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Previous Newsletters
All newsletters highlight upcoming family-friendly events.
Newsletters 2024
November 27 – Happy Thanksgiving, History of Thanks; Recipes for Stuffing Balls and Turkey Soup; Corny Thanksgiving Knock-Knock Jokes; Christmas Trees Await You; Ziggy the Mini Horse; Ask Yesenia: Caring for Yourself and Embracing Peace; Adopt A Family; A Plethora of Holiday Family-Friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3AO0WDi
November 21 – Rain Walks; Collecting Acorns; Make Acorn People; Into the Woods Musical; Adopt A Family; Skills for Making Family Gatherings Not Miserable; Turkey Meal Leftover Sequences; Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3OkrEX3
November 14 – …And that’s what I do, stuffing balls! Anastasia the Musical is fabulous! 67 Screen-free Activities for Kids; Line Dance Party and Lots of Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3UT0dHH
November 7 – Choices: We Choose representatives; We Choose Our Children’s Schooling; We choose to explode or Take Charge and We Choose from an array of Family-friendly Events; https://conta.cc/3YIdBzt
October 31 – Goodbye Halloween; One last “Boo” and Onward We Go to our Thankful Season; How to Guide Your Kid Through Election Season; Pre-cooked Thanksgiving Meal Services; Ask Yesenia: Embracing the Holidays; Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/48rQfCH
October 24 – HALLOWEEN 2024 ALL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY PDF, Mousekin’s Golden House, Julie Makes the Case for Video Games, Fun Topics for Families, Spooky Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3YisI2m
October 17 – Am Walking Enough? Get Tickets NOW for a New, Exciting, Holiday Tradition, X-Academy for Students Who Love Math, HALLOWEEN 2024.5 ALL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Big Creek Lumber Offers School Garden Grant Program for 2025, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/4dPbM9d
October 10 – HALLOWEEN 2024 ALL SANTA CRUZ COUNTY downloadable pdf. BIG DAY for Bird Lovers, Articles for Parents, Message from a Knucklehead, PUMPKIN PATCHES, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/481A26N
October 3 – Hunting for Knuckle Head Pumpkins, Good News for Alba Schoolhouse, October Chili, How to Set Boundaries When You Never Have Been Taught How, What’s In the $10 Billion School Construction Bond on the Nov 5 Ballot? What happened Ehen I Ate the Best Brain Foods for a Week? 14 Phrases to Use with Your Teen That Will Transform Your Relationship; Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3ZTctLt
September 26 – Where to Find the Pumpkins pdf; Ask Yesenia: Building Healthy Sleep Habits; Unique Pumpkin Hunting: Rancho Siempre Verde; How much sleep do babies and kids need? Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3ZFtFnz
September 19 – About those banned books; Young Entrepreneurs Workshop; Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn and American Ingenuity; Family-friendly Events: https://conta.cc/3Xz0YpS
September 12 – Connections, CDC Mental Health, Kidpower: How Do We Protect Our Kids?, Rachel’s Challenge, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/4e5sGBK
September 5 – The Shot, Find the Good, Let Us Vote, Family-friendly Events, Seven Films about Oceans, https://conta.cc/3ThsoiO
August 29 – The Value of Work, Give Your Heart A Soft Cradle, City of Dreams, The Intouchables, A Generous Man, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3AFcus2
August 22 – You’ve Got to Be Joking, No Way… 10 Teens. 0 Phones. 1 Unsupervised Camping Trip.What Could Go Wrong? Getting Control of Our Food/Household Purchases, Savvy Local Parents Share Their Shopping Skills. Grocery Price Comparison Walmart vs. Safeway, Family-friendly Events , https://conta.cc/3yMJjCI
