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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
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What will you do with the bonus hour on Sunday? | |
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Enjoy the "extra" hour when you "Fall Back" this weekend! What will you do with the bonus? Sleep, walk in the woods and kick up leaves; create a painting, quilt or wooden box; think about the holidays to come?
The earlier sunrise in fall and winter creates more light earlier in the morning. For stargazers, the earlier sunset means an hour of stargazing before dinner.
Fall, with its darker evenings, is a wonderful time to involve the family in recalling family traditions. Get out a calendar and rough out some plans. Be sure to leave time for relaxation and spontaneous occasions.
Have a relaxing and peaceful weekend, Parmalee
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We are so fortunate to live in this country where we are free to make our own choices as we respectfully journey through our lives. It saddens and disgusts me to see the hatred exploding here and around the world. Hatred is not us. Hatred is harmful to all who harbor and spew it, to all who are the victims of it --to all humankind.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
The more I read, the more I begin to deeply understand the eternal, historical duel between freedom and power/authoritarianism/selfishness/hatred.
Please read this essay by Barry Brownstein, which offers exceptional, thoughtful perspectives on the clash of civilizations. Parmalee
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Ask Nicole: Giving Thanks | |
by Nicole
I often start this monthly column with a true story about my experiences as a parent. Writing about my own parenting challenges is like giving myself free therapy. I relive memories of difficult situations, work through my emotions in a safe environment (my office, with a lot of coffee), find the humor in nearly every parenting struggle I’ve ever faced, then end up feeling proud that I’ve managed to figure things out and have ended up with two amazing kids. Now that’s something to be thankful for.
Dear Nicole, I know this isn’t your typical parenting question, but can you share some ideas for being thankful and staying positive? I get upset every time I read or hear the news these days and become very worried about the kind of world my kids are growing up in. My partner tells me to focus on the positive and be thankful for what we have, but that’s hard for me to do. I could use some ideas. Thanks, Josh
Dear Josh, I completely understand feeling disheartened by the constant negativity in the news. It’s perfectly natural to worry about the state of the world and feel concerned for your kids’ future. This is a perfect time of year to remind ourselves of the things we’re thankful for. Researchers have found that people who are thankful tend to feel happier, be healthier, be able to handle challenging situations, and build strong relationships. The good news is we don’t have to wait for big celebrations or material gifts to practice being thankful. Here are some ideas to try>
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Welcome Home Western Flyer! | |
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"The Western Flyer was built for Monterey’s sardine fishery in 1937, and while it gained notoriety from its 1940 research trip with John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts, it has had a long and storied past as a fishing boat,” said marine geologist John Gregg, founder and board member of the Western Flyer Foundation."
She's coming home at last! After being away for 75 years, the historic Western Flyer—the sardine fishing boat immortalized by John Steinbeck's 1951 classic The Log from the Sea of Cortez—will return to her home port of Monterey and you are invited for the party! Read more about its demise, rescue, recovery and celebration > > >
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‘I Was Fired for Setting Academic Standards’ - by Kendrick Morales Sure, you could study hard to get a degree. But at Spelman, where I taught, you could also get a top administrator to change your grades. Read article > > >
Understanding Assessment Data - Letter from Faris Sabbah, County Superintendent of Schools - Recently, the California Department of Education released English and Math assessment data from the 2022-23 school year. While there are some encouraging signs, these assessments broadly show that we have not yet reversed the widespread decline in academic outcomes that began with the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Read letter and look at statistics > > >
11 Grammar Mistakes that Drive Editors Mad - by Stephen Sheehan, Do you agree? > > >
Looking for conversation starters? - When kids become used to sharing their ideas on engaging topics at home, they’ll feel more comfortable doing so with others. So get warmed up for Big Juicy Conversations with this Brave Writer training tip! Right here > > >
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All About Theatre The Addams Family, November 2, 3 & 4; 7pm;, 11/4, 2pm, A comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family, features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare. Details
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Celebrate The Western Flyer’s Return to Monterey Bay,Saturday, November 4th! The Western Flyer is coming home at last! After being away for 75 years, the historic Western Flyer—the sardine fishing boat immortalized by John Steinbeck’s 1951 classic The Log from the Sea of Cortez—will return to her home port of Monterey. Details
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Gourds Galore Saturday Ceramics, Saturday, October 28, 10 - 11am or 3 – 4pm, Create a beautiful, everlasting ceramic gourd or pumpkin in this ceramics class with Teacher Danielle. From proper clay wedging to sculpture in the round, this lesson in ceramics will leave you hooked. All ages are welcome to this workshop, so bring the whole family along!
