Sonoma Family Life July 2023

Santa Rosa Symphony Michael Berkowitz, conductor Transcendence Theatre Company

Tue, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Nickel Creek with special guest Monica Martin

Sun, July 9 at 7 p.m.

Craft Beer Festival 4:30–7 p.m.

Los Huracanes del Norte Sat, July

Thurs, July 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Los Lonely Boys

The Brotherhood Tour with Thee Sinseers and The Altons

Thurs, Aug 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Music from All 9 Star Wars Movies

Santa Rosa Symphony

Francesco Lecce Chong, conductor

Kool & the Gang

Sat, Sept 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Movies at the Green

Sat, Aug 26 at 7:30 p.m. Supported

Each year brings on new challenges, but adding Sylvan to your after-school routine will ensure your child gets the support they need to transition with confidence and stay on track all year long!

Homework Support

In-Person or Online

Proven, personal and intensive tutoring programs with Guaranteed Results

• Your child will get a highly customized and adaptive learning plan that ensures he or she masters skills in math, reading, writing and more!

• Online or face-to-face attention and dedicated learning time with expert, caring Sylvan-certified teachers.

• You'll see a direct impact in the school with state-aligned curriculum.

If your child typically keeps up in class but needs extra support with homework

• We tailor each session to your child’s individual needs, so concepts really click. Plus, your child can get help with a wide variety of homework subjects.

• Our homework tutors understand today’s teaching methods, so what your child learns at Sylvan aligns with what’s expected in school.

• Reduce stress and frustration for both you and your child. (And restore calm at home!)

Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor Sharon@family-life.us

It’s summer! Do you have teens in the house? If you do, you may be spending the next couple of months teaching them how to drive. If the idea of letting your kid get behind the wheel is a little terrifying, you aren’t alone. Let “Mom’s Driver’s Ed” (page 20) show you how to be a driving coach and keep your cool. Perhaps you’re passed the driving lessons and moving on to life-away-from-mom lessons. Kids headed for college need to know how to wash their clothes and make dinner. Turn to “College

Bound” (page 10) to find out what else to teach them.

As kids work toward their independence, take a moment to celebrate our nation’s independence. See “Fourth of July Fun” (page 22) for a list of great spots to catch local fireworks. Before you head out, make sure to pack up a picnic. “Eco-Friendly Picnics” (page 14) will tell you how to do it with the Earth in mind.

Happy July!

Marketing/ Sales/Events

Patricia Ramos

707-205-1539

patty@family-life.us

Features Editor

Melissa Chianta

melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager

Donna Bogener

production@family-life.us

Contributing Writers

America’s Test Kitchen

Debbie Ausburn

Tanni Haas

Sandra Ann Harris

Kerrie McLoughlin

Billing

Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office

P.O. Box 351

Philo, CA 95466

(707) 205 1539

Free Lunch for Hungry Kids

It’s no secret that the cost of living in Sonoma County is very high. Some families struggle to put food on the table. That’s why this summer the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the California State Library are sponsoring free kids’ lunches at Sonoma County libraries. Lunches will be offered to children ages 0–18 at all seven branches, Monday–Friday (except July 4), noon–12:30 p.m. or 12:15–12:45 p.m., depending on the location. On some days, children’s programming will be offered prior to lunch. For details, see tinyurl. com/53dh2pwf.

Make Way for the Masked Cat

Puss in Boots’s thirst for adventure has had a price: He’s gone through eight of his nine lives. So the sword-brandishing feline has resolved to go on a quest for the mythical Last Wish, which he hopes will give him his lives back. Such is the premise of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, DreamWorks’s 2022 animated children’s flick, which will be shown outdoors on July 10 at 6 p.m. at Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa. The free screening is part of the Movies on the Square summer series, which features a huge LED screen for film projection. Bring blankets and low-back chairs. Snacks and local beer and wine will be available for sale, with snack proceeds benefitting the local nonprofit Chop’s Teen Club. Find out more at downtownsantarosa.org/summer

A Day Just for Kids

The city of Cotati thinks all children deserve special attention—a day devoted just to them. And that’s what Cotati’s Kids’ Day Parade and Festival is all about. In its 30th year, this free celebration will feature a parade and festival with games, a talent show, prizes, vendors, and more. Families are encouraged to arrive in costumes (the theme is Surf’s Up). It all goes down on July 8; the parade starts at 10 a.m. at City Hall and travels through downtown Cotati to La Plaza Park, where the festival will be held 11 a.m.–3 p.m. There will also be a free pancake breakfast, 8–10 a.m., at the Church of the Oaks in Cotati. For more information, see facebook.com/ events/242277311712707

Cotati’s Kids’ Day

Movies on the Square

Climb Aboard a Mini-Train

Choo-choo! Little kids love trains so much, there’s even been research to discern why. Some scientists think it may have to do with the male brain (since the train-obsessed are often boys); others point to how the motion and speed of a train stimulates children’s brains. Whatever the reason little ones love locomotives, they can indulge their fascination at the Great Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa. Kids can build their own train tracks, dance to train music, and even take a ride on a Live Steamers train. There will also be a chance to look at model trains and talk to local train experts from the Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society and Coastal Valley Lines. The event will be held July 22–23, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and is $20, or free for infants 11 months and younger. Discounts are available for seniors, members of the military, and MediCal, EBT, and WIC beneficiaries. Find out more at cmosc.org/events/the-great-train-days

Dance to Reggae on the Square

When it comes to reggae and world beats, Sol Horizon is a local favorite. Thrice voted “Best Reggae Band” in the North Bay Area, the seven-piece group has not only a groove, but also a mission to spread messages of peace, community, and sustainability. As part of the free Summer on the Square outdoor music series, the band will be performing on July 14 at 6 p.m. in Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa. Other concerts will feature Dustin Saylor and Band on July 7; the Pulsators on July 21; and La Gente SF on July 28. For details, see downtownsantarosa.org/summer

Turn a Pet into a Cartoon

Does Fido have a cute way of pawing his nose? Or does Frisky sport a particularly adorable patch of facial fur? Any pet owner will attest that animals have personalities. And it’s the aim of cartoonist Joe Wos to capture them. Pet owners are invited to bring their cats, dogs, bunnies, and birds to the Pet Caricatures with Joe Wos event, where the artist, a professional cartoonist since age 14, will draw furry and feathered friends. The event will be held on July 15, 10 a.m.–noon, at the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. A donation of $5 is suggested. Find out more at tinyurl.com/mtm3pxwd.

