Particularly during this period of the dreaded COVID pandemic, one would think that every blood…read moredonation drop counts. Unfortunately, I have been repeatedly disappointed about the way that the American Red Cross (ARC) has administered my past donation appointments within Santa Cruz County. On one occasion -- when I was admittedly running late (but willing to remain until I could be fit-in) -- I was abruptly & very publicly turned away. On another occasion -- when I arrived EARLY for my appointment -- I was informed that as the phlebotomists were running behind and as they had already achieved the quantity of donations targeted, I could reschedule my donation for another day. I respectfully declined and stayed to donate. These rather jarring experiences have left me with the distinct impression that the ARC Donation Experience foremost turns on the whims of their mobile team's willingness to receive than it does on maximizing every planned donation opportunity & donor willingness to give -- certainly not a formula for earning donor confidence or loyalty. Therefore, even though I reside in Santa Cruz County, I'm frequently "over the hill" and will very much look forward to donation opportunities at stanfordbloodcenter.org. Stanford's location in Campbell is close enough, and it's encouraging to see that this org has earned significantly stronger Yelp ratings. Indeed, the availability of choice is always a GOOD thing!

I volunteered with ARC in Santa Cruz starting in 2010. I've been to a few office now, and I can say…read morethat the staff and hospitality at the Santa Cruz chapter is really top notch. Lorraine and Sondra trained me and have gotten a lifelong volunteer out of me. They offer training and service opportunities, as well as really good coffee.

The didactic part of medic school was reasonably thorough but rushed. However, just days before…read morethe end the primary instructor had what can only be described as a personality change. I had discussions with other students in which they stated to me their bewilderment at this change. No one knows what happened but the mood in class made a HUGE shift to the negative. Additionally they did not provide the majority of students with a timely hospital or field internship. I procured my own. Then during my internship they had little support. The staff ignored my two requests to have a review of my preceptor. Eventually I went elsewhere and had a wonderful EMS education and career. I would NOT recommend this school as they seem to be more interested in packing several students in, collecting the money, and then leaving the students to fend for themselves once committed. Instead you can find several other paramedic programs in public institutions for $10K+ less AND that have a much better track record of producing quality medics. Paramedic school is not something to be rushed. Spend 1-2 years on a BLS unit and at least 6 months on an ALS unit BEFORE applying. Then go to a school where you have time to absorb the material and will be supported throughout the process.

Not sure how this place stays in business. Completed the EMT-1 course not too long ago, and here's…read moremy rational for giving this score: First, I would previously a certified EMT-1, but my cert lapsed, so I had to retake the whole course (not my idea of fun, but it gets me back to work, so no big deal). Second the main instructors are FANTASTIC (mostly), the others are BAD. The class moves fast, but is doable if you put the effort into it. Other than that, this was the most unorganized, unprofessional school I've ever been to. Maybe my first school was just "that good" and everything else pales in comparison (highly unlikely), or this is just a bunch of country bumpkins who don't care that much. The equipment they have you use in class is old, in poor condition, and they don't own very many pieces (think-very little practice time). And to be honest it was common for the instructor to disappear (smoke break/check email, etc) during practice time, so it was up to the class to help each other. They promised many things that didn't happen, or happened much later than they said, the "required" EMS observation was a disaster (we were told to find our own, or fail the class), and they don't seem to want the class to work together. I think I passed b/c I was previously certified, and did it some, otherwise, I'm not sure how they have the pass rate they do. I will never take a class here again....period. I'll just drive a little farther and get a good education. I know, some parts of this appear contradictory, which maybe true, but it's because the school does a few things right, but mostly NOT. I guess some people are ok with this, but I have seen how a "professional"school operates, and this is a poor excuse for one!

David provided forklift certification training for 6 of our employees and did an excellent job. He…read morewas very responsive in communications before and after the training. The training was well organized and informative and our employees got a lot out of it. Highly recommended experience.

I highly recommend David for any of your business safety needs. I've known David for many years…read moreand what's always impressed me is his thorough knowledge of safety issues. He's worked in safety for a variety of industries and I think this gives him a well rounded view of both on the job safety and compliance. This is something you can't get from reading a book. No, it's hands on and David has had daily interaction with employees from an assortment of businesses. He can provide CPR classes and Certified OSHA training or he's always willing to just give you some friendly advice. Bonus: He returns calls himself! Safety is not something to mess around with and I think David is your man!

