Letters June 2018
The Blessings of Family
During this time of honoring our Mothers, Fathers and Grads, its reminds me of how truly blessed we are. As older parents of two children ages 10 and 12, we get so busy and caught up in the day to day activities that we sometimes forget (or are too tired) to slow down and appreciate the experience.
There are those folks who chose to have children later in life and those that for whatever reason are raising grandchildren or are foster parents. Parenting is a bit more challenging as we age, I speak for my husband and I who are at and approaching sixty. We have five older children who already have children of their own.
We went on many a field trip, helped with projects and attended classroom parties during their elementary school days. We endured the “teenage” years, supported and encouraged during their years in high school. We guided as best we could as we held full time jobs and always hoped and prayed the right decisions would be made as they entered adulthood, married and had children of their own.
Now, we are once again experiencing the field trips, projects, parties and everything else that comes with two children in elementary school. I find that I have more patience and am thankful to be retired, which allows me to attend school functions and all the other activities that the kids are involved in. Our after school hours are divided between dance, Tae Kwon Do and whatever sport is in season that the children might be playing. Of course there is always homework and any special school projects that might be due.
We also stay involved with our grandchildren, making sure they too are involved in sports and other activities. My husband also coaches wrestling and football at the Middle school and High school level and we volunteer our time at the schools for fundraisers and such whenever possible.
As busy as we are, we are constantly reminded that we ARE older and are dealing with issues and challenges that come with age. We no longer move as swiftly as we did and are dealing with painful joints as well as other health issues. We are very aware of the benefits of eating well, exercising and rest (when we can get it) to maintain a healthy lifestyle. We also realize the importance of having time to ourselves and are committed to keeping our relationship strong. Let’s face it, we have a long way to go before these kids go off to college!
So, as we prepare to close out another school year and get into the swing of summer, my hat goes off to all those “parents” that like us, are doing their best to raise happy, secure and nurtured children. Congratulations to the hard working parents of all of those that are graduating, promoting or continuing on in school.
Ramona Pursley (Aptos)
No Rail, Widen a Trail
Living in Santa Cruz, it goes without saying that we are fortunate to call our little slice of heaven home. Where else can you hike under redwood towers in the morning, and surf over glassy waves that same afternoon? Over the years, there has been no shortage of articles written in various magazines and publications providing a plethora of accolades on our grand community. But, as outdoor-centric as our community is, there’s a little known fact that rarely gets covered. Santa Cruz County consistently ranks as one of the most dangerous counties in California for bicyclists.
According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, our County was ranked the number 1 most dangerous for bicycling four out of the last seven years. On average, there are 169 reported bicycle victims killed or injured every year. The unfortunate reality is that riding a bike in Santa Cruz County is sketchy. A short ride down any of our busy thoroughfares confirms this reality.
As a father of three small children, this is a daunting reality. Living on the eastside, I’ve dreamed of riding with my children to the Boardwalk, or Nisene Marks. However, this is simply not possible given our existing infrastructure.
My 4-year-old (like most children) will ride/walk in a completely unpredictable manner. She’ll be sprinting full steam ahead, then and turn on a dime for reasons only she knows. Such is the life of a small child. However, these erratic movements, while totally normal for any child, are a recipe for disaster on a narrow shared-use pathway.
The rail corridor presents a unique opportunity to transform how we move around. The Greenway plan provides a wide, safe, separated pathway allowing children and families to travel in a way that’s simply not possible with our existing road network. Moreover, using the entire width also allows for fast moving bicycle commuters. It’s the best of both worlds – recreation and transportation. All at a cost our community can afford while simultaneously preserving the natural ecology of the right-of-way.
Ryan Whitelaw is an 18-year resident of Santa Cruz County. He has a degree in mathematics from California State University Chico, and is co-founder of Pacific Appraisers; the largest appraisal firm in the region. As part of his profession, Ryan has an extensive background in highest & best use analysis and feasibility studies. Ryan is married with three small children. He is an avid mountain bike rider, bike commuter, and is passionate about bicycles as a clean, healthy, sustainable transportation alternative.
“With Greenway, families will have a safe off-street transportation alternative separating children from fast moving bicycle commuters. Moreover, Greenway will make Santa Cruz County a nationwide leader for clean, healthy, sustainable active transportation.”
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