August 15 – Volunteer Where FUN Is the Name of the Game, Fascinating Historical Fiction: For Boys and For Girls, Family-friendly Events , https://conta.cc/4cmiPpi
August 8 – Fossil Hunting is Fun, Especially When You Make a Big Discovery, Parenting Trends, Choose to Do Something Exhilarating, Family-friendly Events. https://conta.cc/3Px4fCH
August 1 – Focus on the Positive, Strawberry Festival, “Sowing Seeds, Filipino American Stories,” A Story of a Joyful Adoption, Teaching Children the Four Main Areas of Money Fosters Confidence and Depth of Character, Creating a Successful Teen Writer’s Lab, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/4c74P2z
July 25 – “Don’ t know much about history…” Historical Fiction and History, Hamilton and Peggy, A Revolutionary Friendship, Johnny Tremaine, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3A8zDm4
July 18 – Magic Words to Ease a Strained Friendship, How Do I Help My School-age Children Make Friends, Phone Time Reminder! Tie this in with “Making Friends” https://conta.cc/3zrfKGK
July 11 – Surprising new info on what feeds arguments and blocks connection… Ask Yesenia:Fun in the Sun: Making the Most of Summer Schedules! Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3WekHvr
July 3 – Happy Birthday America, ALL 4th of July Events, https://conta.cc/3zrfKGK
June 27 – Listen! Presidents, Policies and the Constitution, The National Constitution Center, After High School Choices, Suki: One of my favorite things about having kids was read-alouds! Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3L1Fqw5
June 20 – Summertime, and the living is… How to Break Up with Your Phone, Microschools, Create a Beautiful Painting, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3KSwLMw
June 13 – Happy Dad’s Day to All the Dad-Men In Our Lives, “If These Walls Could Talk” Castro Adobe Open House, Kindness 101, Volunteering Is Rewarding, Brainy Stuff for Parents and Teachers, https://conta.cc/45rRwbd
June 6 – Dad’s Day Coming Up, Today’s D-Day June 6th, All You Need to Know About Ticks, Ask Yesenia: Celebrate Dads, https://conta.cc/3RcaUDr
May 30 – Moms, Dads, Children: Enter a County Fair Contest! Family-friendly Events, Designing Strength-Based IEP Workshops, Entertainment All Summer, https://conta.cc/3UX6EIS
May 23 – Books So Good They Can’t Put Them Down, A Few Book Lists, Memorial Day, Avenue of Flags, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3UHW1s31
May 16 – Summer Reading. Nicole Introduces Yesenia, Articles for Thinkers, https://conta.cc/3UHW1s31
May 9 – Camps and Character, Local Camps Hwlp Create Sweet Memories, Family-friendly Events https://conta.cc/3UwXa6R
May 2 – Simply the Events,Camps, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3JH99dd
April 18 –The Lyrid Meteor Showers, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/44gBZKK
April 11 – You Matter, What is the Real Cause of Teen Mental Health, Fentanyl High, A Documentary Film by a Local Teen, Dueling Opinions About the Real Cause of the Teen Mental Crisis, How to Delay the Age at Which Teens Get Smart Phones, And Seven Tips on How to Make This Work, https://conta.cc/4auJqjX
April 4 – What to Do After Losing Your Temper, Ask Nicole: 30 Days of Quality Time, Take a Tiny Walk, Celebrate National Library Week, https://conta.cc/3xvqQt7
March 28 – Find Your Purpose, Create Original Bedtime Stories with Your Children, Ducky Derby Online this Year, , Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3PHuV3I
March 21 – Fossil Hunting is Fun, Especially When You Make a Big Discovery, Parenting Trends, Choose to Do Something Exhilarating, Family-friendly Events. https://conta.cc/3Px4fCH
