October 2021 - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Spooky Winners

growingupsc — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 18:52:22 +0000

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Spooky Coloring

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:11:31 +0000

Spooky Halloween Submit your coloring page for a chance to win tickets to Gilroy Gardens or Swank Farms! Send to Editor@growingupsc.com More Coloring Pages

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Contest winners 1021

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 16:00:56 +0000

Isla Jetty | Age 10 Olivia | Age 5 Tristan Rebecca | Age 8 Rogan | Age 5 Find More Coloring Pages

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Dana Ramsey

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:53:32 +0000

Dana Ramsey Finds Fertile Ground in Santa Cruz Suki Wessling Welcome back to our monthly feature of moms who have faced the task of pandemic parenting while also continuing their work in our community. Research has shown that women have suffered greater economic and personal fallout from the pandemic, losing jobs or having to work while also caring for children. When she opened her new business two-and-a-half months before Covid-19 hit Santa Cruz, Dana Ramsey remembers feeling her stress level dive. “It was life-changing to go from practicing full-scope midwifery for the past 15 years to a much slower-paced, patient-focused practice,” Dana remembers. “It gave me flexibility to pick my kids up from school, take them to afterschool activities, and just be more present.” Dana had opened Nurture Women’s Health and Fertility, an integrative gynecology practice with a focus on fertility, menopause, and postpartum care. Her budding business provided care to pregnant and postpartum women—“everything but delivering babies.” That was quite a change. From doctor to midwifeDana knew from an early age that she wanted to deliver babies. Each summer when she came home to Santa Cruz from college—just to make sure—she did a student internship. The second summer, instead of being assigned to help doctors, she was assigned to midwives. “I got to see how much time the midwives got to spend with the patients,” Dana remembers. “That summer I said to my mom, ‘I thought I’ve been pre-med—I thought I wanted to be an OB-Gyn. I actually have been pre-midwife all this time!’”Instead of applying to medical schools, she applied to nursing schools and ended up with a master’s degree in nursing with a specialty in midwifery from Yale University.Years of working in the field followed, most recently 11 years at Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Santa Cruz. She did every aspect of care for women, and saw an average of 20 patients a day. With two children growing up fast, she knew it was time for a change. A fledgling small businessDana remembers her two months of normalcy with fondness. She had decided to specialize in fertility because there were no fertility clinics in Santa Cruz. Because she is not an endocrinologist and wouldn’t offer full in-vitro fertilization (IVF), which is often the last resort for women seeking fertility treatment, she figured that lots of women would try her services first. She was right. “I do the full workup,” Dana explains. “I do a lot of lifestyle medicine management. There’s a lot that can be optimized in women’s well-care as well as fertility, that’s kind of by the wayside in traditional [fertility] practices. It makes sense to offer that here before they drive over the hill.” She was able to finish cycles (treatments based on a woman’s hormonal cycles) with a few of her patients before she had to push the pause button. Patients were disappointed, but her family—her husband, 8-year-old twin boys, and 13-year-old daughter—had to come first. Keeping a grateful heart“It was a huge stress on the family dynamics,” Dana says. “We used to ask my in-laws to fill in here and there, and then we were asking them to fill in full weeks. The hardest thing was my relationship with my husband, because we didn’t have the time together to have good communication, to connect, and we didn’t have babysitters. There was more quality time but there was also more frustrated time!” The twins also did not thrive in front of screens.“We started thinking about how we could use our neighborhood to keep them busy and get their activity and energy out,” Dana remembers. “We live in a small neighborhood where everybody knows each other. It was beautiful, we have several retired people and they all were so understanding.” Eventually Dana was able to open her practice back up, and found a pocket of need. Because of the pandemic, large clinics had wait times up to six months. She was able to see patients immediately and in a more intimate environment. Once they were in the door, they realized the value of her approach. “She is one of the most genuine and hardest working women/mamas I know,” says Roxanne Sweeting, who nominated Dana for this article. “She is a gift to our community.” Dana says that she has taught her children to be mindful of worrying only about things that they can control, and she tries to live by that advice herself.“Leading by example is really important in the community,” she says. “It turns our heart from, ‘Oh, this is such a bummer’ to more of a grateful heart.” Learn more about Dana and Nurture Women’s Health and Fertility at NurtureSantaCruz.com. Read More Moms Who Make a Difference Articles

