|
|
A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
|
A wonderful story about a story that became a Christmas song caught my attention. While it's an original American Christmas story, its message is universal and inspiring for all. Share it with your family.
Perhaps it will inspire you and your children to write your own stories. Suki offers a message about "kid writing" and I agree with her!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Are you ever in the position of believing strongly about something as important to you as it is to your friend, husband, wife, child, teen. parent, co-worker and yet you simply do not agree, cannot find any common ground, cannot understand the other’s perspective?
I hear a firm “Yes!”
Check out this short essay on “a philosopher’s 350-year-old trick to get people to change their minds” or at least adjust or add to their perspective. Share this article with your family and agree to try it. Practice it on minor issues before tackling a "major."
Because so many organizations are offering holiday activities, do peruse the event highlights (below), remember to visit our Facebook page for events not yet posted on our calendar and check on next weeks' events.
Have fun preparing for your holiday, doing rainy day activities and taking a rainy day walk, Parmalee
| |
Suki: Kid writing is beautiful—don’t use AI!
I teach writing classes to kids, so it’s not surprising that I like kids’ writing. But what do I like about it? Why should you compose your own writing when an AI tool can do it in seconds? What makes kid writing beautiful? Here are my thoughts > > >
| |
|
A Story Behind An American Christmas Story
and a Popular Song
| |
|
"Wow, I had no idea about the original story of Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer! If you aren't familiar with it either, read it." Found on FB
"As the holiday season of 1938 came to Chicago, Bob May wasn’t feeling much comfort or joy. A 34-year-old ad writer for Montgomery Ward, May was exhausted and nearly broke. His wife, Evelyn, was bedridden, on the losing end of a two-year battle with cancer. This left Bob to look after their four-year old-daughter, Barbara.
One night, Barbara asked her father, “Why isn’t my mommy like everybody else’s mommy?” As he struggled to answer his daughter’s question, Bob remembered the pain of his own childhood. A small, sickly boy, he was constantly picked on and called names. But he wanted to give his daughter hope, and show her that being different was nothing to be ashamed of.
More than that, he wanted her to know that he loved her and would always take care of her. So he began to spin a tale about a reindeer with a bright red nose who found a special place on Santa’s team. Barbara loved the story so much that she made her father tell it every night before bedtime. As he did, it grew more elaborate. Because he couldn’t afford to buy his daughter a gift for Christmas, Bob decided to turn the story into a homemade picture book.
In early December, Bob’s wife died. Though he was heartbroken, he kept working on the book for his daughter. A few days before Christmas, he reluctantly attended a company party at Montgomery Ward. His co-workers encouraged him to share the story he’d written. After he read it, there was a standing ovation. Everyone wanted copies of their own. Montgomery Ward bought the rights to the book from their debt-ridden employee.
Over the next six years, at Christmas, they gave away six million copies of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer to shoppers. Every major publishing house in the country was making offers to obtain the book. In an incredible display of good will, the head of the department store returned all rights to Bob May. Four years later, Rudolph had made him into a millionaire.
Now remarried with a growing family, May felt blessed by his good fortune. But there was more to come. His brother-in-law, a successful songwriter named Johnny Marks, set the uplifting story to music. The song was pitched to artists from Bing Crosby on down. They all passed.
Finally, Marks approached Gene Autry. The cowboy star had scored a holiday hit with “Here Comes Santa Claus” a few years before. Like the others, Autry wasn’t impressed with the song about the misfit reindeer. Marks begged him to give it a second listen. Autry played it for his wife, Ina. She was so touched by the line “They wouldn’t let poor Rudolph play in any reindeer games” that she insisted her husband record the tune.
Within a few years, it had become the second best-selling Christmas song ever, right behind “White Christmas.” Since then, Rudolph has come to life in TV specials, cartoons, movies, toys, games, coloring books, greeting cards and even a Ringling Bros. circus act. The little red-nosed reindeer dreamed up by Bob May and immortalized in song by Johnny Marks has come to symbolize Christmas as much as Santa Claus, evergreen trees and presents. As the last line of the song says, “He’ll go down in history.”
Read more on Wikipedia > > >
| |
|
Christmas Trees 2024
Fresh cut Christmas trees smell wonderful. Make memories with a special outing! Always visit the sellers’ websites or their Facebook page, or call, before going. Be prepared with cash, check and/or credit card.
| |
In California tamales
and Christmas go together.
| | | |
|
“There are several types of tamales, but they all rely on the same base: fluffy, steamed dough pockets wrapped in either corn husks or edible leaves, filled with anything from meat to veggies, and often eaten with salsa, guacamole and sour cream. They’re usually a special-occasion food because they take a bit of time to prepare — all the stuffing and folding has to be done by hand.”