March 14 – We Love Our Little Flyers, Prevent Nightmare Scams, Be the First to Snare Those Tickets for Popular Events, Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3v6DTR8
March 7 – Women’s History Month, In with a Roar, Hummingbird Month, Cooped Up Kids, Easy Scavenger Hunts, Save Your Inbox from Spam, Family Friendly Events, https://conta.cc/435pkKc
February 29 – Happy Birthday Leaplings and Leapers! Ask Nicole: Tips for the Teen Years; Escape Into Mysteries for Parents; Should schools ban phones all day? Family Friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3T0oXx9
February 22 – Phrases that Work in Strengthening Relationships; Teen Girls Self-Defense Workshop; Why Giving Is Good for Your Health; Family Friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3uKFWKk
February 15 – The Power of Love; McCrary Family Scholarships; Are You Waiting for a Lollipop? Family Friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3T0oXx9
February 8 – Cursive writing was so yesterday in California… and now it’s back! On the Night You Were Born; Watsonville Reads; Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong; Want to know more about the science of reading? Family-friendly events, https://conta.cc/3uxQPz2
February 1 – Welcome February; Raising Good Humans; Scammers Targeting Kids and Teens; How Not to Age; Aptos Library Open House; State of California Test Results for 2023; Book Bans and Pronoun Wars; Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3SGhBPe
January 25 – Learn the real history in The Double Crossing; Conquer Clutter; A Local Blog for Teens from Suki; Boys and Girls; Why Anti-Semitism Sprouted So Quickly on Campus and Family-Friendly Events, https://conta.cc/3u6ayWn
January 18 – January Routines and Creativity; How you can help to end the youth mental health crisis; Before you get a pet, send the children to a Santa Cruz SPCA’s PAWS Program; So You’re Going to the Snow; Into the Woods Performance; https://conta.cc/48VeIPK
January 11 – Martin Luther King, A Visionary; King Tides; You Can’t Make Meaning by Hating Others; 11 Grammar Mistakes that Drive Editors Mad; Family-friendly Events, https://conta.cc/48VeIPK
January 4 – Trees, “Treelings,” Parents and Children; January is Positive Parenting Awareness Month; Triple P Laid Back Book Club; Fungus Fair; Family-friendly Events https://conta.cc/3tIGDDG
Newsletters 2023
December 28 – Happy New Year! The Santa Cruz Fungus Fair is Back; A Powerful Way to Help Troubled Teens; Resolutions for a Life Worth Living; Powerful Surf Warning, Family Friendly Events including New Years Eve, https://conta.cc/3vq82ug
December 21 – Merry Christmas, Board Games, Tamales and Solstice Sea Star Search. Beautiful Books for Children, https://conta.cc/3NxoPll
December 14 – Holodomor, Do you know what it means? Hatred Will Destroy You, Time with Nature… It’s Rewarding, Holiday Events for Families, https://conta.cc/4anLxGE
December 7 – The Best Gift; ‘Tis the Season to Be Jolly; Vacation Camps; Christmas Tree Farms and Holiday Events, https://conta.cc/47Llwzg,
November 30 – Ask Nicole: Finding Peace and Joy During the Holidays; Go to the Woods… or Around the Block; All the Tree Farms; Acts of Kindness; Family Friendly Events. https://conta.cc/47BU9Ya
November 23 – Happy Thanksgiving; Amahl and the Night Visitors; Ways to Help Our Friends in Ancient Lands; A Tree Your Way; Holiday Events. https://conta.cc/3QUItbU
November 17 – Let’s Talk Turkey; Holiday Events; Neighbors Share How They Celebrate Thanksgiving; Books Make the Best Gifts; A Plethora of Family-Friendly Events. https://conta.cc/46iUu0K