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Child Tax Credit

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:49:36 +0000

Child Tax Credit Brings Benefits And Potential Pitfalls By Suki Wessling The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, whhich was signed into law on March 20, enhances the 2021 child tax credit (CTC). Most families are automatically receiving monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action. This is great news for families, no matter how you cut it. But it adds some complexity over the existing child tax credit, tax experts say. Read on to learn what the new credit is and how it will affect your taxes. What is this new CTC and how is it different from the old one?The major difference is the one everyone is focusing on: More money, more directly! For eligible families, some of the credit is being prepaid directly into families’ accounts. The old CTC was only applied at tax time on your return. And eligible families will see an increase in payments per child. “For 2021, The child tax credit was increased from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under 6 and to $3,000 for children 6 to 17,” explains Vanessa Platt, a CPA with Chiorini, Platt & Jacobs, Certified Public Accountants in Santa Cruz.For many families who are having trouble making rent payments or increasing their work back to pre-pandemic hours because of childcare expenses, this increase will help tremendously. What should low-income families know?If your family was able to take the CTC by filing 2019 or 2020 returns but has lost your income source since then, you should still be getting the direct payments. Families who did not file taxes in those years are eligible for the payments; however, they will need to sign up on the IRS website’s “non-filer sign-up.” (See link below.)According to the IRS, “These payments do not count as income for any family. So, signing up won’t affect your eligibility for other federal benefits like SNAP and WIC.” Why is my family not getting payments?The most likely reason is that you make too much money. Although living in expensive Santa Cruz may not make you feel so wealthy, the feds put a cap on who gets the CTC. “Joint filers with modified adjusted gross income (AGI) between $150,000 and $400,000 ($75,000 and $200,000 for single filers) will get a $2,000 credit per child,” Ms. Platt says. “For joint filers over $400,000 ($200,000 for single filers), the current phaseout rules apply.” Check your 2020 returns to see if you filed with an AGI over $400,000.Another possibility is that you didn’t file to receive the CTC in previous years, in which case you will have to sign up on the IRS website’s “non-filer sign-up.” (See link below.) Finally, there could simply be a mistake, in which case (big sigh) you will have to get on the line with your friendly IRS agent to work it out. Could there be a downside to getting more money?“It is important to note that the advance credit received will reduce the CTC credit claimed on their tax return,” Ms. Platt says. That means that if you’re used to getting a lot of money taken off your taxes in April, you will actually see less money being taken off at that time (though you got more money in the end). Another issue is if you happen to be making more money this year than in previous years. In that case, Ms. Platt explains, “they may be in for a surprise at tax time as they may have received more in advance child tax credit than they were eligible for. They may have to repay a portion of the excess amount through an increase in tax liability on their 2021 tax return.” Finally, the last downside is that unless President Biden can get this change locked in with his proposed American Families Plan, this will be a one-time increase in benefits. Without action by Congress, the CTC is set to revert to pre-2021 levels in 2022. But for now, enjoy having a bit more cash for childcare or other expenses. For more information, visit www.whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit. Read More Parenting Articles