Sol Horizon

Great Train Days

College Bound

10 Life Skills Your Kids Should Know

By Kerrie McLoughlin

Y our family has survived the testing, the essays, the applications, and the waiting game. Now it’s finally time to send your kids off to college. Here are ten important life skills to teach them before they go.

1. This is a washing machine. Teach kids how to: 1) separate darks and lights; 2) wash everything on Warm, just to be safe; 3) never put “dry clean only” clothing in a regular washing machine; 4) dry clothes on Medium for about 40 minutes.

2. Yes, you will have to cook for yourself. Start kitchen lessons with basics, such as how to scramble eggs, boil pasta, and bake pizza. Work your way up to assembling casseroles and slow-cooker meals.

3. You may have to change a tire one day. Make sure young drivers always carry a spare as well as a jack, flashlight, rain poncho, and gloves. Then show them how to change a tire. Let them practice, more than once, so they really get it.

4. Money doesn’t grow on trees. Kids can track their income and expenditures in a small notebook or Excel spreadsheet. If they know an expense is coming up, they can save for it and/or figure out income-earning opportunities.

Start kitchen lessons with basics, such as how to scramble eggs, boil pasta, and bake pizza.

5. There is a difference between credit and debit cards. A debit card needs a PIN because the card can immediately access money in the user’s account. A credit card needs a signature because the user is agreeing to pay interest and anything owed at a later date. Show kids how to balance a checkbook. If they don’t want to learn, say something like, “You don’t want to get that debit card declined. It’s always so embarrassing!”

6. Create a living will. This is a heavy, but necessary, discussion to have with your new adults. Once children turn 18, they are legally responsible for their own medical decisions. They need to think about what kind of medical treatment they want in the event of

a life-threatening accident. A living will can outline their wishes while a durable power of attorney will assign someone to make decisions for them.

7. Make friends with Google calendar. Your kids will have multiple responsibilities—a

part-time job, classes, homework, and social life—that will require time management skills. Google Calendar is a great on-the-go scheduling tool. Different activities can even be color-coded, so students can better see free blocks of time or double-bookings. Tell them to

make sure to schedule sleep time, or they’ll burn out fast.

8. Get acquainted with the pharmacy. If your children take medications of any kind, this one is important. They should ask their doctor to contact a nearby pharmacy—one that takes their insurance—and order their prescriptions. When they go to the pharmacy, they should have insurance information at the ready so it can be logged in to the drug store’s database. After these steps are taken, refills should be smooth sailing.

9. Learn how to negotiate. There truly is an art to bringing up grievances and respectfully disagreeing with people. Teach kids that they don’t have to be a doormat when arguing their case with a professor, roommate, or boss, but they also don’t have to always go for the win.

10. Check out bus and subway schedules. Reassure kids that they won’t be the only students to arrive at college without a car, especially if it’s their first year. Go online for routes and times, or grab a paper schedule. Then tell kids to use their student discount to buy tickets. If they ever get confused about which bus or train to take, they can always ask a station agent.

Kerrie McLoughlin loves to write about her five kids, ages 15–21, on TheKerrieShow.com

Make sure young drivers always carry a spare.

Eco-Friendly Picnics 6 Steps for Going Green

By Sandra Ann Harris

It’s summertime, the season of picnic parties with friends and family. Before you stock up on disposable picnic staples, such as plastic cups, plates, utensils, and napkins, take a minute to tune up your eco-friendly lifestyle and learn how to ditch needless plastics.

As we eat, drink, and be merry, there’s no need to fall back into wasteful habits and trash our planet with needless single-use plastics. Here are a few tips from my book, Say Goodbye to Plastic: A Survival Guide to Plastic-Free Living (Hatherleigh Press, 2023), to help you reboot your picnicking with the Earth in mind.

Shop at a farmers’ market or produce stand.

Step 1: Lose the car. Reduce your carbon footprint and pick a picnic spot you can walk, bike, or boat to, or get to with public transit. If none of these options are possible, carpool with friends.

Step 2: Pack reusables. Bring reusable picnic blankets and decorate tables with washable tablecloths instead of disposables. We love adding a little extra joy to our celebrations with candles, fresh-cut flowers, or found objects from nature in our table arrangements.

Pick a picnic spot you can walk, bike, or boat to.

Step 3: Shop locally. Shop at a farmers’ market or produce stand to create a local and organically grown menu. Great produce makes the chef’s job super easy! Think simple. Finger foods like cut fruits, nuts, or local honey and peanut butter sandwiches are simple and nourishing for all ages. Also, some cheeses, like Brie and Camembert, are lovely softened in the sun and spread over fresh baked bread. Bonus tip: Make your own beverage and serve it in a pitcher. That way you don’t have to deal with a bunch of cans and bottles.

