Amazing Support From Local Businesses for the "Save Our Lifeguards" Campaign

Since the campaign to Save Our Lifeguards (SOL) began, we have been receiving wonderful responses from the local business community.
The raffle is loaded with prizes donated by businesses in our community. See below for a list.
Also, several businesses have joined with us in providing unique opportunities to fund raise directly to their customers at special events.
Here are some of the ways that you can shop local and help the campaign at the same time:

Wednesday, June 9 from 4Pm - 7PM come to Whole Foods in Capitola, and have some tacos. They are offering delicious veggie tacos for only $1 or meat tacos for $2. Proceeds go to Friends for the SOL campaign.

Wednesday, June 9 from 5PM - 9PM at Woodstock's Pizza 710 Front St., Santa Cruz Please print our flyer and present it when ordering your tasty pizza and they will donate a portion of the proceeds to Friends for the SOL campaign. (You can find the flyer here.)

Saturday, June 19 from 9AM - 2PM Kitayama Brothers 481 San Andreas Rd,
Watsonville, CA 95076 Monterey Bay Greenhouse & Nursery Tour
The event will consist of several local growers in the Monterey Bay region who—for just this one day—will be opening their greenhouses and nurseries for tours from 9am to 2pm. Friends will have a booth on site at Kitayama Brothers where you can purchase flowers and snacks to benefit the SOL campaign.


Don't miss the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets and WIN!
Look over this fantastic list of prizes donated by local businesses and then contact Friends to purchase your chance to win.

• Hobie Sport Kayak from Surf City Sailing
• 90 Day Frequent Sailor Membership in the Monterey Bay Sailing Club from Monterey Bay Sailing
• One Hour Bay Cruz from Monterey Bay Sailing
• "Mendocino Coastline" Watercolor, John C. Flores
• 2 Hotline Youth Wetsuits from Hotline
  
• Two Tickets to the Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Wine Tour from Byington Winery
• Two Family Guest Passes to the Lawrence Hall of Science
• Weekday Round of Golf for Two from Boulder Creek Golf & Country Club
• Tour for Two from Hearst Castle
• Gift Certificates from Palace Arts
• Hand Woven Guitar Strap by ASpinnerWeaver
• Handcrafted Luxury Scarf from Vintage Silk Japanese Kimonos by Silk Redux
• 1 Gift Certificate for Haircut & Style from David Adams Salon
• 1 Gift Certificate for Massage or Facial from David Adams Salon
• $100 Gift Certificate "Walk the Bay" from Margaret Leonard
• VIP Reserve Wine Tasting for 10 from A Taste of Monterey
• One Hour Intuitive Reading from Pavia Day Spa
• Large Pizza of Your Choice from Upper Crust Pizza
• Signed Hockey Puck (Scott Nichol #21) from San Jose Sharks
  

Save Our Lifeguards!!!

Last year's historic state budget cuts resulted in the loss of our State Parks Seasonal Lifeguard program. Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks has stepped up and made the commitment to raise the necessary funding to save the seasonal lifeguards. We are taking immediate action to keep Santa Cruz County beaches safe for everyone. Donate Here.
Our lifeguards not only protect swimmers, surfers and kayakers; they do so much more.
Last year our State Lifeguards:

• Rescued 151 people
• Provided 436 people with direct medical attention
• Educated 5,266 individuals, including 825 Junior Lifeguards
• Made 95,632 preventative safety contacts that saved lives and prevented injuries
  

The campaign goal is to raise $60,000 by June 30th. Funding from the Save Our Lifeguards campaign will support the hiring of 45 seasonal lifeguards to protect and patrol our State Beaches. Seasonal lifeguards staff 12 lifeguard towers at the following locations:
Natural Bridges State Beach, Seabright State Beach, Twin Lakes State Beach, 14th Avenue, Seacliff Pier, Rio del Mar State Beach, Manresa Main State Beach, Manresa Uplands State Beach, Sunset State Beach, Palm State Beach.


