SantaCruzParent.com

Your Information Detective Agency

    Welcome to all you new subscribers!  When you want to find something fun to do with your family in Santa Cruz County,  SantaCruzParent.com is a great source for ideas.  I love a good mystery.  It is flat out my favorite genre and substitutes for not growing up to be a sleuth like my favorite characters.  But now I get to be a real life Information Detective, seeking out all sorts of fun activities to do, events to attend and places to go --all for you and your family!  Visit the Events Calendar often, as we post new items daily.  It has two sections for your convenience: Annual = one time events and Weekly = ongoing classes, meetings, groups.

Thanks to you! Brownie                  

    "Another world is not only a possibility. It is a reality created by ordinary heroes performing extraordinary work. From solar activists training women to be engineers in Afghanistan to Dr. Robert Curry literally stuck in the mud in the Pajaro River it is our combined efforts that create the world we live in. Join us this year as we celebrate each of us doing our part to bring forth a vibrant, healthy and just world. The 116 films from eighteen countries submitted for this year's festival offer Santa Cruz the opportunity to share the experiences of inspiring people from all over the world and all walks of life.

    Festival highlights include: The Ordinary Heroes of Afghanistan, Going Big Box vs. Going Local - This fast-paced, outrageous docu-drama follows Hannah in her shopping quest for a shirt and some eggs; Just a Lawn follows the evolution of the lawn and examines the complex reasons for the lawn's rise in popularity in the 1940s and 50s and the rise in pesticide use for controlling some of the 'perfect' lawn's enemies; In Conversing With Aotearoa New Zealanders attempt to fathom their deep, personal connection with their land. Shot and animated entirely in New Zealand, director and animator Corrie Francis uses a collage of animation techniques to convey not only the richness of the landscape but the stories it holds; and March Point focuses on Cody Nick and Travis, three teens from the Swinomish Tribe who wanted to make a gangster movie. But they were asked to investigate the impact of two oil refineries on their tribal community. March Point follows their journey as they come to understand themselves, and the threat their people face.

    Local films, My Journey With Otters, produced by UCSC Ph.D. student Mele Wheaton, shares Pajaro Valley High School Student Gregoria Catherine Batenga's experience with Watsonville Area Teens for Coastal Habitat; in Stuck in the Mud: Pajaro River in Peril, produced by Lois Robin, Dr. Robert Curry, professor emeritus of UCSC, describes the extensive build up of sediment caused by sand and gravel mining that threatens the health of the river. The film invites us to consider past recreational uses of the Pajaro River and to wonder if we could reclaim our river; and in Pulp, Poo and Perfection, produced by Josh Berry of the Save the Waves Coalition a green surfing story investigates two issues threatening water quality, surfers and public health in Chile.

    Following are dates and topics.  For individual film names and descriptions go to the website .  The films sound fascinating!  You may have a challenge deciding which to go see, but for sure take the children to Saturday's show of films by children. 

Film Festival Events 

Thursday, 3/6, 3 & 7pm, Rio, Sustainability and Oceans   Screenings with filmmakers and discussion. 

Friday, 3/7, Veteran's Memorial, Alternative Energy & Eco-Heroes and Environmental Art Filmmakers Workshop – Check here for time and location.

4pm: Youth Film Screening with filmmakers and discussion.

7pm: First Friday Art Night & Art Opening with Film Screenings with music, filmmakers, discussion and food and wine.

Saturday, 3/8,  10am, Veteran's Memorial, Kid’s Power Hour Film  Screening with music, filmmakers and discussion.

2pm, Ecology & Farming, Film Screenings with filmmakers and discussions.

More Events!

 Details here!

Alan Katz Making You Laugh: Book Cafe 3/7

Don't miss this children's author who will be reading from his newest book OOPS! and have you laughing all evening! 

Scholastic Book Fair: Carden School 3/7 All Day

319 La Fonda Ave., Santa Cruz

Family Art Saturday:  MAH 3/8, 1-3pm

Explore the world of watercolores: how t mix colors, apply washes and create textures.

Building Methods: Santa Cruz Mission 3/8  1-2pm

Make your own adobe brick the way they did in mission days.

Santa Cruz Science Fair: Civic Auditorium  3/8  5-7pm

Students from all over the County compete in 14 categories.

Hummingbird Day: Arboretum 3/8, 10-4

Join us for the Arboretum's annual celebration of the many hummingbirds that feed, mate and nest in the gardens. Activities for bird lovers of all ages.

Pooches in the Park: Polo Grounds Park Aptos 3/9, 10-3

There will be lots of activities, demonstrations, free samples and both dog and human food available.

Living History Demonstrations: Wilder Ranch 3/9  11am-3pm

Picnic, lawn games and quilting demonstration.

Seacliff Park History Visitor Center: Aptos 3/9  1pm

Learn the history of the cement ship.

Science Experiments: Quail Hollow Ranch 3/9 1-3

Expectant Dad and Parenting: Dominican Hospital 3/11 7-9pm

Kids Klub Easter Show, Capitola Mall 3/13 3:30pm

    Join The Easter Bunny for Easter Singing and Dancing and a cute Bunny Foo Foo Puppet Show!  Before the show there will be a Bunny Finger Puppet Craft and Flower Twist Balloons (which you can use to participate in the puppet show) and after the show there will be a fun Chocolate Easter Egg Hunt for everyone!

One Day Organizing Seminar with our own Shannon McGinness 3/15 Details for this very helpful seminar.