Step 4: There’s no excuse for single-use. Too often outdoor celebrations generate excessive waste because organizers are concerned about the hassle of cleaning up as well as using breakable tableware outdoors. One idea is to ask picnickers to bring

their own dishes, water bottles or cups, cloth napkins, and utensils. If that is not your style, pack a sturdy cardboard box with reusables to share with your guests. I suggest

Pack

stainless steel picnic plates, assorted reusable utensils, cotton washable napkins, and mason jars or stainless steel cups.

Step 5: Clean up responsibly. Have bins or boxes for recycling, compost, and waste clearly marked and available for use. If you hiked or walked in, make sure to pack out all your waste. If you are in a park that does not offer recycling or composting, take it home and use your own compost and recycling bins.

Step 6: Make it happen.

Celebrate the joy of making a difference and knowing that, as Gandhi said, “Action expresses priorities.” Let’s be green and act green while picnicking! ❖

Sandra Ann Harris, a San Francisco Bay Area resident, is passionate about protecting the oceans by reducing people’s dependence on plastics. She is the founder and president of ECOlunchbox, a certified B Corporation and California Green Business that sells plastic-free food container solutions. Find out more at ecolunchboxes.com .

a sturdy cardboard box with reusables to share.

Stress-Free Vacays

7 Tips for Planning Family Adventures

By Debbie Ausburn

Our family loves to travel, and we have always taken a collection of younger relatives and friends along with us. Here are some techniques that we have learned make trips run smoothly.

1. Follow their interests (but stretch their boundaries). Of course, you have to pick activities suitable for your kids’ ages and interests. At the same time, children typically don’t have enough life experience to know when they are missing out. One brilliant technique that I learned from a friend is to give each child responsibility for planning one or more days of the trip. Parents have veto power in regard to safety issues, but no one can complain about anyone else’s choices for the day.

2. Tap into the power of the pack. We always encouraged our older kids to bring along friends. We did not have nearly as much responsibility for entertaining everyone because the friends tended to take over that job. As our kids grew older, we could send them out to the beach or on hiking trails (in groups) while we relaxed inside. Of course, you need to watch for differing group dynamics. Like all of these suggestions, adapt the principle to fit your particular situation.

3. Send kids on their own vacation. Summer is traditionally a time for kids to go to camp, and that tradition is strong for very good reasons. Camps are an excellent place for kids to learn new skills, test their independence, and make new friends. Find a camp that you can trust and that’s within your budget. It will be a good opportunity for your kids to learn to get along without you there to referee, and common experiences create strong bonds.

Give each child responsibility for planning one or more days.

4. Opt for homes/condos over hotels. We always rented homes instead of hotels whenever we could. That layout allowed the children (and us!) to have some privacy in their own rooms. At the same time, it did not separate the family in the way that multiple hotel rooms might.

5. Plan ahead for approval. If you are raising someone else’s child, then there is always someone else who has to sign off on your plans. Extended trips with foster kids usually require permission from their caseworkers. Stepchildren younger than 14 cannot get a passport without both parents’ signatures, and many court orders require both biological parents to agree to out-of-state travel. Get these details pinned down early, before anyone gets their hopes up.

6. Cheap can also be entertaining. Not every vacation has to involve Disney World. Some of my strongest childhood memories

are roadside picnics. The food was our usual fare, but changing the meal’s location to a concrete table in a park was magical. A “staycation” with day trips to nearby public parks or national recreation areas can be just as entertaining for your children as an expensive getaway. You probably have several free parks or reasonably priced attractions nearby that you haven’t taken the time to visit. Once you start looking, you likely will be surprised at what you can see in a day trip. Consider going to the Point Reyes National Seashore or to San Francisco, or visit one of the many beaches in Mendocino or Sonoma Counties. Doran Beach in Bodega Bay, and MacKerricher State Park and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

in Fort Bragg as well as Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville are good choices.

7. Plan some downtime. Our final suggestion may be the most important: Don’t commit all of your time. Leave plenty of room for rest or spur-of-the-moment visits. The

“It’s hard work having this much fun.” Leave plenty of time for afternoon naps or just hanging out.

There are many other techniques that can work for your family; these are simply the ones that we have turned to most often. Just remember that the point of a family vacation is for the entire family, including you, to have a break, and for the family to build stronger relationships. You and your family can find your own unique way to meeting those goals. ❖

Internet is filled with stories and videos of the infamous “Disney meltdowns,” when exhausted children (or their parents) just can’t take any more. As my sister said at the end of one long day of a family vacation,

The author of Raising Other People’s Children (Hatherleigh Press, 2021), Debbie Ausburn is a social worker, foster parent, criminal prosecutor, and civil trial attorney. She blogs about parenting issues at otherpeopleschildren.org

Mom’s Driver’s Ed

How to Safely Teach Teens to Drive

By Tanni Haas

With teens wanting to drive their way through summer, it’s an excellent time to consider what parents can do to help their kids stay safe behind the wheel. Parents often like to supplement their teens’ official driving lessons with their own lessons, and that’s a great idea. Studies show that teens who receive additional driving instruction from their parents have fewer accidents than teens who don’t get any extra help. What can parents do to ensure that their teens get the most out of their time together in the car? Here’s what the experts say.

Let them take the lead. Once you’ve told your teens that you’re willing to give them driving lessons, back off a bit and don’t push the issue. “If your teen isn’t driving you crazy about teaching her to drive,” says Carleton Kendrick, a family therapist who works with teens, “she’s probably too nervous to begin the process.”

Wait patiently until they’re ready for your help. As Wayne Parker, a certified life coach and author of Power Dads (2017), puts it, “an overly anxious teen driver can be a dangerous thing.”

