“Oh, I’d want to keep them all.” This tenderhearted response is the most common one I get when I tell people that I foster kittens for the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter. I just smile, saying that my husband and I call ourselves The Mackenzie Finishing School for Felines. We enroll a new class, help them grow in all the ways, they graduate and go on to their new forever lives, and then we get some more! I’ve been known to bring kittens back and take new ones home the same day, earning me the title of ‘The Kitten Flipper.’ My experience with fostering has been with the SCCAS, so…
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Breaking Up With Amazon
Ending a relationship is never easy, but in this case the reason was undeniable. Right there in black and white. Line after line after line (after line!) on my Visa statement. It was time to break up with Amazon. No one said this was going to be easy. Amazon can be an addiction: the convenience, the returns, the anonymity. But there must be a better way. But who would I start seeing instead? Wanting to keep things light, I fooled around a little with Facebook Marketplace. At first, that seemed to have decent potential. But it’s weird how quickly it starts to feel like a dating app. And not in…
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Breaking the Cycle of Bullying
When I was in “junior high school,” which is what middle school used to be called, I struggled to find a group of friends who felt like a fit. My parents were educators and I grew up while they were in graduate school; I never experienced wealth, and yet, their teaching jobs allowed me to attend a private school in Beverly Hills for free. They wanted me to have a private school education, but it came at the cost of me fitting-in. It wasn’t just class and status, I was pretty different from the other students in many ways. I had a broken home and family life was strained; I…
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Can We Stop Bullying in Schools?
We all watched the bully in junior high school. But imagine that you are the younger, or the smaller, or the less assertive one. Or maybe you’re the neurodivergent kid, or you are gay, or you speak with a French accent. Somehow, you are different. You start getting tripped in the hallway, your books are knocked out of your hands, chocolate milk is poured down your shirt while dozens of kids howl with laughter and gather around the bully, clapping him on the back. You’re called harsher and harsher names, your bicycle is wrecked, kids throughout the school smirk as you pass by. Your bully convinces you that he wants…
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Santa Cruz Celebrates Kids Day While Facing Hard Truths About Racism
On the good news front, May 3 is Kids Day downtown, the most wonderful transformation of Santa Cruz into a huge family festival with kids playing music, dancing, being DJs, acting, doing art, you name it. Streets are closed to cars and booths of kids’ programs are set up along the streets by Abbott Square. If you want to see the city at its shiniest and most fun, come down and check it out from noon to 4pm. If you won our coloring contest and can bring in your photo from the issue to our Growing Up in Santa Cruz booth, we have prizes for you. First come, first served.…
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Spring’s Spiky Treasure: Why It’s Time to Love Artichokes
Spring’s Spiky Treasure: Why It’s Time to Love Artichokes May is peak artichoke season here in Santa Cruz — and all along the Central Coast. Just a short drive down Highway 1, you’ll find Castroville, the proud Artichoke Capital of the World, where these quirky green globes grow in abundance. This is when the harvest is in full swing, and the local markets are overflowing. At first glance, artichokes might not scream kid-friendly. They look a bit like alien pine cones with an attitude. But looks can be deceiving. Once cooked, their soft, mild flavor and tender leaves make them surprisingly versatile — great as a side dish, a salad…
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Where Does Money Come From?
Has a curious kid ever asked you, “Where does money come from?” You’re not alone! To children, it often feels like money just appears. Adults swipe cards, tap their phones, or hand over bills, and suddenly, groceries, toys, or clothes appear. However, understanding where money comes from, and how it works, is one of the most important lessons we can teach children. This knowledge builds a strong foundation for lifelong financial skills. To help you tackle the topic with your child, we’ve broken it down into simple, kid-friendly basics you can explore together. Why do we have money? Many years ago, before money was created, people participated in something called…
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New CEO Brings Global Experience to Local Housing Efforts
Catherine Stihler’s leadership journey spans the globe, with a proven track record of driving success in two major nonprofits— the Open Knowledge Foundation and Creative Commons. Her strategic vision, financial acumen, and commitment to innovation have propelled both organizations to new heights. With two decades of experience shaping European policy and navigating the complex intersection of regulation and progress, Catherine’s expertise uniquely positions her to lead and inspire. Now, as the new CEO of Habitat for Humanity Monterey Bay, she is poised to channel her wealth of experience into creating lasting change and building stronger communities across the region. Today, Catherine is excited about making a difference in her new…
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Democracy Begins At Home
In Solidarity, Compassion and Action We’d like to acknowledge that many of us feel scared, angry, overwhelmed, and powerless in the wake of political decisions that threaten people, institutions, and our democracy. While no easy solution exists, it may be helpful to remember to “think globally; act locally” and to “be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Along those lines, also remember that Positive Discipline isn’t just a parenting methodology; it’s a global organization practiced in more than 90 countries worldwide, and it’s a social change organization strengthening democracy through the development of respectful relationships. The Parenting Styles We Inherited Parents are their children’s first teachers,…
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Local Legend Honored in Wake of Mental Health Struggles
Capitola homeowner and Greek Bay Area Legend, Sam Anagnostou — or as I knew him, Uncle Sammy, my uncle who felt more like a father and best friend, the one who taught me to surf — a true ray of sunshine. He loved the ocean. He believed in the healing power of the waves and the warmth of the sand beneath your feet. And his theory of seagulls + eagles will live on eternally- reach out and I will gladly share it with you. As it is a reminder that we are all connected even if we are different. If you ever met him, you’d remember his kindness, the jokes…
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Your Mental Health Matters
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and it’s also a time when we celebrate our mothers, grandmas, aunties, and other mother figures. Motherhood is a transformative and profound journey — it changes you in such a deep way, and yet we often don’t acknowledge how hard that can be. I’ve struggled with my own mental health throughout my life, and becoming a mother has brought its own set of ups and downs — moments of overwhelm, stress, anxiety, and exhaustion. And yet, motherhood has also been the source of some of the deepest love and joy I’ve ever known. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Motherhood has helped me fall…