November 9 – For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven; Volunteer Where Your Heart Takes You! United Against Hate Week; KidPower International: Inspire connection & leadership with our new safety resource! Family-friendly Events. https://conta.cc/3shiwLG
November 2 – What will you do with the bonus hour on Sunday? Hatred | Freedom; Ask Nicole: Giving Thanks; Welcome Home Western Flyer; I Was Fired for Setting Academic Standards; Understanding Assessment Standards; Events for Families, https://conta.cc/47imVfR
October 26 – The Popularity of Halloween; Awareness of Your Mindset is the Portal to Change; To Live for Grievances Risks Liberty; We Pretend; A Binocular Guide for Growing Birders; Family Events, https://conta.cc/3Mfs7cx
October 19 – Do Something Creative… It’s good for the soul; Pumpkin Carving Tips from The Art Factory; A Story of Beauty, Sadness, Hope; Where the Pumpkins Are; Who Runs the Best U.S. Schools? Family Events, https://conta.cc/3S1r43F
October 12 – How to Talk with Children, Adolescents and Teens About War, Step Outside to View the Eclipse; Pumpkin Patches and Halloween Events, Upcoming Events, Places to Go, Things to Do, https://conta.cc/3ZTrScL
October 5 – ALL the Pumpkin Patches and Halloween Events! It’s a Treat to visit Open Studios Artists; “October is….tah dah….Mystery Month! END OF THE LINE! Last Opportunity to View the Fern Creek and Western Railroad at 419 Ocean View Ave, Santa Cruz on Sunday, October 8, 1– 4pm; Weekend Events! https://conta.cc/3Q3Pic3
September 28 – Pumpkin Patches PDF and Halloween Events PDF; Ask Nicole: Homework Routines Are Your Friend; Is it legal to track your children at school? Suki: Why read out loud? & When and How to Use Audio Books for Your Developing Reader; Lots of Fun Family Events https://conta.cc/462f71P
September 21 – The Power of a Walk; Handling Tricky People; The Lure and Benefits of Challenging Puzzles, Good for ALL Ages! Family Events, https://conta.cc/3Pl1Jia
September 14 – Exciting, Delicious and Colorful; The Fair is Bursting with Innovation; Ask Nicole: Encouraging a Growth Mindset; Family Events, https://conta.cc/3Pqjb50
September 7 – It’s Fried Green Tomatoes Time; We Have a Best Friend in our Neighborhoods; Family Events, My love, we are going to wait on the smartphone for you because of so many reasons; Teaching Note-Taking Skills to Guide Students to Self-Directed Learning; Teens are crumbling under extreme pressure; Family Events, https://conta.cc/44EvNLb
August 31 – Good job everyone! The Santa Cruz County Fair, A View of Us; Halloween Costumes for CASA Kids, https://conta.cc/47TLhOk
August 10 – Schooling, Culture, History, Dolls & Miracles; the Enduring Story Behind American Girl Dolls; What Do Parents and the Public Say About K-12 Education? An Upbeat Question, https://conta.cc/47oVWAh
August 3 – Reasons for Early August School Starts; Ask Nicole: Teaching Children to Cope with Anxiety; The Iconic Art Factory Opens in a New Studio; https://conta.cc/3KmgTlB
July 27 – August 10th!? Overheard; What Makes a Truly Great Teacher? Rumbles about Back to School Date, https://conta.cc/3q45q3b
July 20 – Art, Geometry, Art, Peace; Light Exhibition; You’re thinking about the Fair Right? https://conta.cc/46Xzjm7
July 13 – Teens can be so great, especially when… On Books, Freedom, Slavery; For Adults… Lists of 2023 Books to Read… or Not, for YOU get to Choose! Have You See The Sound of Freedom? https://conta.cc/43lt3BL
July 6 – On My Soapbox; Ask Nicole; Stuff the Bus, Reactions to Supreme Court Rulings on Education, https://conta.cc/44xrC4h
June 29 – Happy 274th Birthday America! Children’s Books I Missed in My Youth; Youth Chess Tournament, https://conta.cc/44lPOqi
June 22 – “A Tribute to a good Man” – Today’s newsletter honors Eric Child whom you may know as the train man. Eric brought his love of trains to thousands of children and children at heart. He was a friend to many and mentor to a young boy who was as crazy for trains as he! https://conta.cc/46jShU0