Talk before you get into the car. Even when your teens say they’re ready to learn how to drive, it’s likely that they’ve heard scary

horror stories. Nicole Runyon, a social worker who deals with teens, suggests that parents “create a calm and peaceful space for them to talk.” Listening carefully and reassuring them that you’ll support and help them become competent and safe drivers will help alleviate their fears.

Give them advance warning. When you’re ready for the first lesson, talk with them about, as Parker puts it, “where you’re going and what you’re going to do.” Teens don’t like surprises, especially from their parents. Get together to plan the route and the skills you’ll be working on. It’ll put you on more equal footing.

Don’t be condescending. Teens like to be treated as adults. That includes when they’re learning how to drive. Kendrick says that parents should avoid talking down to their teens, making any negative comments, or treating them like little children. She suggests that parents “praise specific progress and improvement, while offering non-judgmental, optimistic, and encouraging words.” The goal is to make your teens more aware drivers, not to make them feel shamed or judged.

Another way to guide your teens is to ask them questions instead of giving commands. Instead of saying “Slow down!” or “You’re going to get a speeding ticket!” Parker suggests asking, “What’s the speed limit here?” Studies show that teens whose parents

Try to stay calm, even if your teens are creating the tension in the car.

ask questions rather than make critical statements get into fewer accidents. Put yourself in their shoes. Studies also show that many parents focus their instruction more on skills that they had difficulty mastering when they themselves learned how to drive than on the skills that best prevent teen accidents. Instead of spending much of your time teaching your teens how to parallel park (a maneuver that can make many parents break into a sweat), focus on skills like how to safely merge on and off highways, which is in fact a major source of teen accidents.

Stay calm. It can be stressful teaching your teens how to drive, but

don’t show it. Kendrick encourages parents to hand over the reins to someone else if they can’t keep their “anxiety in check and it’s

constructive feedback and even less feedback that’s focused on safety.

turning the teaching experience into a tension-filled meltdown zone.” Try to stay calm, even if your teens are creating the tension in the car. “Just role with it,” says Corinne Peek-Asa, PhD, a professor of public health and expert on vehicle injury prevention. Studies show that when the atmosphere is tense, parents offer less

Be a good role model. All kids, including teens, learn more from what they watch their parents do than from anything parents tell them. Be a good role model and drive safely when you’re in the driver’s seat and your teens are the passengers. Jen Stockburger, director of operations at Consumer Reports Auto Test Center, puts it well: “The example you set for them behind the wheel may be the most important in terms of actually keeping them safe, more so than any other safety message you’ve given them in their entire life.”

Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.

Teens like to be treated as adults. That includes when they’re learning how to drive.

Fourth of July Fun

Catch Local Fireworks

Monday 3

Sebastopol

50th Annual Fireworks & Music Extravaganza. Low-back chairs only. Food & drinks available for purchase. No alcohol allowed. $5–$15. Ages 5 & younger: free. Music: 6:15 p.m. Fireworks: 9:40 p.m. Analy High School. 6950 Analy Ave. tinyurl.com/bdece9yx

Windsor Windsor Kaboom! Food, drinks & live music. Bring picnic, chairs & blankets. No pets, alcohol, BBQs, or drones. $5–$10. Ages 2 & younger: free. 4–10 p.m. Keiser Park. 700 Windsor River Rd. windsorkaboom.com.

Tuesday 4

Cloverdale

FREE Fourth of July Faire & Parade. Live music, carnival games & more. Parade: 9 a.m. in downtown Cloverdale. Festivities: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. at 1 Citrus Fair Dr. tinyurl.com/ vnyhce2x

Healdsburg

FREE Fourth of July Healdsburg Kids’ Parade & Duck Dash. Live music & activities, including games,

races & parade. Duck Dash: Adopt a duck & watch it race to the splash zone. Benefits Healdsburg Rotary. 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Parade: 11:30 a.m. Healdsburg Plaza. Matheson Street & Healdsburg Ave. tinyurl. com/4du5h878.

FREE Independence Day Fireworks. To ensure spectator safety, viewing at the high school sports fields will not be available. Viewing will be at the west side of the Healdsburg High School (1024 Prince Ave.) in the parking lot area & at Fitch Mountain Elementary School (520 Monte Vista Ave.). Viewing map: tinyurl. com/33mz7w7v

Kenwood

Fourth of July Fireworks Hike. Strenuous 6.5-mile hike up to the top of Bald Mountain, where as many as 18 fireworks displays may be visible. $30–$65. Not recommended for children younger than 12. 7–11 p.m. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd. tinyurl. com/2cbd5wea.

Fourth of July Hometown Parade & Foot Race. Pancake breakfast & silent auction at 8 a.m. at Kenwood Community Church (9637 Channing Row). Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Kenwood School &

travels to Kenwood Plaza Park (200 Warm Springs Rd.). Rotary Club BBQ & family activities at noon at Kenwood Plaza Park. Kenwood Footrace 3K & 10K at 7:30 a.m. (registration $45–$82). Races start & finish at Kenwood Plaza Park. kenwoodparade.org

Petaluma

FREE Fourth of July Celebration. Fireworks will be launched at 9 p.m. from Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, but the fairgrounds themselves will not be open to the public. Locals are encouraged to watch the display from home.

Rohnert Park

Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular. Featuring Transcendence Theatre & Santa Rosa Symphony. Indoor & lawn seating. Kids’ Zone (4:30–7 p.m.) with carnival games, bouncy houses & music. $40–$75 (kids 12 & younger, half-price). Concert: 7:30 p.m. Fireworks display follows the show. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center. 801 E. Cotati Ave. gmc. sonoma.edu/4th-of-july

FREE Rohnert Park Jubilee. Live music featuring Mustache Harbor (12:30–2 p.m.) & Apple Z (2–4 p.m.). Plus family & kids’ activities, contests & more. Food & drinks available for purchase. Noon–4 p.m. Rohnert Park Community Center. 5401 Synder Ln. tinyurl.com/3pw68hx4.