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Lets cook dinner

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:45:46 +0000

Let’s Cook Dinner! Two Quick and Easy Meals to Feed Your Family on Weeknights By Leslie Funk Hello Parents! School just started and the pace of daily life is increasing. Chances are you feel a bit burned out when faced with the question, “What’s for dinner tonight?” The nutritional goals of a home cooked meal are; lean protein, complex carbohydrates from plant sources that provide energy, fiber and nutrients, and heart-healthy fats. By making dinner at home you can insure your family gets the nutrition they need, while avoiding added sugar, bad fats and highly processed ingredients typically found in pre made store meals, restaurant food and fast food. Here are three nutritious and delicious meals to try, complete with shopping lists and directions. Consider having your kids help with dinner preparation, it is a great way to teach them life skills while doing something together. Try giving options by asking your child to help make dinner tonight or help clean up the dishes after dinner. Odds are, food prep and cooking sound infinitely better than dish washing! Onward to the recipes! Sheet pan chicken with roasted potatoes and baby carrotsChicken thighs are juicy and flavorful, and a huge hit with my family! Make extra, and you can chop up the meat for a lunch dish or dinner on another night. Roasted potatoes are delicious, while providing vitamin B6, vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Carrots add a sweetness to this dinner, combined with beta-carotene and more potassium. Grocery list:3-5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (adjust the amount based on your family size and if you want leftovers)1 bag of Yukon Gold potatoes (8-10 medium potatoes) 1 bag of organic baby carrotssalt-free seasoning (such as Mrs. Dash, or Trader Joe’s salt free seasoning)olive oil or canola oil non-stick spray2 Tablespoons olive oilDirections:Preheat oven to 400 degrees Use 2 large sheet pans, spray with oilPlace chicken thighs on one sheet pan, single layerWash potatoes, leave skin on Cut potatoes into 1 to 1 1/2 chunks, place in large bowl, add the baby carrotsAdd 2 Tablespoons of olive oil and a few good shakes of the salt-free seasoningToss the potatoes and carrots to coat, then dump them on the second sheet panPut both sheet pans in the ovenSet timer for 30 minutesAfter 30 minutes:Check the chicken for doneness (juices run clear, temperature of 165 degrees)Stir the potatoes and carrots; look for caramelization of the edges (browning)Put back in the oven for 10 minutes, re-checkThe chicken may be done first, so remove it and let coolRoast the potatoes and carrots longer as needed to achieve desired level of browning. Taco BowlsUse up any leftover chicken meat in this dish, or make this dish Vegetarian. Also great with grilled or broiled fish, lean ground beef or ground turkey.Lots of fresh vegetables make this meal packed full of nutrition and flavor.With rice and beans, this meal offers plenty of protein as a Vegetarian dish. Grocery listGet a protein: fish, lean ground beef or turkey, a vegan meat alternative if desired.brown rice can of fire roasted tomatoes2 cans of beans (black beans, pinto beans, or refried beans)1 purple cabbage (or precut bagged cabbage)2 red bell peppers2 cups of cherry tomatoes or pear tomatoes 1 bunch cilantro1 bunch green onionsyour favorite salsashredded cheese if desiredavocados or premade guacamole pre made taco shells, or corn tortillas or chipsTaco seasoning of choice (for the ground meat or on the fish) Directions:Cook up the Brown RiceYou can cook brown rice on the stove, in a pot with a lid. One cup of dried brown rice will make about 3 cups cooked (I like to make a lot at once, then use it in different meals) General directions:Add one Tablespoon of canola oil or olive oil to the pan. Pour in 1 cup brown rice, sauté it over mediumhigh heat for a few minutesThen add 1 &1/4 cups of water, turn up the heat and bring to a boilPut the lid on the pot of rice and turn the heat down to low Let simmer till the water is goneMove off the heat and let sit for 5 minutes, then remove the lid and stir/fluff up the rice. Stir in the can of fire roasted tomatoesCook up the ground meat or broil the fishIn a skillet on the stove, cook up the ground meat then add taco seasoningAlternative Cooking InstructionsSet the oven to broil, and place fish on an oiled sheet pan, sprinkle with taco seasoning. Put under the broiler in oven for 4 minutes, then check for doneness. If not done, put it back for 2-3 minutes at time till done.Chop up the VeggiesChop up the cabbage, bell peppers, cilantro and green onions in bitesized piecesCut the tomatoes in half with a serrated knife Slice up the avocados Note: I like to put the veggies in little piles on a big cutting board, or in little bowls so people can add what they want to their own custom Taco BowlHeat up the BeansStove top in a pot, or dump the beans in a microwave safe container with a lid, heat for 3 minutes.Set up the ToppingsPut out the salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese, chipsTaco shells can be heated in the warm oven, corn tortillas wrapped in a moist paper towel then microwaved for 1-2 minutes. Build a bowl! Each family member can now build their own custom taco bowl. I love to crush up some chips into mine for added crunch! Read More Parenting Articles

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2021 Baby Photo

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:39:08 +0000

James Powars Wilder Named after his grandpa Jim Wilder and great grandma Patricia Powars. He’s known around town as Sweet Baby James. He was born March 15th 2021 and just turned six months. Both his parents were born and raised in Santa Cruz and he has a huge extended family that are all close by! He has two older sisters whom he absolutely adores (and vice versa) He loves to laugh and be the center of attention. His smile, baby rolls and chubby cheeks bring joy to all that cross his path!