Traditionally several women get together for a whole day of making tamales and gossip, but more and more men are bringing their creativity to the production. It’s a social occasion and an art! Even making a small batch by yourself takes 3-4 hours. Yikes!
That’s why most of us purchase from tamale pros and are willing to pay $40+ for a dozen! Locals know where they are and like the ones that are rich with filling inside the masa.
Here's the list!
| | | |
|
Tech Talks: AI Prompting for Learning (Mac / PC), Thursday, December 12, 11am-12pm, Online, Are you seeking guidance with digital learning? Explore personalized learning strategies with AI Chatbots. Join us as we uncover ways to unpack new concepts, improve your tech skills, practice new languages, and more. Registration is required. Event URL will be sent. Details
| | | |
|
Winter Special Sea Glass Art, Friday, December 13, 5:30-7:30pm, As part of this special seasonal offering, discover the beauty of beach-combing as you create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece from shoreline treasures. Learn the basics of environmental sculpture and design with step-by-step instruction. Transform sea glass, driftwood, and botanicals into unique, coastal-inspired art. Details
| | | |
|
Holiday Crafts, Cocoa and Cookies, Friday, December 13 , 6-8pm, Scotts Valley Parks & Recreation will be hosting. Join us for a fun filled holiday evening for families and kids of all ages! Enjoy crafts, cocoa, decorating cookies for all ages at our Scotts Valley Community Center. Having some fun and kids activities before the holiday season. Details
| | | |
|
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train & New Year’s Train, December 14-23, AND 26-31, Operated by Roaring Camp Railroads, Vintage excursion cars, adorned with thousands of colorful lights, roll through Santa Cruz streets. Passengers lend their voices to holiday carols and sip spiced cider while Santa visits with the little ones and the young at heart! Details
| | | |
|
Mrs. Claus’ Bakeshop: Cookie & Gingerbread House Decorating, Saturday, December 14, Mrs. Claus is coming to the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery and opening her magical bake shop for one day only! Join us for a festive day of cookie and gingerbread house decorating with Mrs. Claus! Details
| | | |
|
Santa’s Coming to Watsonville, December 11-13, From the North Pole to the City of Watsonville, Santa Claus is set to make his grand entrance into Watsonville on December 11, officially kicking off our 2024 Santa Tour! Meet Santa and his friends at one of his many stops around town from December 11-13. Check daily tour maps. Details
| | | |
|
A Year with Frog and Toad, December 6-14, Scotts Valley Performing Arts (SVPA), invites you to spend A Year with Frog and Toad. Join us for a wonderful family musical theatre experience. The cast includes 15 adults and 10 young people. See Details for date/time options.
| | | |
|
Holiday Tree Walk, December 14-15, 21-22, Get in the holiday spirit by bringing the family to ride the Redwood Forest Steam Train through the wintry redwoods to Bear Mountain. Sip hot cocoa while greeting Santa Claus. In town, enjoy winter themed activities. Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Trains depart and return in front of Neptune’s Kingdom on the Boardwalk of Santa Cruz at 5:00pm, 6:30, and 8:00 pm for a 60-minute round-trip excursion. Details
| | | |
|
READ (Reading Equine Art Duo ) with Ziggy the mini horse and Lisa. One hour sessions Saturdays or Sundays available now. Ziggy is a gentle soul who loves listening to children read. Lisa is a reading specialist with 20 years experience helping children who may be struggling with reading. Lisa and Ziggy create a nurturing learning environment where students feel at ease & safe and soon begin flourishing. Learn more > > >
| | | |
|
Visit Santa, Saturday & Sunday, December 14 & 15, 20 – 22, 12pm-4pm, Childish Toy Shop, Santa is coming back to Santa Cruz and he can’t wait to visit with you and hear all about the adventures you’ve had this year. And of course, he wants to hear your Christmas wish list. Stop by to say hello to Santa. Details
| |
|
Community Night Computer Science Playground, December 12, 4:30-6:30pm at Santa Cruz MAH, Computer Science is for everyone. Come to our playgrounds and see what we mean! Learners of all ages are welcome to join us for an evening of hands-on computer science. Experience live demonstrations, hands-on activities and opportunities to interact with industry members and other passionate computer scientists. Details
| |
|
Holiday Musical Magic for Kids, Saturday, December 14, 7:30pm and Sunday, December 15, 1pm, What do kids of all ages need right now? A good dose of holiday magic! The Santa Cruz Symphony will deliver a spirited family celebration of magic holiday music for Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa featuring many of your favorites. Our Holiday Concert is a presentation for the whole family—with special pricing for kids. Our show even includes a lively sing-along for added fun! Details