Sonoma

FREE Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Parade & Celebration. Travel+Leisure & Yahoo News ranked it as the 8th best July 4th celebration in the US. Game booths, food & drinks. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Parade: 10 a.m. Fireworks: dusk. Sonoma Plaza. 453 1st St. E. sonomavolunteerfirefighters.org/ fourth-of-july

July Calendar of Events

Saturday 1

Lavender Daze. Tour flower fields & walk the lavender labyrinth. $15–$20. Kids 12 & younger: free. July 1–2 & 8–9. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Bees & Blooms. 3883 Petaluma Hill Rd., Santa Rosa. Registration required: bees-n-blooms. square.site.

FREE Cornerstone Sonoma

Summer Music Series. July 1: The Henry Coopers. July 2: Chance McCauley. July 8: Big Blu Soul Revue. July 9: Chance McCauley. July 15: Rue Manouche. July 16: The Henry Coopers. July 22: Vybe Society. July

23: Derek Irving. July 29: Jacob Philip Benning. July 30: Busta Groove. Noon–3 p.m. Cornerstone Sonoma. 23570 Arnold Dr., Sonoma. cornerstonesonoma.com/ upcoming-events.

FREE Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown. Screening of 1977 classic animated movie. Part of free monthly family matinees series. July 1 & 2. 11 a.m. Rialto Cinema. 6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol. tinyurl. com/44nm6emc

FREE Creekside Nature Hike. Take 1.4-mile nature hike along Sonoma

Creek. Learn about plants, animals & aquatic life. Hike: free. Parking: $10. 10–11:30 a.m. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. Meet: Visitors Center. 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood. tinyurl. com/4kcrfu2p.

Sunday 2

FREE Common Ground “Under 5” Family Meet-Up. For families with a child younger than 5 with a disability, medical complexity, or any sort of unique need. Enjoy snacks & companionship with other Common Ground Society families. Siblings welcome. 10 a.m.–noon.

New location: 85 Brookwood Ave., Ste. 12, Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl.com/9w33mjkh. Learn more: commongroundsociety.org

Monday 3

50th Annual Fireworks & Music Extravaganza. Low-back chairs only. Food & drinks available for purchase. No alcohol allowed. $5–$15. Ages 5 & younger: free. Music: 6:15 p.m. Fireworks: 9:40 p.m. Analy High School. 6950 Analy Ave., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/bdece9yx.

Windsor Kaboom! Food, drinks & live music. Bring picnic, chairs & blankets. No pets, alcohol, BBQs, or drones. $5–$10. Ages 2 & younger: free. 4–10 p.m. Keiser Park. 700 Windsor River Rd., Windsor. windsorkaboom.com

FREE Summer Lunch at the Library. Lunch is available to all youth ages 0–18 at Sonoma County libraries. On some days there will be programming for children leading up to lunch. Sponsored by the Redwood Empire Food Bank & CA State Library. Mondays–Fridays (except July 4). Details: tinyurl.com/53dh2pwf.

Tuesday 4

FREE Cloverdale 4th of July Faire & Parade. Live music, carnival games & more. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Parade starts 9 a.m. downtown Cloverdale. Festivities: 1 Citrus Fair Dr., Cloverdale. tinyurl. com/vnyhce2x

Kenwood 4th of July Hometown Parade & Footrace. Pancake breakfast & silent auction at 8 a.m. at Kenwood Community Church (9637

Channing Row, Kenwood). Parade starts at 10 a.m. at Kenwood School & travels to Kenwood Plaza Park (200 Warm Springs Rd., Kenwood). Rotary Club BBQ & family activities at noon at Kenwood Plaza Park.

Kenwood Footrace 3K & 10K at 7:30 a.m. (registration $45–$82). Races start & finish at Kenwood Plaza Park. kenwoodparade.org

Fourth of July Fireworks Hike. Strenuous 6.5-mile hike up to the top of Bald Mountain, where as many as 18 fireworks displays may be visible. $30–$65. Not recommended for children younger than 12. 7–11 p.m. Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood. tinyurl. com/2cbd5wea.

FREE 4th of July Healdsburg

Kids’ Parade & Duck Dash. Live music & activities, including games, races & parade. Duck Dash: Adopt a duck & watch it race to the splash zone. Benefits Healdsburg Rotary.

10:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Parade: 11:30 a.m. Healdsburg Plaza. Matheson Street & Healdsburg Ave., Healdsburg. tinyurl. com/4du5h878

Fourth of July Fireworks

Spectacular. Featuring Transcendence Theatre & Santa Rosa Symphony. Indoor & lawn seating. Kids’ Zone (4:30–7 p.m.) with carnival games, bouncy houses & music. $40–$75 (kids 12 & younger 1/2 price).

Concert: 7:30 p.m. Fireworks display follows the show. Sonoma State University. Green Music Center. 801 E.

Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/4th-of-july

FREE Rohnert Park Jubilee. Live music featuring Mustache Harbor (12:30–2 p.m.) & Apple Z (2–4 p.m.). Plus family & kids’ activities, contests & more. Food & drinks available for purchase. Noon–4 p.m. Rohnert Park Community Center. 5401 Synder Ln., Rohnert Park. tinyurl.com/3pw68hx4

FREE City of Sonoma

Old-Fashioned Fourth of July Parade & Celebration. Travel+Leisure & Yahoo News ranked it as the 8th best July 4th celebration in US. Game booths & food & drinks. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Parade: 10 a.m. Fireworks: dusk. Sonoma Plaza. 453 1st St. E., Sonoma. sonomavolunteerfirefighters. org/fourth-of-july

FREE Independence Day Fireworks. To ensure spectator safety, viewing at the high school sports fields will not be available. Viewing will be at the west side of the Healdsburg High School (1024 Prince Ave., Healdsburg) in the parking lot area & at Fitch Mountain Elementary School (520 Monte Vista Ave., Healdsburg). Viewing map: tinyurl. com/33mz7w7v

FREE Petaluma Fourth of July Celebration. Fireworks will be launched at 9 p.m. from Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, but the fairgrounds themselves will not be open to the public. Locals are encouraged to watch the display from home.

15 million+ songs

sonomalibrary.org/events

The BiblioBus is all over Sonoma County, thanks to the Measure Y sales tax, your investment in a free public library

Wednesday 5

Musical Moments. Children’s music & movement sessions for toddlers & preschoolers. $16. Infants 11 months & younger: free. Discounts available for qualifying guests. Wednesdays. 10:30–11 a.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/3cpc5yzt

FREE Hangout Club: Game On. Grades K–12. Board games, Magic the Gathering & video games. 2:30–4 p.m. Sonoma Valley Regional Library. 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma. tinyurl.com/ mt4jvt5t

Garden Party. Weed, plant, harvest & learn gardening practices at the edible garden. $16. Infants 11 months & younger: free. Discounts available for qualifying guests. Wednesdays.

10:30 a.m.–noon. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/48y5dhu8.

Thursday 6

FREE Family Storytime. Ages 0–12. Thursdays. 10:15–10:45 a.m. Petaluma Regional Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. tinyurl.com/46fbbdcw Other libraries will host this event. See tinyurl.com/2kbyc6ed for branches/ times.

FREE Family Yoga. All ages welcome. Led by yoga teacher & parent Alannah Tomich. Bring stuffed animals or use one of the provided beanie babies. Thursdays. 4–6:30 p.m. Guerneville Regional Library. 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. tinyurl.com/mu4nsrnr.

Friday 7

FREE Young Astronomers/Striking Sparks. Robert Ferguson Observatory virtual meeting for kids in grades 4–9 who are interested in all things space & want to meet like-minded friends. First Friday of each month. 7–8 p.m. RSVP for Zoom link: ncummings@ rfo.org

FREE Friday Flicks. Family-friendly movies. Ages 8 years & younger must be accompanied by an adult. Fridays. 1–3 p.m. Healdsburg Regional Library. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. tinyurl. com/4vxphmnh

FREE Party on the Plaza. Food & live music. July 7: Soul Emotions. July 14: Janie & the Reformed. July 21: Court n’ Disaster. July 28: Shannon Rider. Fridays. 5–8 p.m. Rohnert Park

Regional Library. North Parking Lot. 500 City Center Dr., Rohnert Park. tinyurl.com/2tjjkbmk.

FREE Summer on the Square Music Nights. Live music & dancing. July 7: Dustin Saylor & Band. July 14: Sol Horizon. July 21: Sonoma County Super Jam featuring the Pulsators. July 28: La Gente SF. 6 p.m. Courthouse Square. Santa Rosa. downtownsantarosa.org/summer.

Saturday 8

The Gathering. Featuring musical guests Mamuse & the Fula Brothers. Family-friendly art activities, games & special guest artists. Food & drinks available for purchase. $25.

Children 12 & younger: free. 4–9 p.m. Sebastopol Community Cultural

Center. 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. seb.org/the-gathering

Second Saturday Cartoonist. Meet, watch & talk to Zareen Choudhury, a Bangladeshi-American cartoonist born & raised in the Bay Area. Her cartoons & comics have been published in the New Yorker, the Nib, San Francisco Examiner & Awry Comics. Cost included with museum admission ($5–$12; age 3 & younger, free). 1–3 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org/ zareen-choudhury.

FREE Cotati Kids’ Day Parade & Festival. Free pancake breakfast: 8–10 a.m. at Church of the Oaks (160 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati). Parade: 10 a.m. Starts at City Hall & goes to

AN EXCITING NEW KIDS’ NOVEL

For ages 9–18 Readers are calling the book “really, really suspenseful,” “fast-paced and action-packed,” and “with a couple of very likable heroes.”

Grab a copy and see for yourself!

downtown Cotati. Festival: 11 a.m.–3 p.m. at La Plaza Park (Old Redwood Hwy., Cotati). facebook.com/ events/242277311712707

FREE Paint Party! Grades K–12. Follow along & create a painting with Tara Hackett of Beautiful Things Art Studio. 2–3:30 p.m. Rohnert Park–Cotati Regional Library. 6250 Lynne Condé Way, Rohnert Park. tinyurl. com/48u7s5e9. Other libraries will host this event in Spanish. See tinyurl. com/2axnj67s for branches/times.

Sunday 9

FREE Art & Garden Festival. 145 booths of unusual handmade items: fine art, home & garden décor, jewelry & plants. Local beer & wine tasting for fee. Live music. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 4th, Kentucky & B Streets & A St. Parking

Lot. Downtown Petaluma. tinyurl. com/2p873r9c

Monday 10

FREE Summer on the Square Monday Movie Nights. July 10: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. July 17: Sonic the Hedgehog. July 24: Dora & the Lost City of Gold. July 31: Wreck It Ralph Breaks the Internet. Bring chairs & blankets. 6 p.m. Courthouse Square. Santa Rosa. downtownsantarosa.org/ summer

FREE Paint a Glow Rock. Grades K–6. Choose from various paints & tools to decorate a glow-in-the-dark rock. 3–4:30 p.m. Northwest Library. 150 Coddingtown, Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl.com/yjkpzw9w Other libraries will host this event. See sonomacounty.libcal.com for branches/times.

