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A resource for families in Santa Cruz County |
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Please forward this email to friends,
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza! |
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Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Kwanza! |
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As we gather with family and friends in the warmth of our homes, let's share the beautiful stories of our lives, the good times, the pets we love, the birds outside our windows and sweet memories of loved ones not with us. Recharge from the running around. Treat ourselves to family time! Get out the board games, jig saw puzzles, books, music and favorite movies and snacks. |
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High or low, King Tides are beckoning us to visit on Thursday and Friday. What a holiday treat! Go solo, with the little ones, friends or join a group. Just don't miss it! Enjoy!
The article on jig saw puzzles Written by Andrew Townsend, Director of Kennolyn Camps was originally intended for home-bound families during covid shutdowns, so please pardon us for slightly adjusting the headline to fit the holiday season. Puzzles have always been part of my family, especially on Christmas Day, so I was delighted to learn of the many benefits of doing puzzles. I hope you have a few new ones for Christmas --from baby's first to the challenging 1,000+ pieces. BTW, does anyone do a puzzle exchange?
Have wonderful family times, Parmalee
Image by California Academy of Science
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King Tides
You are invited to a Natural Spectacle!
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"Something special is happening on December 23 and 24 this year: the King Tides arrive! These highest of high and lowest of low tides only happen twice a year. View the edge of the ocean on your own at 8:30 am to see the high tide."
"King tides are important because the extreme high tides give us a glimpse into what sea level rise might look like in certain areas. The extreme low tides uncover tidepools and even millions of years old marine fossils!"
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Join us on either day at 2 pm at the Natural Bridges State Beach Visitor Center to explore our tide pools during low tide. By the end of our walk, you will observe an almost 9 foot difference in the height of the ocean since morning!
Be sure to wear layers of warm, wind-resistant clothes and closed-toed, non-slip shoes for this light scramble up the rocky hillsides and onto the rocky shore where we will view the many tide pool creatures."
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Have you seen what treasures hide beneath the waves that crash against the cliffs between New Brighton State Beach and Capitola?
If you haven’t, consider joining our free guided walk during king tides Friday, December 23rd at 3pm. We will be meeting on the beach below the day use parking lot at New Brighton State Beach. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes for walking over slippery rocks, wear layers in case it is cold, bring water and a snack.
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How Norad Became the Santa Tracker |
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For 65 years NORAD has been tracking Santa. Be sure to check in on his schedule December 24th! Read the heart-warming story of how this came about and find out how to follow Santa's journey around the globe. Here
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K-12 Coastal Art & Poetry Contest
(Click on the fish!)
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Why Add Jigsaw Puzzles to Our Holiday Routine |
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If you haven’t yet added jigsaw puzzling to your pandemic home routine, here are some reasons you should. Jigsaw puzzles have always provided some excellent opportunities for cognitive development. In completing a jigsaw, the puzzler’s brain is forced to recognize patterns, colors, and shapes. These tasks help develop visual perception abilities. The act of recognizing the shape of a piece and the appropriate space that it would fit and then integrating the required motor skills to make the piece fit correctly helps develop constructional praxis. If you are interested in more about the science of jigsaw puzzles, check out this very thorough paper by a team of German researchers. Here
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Toy Trains 2022, Dec 15 – 18 and 22 – 23: 12 – 6pm and Dec 24, 12 – 3pm, Get whisked away into the whimsical world of Toy Trains and enjoy the 17th year of this beloved annual pop-up exhibit at the MAH. Details
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Winter Fairytale Circus, December 16 – January 1 (no showsDec 20, 21, 25), The Flynn Creek Circus returns to Capitola Mall December 16 – January 1! Presenting an original holiday circus, a ‘Winter Fairytale’ featuring wild acrobatics, hilarious comedy and extreme skills. Details
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Free Holiday Movies, December, It’s that time of year again! Get cozy, grab some hot chocolate, and settle in for a special holiday movie night! Family, Holiday Hilarity, Romance, Yuletide Classics, Seasonal Documentaries! Details
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Convivial Conveyances at Grace Episcopal Galleries, Now – Jan 8, 2023, Visit us for a festive exhibition of transportation models including a South Pacific Coast Railroad (SPCRR) Model on display in our community holiday exhibition at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum, Grace Gallery. Details
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Scotts Valley Holiday Lights Tour, December, We invite you to drive or walk by these beautifully holiday decorated homes in Scotts Valley. Details
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Reindeer Run 5K, Saturday, December 24, 9am- runners – 9:30am- joggers – 10am- walkers, Join us downtown at Junction Park on Christmas Eve for our annual Reindeer Run 5k. Dress up in your best holiday attire to run, jog or walk through town. Families and pets are encouraged to participate. End right back where you started and enjoy crafting, snow, food and drinks. 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! December
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ALL Farmers Markets and farm activities! Details
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