Oh glorious summer days, often children's favorite season, even when it's sunny and hot, sunny-hot-windy, rainy-muggy-hot or just-right-70°. No matter, because there are wading pools, swimming pools, lakes, brooks, and the ocean to cool us off, not to mention bottles of cool water, refreshing popsicles, watermelon and mint ice tea. For our children there are long hours for reading, playing, entering into creative, magical worlds, and exciting camp experiences.

We parents are protective of their summer world. Rightly so, for the movie, The Sound of Freedom, delves into a growing, criminal business of trafficking children for profit.

~ ~ ~

The trafficking of children is a horrendous, fast-growing, sordid, for profit, criminal business. Parents and teens should see the movie, The Sound of Freedom, which is serious yet surprisingly uplifting. It's the true story about Tim Ballard, 12 years a special agent with Homeland Security and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, which exists to rescue children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation.

~ ~ ~

I spent much of my adult working role advocating for quality education for ALL. I taught in inner city public schools, rural public schools, suburban public schools and private schools. The neighborhoods varied. Some were practically all black some almost all white and others were varying percentages of racial and ethnic backgrounds. No matter what the mix was, I delighted in serving the children and their parents.

When the Supreme Court's recent rulings came out my reaction was based on my experiences. I thought, "All this time we could have avoided this controversy by putting energy into quality education for ALL from the beginning, and by beginning I mean the family, for the family is a child's first teacher, then preschools, elementary schools, etc.

On a national level,providing equal opportunities for ALL, is a daunting challenge. On a local level there are wonderful models of success.

Look around Santa Cruz County. We have a huge variety of schooling choices. I see a lot of successes, much of them because of local parent, teacher, and administration support and input. I listen to parents making informed choices that are best for each of their children's needs. What fosters this success? CHOICE. What's not available to a lot of parents in mostly-to-all-black and under-served communities? CHOICE. Who's responsible for this disparity and why? I leave that to you, but give it generous thought because that may be where answers live.

So I ask, if you care about providing quality education for ALL, and I observe that you do, with passionate positions, please set aside your favorite talking heads' opinions on recent rulings and go to the original documents, Supreme Court Opinions. Let's let go of personal biases (we all have them) and read through the justice's arguments with an open mind and two over-arching questions: What's best for the children? What's best for our country?

Would you do that, please. We have come a long way from past wrongs. We need to work together to attain "a more perfect union."

ALL CAMPS pdf ~ The Library's Summer Reading Program 2023

Fullpower: Introductory Self-Defense for Adults and Teens 15 and over, Sunday, July 9, 10 – 11am, Our Fullpower Introduction to Physical Self-Defense online program is for adults of all ages, as well as teens age 15-17. Details

When I was a child, Summer. Lasted. For. Ever. I remember long days that usually began with picking beans and then weeds in the hot sun, followed by endless hours of playing (and bickering)with my siblings in the hot sun. By the end of the summer, I was ready for school to start. Now that I’m an adult, it seems like summer is over in the blink of an eye. I’m enjoying having both of my young adult kids living in my house for the summer – I know that one day I will truly have an empty nest, so I’m trying to remind myself to pause, enjoy the longer days, and be present for and with my family.

Dear Nicole, My family’s life is hectic during the school year, but summer break is also hard, in a different way. I’m a single parent and work full time, so my kids (5 and 9) have to be in camps or child care every day. I wish I could spend more time with them during their summer break, but I just got a new job and can’t request time off yet. Sometimes our schedules feel just as hectic and tiring as during the school year. What tips do you have for getting through the summer and having fun? Melanie

Dear Melanie, Many parents have the same dilemma – kids get a welcome break from the school schedule, but parents still have to work every day! It sounds like you already know the importance of arranging safe, interesting, engaging places for your children to be while you’re at work, which is a great starting point. Here are a few other tips to try > > >

"When a student walks into the classroom with the school supplies they need, they can focus on what really matters - learning! The Santa Cruz County Office of Education and United Way of Santa Cruz County share the goal of wanting local students to go to school confident and ready to learn!

The County Office of Education estimates that over 2,800 K-12 students are currently experiencing homelessness or extreme hardship in Santa Cruz County.

This year's Stuff The Bus aims to fill over 2,800 backpacks with new school supplies for each student in time for the upcoming school year! Join us and send students back to school with the tools they need to succeed as we promote learning, encourage positive self-esteem, and ensure youth stay in school.

Donate! Starting July 1st! Your $25 gift = one new backpack filled with essential school supplies. This new backpack will help promote learning, encourage self-esteem, and provide school supplies to youth in our community.

Volunteer. This family-friendly experience offers a great opportunity for community members to volunteer - filling over 2,000 backpacks with necessary school supplies and literally "stuffing a school bus"!

Join us at the Kaiser Permanente Arena on August 5th from 10am - 1pm. Lunch and Snacks will be provided. After the event, all backpacks will be transported to the County Office of Education and distributed to students and families at a later time.