June 15 – Terrific Book Lists; Happy Father’s Day; A Website for Men, https://conta.cc/3JhzaQy
June 8 – Backyard Camping! Inspiration from a 7 Year Old Boy; Junior and Little Ranger Programs, https://conta.cc/3OY2orj
June 1 – “Turn off the light already, and get some sleep!” Ask Nicole: Tips for Dad and Father Figures; Run to the Library! https://conta.cc/43Apic5
May 25 – What Do We Teach Our Children About Memorial Day? Hot Fudge Sundaes & Other Self-care Remedies; Well, duh? Surgeon General Deems Social Media Harmful to Kids, https://conta.cc/3WAYKp0
May 18 – CAMP ISSUE; Going to Camp Makes My Heart Sing; Selecting the Camp Best Suited for Each Child; “Benefits and Anticipated Outcomes of the Camp Experience” (ACA); Getting Off in the Morning; When They Come Home, Introduce Camp Fire Stories at Home; 17 Not-So-Scary Spooky Stories for Kids, https://conta.cc/41STZbx
May 11 – Mom Tears; Raising Critical Thinkers; Happy Mothers Day; Affordable Housing Month Events, https://conta.cc/3pupI5a
May 4 – We CAN Help Our Less Fortunate.The “HOW” is the challenge; Ask Nicole: Self-care is Essential! Multi-Cultural Fair, https://conta.cc/3VuSX3R
April 27 – Nature Journaling for the Entire Family; Let’s Go Through “Differently Wired” Together; https://conta.cc/3Lw4UCR
April 20 – Dance! Hike! Walk! Run! Earth Day Every Day; Beach Passes for Parking Your Car; Coastal Wildflower Day, https://conta.cc/41JgS1j
April 13 – Respectfully and Capably; Kid tested, parent approved, Family Biking Lunch and Learn; Another Dangerous App; The Daily Beast Gets It; Hidden Beach, https://conta.cc/3UzzluN
April 6 – Welcome April! What is “home” to you? Creative Listening Across Differences” Classic Easter/Spring Books for the Little Ones and those who read to them! https://conta.cc/3ZFH9Mw
March 30 – Out like a lamb… we hope! Less play, worse mental health; It’s Decision Time: Kindergarten, TK, Private School K or Preschool K? Volunteer for Pajaro Flood Cleanup, https://conta.cc/409IRH3
March 23 – “We want to be supportive of a plan that is grounded in proven programs.” Housing; Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to write for television, film, animation, graphic novels, and more? Take a wild flower walk, https://conta.cc/3z1t94J
March 16 – “This could be happening in your town!” Building Trades Program; Finding the Magic in Middle School; Storm Resources, https://conta.cc/3LpeKa4
March 9 – 85 Great Teens and their Supportive Parents; If you see a penguin, please pick it up! Free Bus Rides for K – 12; TikTok Danger, https://conta.cc/3l89zQW
March 2 – Magic! I Used to Be a Baby Elephant; Ask Nicole; Managing Screen Time; Extreme Weather Resource Fair, https://conta.cc/3SGUcve
February 23 – Readers are up in arms! 10 things to know about how social media affects teens’ brains; Perils in Paradise; School Choice Trends, https://conta.cc/3XUl5gf
February 16 – Keeping Children Safe in a Scary World; We think parents deserve a fun night out… and for a good cause! So You’re Going to the Snow! Omega Nu is now accepting scholarship applications from local high school seniors, https://conta.cc/3I5ZKL0
February 9 – Hearts and Buffalo Soldiers; Are You a Rockhound? Join an MOD focus group, https://conta.cc/3x6LAUS
February 2 – Welcome February, Been Waiting for You! An Amazing Love Story; Ask Nicole: Showing Love in Simple Ways; Meet a Neighbor; Transform a Shoe or Cereal Box; It’s Girl Scout Cookie Time; https://conta.cc/3JAg8Wz
January 26 – Enrich Life with Music and History; Inspiring Adventures; Disaster Recovery Centers; Safe, Reliable & Affordable Transportation, https://conta.cc/3XQIMGK