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Pandemic-era Birth Stories

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:32:51 +0000

Pandemic-era Birth Stories Unknowns, Rainbows, and Hard Choices By Suki Wessling Pregnancy and birth are full of unknowns even in the best of times. During a pandemic, everything you thought to expect gets thrown by the wayside.Three moms talked to me about their experiences with birth during this time. Two of them were first-time moms and so their experiences were all new. One was having her third—and her experiences were all new as well! I want to thank these moms for their openness and sharing. Although each related struggles associated with pregnancy complications, Covid restrictions, and mental health challenges, their stories—like all good birth stories—are about perseverance and strength in the face of adversity. If you are pregnant now or wondering whether you should consider it, please read these stories knowing that three happy moms and healthy babies were the result of all the pain and difficulties that they describe. Vanessa“You’re lucky you’re cute because that pregnancy was horrific!”Vanessa Garcia and her husband Albert had decided to have a third child after years of hesitation. Vanessa was by then an ‘older mom’, 36, living with her extended family in Aromas and working as a site coordinator for PVUSD’s Watsonville Children’s Center. Many monthly pregnancy disappointments helped Vanessa develop great empathy for first-time moms experiencing infertility, and when the pandemic started to approach, she and Albert made the decision to stop trying. They had a happy, healthy family of four already. That’s when a plus sign appeared in the indicator panel.And that’s when the pandemic hit and Vanessa and her two children (12 and 9) were sent home for distance learning. At first, although she was uncomfortable with turning an early child development program into a distance learning program, she was happy to spend more time with her kids, and made a fortuitous discovery about the younger one. “I got to see some of Adrian that I hadn’t seen since I’d been working full time since he was pretty young,” Vanessa explains. She realized that his challenging behavior, which had been an ongoing issue, was tied to a learning disability. But she hardly had time to consider options when she faced the first challenge of her pregnancy: hyperemesis. Made famous by British royal Kate Middleton, this condition causes severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. “On Zoom meetings I’d have to turn off my camera to throw up in my little garbage can next to my desk,” Vanessa remembers. And the medication wasn’t much better. “I’m trying to work from home with two kids doing distance learning, one of whom had unidentified special needs, and [I’m supposed to] take these meds that are going to make you fall asleep and I’m, like, ’yeah, that’s gonna work’.” Vanessa ended up taking leave from her job until the symptoms abated. In the meantime, she had the time to pursue a diagnosis for her son—severe dyslexia. “[When the tester] said, ‘he is profoundly dyslexic’ I was laughing like a crazy person. What I’m saying about my kid is real.” But Vanessa’s pandemic-era pregnancy complications didn’t stop there. She was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a few months before her due date, and once again had to take a leave of absence under doctor’s orders. At this point, the stress compounded. She was anxious about her health and the baby’s health, anxious that they’d have to perform an early c-section, and concerned that Albert wasn’t able to take part in the pregnancy as he had with the other children. “Albert didn’t get to come to any of the ultrasounds so he was having a hard time connecting with the pregnancy,” she remembers. “Birth is already so emotionally raw and vulnerable and to add those layers, like Albert had to be wearing a mask when he saw his baby being born. It was weird.” Vanessa and family are now doing well, and Benji truly is a cute baby! Roxanne“Being a first-time mom then to have a frickin’ world pandemic going on, it’s a little different, to say the least!” Getting pregnant didn’t come quickly for Roxanne Sweeting, a 32-year-old medical assistant from Capitola. It was her first baby, and after nine months of a relatively normal pregnancy she entered the hospital to give birth—right when the shelter-in-place ordinance was announced. Roxanne was completely unprepared for the experience of