Won't you join us in keeping the beaches safe for locals and tourists alike?
Donations can be made by contacting Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks at:
144 School Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 429-1840
Or Click Here to Donate Online

Shell Dishes

An art show in Santa Cruz over the weekend led to discovery of a local artist, D'vorah, and her charming ceramic seashell dishes. Actual shells and seaweed were used to create the mold which the clay was pressed into. The dishes are finished with beautiful crackle glaze in both deep blue and aquamarine. You will find them this week in the store at Seacliff State Beach.

Chocolate & Chitchat

Come enjoy "Chocolate & Chitchat" with old friends and new at Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks 2nd Annual Open House.
We will break out the chocolate, strawberries and Martinelli's to celebrate an awesome year of working to Save Our State Parks!
When: Friday, May 7th from 5:00PM to 7:00PM
Where: Cruz Mission State Historic Park, 144 School St., Santa Cruz.
The Mission Adobe building will be open during the event. If you have not visited the oldest building in Santa Cruz, this could be your chance.

California Indian Traditional Shell Jewlery

This past weekend, I had the good fortune to be in Sacramento during the Annual Indian Art & Crafts Market at the California State Indian Museum. This is a small but wonderful museum which sits at the corner of the property just outside Sutter's Fort State Historic Park in the heart of Sacramento.

California Indian cultural items in the museum include fabulous collections of basketry, beadwork, clothing and exhibits about the ongoing traditions of various California Indian tribes. Descendants of the first Californians, tens of thousands of them, still live in California and still cherish and carry on their unique cultural heritage. Indigenous people have donated many photographs of family, friends and memorable times for use in the museum. A section of the museum features a hands-on area, where visitors can try their hand at using Indian tools, such as the pump drill, used for making holes in shell beads and other materials; the mortar and pestle and soap root brush, made from the soap root plant, all used for grinding acorns.















The event showcased about 15 artists or families who came from all over California.
There I met Chuck Snell and his wife who sell traditional shell jewelry and supplies for making your own jewelry. Their dentalium shell necklaces are a popular item in the museum's gift shop. I was able to purchase from them some of these necklaces as well as a selection of abalone earrings.
This jewelry is simple, elegant, timeless and very affordable. It will make a spectacular addition to our store at the Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park.
To read more about the dentalium shells and their significance in the Native American cultures, read this interesting article.

The Latest Shipment

It's always exciting opening boxes here at Friends, because I never know just what I'll find - we're constantly receiving shipments of hermit crab figurines, telescopes, raccoon finger puppets, custom-made socks, hand-carved gourds from Peru and fused-glass jellyfish, just to name a few. This morning, as I opened one of our latest shipments, I knew immediately that we had picked a winner.
These Naturalist Library Pocket Journals, made by Michel Design Works, are the newest addition to the parkstores. Brightly colored, intricately designed and oh-so-compact and convenient, these little gems are perfect for the naturalist with a passion for writing (or anyone with a grocery or to-do list!).
Each notebook features a delicate study of birds, flowers, shells or fish. The patterns are overlaid with romantic handwritten words and phrases culled from vintage postcards. The designs evoke old-fashioned botanical prints, sketches and watercolors done by early botanists and naturalists. As a testament to just how gorgeous these notebooks are, we sold three to our staff before the price tags were even on! You can get one too, by visiting any of our five park stores.

-Kat Bailey, Retail Assistant

New Brighton's Pacific Migrations Visitor Center is Open Again

Spring is here and the Pacific Migrations Visitor Center at New Brighton State Beach is open for business again. Welcome back to lead interpreter, Jeff Barnes.
If you have not seen the engaging and informative displays, stop by and treat yourself!
The center is now open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 4:00.

As Summer approaches, hours will increase and you can expect some great entertainment around the campfire during the summer months.

The parkstore has a new look this season. Check out the fun and unique new apparel as well as the favorites from last year. Members receive a 15% discount in all Friends stores. All proceeds go to support educational programs in our local California State Parks.
Good Health, Extreme Happiness, Good Fortune!