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Free Day Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Friday, November 3, 11am – 4pm,
Hey! Free day! Pop-on by for a dose of nature connectedness. Details
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Arboretum Free Day, Tuesday, November 7, 9am - 5pm, The first Tuesday of the month is free to non-members. The UC Santa Cruz Arboretum is a conservation garden of rare, endangered and extraordinary plants from around the world. Details
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Home Depot Kids Workshops, 1st Saturdays of the month, 9am – 12pm, Join us the first Saturday of each month between 9 am – 12 pm for free in-person Kids Workshops.
2600 41st Avenue, Soquel, Register
355 S Green Valley Rd, Watsonville, Register
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Knitting Group at Live Oak Library, Fridays 11am - 1pm, Come join our knitting event every Friday at Live Oak Library! If you’re looking for something fun and relaxing to do, come knit with us! Bring your own yarn, knitting needles, and any other crafting materials you’d like. We welcome crochet and cross stitch enthusiasts too! All ages welcome! Details
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Teen Girls Self-Defense Workshop, Sunday, November 5, 11:30am – 2pm, LAST Teen Girls Self-Defense of 2023, If your Teen isn’t adequately trained to know what to do if someone starts to ask her questions, or she doesn’t know how to respond with her words, or her body, and why it’s so critical for her to know this to be safe, register her for this Teen Girls Self-Defense workshop. Often perpetrators will attempt conversations to see how the intended target responds. This gives them all the information they need to choose the target. Get your Teen trained. Details
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Advisory Council of Teens Capitola, Sunday, November 5, 2 – 4pm, Advisory Council of Teens (ACT) is the SCPL young adult advisory group. ACT is open to all Santa Cruz County young adults, ages 12-18. The main focus of the ACT is young adult services, including programs, events, spaces, and policies. This is a good opportunity for students to fulfill community service credits, obtain job skills, develop leadership abilities, and acquire college extracurricular experience. Details
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Live Oak Picture Book Scavenger Hunt, November 1 -30, Join us at Live Oak Library to celebrate National Picture Book Month with a Picture Book Scavenger Hunt. Stop by the children’s room and pick up a hunt. Look for the answers in books! It could be a word or a picture. Complete the hunt and turn it into the circulation desk to receive a prize. Details
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Bike Commuting 101, Wednesday, November 9, 12 – 1pm,
Are you ready to take your morning commute to the next level? Or are you just ready to give your wallet a break from gas prices? Learn from the experts about bike commuting basics including hauling gear, what to look for in a solid commuting bike, riding while “business casual,” rush hour rules of the road, and more. Details
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Nature Journal Studio, Wednesday, November 8, 6:30 – 8pm, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, Nature journaling can help us view the natural world with new perspectives, learn about our surroundings, and see the extraordinary in the ordinary. During monthly Nature Journal Studio sessions at the Museum, Melinda Nakagawa will guide you through a topic as we practice skills in a group setting and share our learning with others. We will develop observation skills and awareness of nature, improve sketching skills, and practice strategies to bring the 3-dimensional world onto the page. Rather than an art class, nature journaling is about observation, curiosity, wonder, and honing these abilities. 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. November
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