right for the space Keefer says, “It energize, and calms, and informs an entire space.” It is important to both artists that the work they do is in harmony with the landscape they are working with. The history of the space, the people that live near by, the way the space is used, and the budget are among the considerations. “You can do anything you can think of if you can do it in a budget,” says Keefer “And that is really fun if you can find people that can do really high quality beautiful work that can make it come true.” Keefer enjoys working with everyone involved in the process. There are landscape architects, committee officials, and sometimes the public gets involved. But the most important part of the project is respecting the space. “We both really like to work with the land,” said Keefer. “So that it fits into the place, and becomes part of the place. Sky Balls was successful that way.” Says Gillman, “You follow where the sight suggests you go, and something happens. A kind of collaboration between the sight and the artist. Although usually the sight isn’t consciously aware of that, or maybe it is. Who knows? Who am I to say?” “I learned a long time ago that if you try to please everybody you please nobody,” says Gillman. “If people own it, if the neighborhood owns it and it becomes theirs then that is successful,” said Keefer

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New Boys & Girls Clubhouse Opens

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 18:29:22 +0000

New Boys & Girls Clubhouse Opens The large Joe and Linda Aliberti Clubhouse will Serve Kids and Teens in Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley By Bob Langseth Starting in April 2018, families in Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley now have a new after-school and summer option for their kids. Ideal for children of working parents, and open to all children, the new Joe & Linda Aliberti Clubhouse in Scotts Valley offers a broad range of educational, enrichment and recreation activities to provide quality programming for a child’s “out-of-school” time. Memberships are $75 per year. Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Cruz County (BGCSCC), the largest year-round youth development organization in Santa Cruz County, serves more than 2,000 youth members ages 6-18 through academic, art, teen and recreation programs. The new Joe & Linda Aliberti Clubhouse is the third Clubhouse of the BGCSCC, which also operates clubs in downtown Santa Cruz and Live Oak. BGCSCC offers affordable, safe and thriving community hubs with skilled, caring professionals who understand where youth are coming from and work with them to shape their path towards a great future. The Joe & Linda Aliberti Clubhouse features a 3,000 square foot building and 12,000 square foot outside play area. A “walking bus,” with Club staff escorting students from Vine Hill Elementary School and Scotts Valley Middle School to the Club, will be available each day after school. Clubhouse programs and activities will include homework help and tutoring, computer and technology programs, arts and crafts projects, sports games and activities. Special program opportunities are also planned for youth 13 years and over. The new Clubhouse is open for afterschool programming from: 2:00p.m. – 7:00p.m. (M, T, Th, F) and 12:30p.m. – 7:00p.m. on Wednesdays. Summer programs will take place 7:30a.m. – 6:00 p.m. weekdays beginning June 11. “The Joe & Linda Aliberti Clubhouse will be an important community resource and asset for Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley families,” said Bruce McPherson, Santa Cruz County 5th District Supervisor. “Now working parents and families will have an affordable, safe, fun and supported option for their children during out of school time.” “We’re thrilled that Joe and Linda Aliberti’s vision to provide a safe and supportive place for kids and teenagers is now a reality. Their unwavering belief in the project and what it will mean for kids has been inspirational,” said BGCSCC Executive Director Bob Langseth. “We’re looking forward to positively impacting the lives of children and the community throughout Scotts Valley and San Lorenzo Valley.” Learn more at 831-423-3138, www.boysandgirlsclub.info or facebook.com/BoysAndGirlsClubSantaCruz.

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May 2018 Editor’s Note

growingupsc — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 00:31:20 +0000

May 2018 Editors Note Kim Allen has been a largely unheralded Santa Cruz hero. Two decades ago she started Growing Up in Santa Cruz, providing countless resources to parents and their kids who are growing up in the most wonderful county on Earth. She was one of only a few women at the top of the publishing industry and put together a successful monthly free newspaper overcoming great odds and challenges. She’s helped two generations of kids, some of them grown up and now working for her paper. She donated to area nonprofits, letting people know about their work. She sponsored local events, including the Cabrillo Music Festival and Kid’s Day downtown, of which she was one of the founders. She’s a bright spot, known all over the community. That’s why we were lucky when she decided to turn over her baby to us. Having two kids grow up with Growing Up and now, with our 2-year-old son, we wanted to quit working for other people and devote ourselves to our main priorities, family and kids, and sharing the information every family needs about raising children here in Santa Cruz. Brad has been a lifelong journalist, going from his first job at Good Times to the San Jose Mercury News and the Gilroy Dispatch. He also teaches journalism at Cabrillo College. Jennifer wrote for the successful online publication, Santa Cruz Patch. She has worked as a children’s photographer and has steadily helped in classrooms throughout the years with both her grade school kids. We’re looking to continue Kim’s work and hoping to move it into the future. We’ll make the paper more colorful and more local, hoping to encourage your letters, freelance stories and photos. You’ll see already we’ve brought in some popular local writers. We’ve also brought in a new web designer, Diana Fitts, who built a new site, www.growingupsc.com. We are building a stronger presence on Instagram and Facebook. We’re looking for parents and teachers who want to blog on our site. We’d love some from every school in town. We also want your letters and ideas for columns and articles. Send them to editor@growingupsc.com Thanks for your support and we’re looking forward to growing with everyone in Santa Cruz. Jennifer Ford, Brad Kava

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