“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...

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? ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...