pandemic-era birth. She was distraught that her sister couldn’t be with her, and though she has nothing but the warmest praise and admiration for everyone from her husband to the staff who cared for them, her mental health took a sudden and severe dive after the birth.First of all was the magnification of all of the typical problems that a new mom might face. Roxanne’s milk didn’t come in, so she had to bring her dehydrated baby to the Sutter Lactation Center when he was only two days old. It’s typical for new moms to feel inadequate if they need help with breastfeeding, but to have this happen at a time when leaving the house felt risky brought it to a new level. “They were all stars in making me feel I wasn’t a terrible human,” Roxanne says of those who cared for her in this time. But it wasn’t enough. No one in Roxanne’s close family was able to visit except by video until her son was four months old. During this time, postpartum depression hit—and hit hard. “Being so excited to be a new mom and not be able to share with one person in your family besides the people in your own home was heartbreaking,” Roxanne says. She says that she remembers very little of these months, describing the disappointment she felt in herself for not being able to find joy in her life as a new mother. “There’s this expectation for you to be head over heels and love at first sight with your baby,” she says. “[With postpartum depression] that’s not the case. It’s traumatizing, and there’s also this fear—this pandemic going on.” At the same time, record numbers of others were seeking mental health care. Roxanne found that practices were full up. When she finally did get a therapist, her therapist had to go on pregnancy leave herself. Although many people were sympathetic and supportive, offhand comments like a receptionist on the phone compounded the hurt. “Like I was just another mom going through motherhood problems.” Still, Roxanne says of her overall experience, “There’s so many providers that you could say thank-you thank-you thank-you to because they’ve done so much.” She especially appreciated the help of women’s health practitioner Dana Ramsey (our mom of the month!). Roxanne is better now, back to work with a healthy son and an intact family. But she struggles to find the silver lining in this experience. “My son is my world and my everything, but the experience was so—I wouldn’t want to do it again. My husband and I are talking about baby number two and I’m terrified.” “It was just a tornado of all the bad stuff happening at once.” Leilani “It was such a sweet time for our family!” A worldwide pandemic is not good. But sometimes adversity leads to unexpected sweetness that a family enjoys all the more because of the negative backdrop. That’s how Leilani Kanter, a 32-year-old Santa Cruz resident, relates her birth experience.“I had always envisioned a homebirth but had decided to deliver in the hospital for practical reasons like insurance,” Leilani explains. Then came the pandemic, her husband Matt’s job loss, and the uncertainty of her own business, Botanic and Luxe in downtown Santa Cruz. Against that backdrop, Leilani and Matt made a sudden choice. “I was born at home and it made me feel so empowered that I made that huge decision last-minute and made it happen,” Leilani explains.The pandemic also brought a very different experience to the early months. With her husband at home, Leilani found peace in nurturing her family at a time that might have been hectic. “Day-to-day life was amazing during the pandemic,” she remembers. “I had such a sense of relief that all the plans and obligations I thought I’d have to juggle with a new baby were canceled. Sadly, [they were] events like weddings and bachelorettes, but I was looking at the bright side that at least I got to spend that time with my baby.” In the meantime, Matt got to act on his plan to further his education in preparation for a career change. After four weeks, however, Leilani found it necessary to return to work. “I own the business with my best friend and she was drowning by herself as all of our employees were laid off,” Leilani remembers. “It was so hard leaving my baby so little but ultimately what the times called for and the decision I made.” Leilani says that they feel grateful for the way a pandemic gave them time, for living in Santa Cruz, and for being able to pursue their dreams. “Overall, I felt so happy and lucky most days to be in the sweetest little baby bubble with my girl.” Read More Parenting Articles

