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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County | |
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February 2 is Groundhog Day—the day we find out whether winter will last 6 more weeks or call it quits early. How did this quirky tradition get started? Find out the meaning of Groundhog Day.
February 12 is Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday. The 16th president of the United States was born in a one-room, 16x18-foot log cabin with a dirt floor. "Though Lincoln once maintained that his “paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery,” he nonetheless came to regard emancipation as one of his greatest achievements and would argue for the passage of a constitutional amendment outlawing slavery (eventually passed as the 13th Amendment after his death in 1865)."
February 14 is always Valentine’s Day. Today, the holiday is celebrated with cards. love, flowers, and chocolate, but how did this holiday get its start? Learn all about Valentine’s Day. "For the young and young at heart, it’s fun to make Valentine’s Day cards to send anonymously to a neighbor, someone in the nursing home, a good friend, or a family member! Gather up some vintage postcards, colorful paper, feathers, or whatever you have on hand. Put a big “?” on the inside and see if your recipient guesses their “secret admirer.” Or, here’s how to make a homemade card using a potato (Spud-tacular!)!"
February 17 brings Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday for celebrating both Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays with a three day weekend.
George Washington’s birthday is February 22. "George Washington was a servant of liberty."
Whether we have unresolved issues, a moment of anger when we’re under stress, someone triggered our triggers, we’re angry about politics or our children have temper tantrums, last week’s article, “ANGER is a Complicated Emotion, but One You Can Learn How to Control” generated a lot of interest. What better time to arm ourselves with good tools against this pesky emotion than during February the Love Month?!
Please treat yourself to reading our informative article on food/health! It could change your life!
Have a very delightful weekend, Parmalee
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How We Can Transform
the Food We Serve to Our Own Family
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The original title of Dr. Means’ article is “How One Educator Transformed Her School’s Food –and How You Can Too.” As I read it I realized that this article would be welcome by our very-food-conscientious families in Santa Cruz County. I created a title to intrigue you on a personal level, "How We Can Tranforn the Food We Serve to Our Own Family" because the family is the first place where we practice/mentor habits to benefit us and our children for life.
The primary message of this article aligns with today’s increasing awareness of the relationship between what we eat and our health throughout our life.
If we are eating well at home can that influence what we eat when we are away from home? And vice-versa, can eating well at school/work/restaurants influence and support how we are eating at home? Can we save on medical needs by being extremely conscientious about the food we bring into our homes?
Parmalee
How One Educator Transformed Her School’s Food
–and How You Can Too
By Dr. Casey Means
I receive countless emails from parents and teachers dismayed by the state of school food today. Reforming childhood nutrition has been a passion of mine for years because it’s unconscionable that, in the wealthiest country in the world, corporate interests are consistently prioritized over children’s health. Sadly, that’s the reality.
Continue for more facts and helpful suggestions --->
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Casual Social Meetup for Tech Discussions, Thursday, January 30, 11am – 12pm, Join our casual social meetup for tech discussions, where everyone is invited to share about their tech challenges and new discoveries. Enjoy facilitated talks, share experiences, and connect over coffee/tea and pastries. This month’s topic: AI-Generated E-books and E-audio-books, Register please, Details
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Little Penguin Love Island, Saturday, February 1, 1 -2pm, Join us at the Boulder Creek Branch Library to watch the world’s smallest penguins look for love in the 2024 documentary “Little Penguin Love Island”, followed by a discussion with the film’s Director, science journalist and filmmaker, Annie Roth. Documentary run time is 33 minutes and is rated PG. Details
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Familypower: Starting Strong for ages 3-7 with their adults, Sunday, February 2, 20-11am, Through puppets and fun, interactive stories, learn how to introduce People Safety Skills and to continue to practice them in your daily life. Help your child learn how to handle a friend sayiamng something mean, check first before touching something unsafe, move away from someone doing something that could be hurtful, and get help from you effectively, even when you are busy. Details
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4 - 5:30Free College Admissions Workshop, Monday, February 3, 5 – 6pm,
Feeling overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Join us for a free workshop that breaks down college admissions step-by-step! Learn how to build a balanced college list, understand application strategies, and explore financial aid options. Hosted by Lizette Paredes from Empowered Access, Details
