A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
From Fire Comes Growth, A New Direction | |
"Disasters can be our greatest teachers.
My newsletter shares 12 lessons I’ve learned from the fire that I hope can help others find meaning and growth in hard times."
Dr. Casey Means
Dr. Casey Means writes about how the disastrous Palisades fire led her to rethink her direction in life. Her essay can be helpful to any person or family who has experienced not only difficult or traumatic situations but for anyone experiencing challenges, a perspective on determining a new direction to take.
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The hummingbirds are here, awaiting our visits where they love to hang out, the Arboretum!
Have a humming, great weekend, Parmalee
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March Is Hummingbird Month at Our Beautiful Arboretum | |
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Now is the time to take the family to the Arboretum. The Arboretum hosts both Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds, the two most common species in Northern California.
“The density of hummingbirds —the number per area in the Arboretum— is ridiculously high. You can watch them feeding on flowers, courting and chasing different species. It’s a great opportunity to see some pretty amazing hummingbird biology.”
Check out the activities and more information about hummingbirds and the abundance of plants at the Arboretum that attract them.
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Go forth into the Woods, the Beach, Parks, Your Own Garden
Toss your worries over your shoulders. Listen. Relax. Let beauty in. Poetry, Art, A Song, an Idea, a Solution, an Invention or....
Try writing your own poem. Capture a sudden beautiful thought, your child's surprising words ("What a rowdy ocean today!"), write it down (or send yourself a text) and create a poem, a simple painting, a few lines to a song...
Need a starter? Use the first line of Robert Frost's "Dust of Snow":
The way a ______
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"The Dust of Snow" by Robert Frost is a short poem about how a small moment in nature can change someone's mood.
Often small, unexpected moments have a big impact on our emotions. Our hearts and minds open to beauty and positivity.
Nature can uplift our spirits."
Creativity nurtures our souls.
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Santa Cruz County STEAM Expo on Saturday, March 8, 10:30am - 4pm. Community members of all ages are invited to attend the Santa Cruz County STEAM Expo! This event includes the traditional Science Fair competition alongside performances and an interactive expo with industry representatives, community partners, and hands-on activities. Details
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For the first time since 2022, a breathtaking celestial event is about to light up the night sky... On the night of March 13-14, a total lunar eclipse will cast its mesmerizing glow across Earth. This rare phenomenon, often called a "blood moon", occurs when the full moon passes through Earth’s shadow, taking on a stunning reddish hue. In Northern California, the partial eclipse starts at 10:09pm PDT, with totality occurring from 11:26pm. to 12:32am PDT.
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The 13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival (WFF), beginning March 6, will present 11 programs featuring more than 50 films in four cities highlighting the joys, challenges and contributions of artists, immigrants, and families of Mexican and Latin American heritage. Details
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Fentanyl High Screening, Thursday, March 6, 6:30 – 8pm, Join us for a screening of “Fentanyl High” at Capitola Cinelux March 6th & a panel discussion on the national opioid crisis and its impact on youth! Amid rising concerns among families, health providers and educators in our community, join a free community viewing of this powerful documentary film produced by LC2 Productions and directed by Kyle Santoro, a recent graduate of Los Gatos High School. Details
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National Craft Month Madness, Saturday, March 8, 1 - 3pm, Details
Movement and Dance for Preschoolers, Friday 10:15 – 10:45am, March 7, Ages 3-5. Details
Gabby’s Dollhouse Meowseum Discovery Days, Saturday 10am – 5pm, March 8, Details
Lego Brick Builder Fridays, Fridays, 3-4pm, Details
Guided Walk: Big Basin: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, March 8, Details
READ program with Ziggy the mini, One hour Sessions, 1pm and 2pm, on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Details
Skate the Civic, Monday, 6:30 – 9:30pm, Roller skate at the Civic! Details
Contra Dancing, Sunday, March 9: Newcomers’ intro 2:30pm, Dance 3 – 5:30pm, Come kick your heels up contra dancing at Live Oak Grange with some amazing local talent and fun and friendly dancers! Details
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Music of the West African Kora with Sean Gaskell, Tuesday, March 11, 6 – 7pm, Please join us for a musical performance featuring Sean Gaskell and the West African Kora harp. The kora is a 21 stringed West African harp that is traditionally played by oral historians known as Griots. Many of these songs preserve a history dating back 800 years to the founding of the Mande empire. Details
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3D Printer Design Club for Teens 12-18 years, Saturday, March 8, 10 – 11:30am, Have you ever wanted to learn how to create your own 3D printable designs? Join us to learn the art of 3D designing in a collaborative atmosphere of your peers. Once finished, designs will be printed and available for the designer at the next meeting. A limited number of laptops will be available with the necessary software installed, and students are encouraged to bring their own laptops if possible. Details
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WPENS Open House, Saturday, March 8, 10am – 12pm, Westside Parent Education Nursery School (WPENS) is having an open house for 2025-2026 prospective families! Since 1970, WPENS has been providing a sense of community that supports your whole family, valuable social skills for your child, learning through play and incredible parenting seminars and speakers. Details
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MOD’s Teddy Bear Clinic is back! March 8, 11am – 4pm, Check-ups are fun, not a bore, keep your teddy healthy to the core! Does your teddy bear have a mysterious tummy ache? Did your unicorn lose a horn in a daring adventure? It’s time for a check-up at MOD’s Teddy Bear Clinic. Bring your favorite teddy bear or stuffy and come play doctor alongside Cabrillo College Nurses in training. Make sure your fuzzy friend is feeling ‘paws’-itively great. Details
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Parent Nest: A guided play and connection series, Fridays, March 7 – 28, 9:15 – 10am, If those early parenting days feel like a mix of wonder and worry, you’re not alone. While you’re marveling at your little one’s daily discoveries, you might also be wondering if you’re doing enough, or wishing for a community that truly gets what this journey is like. Details
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Coming Soon: Howl, The Art and History of Pets, Starts March 21, An exhibition featuring pet themed art and historical photos from the MAH’s collection to celebrate our furry and feathery friends. Details
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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! March
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