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Sea Walls Santa Cruz

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:23:25 +0000

Santa Cruz Gets 19 New Ocean-Themed Murals by Bridget Lyons Photos by Bridget Lyons During a week-long flurry of “artivism”—activism through art—Sea Walls Santa Cruz transformed 19 outdoor walls into vibrant murals. The festival was the latest edition of the PangeaSeed Foundation’s Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans program that invites engagement with ocean advocacy. You’ve likely already noticed some of the murals, since they’re located in high traffic areas, such as along Mission Street on the West Side, on either side of Soquel Avenue in Midtown, and in various locations downtown, including the bus depot and the Front Street garage. Taylor Reinhold and the Made Fresh Crew, the local artist collective producing the event, have been helping to plan and organize this week for months, but on-the-ground work began in early September. “The prep work was extensive,” said Erika Rosendale, a member of the crew and a Sea Walls Santa Cruz ops team member. “We spent two weeks scraping, cleaning, and priming all the walls so they would be ready to go as soon as the artists got here. Some of the walls were easier than others, but by coordinating and combining our collective strengths, we made it happen.” Artists came to their supersized outdoor canvasses from as far as Hilo, Hawaii and as close as down the street, in the case of Caia Koopman. Koopman’s giant sea goddess graces the corner of Soquel and Pine, just down the street from where she lives. “I felt some added pressure to make sure my mural was extra good, but it was also awesome to be able to paint right here in my neighborhood for a cause that is so close to my heart.” Other Santa Cruz artists included the Made Fresh Crew, Abi Mustapha, and Jimbo Phillips, whose bold, skateboard-style graphics may be familiar to readers of Growing Up Santa Cruz from his profile in a recent issue. Because of the walls’ prominent locations, their transformation was a very public event. As spray cans, paint guns, brushes, and other tools transferred the artists’ sketches onto cinderblocks and stucco, people of all ages gathered to gawk at the process. An artists’ talk, film screening, and beach cleanup were also held in during the week in an ongoing effort to foster marine stewardship and raise awareness around these murals’ themes. While the festival itself is over, Santa Cruz residents will get to enjoy and interact with these murals for years to come. A downloadable map showing the locations and themes of each of the murals is available at seawalls.org/activation/santa-cruz-usa and at several locations around town. A video chronicling the event should be posted on the Sea Walls website (seawalls.org) soon. “We especially hope that the 19 murals we’ve created here will capture the imagination of the youth and spark a sense of curiosity and care for our coastlines, the ocean, and the life that calls it home,” said Tre’ Packard, PangeaSeed Foundation Founder and Executive Director. The PangeaSeed Foundation, a Hilo, HI-based non-profit organization that works to promote ocean conservation, spearheaded this event. Through their 17 prior Sea Walls festivals, they’ve helped to get over 400 marine-themed murals onto walls throughout the world. The City of Santa Cruz Department of Economic Development, Lost Coast Plant Therapy, and the Save Our Seas Foundation contributed supporting funds to the project. Santa Cruz, USA Read More Parenting Articles

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2021 Halloween

growingupsc — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 15:15:05 +0000