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ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE CRAFTS, Friday, February 14, 5:30 – 8pm
Tired of the same old Valentine’s Day routine? Get tickets for an evening of distraction and creativity at Abbott Square Market’s “All You Need is Crafts” event. Get crafty and unleash your inner artist with simple embroidery, decoupage, bonus retro mall photos and more. Tickets are VERY limited! No love or romance required. Details
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UCSC Arboretum Free Day, February 4, 9am - 5pm, Details
Afternoon STEAM: Minecraft, 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 4 - 5:30pm
through May 13, Details
Pokemon at Live Oak Annex, Thursdays 3-5pm, January 23 – May 8, Details
Triple P Workshop for Parents, What To Do When Your Child Has a Hard Time Separating From You, Details
Tai Chi in the Library, Thursdays, 10-11am, January 2 – April 17,
Details
Art Classes at Santa Cruz Art League, January through April, Take an art class at SCAL with a local artist. Details
Quilting with Friends, 1st & 3rd Mondays 11am-3pm, through May 5
Details
Tales to Tails Felton Library, 3rd Tuesdays, 3-4pm, Details
Great Expectations Parenting Group for Parents/Caregivers of Neurodivergent Children, 3rd Saturdays, 1:30-2:30pm, Details
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Skate the Civic, Mondays 6:30 – 9:30pm, Let’s Roll, Santa Cruz! 🛼 Grab your friends, lace up, and glide into a night of music, lights, and fun. See you there! Here’s the lineup: 5:30 PM – Kids Skate Lessons; 6:30 PM – Teen/Adult Skate Lessons; 6:30-9:30 PM – Open Skate for everyone! Details
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Movement and Dance for Preschoolers! Fridays 10:15 – 10:45am, February 7, Children aged 3-5 are invited to come dance at the Scotts Valley Library! The library is partnering with local dance school Agape Dance Academy to offer a special monthly program where kids are taught mindfulness through movement and dance. Kids will also be able to wear costumes, dance freely and have fun! Be sure to wear loose, comfortable clothing and be prepared to move! Details
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Second Annual Toy Swop, Watsonville Library, through January 29, Donate gently used toys at the Main Library.
January 30, Thursday, 5:30 – 7:30pm, Shop at the Main Library for a new toy with a voucher. Learn how to participate.
Details
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Little Discoverer Infant/Toddler Fridays, 10:30-11am, Make Fridays memorable with MOD’s Infant Toddler Class—a fantastic blend of play, exploration, and social experiences. Programming changes weekly offering magical experiences for you and your child. Free with daily admission and no pre-registration required, Ages 0-3 years Details
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Lego Brick Builder Fridays, Fridays, 3-4pm, Calling All Master Builders! Get ready to unleash your creativity and engineering skills at the Children’s Museum of Discovery’s LEGO Challenge Build Event! This exciting event is perfect for LEGO fans of all ages. Details | |
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Paint and Play Saturdays, Saturdays 10:30am, Unleash creativity and have a blast with colors at MOD’s Paint & Play! Recommended for ages 4 and up, this informal class is perfect for anyone who can independently use a paintbrush. Learn a variety of fun painting techniques, from basic strokes to more advanced styles, while letting your imagination run wild as you create unique and colorful masterpieces! Details
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Science Saturdays, Saturdays 1 – 2pm, Join us every Saturday for fun and interactive science adventures at the MOD! Each week, we’ll bring learning to life through engaging science lessons, followed by hands-on activities designed to spark creativity and curiosity for all. From exciting experiments to interactive demos, Science Saturday is a great way for the whole family to explore the wonders of science together! Details
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Zentangle Art, February 8, 10 – 11:30am, The Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. Join Certified Zentangle Teacher Lisa Hoesing for an introductory workshop and monthly meetup to practice the method. Details
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West Cliff Valentine’s Outdoor Market, Saturday, February 8, 10am – 5pm, Join Us for an Unforgettable Outdoor Valentine’s Market Experience! Discover the charm of our outdoor market, featuring unique artisans and mouthwatering food trucks, all set against the breathtaking backdrop of the ocean. Details
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Introduction to Wood Shop at Fab Labs, February 22nd & 23rd, 2pm – 5pm, Introduction to Wood Shop is a two-part course on the essentials of a functional woodshop and general woodworking. This course includes an overview of woodworking techniques, safe tool operation, and maintenance and will culminate in hands-on experience with shop tools while participants work through select projects. No experience is necessary. Details
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Family Concert: Peter And The Wolf, Sunday, March 2, 2pm, The Santa Cruz Symphony presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Peter and the Wolf.
This popular performance will sell out. Get your tickets now. 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! January ~ February
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