FREE Magic & Juggling with James Chan. Grades K–6. Featuring 15-year-old James Chan’s astonishing ensemble of tricks. Books, prizes & events. 11 a.m.–noon. Sebastopol Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/2mkp2ky6 libraries will host this event. See events.sonomalibrary.org times.

Tuesday 11

FREE Santa Rosa Taco Tuesdays Rides. All cyclists welcome to roll through downtown Santa Rosa. Taco trucks will be on hand to sell taco & drinks. Tuesdays (except July 4): Meet up: 5:45 p.m. Pedals up: 6:15 p.m. Humboldt Park. 1172 Humboldt St., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/22v4kt7w

FREE Sensory Friendly Afternoon. Exclusively for children ages 0–12 who have special needs. Hands-on

exhibits, art studio. Safe, accessible environment. 1–5 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl.com/drncjc2r.

FREE Luther Locals Live Summer Concerts. July 11: Johnny Young. July 18: Jacob Philip Benning. July 25: King Street Giants. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Luther Burbank Center. Nelson Family Grand Plaza. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. lutherburbankcenter.org/events.

FREE Tuesdays in the Plaza. July 11: Wreckless Strangers (California Americana soul). July 18: Dgin (fusion jazz/world). July 25: John Santos Sextet (Afro-Latin jazz fusion). Tuesdays (except July 4). 6–8 p.m. Healdsburg Plaza.

Healdsburg Ave. & Matheson St., Healdsburg. ci.healdsburg.ca.us/335/ Tuesdays-in-the-Plaza.

FREE Family Movies on the Green. Outdoor film screenings. July 11: Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. July 18: Encanto (shown in Spanish with English subtitles). July 25: Matilda Bring blanket or low-back chair. No blankets on lawn before 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays (except July 4). Movie begins 15 minutes after sunset. Windsor Town Green. 701 McClelland Dr., Windsor. tinyurl.com/4592f4vn

FREE Community Swim Day. Families are invited to tour the multi-use facility & enjoy heated pools. Locker rooms & showers available. Lifeguards on duty. Adults

younger. 6 a.m.–8 p.m. Sonoma Valley High School Aquatic Center. 20000 Broadway, Sonoma. tinyurl. com/2u9uw75v

FREE Insect Discovery Lab. Grades K–6. Learn about insect-eating bats & meet 3 species of native bats. 6–7 p.m. Rincon Valley Regional Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl.com/ bdeyuf25. Other libraries will host this event. See tinyurl.com/yrtz3bda for branches/times.

Wednesday 12

FREE Summer Campus Tour. Tour 38-acre campus, including the biodynamic farm. Learn how Summerfield integrates their campus into every grade’s curriculum. Parents only. 10–11 a.m. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm. 655 Willowside Rd., Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl. com/4s9xb9my.

FREE Safari Encounters. Grades K–6. Safari Encounters introduces kids to a rescued snake, hedgehog, alligator, armadillo & skunk. 2–3 p.m. Windsor Regional Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Bldg. 100, Windsor. tinyurl.com/4pthkdbe. Other libraries will host this event. See tinyurl.com/ mrkaexd5 for branches/times.

Thursday 13

FREE Summer Nights on the Green Concert. July 13: Kenny Metcalf (Elton John tribute). July 20: Maya (Latin roots). July 27: The Funky Dozen (classic rock). Thursdays. Farmers’ Market: 5–8 p.m. Live Music: 6–8 p.m. Windsor Town Green. 701 McClelland Dr., Windsor. See website

for parking instructions: tinyurl. com/4hsw475n

Friday 14

FREE Back to the Future. Outdoor screening. Bring chairs & blankets. Food & drinks available for purchase. 8 p.m. Lucchesi Community Center. 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. tinyurl.com/bdhrty9x.

Hot Air Balloon Classic. July 14: 6–10 p.m. Live music by Tika & the Moonshines, the Hots, & Tainted Love. July 15: Glow Show, 5 a.m. Main Launch, 6:30 a.m. Tethered rides ($15), 6–10:30 a.m. Food booths, coloring contest, craft booth, kids’ play area. Advance tickets for both days: $45. July 14 only: $40. July 15 only: $15; kids (ages 3–12), $7. Ages 0–2: free. Parking: $10. Sonoma County Fairgrounds. 1350 Bennett Valley Rd., Santa Rosa. schabc.org.

Saturday 15

If I Drew the Zoo, A–Z. Joe Wos will create 26 animal drawings, 1 for each letter of the alphabet, in fewer than 26 minutes. Free with admission: $5–$12; free for ages 3 & younger. 2 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/54vm7rea.

Pet Caricatures with Joe Wos. Bring pets & cartoonist Joe Wos will draw them. Suggested donation: $5 or more. 10 a.m.–noon. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org/ pet-caricatures-with-joe-wos

FREE Zombieland. 2009 horror/ comedy starring Woody Harrelson. Rated R. Bring chairs & blankets. 7:30

p.m. Citrus Fairgrounds. 1 Citrus Fair Dr., Cloverdale. tinyurl.com/543hfkvz

Los Huracanes del Norte. Grammy-nominated Norteño music group. $30–$105. 7:30 p.m. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/ los-huracanes-del-norte

Friday 21

Flynn Creek Circus: Desert Myth. A rurally based, award-winning circus bringing international talent to the North Bay. $18–$185. July 21 (family night; table reservations $15 off): 7 p.m. July 22: 1, 5 & 8* p.m. (*adults 21+ only). July 23: 1 & 4 p.m. Luther Burbank Center. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. flynncreekcircus.com.

