Alma Equine

The school year may be in the home stretch, but there’s still time for students to earn community-service hours by volunteering for a local 501(C)(3) nonprofit. One opportunity that truly sparkles is Alma Equine, a unique learning hub that brings together with horses to effect life- changing growth.

High-school students can join Alma Equine for a three-hour volunteer introduction to equine experiential learning and explore learning about themselves in the process. During this visit, students receive introductory horse-management training and have an opportunity to spend time and learn to communicate with horses while helping with barn chores.

Best organized in groups of three participants, the sessions have spared creativity among many area students, including 16-year-old Hannah Botzas, an aspiring digital artist. Hannah created the 2025 graphic for Alma Equine. She emphasized landscape features, such as the rock wall and radio tower, in addition to plants such as Oregon grapes and dahlia roses. The shifting landscape and the horse confidently navigating it are also powerful symbols of the challenges and growth that are part of the Alma Equine experience.

“It was really important for me to capture the true spirit of Alma Equine, so I’m honored that I was able to do it,” she shared. For more information, visit www. almaequine.com, or email info@ almaequine.com. Alma Equine is located near Lexington Elementary School. It is dedicated to connecting people, animals, and the environment, envisioning a future where young , through their interactions with horses, develop presence, empathy, and a deep connection with nature. Empowered to be their authentic selves, they will go on to make an impact on the world. For more information, call 415-519- 8031.

Jess and Nova Hannah and Gaby

95033Talk is a local online email group for anyone living in the 95033 ZIP code or nearby areas of the Santa Cruz/Los Gatos Mountains to discuss local issues. We have a robust community of 2,600 people who use the list to get recommendations for services, ask and share advice, and discuss local issues. The group is particularly active in cases of emergencies or fires. There are a few other groups, including 95033Free and 95033Market. Information about all of them The group was formed in February 2011. It has been going strong for 15 years.

In the early days, there were three moderators. We used to have lots of debates on what we wanted this group to be. As Alexandra Hall, who founded this group, once said, “We did do a huge amount of work on figuring out the balance.” We recognized that we needed to set the tone and culture. A lot of behind-the-scenes work went into it (and still does). Many probably think this all just happened organically. There actually is a word for it: Spezzatura, the art of performing a difficult task in such a way that it looks effortless.

The group has a distinct culture. Old- timers (more than 100 folks have been members since 2011) know and understand the norms and work to enforce them. The group has had some kerfuffles. There were growing pains in the beginning. Some used to lob grenades at the list fairly regularly. People got mad with the moderators for banning subjects and locking down topics such as politics, vigilantism, racism, mountain lions, and COVID.

We learned that no matter how you structure rules for a community, there will be bad-faith actors who will twist the rules to suit their views. Some people work around rules and bend them to their will, without ever crossing the clearly-drawn lines. The group has rules, more like guidelines, but we also exercise discretion. This requires work and will inevitably mean some people will claim it’s unfair since true intent is Civility. Empathy. Respect. These are three things that we try to enforce. We ask people to be kind and considerate in their posts and mindful that others may not share their viewpoints or beliefs. Email is a great tool in many ways, but subtle communication is All 95033Talk posts are archived and can be accessed by members. There is a wealth of information about mountain living that has been shared over the years. Visit 95033.org to join 95033Talk or any of the other local Lifelong Mountain Resident of 54 Years All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been verified.

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• Dry & Seasoned • Hardwood – Oak & Madrone • Moisture level is average (14-18%) Mountain Resident for 57 years There’s something timeless about visiting a zoo. The thrill of seeing animals I’d only read about in books is stitched into my early childhood memories. As an adult, I’m conflicted at the idea of wild animals living in confined spaces for human viewing.

Nevertheless, when I heard about the Monterey Zoo, I decided to check it out. Located on 51 acres in a mostly agricultural valley between Monterey and Salinas, the Monterey Zoo was accredited by the Zoological Association of America in 2020. It is modest in size and easy to navigate, with clearly marked maps and We visited on a Sunday afternoon, and while it wasn’t crowded, the parking lot was full and quite a few families were enjoying a beautiful February day. Young children squealed in delight as they raced from one enclosure to the next, pressing their hands against the viewing windows. We overheard one young child explaining to her parents that no two zebra’s stripes are alike, just like human fingerprints. (She was obviously paying attention in science class.) The Monterey Zoo is home to more than 100 exotic animals, including several cat species, bears, zebras, rhinos, primates, reptiles, birds, and more. It took us about two hours, at a leisurely pace, to view all the exhibits. My personal favorites were the enormous, 5000-pound white rhinos and You can move from one habitat to the next in minutes, but that proximity is a double-edged sword. Some of the enclosures felt small. The signage explains the zoo’s conservation efforts and rescue stories, but it’s hard to watch a large cat pace along the perimeter of its habitat. It’s important to

note that most of the animals are not taken from the wild, but are born in captivity or come from situations where they cannot The Monterey Zoo is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $37.75 for visitors aged 15 and up, $27.50 for children aged two to 14. Children under two are free. The zoo is located at 400 River Road If you want to turn your visit into a staycation, there is an onsite bed-and-breakfast at the zoo. We didn’t try it, but more information is at www.visionquestranch.com.

If you or your children enjoy seeing animals up close, the Monterey Zoo is worth a visit. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Summit and Highway 17, and if you take the faster coastal route, it’s a lovely drive. Find out more at www.montereyzoo.org.