Scientopia Discovery Center

Scientopia Discovery Center Blog

Planning Commission Hearing

1/28/2009

The date is finally set for our Planning Commission Hearing. It will be next Friday February 5th at 7:00 pm downtown at City Hall. If you love our business and want to see us open it is critical that you set aside one hour to come to the Public Hearing and support us. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to. Your presence in the audience is all that is needed. Don't worry about a sitter, you can bring your kids along! We will be bringing ours. The more the merrier! Please feel free to share this information with anyone you like -- we can use as much support as possible!!  If the Planning Commission denies our request for any reason, we will not be opening Scientopia at all.  Thanks in advance for your support. If you have already signed our online petition we submitted your name to the City. 

Upgrades at PB&J's

1/23/2009

We just had a fun filled visit to PB&J's this afternoon with about 12 moms and tons of kids from our playgroup. Everyone was curious to check out all the new jump houses and no one was disappointed. Their new selection offers a little something for both the young kids and the older ones. The kids in my group seemed especially pleased with the jungle jumphouse that has mushrooms in it. Way to go Bob & Wendy! Thanks for changing things up and adding some new excitement. We can't wait to go back! By the way, PB&J's is now offering a monthly membership for folks who like to visit frequently.

Pick Pigs

1/16/2009

I was in Santa Barbara visiting a friend toward the end of last year and stumbled upon a local Santa Barbara company that I love. After reading about them in the newspaper I promptly bought a set of pigs for Claire for Christmas. We've had them for a month now and she still loves them as much today as the day she opened them. Pick Pigs are a clever way of teaching children about managing money wisely. The set includes 3 pigs and a story. There's a Spending Pig, Saving Pig, and Sharing Pig. Each time Claire gets money she divides it up into her 3 pigs. When she wants to buy something we check to see if she has enough money in her Spending Pig. She was so excited about her pigs that she chose to use her own money to buy her best friend Joey's pirate presents for his recent birthday. If anyone is looking for a fun educational gift I highly recommend these pigs! You can learn more about them at the Pick Pigs website Pick Pigs.

Thank You All

1/11/2009

Thanksgiving came and went without this posting. I had the best of intentions to write a nice note about what Scientopia was thankful for in 2008 and just never did it. So instead it will be a New Year's Post.

 

Given all the ups and downs we experienced in 2008 we thought it would be nice to take this opportunity to extend our thanks to a few people who have helped sustain us in this adventure!

 

  • Mike Moffett at Coldwell Banker has been AMAZING this past year. We could not have done this without his patience and determination.
  • Bob Jessell at Central Valley Builders Supply, our new landlord, has also been tremendous. He gave us a chance and believed in our project and we are grateful for that. When no other landlord wanted kids in their building he was genuinely excited at the possibilities we have to offer the kids in Napa.
  • Roberta Goodin (Napa Lit), Lola Cornish (CRC), Joelle Gallagher (COPE Family Center), Mechele Small Haggard (genius), Dom & Jillian Tamber (web designers), Julia DeNatale (Wolfe Center), Kate King (Chamber of Commerce) Mark Van Gorder (City Councilman), Brad Wagenknecht (County Supervisor), Jill Techel (Napa Mayor), Craig Smith & Julie Morales (Napa Downtown Association), Beth Pratt and Staff (Napa Small Business Development Center), Bob & Wendy Miller (PB&J's), Kathleen & Ed Hart (First Presbyterian Church), Sarah Van Giesen (designer), Tom & Judy Blix (The Little Gourmet), Paul Franson (Mr. Napa Life), Jennifer Huffman (Napa Register), have all made calls, sent emails and just gave us help when we needed it etc… there are too many names to list here. If you have helped us we appreciate it and sincerely thank you!

Delayed

1/6/2009

Today we learned we won't make it on the Planning Commission Calendar for January 22nd. Our planner Kevin informed me that his workload is too heavy and that he is unable to complete the summary report on Scientopia prior to him leaving for vacation. What a bummer for us and for those of you who want to come visit us. Apparently there are too many projects and not enough planners. Despite the other departments giving the Planning Department their findings by early December we are still unable to get on the calendar without this last report. At this time I'm not optimistic that we'll get on the February 5th calendar either.

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