Shrek Jr. the Musical. July 21: 7:30 p.m. July 22: 2 & 7:30 p.m. July 23: 2 p.m. Spreckels Performing Arts Center. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. tinyurl.com/2pfummjr

FREE Universal Yums for Teens with 360 Views. Grades 7–12. Discover new countries through music, trivia, snacks & candies. Using special 360 screen, kids view countries as if they were there. Held third Friday of the month. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E St., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/yru2amk5.

Saturday 22

Movies at the Green: Frozen & Frozen 2. Outdoor film screening. Pack picnic. $5. Kids 12 & younger: free (ticket still required). Bring blanket or low-back chairs. Frozen: 5 p.m. Frozen 2: 6:45 p.m. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu/frozen.

Rivertown Revival. Live music. Games & crafts for kids. Proceeds benefit Friends of the Petaluma River. Two-day pass is $41.25–$55 for ages 17 & older; $10 for kids 16 & younger. Single-day tickets: $30–$40 for July 22; $22.50–$30 for July 23; $5 for kids on either day. July 22: noon–8 p.m. July 23: noon–7 p.m. Steamers Landing Park. 6 Copeland St., Petaluma. rivertownrevival.com.

Sunday 23

The Great Train Days. Build train tracks, listen to train music & take ride on mini-train. $20. Babies 0–11 months: free. Discounts available for qualifying guests. July 22 & 23. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org/train-days

Monday 24

Zero to Hero: A Backyard Astronomer’s Adventure. Six-session course for beginning astronomers. No equipment necessary. Class: $20–$25. Series: $96–$120. Mondays. 7:30 p.m. (switches to 6:30 p.m. in Sept.) Runs thru Oct. 2. Robert Ferguson Observatory. 2605 Adobe Canyon Rd., Kenwood. Register: tinyurl. com/2496wk7y

Tuesday 25

FREE Virtual Caregivers Meet-Up for Teens & Adults. For families or caretakers of a teen or adult with a disability, medical complexity, or any sort of unique need. Last Tuesday of month. 6–7 p.m. Registration required: tinyurl.com/mr294nf3

INCLUSIVE PRESENTATIONS OFFERED TO ALL AGE GROUPS

Our Presentations cater to EVERYONE: Elementary, Middle, High School, College Level and Communities. We customize the delivery to fit your needs and population. Learn how to be more compassionate, accepting, and inclusive of people with disabilities.

We challenge students to Be The OneTM be a good citizen.

Thursday 27

FREE Shakespeare in the Park: The Comedy of Errors. The Raven Players set this Shakespeare play in modern-day New Orleans during Mardi Gras. July 27–29: 7:30–9:30 p.m. West Plaza Park. 10 North. St., Healdsburg. tinyurl.com/3yh3j9s9.

Saturday 29

Petaluma Music Festival. Fourteen bands on 3 stages. Vendor & food booths. $60–$169. Ages 12 & younger: free with a paying adult. Bring blanket or low-back chair. No pets. Benefits music programs in Petaluma schools. 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. Sonoma–Marin Fairgrounds. 175 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. tinyurl.com/5626v6na

Cooking with Kids

Fire Up the Grill

Make Mushroom Burgers

By America’s Test Kitchen

When the king of mushrooms meets the heat of the grill, magic happens as its texture softens and its earthy, rich flavor deepens. Layer this portobello burger with melty goat cheese and peppery arugula, top it off with a tomato slice and smoky grilled onion, and you have a meatless burger featuring an irresistible combination of flavors and textures. Portobello mushroom gills can have an off-flavor, so we scraped them out to avoid a muddy taste. Before cooking, we lightly scored the smooth side of the mushroom with a crosshatch pattern to expedite the release of moisture and give the caps a more tender texture. ❖

Reprinted, with permission, from The Outdoor Cook (America’s Test Kitchen, 2023), americastestkitchen.com

The Outdoor Cook shows readers how to cook outside, whether they use a gas or charcoal grill, fire-top, flat-top grill, or smoker. It contains 150 recipes, which America’s Test Kitchen chefs have extensively tested.

Grilled Portobello Burgers with Goat Cheese and Arugula

4 portobello mushroom caps (4 to 5 inches in diameter), gills removed

1 large red onion, sliced into ½-inch-thick rounds (do not separate rings)

3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme

¼ teaspoon table salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

1 cup baby arugula

¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar

4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

1 tomato, cored and sliced thin

1. Cut 1/16-inch-deep slits on top side of mushroom caps, spaced ½ inch apart, in crosshatch pattern. Brush onion with 1 tablespoon oil and season with salt and pepper to taste. Combine garlic, thyme, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons oil in bowl.

2A. For a charcoal grill: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter three-quarters filled with charcoal briquettes (4½ quarts). When top coals are partially covered with

ash, pour evenly over grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

2B. For a gas grill: Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Turn all burners to medium-high.

3. Clean and oil cooking grate. Place mushrooms, gill side down, and onion on grill. Cook mushrooms (covered if using gas) until lightly charred and beginning to soften on gill side, 4 to 6 minutes. Flip mushrooms, brush with oil-garlic mixture, and cook until tender and browned on second side, 4 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle with goat cheese and let cheese melt, about 2 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, cook onion, turning as needed, until lightly charred on both sides, 8 to 12 minutes. As they finish cooking, transfer mushrooms and onion to platter and tent with aluminum foil.

5. Toss arugula with vinegar and remaining 1 teaspoon oil in bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Separate onion rings. Place arugula and mushroom caps on buns. Top with tomato and onion. Serve.

Serves 4