It's time to reserve your plants via the annual Gerbera Festival, a fundraiser for Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks!

Check out Gerbera-N-Go!

Kerry McDonald is persuasive because she respectfully and capably looks at the many facets of a topic. That is what I ask of journalists and of family and friends with whom I discuss topics that can be controversial.

Read her latest exposition on learning choices. Tell me what you think! Do you agree/disagree with some/all of her perspectives? Did you learn something new to you? Did you change your mind about anything?

Kid tested, parent approved. As more families head out by bike, there are a lot of options to consider. We’ll help you navigate the how-to’s of riding with children.

Ecology Action Offices or ZOOM, RSVP here. https://us02web.zoom.us/webina…

Of all the barriers people face to biking, kids usually land at the top of the list. How early can you get your kiddo on a bike with you? What are the different ways you can carry your kids or ride with them? Is a cargo bike better than a trailer? With a bit of preparation, we’re confident that you can navigate the childcare/school, work, errand, and extracurricular point-to-point by bike!

This workshop is offered both in-person at the Civic Auditorium and virtually via Zoom. Lunch will be provided for all in-person attendees.

In this workshop, Ecology Action staff will guide you through the many options for family biking. Topics will include gear, family testimonials, riding through the developmental stages, and recommendations for riding with kids safely, conveniently, and having fun along the way. Find out how parents and caregivers are replacing the minivan with the bike and why kids can’t seem to get enough.

FREE BIKE LIGHTS AND HELMETS AVAILABLE FOR ALL ATTENDEES. To request helmets and bike lights, attendees must be employees of a business in SC County and enrolled in GO SC on gosantacruzcounty.org For more information on the GO Santa Cruz program and available benefits, visit gosantacruzcounty.org

This free workshop is offered to all as part of GO Santa Cruz, a transportation program that provides downtown employees with commute alternatives to single-occupant car trips. While certain benefits are only available to people employed by businesses in downtown SC, all may attend.

*To request helmets and bike lights, attendees must be employees of a business in SC County and enrolled in GO SC on gosantacruzcounty.org

One of our critical roles as parents is teaching our children about internet safety. Indeed we ourselves can get fooled, and hopefully one bad experience can make us more wary.

A few years ago a friend bought a blouse via Amazon. The photo made it look beautiful. When it arrived, it was not at all like the photo. The material was cheap. The size was off, and when she attempted to return it, the obstacles were not worth the time or money. She researched the company, learned it was based in China and determined to be more vigilant.

I tell you this story because I've learned of another company with similar origins, using high quality photos to sell products for amazingly low prices and moreover providing an app which Kim Komando calls dangerous. It's now the second most downloaded app after Amazon. Do you have it on your phone? Find out! Read Kim Komando's column > > >

by Kerry McDonald

"Remember last week when I shared with you the key takeaway from my recent presentation at an education conference? My main point was that a diverse and decentralized education system, grounded in choice, leads to better outcomes and greater social harmony.

It turns out that more people are recognizing this regardless of their political leanings. While the recent expansion of school choice policies in many states is being largely driven by those on the political right, The Daily Beast, a popular publication positioned squarely on the political left, is also echoing the benefits of school choice policies and the education entrepreneurship they stimulate."  Read more > > >

"Hidden Beach County Park has one upcoming improvement: the installation of a permanent restroom. The County Parks Department is working with consulting firm SSA Landscape Architects to design a permanent restroom facility at the park. The restroom will be accessible to people with mobility impairments and provide flush toilets and running water for handwashing. Preliminary planning has the facility sited between the existing playground and the service road."