Pumpkin Picking Sunnside Produce Pumpkin Patch2831 Daubenbiss ave, SoquelArata185 Verde Rd, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019Post Street Farm122 Post St., Santa CruzCapitola Produce Pumpkin Patch700 Bay Ave., CapitolaRodoni Farms4444 Coast Road (Highway 1)Crystal Bay Farm40 Zils Road, WatsonvilleGizdich Ranch55 Peckham Rd, Watsonville, CA 95076Live Earth1275 Green Valley Road, Watsonville Halloween movie countdown Addam’s Family Beetlejuice Casper Coraline Corpse Bride Hocus Pocus It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown Frankenweenie Nightmare Before Christmas Paranorman EVENTS Saturday 2Roaring Camp: Harvest Faire & Steam Festival 11:00 AM-5:00 PM Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Harvest Faire & Steam Festival presented by Kinetic Steam Works and Roaring Camp Railroads. Welcome Fall with heritage children’s activities like scarecrow making, pumpkin patch picking, candle making, and gold panning. Behold a variety of steam and belt-powered equipment on display. Admission is free for the whole family. Sunday 3Fall Leaf Garland 12:00 PM-4:00 PM $20 All materials provided for making a 5 ft. garland to decorate the house with. Registration not required, first come first served through out the month, during open hours. Thurs. & Fri. 3-6, Sat. 12-6, Sun. 12-4. Roaring Camp: Harvest Faire & Steam Festival 11:00 AM-5:00 PM See Oct 2. Thursday 7Evergreen At Dusk: Cemetery History Tours 4:00 PM Every Thursday. We invite you to discover the stories and secrets found within Evergreen Cemetery, one of the oldest public cemeteries in California, on a self-guided or private tour of the grounds. Bring your curiosity as you explore the final resting place of Santa Cruz’s early settlers. The 45-minute tour uncovers the stories and tombstones of the people who made Santa Cruz what it is today. Designed for the daring, the curious, and the history-loving. Sunday 10Watercolor and Pen Cat Painting 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Crooked Beauty 6225 Highway 9, Felton Come in during hours of operation to paint a simple but lovely cat silhouette. All materials will be provided to make this spooky and fun project. $20 For more information, go to www.crookedbeautyart.com/workshops-events/ Saturday 23Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch 10:00 AM-4:00 PM The Live Oak Glass Pumpkin Patch at Live Oak Grange returns with golden leaves and autumn breezes! The Halloween Experience 12:00 PM-8:00 PM Haunted House and Mask Making Festival. Mask Making from 12-4pm Family-friendly Haunted House from 12-3pm (FREE) Scary Version of the Haunted House 6-8pm ($5 admission) Join the Thrill the World Dance at 3pm Intro to Tarot: Magic in the Cards 2:00 PM-4:00 PM It’s the perfect, spooky season for tapping into the magic of tarot cards! Learn a short history of the tarot, basic meanings of the 78 cards, how to ask them questions, and a special card spread for checking in with our thoughts and feelings and learning to make empowered decisions. The best part? You’ll learn that the magic’s all in you! Join Sarah from Hawthorn Mountain Tarot for this FREE CLASS for teens. This program will be capped at 10 teens; first come, first serve. Sunday 24Trick or Treat Tote Decoration 12:00 PM-4:00 PM Crooked Beauty, 6225 Highway 9, Felton Come in during operating hours and decorate a tote bag to Trick or Treat with! All materials provided, including tote. $15 For more information, go to crookedbeautyart.com/workshops-events/ Annual Glass Pumpkin Patch 10:00 AM-4:00 PM See Ocr 23. Tuesday 26National Pumpkin Day Pumpkins are so much more than just a fun holiday accessory. Not only are they one of the best-known sources of beta-carotene (an antioxidant converted to vitamin A in the body), but pumpkins are loaded with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. Try some on National Pumpkin Day (and of course have a little fun carving them). Friday 29Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Drive-in Movies 6:30 PM-10:00 PM Enjoy a screening of The Lost Boys movie on the beach in front of the arcades! Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk are forever linked to this cult classic and there’s nothing like watching it right where it was filmed with the smell of corn dogs and saltwater taffy filling the air. Sunday 31Halloween Halloween on October 31 is undoubtedly the creepiest, most ghostly holiday of them all. Children dress up as Batman, the Joker, Wonder Woman, or some other favorite character; go to parties or walk their neighborhoods with jack o’ lanterns full of sweets as they go trick-or-treating. Spooky decorations fill windows and porches and screams can be heard in living rooms up and down the country as we collectively binge our favorite horror movies. Magic Day Magic Day actually takes place during National Magic Week, which is an entire week dedicated to celebrating the art of allusion and the craft of magicians everywhere! And while Harry Houdini may be the most famous illusionist out there, there is plenty to celebrate this week and day! National Caramel Apple Day As if October 31 wasn’t awesome enough with costumes, ghouls, candy, and spooky things galore – it’s also National Caramel Apple Day! Caramel apples and Halloween go together like ghosts, goblins, tricks, and treats. The tradition stretches back decades to the day a creative Kraft confectioner invented the wonderfully simple recipe while trying to figure out what to do with a bunch of excess Halloween caramels. We say, “Bravo, sir! Excellent idea!” And then we take a big, sweet, crunchy bite. Halloween at the Boardwalk 12:00 PM-7:00 PM Celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating and spooktacular Boardwalk fun! Spooktacular Fun: Costume Contest: Stop by Neptune’s Stage to take your photo and enter the costume contest for your chance to win a MyBoardwalk Card. Frightwalk: Are you brave enough to venture under the Boardwalk? Get spooked with this walk-through attraction.

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