| |
|
Santa Cruz Dance Theater Presents its First Production of The Nutcracker, Saturday, December 21, 1 & 4:30pm; Sunday, December 22, 1 & 4:30pm, Details
| |
|
Farley’s Christmas Wonderland 2024, Friday, November 29 – December 31, 5:30 – 8:30pm’ish, Join us at Farley’s Christmas Wonderland. We are a walk-in Christmas display with lots of Christmas trees, garlands, sleighs, an elf village, miniature village’s, and a log cabin that Santa uses for his rest stops. We have elves, fairies and a fairy grotto with two waterfalls. On special nights, it snows here. Details
| |
|
Mountain Feed Santa Day, Sunday, December 15, 11am - 2pm, Come meet Santa and Enjoy Complementary Local, Fresh Pressed Cider & Photos with Family and Friendly Pets (Bring your own camera.) Detail
| |
|
Free Peanuts Special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Saturday & Sunday, December 14 and 15, In this beloved Peanuts special, feeling down about the commercialism of Christmas, Lucy recruits Charlie Brown to be the director of the gang’s holiday play. Details
| |
|
Winter on the Wharf, Saturday, December 14, Details
See the Grinch and Santa, December 15, Details
Winter Bazaar and Flea Market, Harbor High School, Saturday, December 14, 12-4pm, 300 La Fonda Ave., Santa Cruz
Tomáseen Foley’s A Celtic Christmas, Friday, December 13, 7:30-9;30pm, Details
Valley Churches United Holiday Gift Shop 2024, Monday-Saturday, 11am – 4m, December, Details
Holiday Lights at the Fairgrounds, Friday, Saturday, Sundays, 5:30pm, November 29 – December 23 & 24, Details
Holiday Gifts at the UCSC Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 10am-4pm, Details
Ice Skating by the Bay, Nov 22 - Dec 31, 11am -to 10pm, Custom House Plaza, Monterey, Details
Ice Skate in Union Square! Daily, November 6 – January 25, 10am-11pm, Details
Santa Cruz Holiday Lights Train & New Year’s Train, November 29-30 & December 7-8, 14-23, AND 26-31, Details
Holiday Production: A Christmas Carol by Santa Cruz Shakespeare, November 23 through December 24, Details
Win a Golden Envelope Shopping Downtown, December 14 & 15, 12-4pm, Details
Alice in Wonderland Jr, Friday & Saturday 6:30pm, December 13, 14 and Saturday, December 14, 1:30pm, Details
| |
|
Breakfast with Santa and Holiday Fun at Simpkins, Saturday, December 14, Join us for Breakfast with Santa 9-9:45am or 10:15-11am & Holiday Market and Free Swim 10am-12pm, Details
| |
|
Local Artist Market at Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, December 14, 11am-3pm, Join over 20 local Santa Cruz artists as they showcase a wide array of goods, ranging from paintings and photography to jewelry, decor, and embroidery. Support our community’s artisans, celebrate local talent, and check a few items off your holiday shopping list! Free admission during the duration of the Market! Details
| |
|
Holidays on the Ranch at Wilder Ranch State Park,Saturday, December 14, 11am-2pm, Celebrate the winter holidays as folks did in Victorian and early 20th century Santa Cruz. Enjoy live caroling, sample Victorian-era holiday goodies, watch demonstrations in the blacksmith and machine shop, explore the historical houses, and make your very own wreath and candle. Details
| | | |
|
Miracle on 34th Street the Play, Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2pm, through December 15, Mountain Community Theater, Set in modern-day New York City, the play is a heartwarming, holiday classic that follows the journey of Kris Kringle. Details
| | | |
|
Horses & Hot Cocoa, Sunday, December 15, 11am-3pm, Join us for a fun-filled holiday event at the MVCS Trinity Rivers Barn! Enjoy pony rides, photos with Santa, warm hot cocoa, festive crafts, a delicious bake sale, and exciting raffle prizes. Details
| | | |
|
Soquel Elementary Winter Boutique on Friday, December 13, 12-3pm. All are welcome to come shop from over 30 local artists and small businesses. Enter to win a prize and help support our school’s Art & Music programs. Rain or shine! Detail
| | | |
|
Winter Art Market, Saturday, December 14, 10am-5pm, 'Tis the season to shop local! Join our unique event filled with beautiful handmade gifts for the holidays, carolers singing about the campus, engaging family crafts, art demos, and food & beverage, art, ceramics, glass, jewelry, prints & cards, ornaments, clothing, henna and lots more. Rain or Shine! Details
| | | |
|
Movie # 1 Free Admission to Willie Wonka, Saturday, December 14, 11am, Del Mar Theatre, Santa Cruz, Join us for a Wonka-ful Family Movie! FREE admission. Bring the whole family for a magical day of chocolatey goodness and pure imagination. Enjoy this classic film on the big screen. Details
| | | |
|
Parenting Workshops, These parent workshops offer outstanding skills, tips and support in our parenting path. We are fortunate to have these resources. Even if everything is going well, it's good to know what's available! December
| | | | | | |