January 19 – Sunshine is on the way! Make Time to Make and Maintain Friendships with Friends and Family! Expand Your Friendships; Parenting Power Summit; Two Perspectives on TikTok…Ban or Do Not Ban, https://conta.cc/3IWt74j
January 12 – Cherish the Small Moments; Get Moving Mondays; The Romance of Egypt and Archeology; Not Scary Movies for 2 – 4 year olds; Where the snow is… https://conta.cc/3Gud6jk
January 5 – May 2023 Be a Good Year for You! January is Positive Parenting Awareness Month! Ramses the Great; Historical Fiction Brings History Alive! Elephant Seals Arriving! https://conta.cc/3vIEG7z
Newsletters 2022
Dec 29 – The US and the Holocaust; A Man Called Ove; Ask Nicole: Building Emotional Resilience Positive Parenting Month; An Invitation from Live Oak Grange, a Welcoming Community; K-12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest; 2022 Year End Events, https://conta.cc/3GrRzce
Dec 20 – Merry Everyone! Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Solstice; Do not miss the King Tides, How Norad Became the Santa Tracker, K-12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest, Why Add Jigsaw Puzzles to Our Holiday Routine https://conta.cc/3V7XQhf
Dec 15 – A Serendipitous Musical Happening, Introducing children to a variety of experiences may lead to a satisfying career! Join Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count, https://conta.cc/3YtqV9I
Dec 8 – Is there a Santa Mouse in Your House? COE Spotlights Computer Science, Danger: Hammerhead Worms, How to Make Tamales, https://conta.cc/3BlQXSq
Dec 1 – Ask Nicole: Making the Holidays a Time for Reflection and Celebration, It’s Tamale Time, December is Brimming with Choices, https://conta.cc/3UswsdA
Nov 23 – All the Winter Holiday Events We Could Find, Fun Winter Camps for Children, CDRC’s Childcare & Preschool Map, Grants for Preschools, First Thanksgiving… then a tree! CDRC: Maps and Childcare Grants, https://conta.cc/3i0uMuh
Nov 17 – From Turkey to Tamales, Traditions Are Living History; A “treeing” we shall go… Lessons in Friendship and Teamwork; Fall-Winter Camps; Find Child Care by CDRC’s New Maps, https://conta.cc/3gb3zom
Nov 10 – …then cozy up with a good book… Good Books Abound, Classic Stuffing, Eloise Recommends Series Books for 9 Year Olds, 21 Books in The Famous Five Series Keeps Them Reading, Classic Stuffing, None of that Exotic Stuff, https://conta.cc/3TqogKg
Nov 3 – Think Turkey! Seven magically mysterious adventure series for middle-grade readers, Ask Nicole: Helping Kids Handle Big Emotions, A Gift for You, VIEW
Oct 27 – Make Your Halloween Safe and Fun! It’s Acorn People Time… Watch the Plein Air Artists 5 days of 40+ Artists Painting Around Capitola, Lessons inChemistry, Walks with a Purpose, VIEW https://conta.cc/3sysuof
Oct 20 – A Dad Weighs In! Mural Art in Watsonville, Get in the Spirit! Tour Evergreen Cemetery at Dusk, VIEW https://conta.cc/3eNY9yQ
Oct 13 – How to Teach Responsibility without Nagging! Crazy about Whales, Art, Birds, Dance? And of course downloadable PUMPKIN PATCHES AND HALLOWEEN FUN, https://conta.cc/3MrhZML
Oct 6 – Today’s Newsletter: If I were a young mom or dad… We cannot be casual about fentanyl! You CAN taste 70 different types of apples! VIEW https://conta.cc/3MctHe6
Sept 29 – Halloween 2022 Downloadable pdf, Get into Birds! Do this today to meet your child’s core needs! Ask Nicole: Tips for New Parents, VIEW https://conta.cc/3SDFIuS
Sept 22 – PUMPKIN PATCHES 2022, Exciting Learning in Classrooms, Model United Nations, Santa Cruz World Harmony Chorus, https://conta.cc/3R2A4Bd
Sept 15 – Who practices the “Freedom to Read,” It’s acorn time, Computer Science and Information Technology for Parents, Kids Favorite Series Books, VIEW https://conta.cc/3dh3kXb