Carolina is the BEST EVER!! Extremely grateful to her for giving me support during postpartum. We (…read moreme and my baby ) go to her mommy and baby yoga and we love it. Even though my baby is crawling now, Carolina encourages us to attend her sessions. She is extremely attentive to both mine and my baby's needs. My little one loves her and feels extremely calm in her sessions. Her wisdom and advice has helped me recover from postpartum issues. She's prompt to respond to questions and has high quality resources to offer. Highly recommend. Grateful to her for everything she has been doing for us.

This would have been 5 stars based on the breastfeeding class I attended. I was reluctant to even…read morego to any breastfeeding class because it was important to me to not be attached to the idea of breastfeeding, and I was worried I'd be beaten over the head with how important it is and set myself up for mom guilt if it didn't work out. Quite the contrary, the speaker was really approachable and practical. She talked through just about every scenario and offered a really great mindset - feed as much breastmilk as you can whenever you can, and it's totally OK to make up the difference with formula. Unfortunately, the baby care class dropped this down to 4 stars. It was borderline a waste of time. The instructor was scattered and not very helpful. Lots of tech challenges. Not much help in the way of answering questions or providing practical advice. Very limited hands on practice. I went with a friend because my husband was out of town and I was almost embarrassed that she wasted time in that class with me.

These guys are awesome down-to-earth instructors who know their industries well in both theory and…read morereal-world application. I've enjoyed every class I've taken with Brannon and feel like I'm getting the most out of each specialization he teaches. Highly recommend.

I recently attended NorCal MedTac's CCW course, and wow--what a great experience! I was honestly…read moreexpecting one of those boring classes where the instructor reads from a script, maybe shows a video or two, and you basically lose two days of your life. I was happily surprised. Brannon was an excellent instructor. He made the course content engaging and genuinely rewarding. You can tell he really knows his stuff and has years of experience behind him. I walked away from the classroom portion with a ton of useful information--things I never would've considered if I hadn't taken this class. The physical training portion was a full-day event, and Brannon and his team placed a huge emphasis on safety and proper technique. The class wasn't just informative--it was a lot of fun. We covered a wide range of issues and real-world scenarios related to carrying a concealed weapon, including the legal side of things, all with a strong focus on California-specific laws (which, as you know, are some of the strictest in the country). I left feeling accomplished and confident, and I can't wait to take more courses with NorCal MedTac. Thanks for making the weekend one to remember!

Such an amazing dance studio! Full dance programs in all styles for kids from beginner to pre…read moreprofessional. Great facility, amazing teachers and amazing dancers!

I love attending @danceographysc Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays! Myra and Shannon offer Dance…read moreFitness 9-10am which is adult hip-hop class for all levels. 10-11am is Choreography which slows it down and they review it each time and class, and pace based on who's attending. Check out Danceography at https://www.danceographysantacruz.com/ or @dancegraphysc on Instagram.

Kaysi Contreras was very reassuring, as I was apprehensive and skeptical of this upcoming…read moreexperience. She explained things prior to receiving this energy session. Offered to cancel with money back if I did not want to move forward since I was not clear about this situation. I enjoyed the relaxation and feedback but mostly I enjoyed the horses that had participated and were allowed to come close, I felt safe, the horses were beautiful.

From the owner: What makes our business unique is our deep commitment to both the well-being of horses and the…read morecommunities we serve. We are an equine education and sanctuary organization focused on promoting a deeper understanding and advocacy for horses through interactive, consent-based practices. Our programs, such as Journaling with Horses, grief support groups, and equine-guided meditation, are designed to foster reflection, healing, and a respectful connection between people and horses. What sets us apart is our holistic approach—encouraging emotional growth and personal development while emphasizing the ethical treatment and care of horses. Since starting operations in January 2024, we’ve directly impacted over 80 participants, giving each of them the opportunity to engage with horses in a meaningful, hands-on way that promotes both healing and education.