cool ideas - Growing Up in Santa Cruz

Recycling Center Tours

growingupsc — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:21:21 +0000

Free Summer Tours City of Santa Cruz SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —The City of Santa Cruz offers free summer tours of its recycling center, the Resource Recovery Facility, 605 Dimeo Lane, every Friday from July 29 through Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The 90-minute tours provide opportunity to learn about the multifaceted recycling process as well as our new food scraps processing and Household Hazardous Waste Program. Visitors will see what happens to the 30 to 50 tons of material that Santa Cruzans place into their blue recycle bins every single day. They will learn why it is important to “recycle right” and avoid “wish-cycling.” Visitors will see a mountain of scrap metal and learn about how the new food scraps processing operation will reduce methane emissions from the landfill. Pre-registration is required. Tours are limited to 20 people. Children must be at least 8 years old. Youth ages 8 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Carpooling is encouraged as parking is limited. Reserve your spot at www.cityofsantacruz.com/tours. Questions may be addressed tocsoon@cityofsantacruz.com. More recycling information including a What Goes Where Guide and Recycle Right videos are available at www.cityofsantacruz.com/recycleright. Details of the Food Scrap Curbside Collection Program are detailed at www.cityofsantacruz.com/foodwaste. Free tours of the City of Santa Cruz Recycling Center are offered on Fridays from July 29 through Aug. 26. Visitors touring the City of Santa Cruz Recycling Center will see how paper and aluminum and metal cans are formed into bales. Materials at the City of Santa Cruz Recycling Center are initially sorted by machine and human hands. Read More Articles

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Wonderful Wednesdays

growingupsc — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 22:20:39 +0000

(Photo by Kelly Berreto) We don’t have to tell the locals about Wednesday’s free twilight concerts at the Capitola bandstand, but sure, there are plenty of new people moving in all the time, not to mention tourists. One of the coolest, free-est things you can do is bring a chair or a beach towel and stake out a spot on the lawn or on the beach on Wednesday nights, from 6-8 p.m. Some of the bands coming up for the rest of the summer include the ever popular Joint Chiefs, Live Again, the Santa Cruz Latin Collective, Billy Martini, Jive Machine and Dirty Cello. We’ve never seen a bad show there. Catch the whole schedule at cityofcapitola.org

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El Vaquero

growingupsc — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 16:58:27 +0000

Trivia Night by brad kava Here’s something for families to do that’s free or low cost. El Vaquero Winery in Corralitos has trivia night at 7 p.m. on Thursdays and unlike some alcohol serving places, it’s kid and dog friendly. Sometimes there are more kids than others. Host Michael Gaither often throws in questions that the tykes can answer. (How did we miss the name of Sponge Bob’s home town, Bikini Bottom, even aided by a 6-year-old?)It’s outdoors, there’s food catered from the pizza joint across the street (or bring your own), excellent reasonably priced wines and apple juice and a fun couple of hours for all. El Vaquero is at 2901 Freedom Blvd, Corralitos. Phone (831) 607 8118. Website:elvaquerowinery.comTrivia: What does the name mean in Spanish? Read More Parenting Articles

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Swanton Berry Farm

growingupsc — Wed, 15 Jun 2022 16:26:52 +0000

Delicious Berries by brad kava If you are heading north on Highway 1, you have to stop at Swanton’s Berry Farm for a real make America great experience. First time visitors usually end up standing at the cash register waiting for someone to collect their money for the great berry pies, coffee, jam, short bread, berry baskets and more. They wait, and wait and wait…until someone tells them, “It’s donation only.” Ooops. Happened to me. You pay what you want. And as the manager there told me, they end up making more money by asking for it than they would with a cashier. It’s like stepping back to a country when people cared about and trusted each other. This is the first unionized organic berry farm in the country and they also have a field where you can pick your own. Before covid, they had a great game room where kids could play with toys and games from back in the last century. We really miss that and hope they will bring it back. The address is 25 Swanton Road, Davenport.It’s open 8 a.m.-7p.m. And current farm stand products include: Blackberry Pie, Blackberry/Rasberry pie, Raspberry Cream Pie, Blackberry Cobbler, Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries (Dark & Milk), Strawberry Truffle, Blackberry Truffle, Strawberry Pecan Scone. Read More Parenting Articles

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Kermit

growingupsc — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 22:24:47 +0000

Kermit – the Bikemobile By Santa Cruz Public Libraries Mission Statement: To have fun, to meet the community wherever the community may gather, and to provide library services wherever possible. Kermit arrived in Santa Cruz in 2016 and was made possible through a Pacific Library Partnership grant, the Burgeon Group, and the Spokesman Bicycles shop in Santa Cruz. You can check out books, get a library card, and talk with a library staff person whenever Kermit is out and about. Kermit can usually be found at community events, farmer’s markets, parades, and, sometimes, helping the many Little Free Libraries by providing donated paperbacks. And, although Kermit is a bit frog-like, he doesn’t like rain so you won’t often see him in November through March. Kermit’s Schedule

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Argh Mate

growingupsc — Fri, 27 May 2022 16:11:13 +0000

Kids who visit the Davenport Roadhouse in North County are in for a special treat. If they find the pirate doll hidden in the restaurant they get a free cookie from the excellent bakery there. Parents also get a very good meal, but that’s not free. However, there is all kinds of live local music most every day and night there and that is a free treat. The Davenport Roadhouse is at 1 Davenport Ave., 95017.

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Juggling

growingupsc — Thu, 19 May 2022 23:38:35 +0000

Juggling Fun Every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. kids can get free juggling lessons at the Capitola Mall’s Cirque, Tumble, Cheer storefront. We tried it and it is a blast. The teachers are kind, friendly pros and kids of all ages can learn amazing skills free. Parker, 6, and his dad, 66, are both taking lessons and learning to make things fly with the greatest of ease. Well, not that easy, but totally fun. It’s at 1811 41st Ave, Capitola, CA 95010, right next to Lens Crafters. Also, some of the same teachers give free classes on the Esplanade in downtown Capitola,near the concert area, at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays. Send us your tips for free and cool things and we’ll share them. Email editor@growingupsc.com.

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