Mendo Lake Family Life June 2016

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June 2016

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5-star Father Local dad shines

Summer Fun 52 ways to play

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June 2016

Every Issue 6 7

Dear Reader Cooking with Kids Treats without the Heat

8

10 Features

8

10 Five-star Father This local dad puts his kids and community first.

14 S’mores Under the Stars Take your clan camping.

16 Parents But Not Partners

Bits and Pieces Music in the Wind Wild and Woolly Handmade Charm Hop on the Merry-go-round Under the Big Top An Americana Evening

29

22 Family Fun King for a Day

24 Calendar of Events Round ’Em Up!

30 Humor Break Dad, Guess What?

Tips for co-parenting peacefully.

18 Good, Cheap Fun Simple ways to cut back and save cash this summer.

20 Birth of a Father Help for guys with newly hatched kids.

27 It’s Pool Time!

Schedules for public swims near you.

4 MendoLakeFamilyLife

22

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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Twin Talk Advice on multiples

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School Guide

A+ Education

How to choose a school

Dream Center

Help for homeless kids

Learning Styles What’s yours?

Valley Fire Tale A silver lining Green X-mas 10 Eco-friendly tips

Go Local!

Get great gift ideas

Interfaith Families

A holiday how-to

Valley

Start-up Stars Help locals

Treats &

thrive

12 Great Gifts The NAPPA guide

Give Thanks

Steps for success

Halloween top spots

5 steps to gratitude

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Make Teach social skills

Help with grief & loss

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Farm to School Local food for kids

Local Heroes E-cig

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Find the best care

Back-2-School

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Wise Words

Day-camp Adventure 10 tips for success

From a local centenarian

Pop-up

Let’s Camp!

8 great

Playgrounds

Make your own fun

40 CAMPS SUMMER

local spots

11 Ways to

Honor the Earth

Brunch to Beach

Fun in the Sun 12 great games

June 2015

Take a Swim 4 great city pools

Day Trip!

5 super stops

Backyard Fun 35 easy ideas

Why Dads Rule What the

research says

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May 2015

7 ways to celebrate

Preschool Prep 9 easy & helpful tips

Help kids chill out

JULY 4TH Hot spots 4 terrific trips

Kinetic Carnivale

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Mother’s Day

Safe Sports

How to stay injury-free

Autism The exercise cure

July 2015

August 2015

August 2015

Easter Egg Hunts

Kids & Pets A love fest

4 Top spots

Curvy Girl Club Teach body-love

March 2015

Teens & Digital Love

20

Camp Tips Choose the best

B-day Parties

Online Guide to Local

That give back

MendoLakeFamilyLife.com www.mendolakefamilylife.com

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 5

Dear Reader

T

he last school bell has rung.

Conjure up some spectacular summer fun with the help of our Calendar of Events Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor (page 24). It’s Sharon@family-life.us packed with local festivals, library classes, and fitness opportunities, many of which are free or reasonably priced. Add the money-saving ideas in “Good, Cheap Fun” (page 18), as well as city pool swimming (see “It’s Pool Time!” page 27, for schedules), and we’ve got your good times covered.

June not only marks the beginning of school break. It’s also the time of year when we celebrate papas and all they do. In “Five-star Father” (page 10),

Clearlake dad and city councilman Bruno Sabatier shares his thoughts on raising kids and the importance of community.

Becoming a dad comes with a lot of responsibility. For many men, the new role is as anxiety provoking as it is thrilling. See “Birth of a Father” (page 20) for tips on how to help your guy make it through the post-partum period with flying colors. And then turn to “King for a Day” (page 22) for some wonderful local ways to honor his accomplishments.

We hope the beginning of your summer is filled with ice cream cones, beach breezes, and heaps of kid joy.

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us Marie Anderson marie@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Web and Social Media Jean Flint jean@family-life.us

Contributing Writers Bull Garlington Joryn Jenkins Christina Katz Don Orwell Ashley Talmadge Denise Morrison Yearian

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office 134 Lystra Court, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Family health care for all of Lake County.

sutterlakeside.org

6 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Tel (707) 586-9562 Fax (707) 586-9571

Hospital Services 707-262-5000 Community Clinic 707-263-6885 After Hours Care 707-262-5088

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Cooking with Kids

Raw Brownies

Raw Vegan Chocolate Walnut Truffles

Treats without the Heat Easy, No-bake Goodies

By Don Orwell

W

hen summer days heat up, the last thing you want to do is turn on the oven to cook. It’s easy enough to whip up a salad, but, other than Jell-O and ice cream, what are your options for desserts that don’t require baking? Here are a couple of ideas from the Healthy Kids Cookbook by Don Orwell. For more of Orwell’s recipes, see superfoodstoday.com. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Raw Brownies Ingredients • 1 1/2 cups walnuts • pinch of salt • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground vanilla bean • 1 cup pitted dates • 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder • splash of water (optional) • 1/3 cup almond butter Instructions Add walnuts and salt to a food processor or blender. Mix until finely ground.

Add the vanilla, dates, and cocoa powder to the blender. Mix well and, optionally, add a couple drops of water at a time to make the mixture stick together.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Walnut Truffles Ingredients • 1 cup ground walnuts • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1/2 cup coconut oil • 1/4 cup raw honey • 2 tablespoons chia seeds • 2 tablespoons cacao powder • additional cinnamon for coating • coconut flakes • chopped almonds Instructions Mix first six ingredients and make 1-inch balls. Coat with cinnamon, coconut flakes, or chopped almonds. ¶ Don Orwell is the author of several books on superfoods.

Transfer the mixture into a 9”x 13” pan and top with almond butter.

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 7

Bits & Pieces

Music in the Wind

T

he play of fingers on strings, sticks on drum, and voices on air draw thousands to the Kate Wolf Music Festival every summer. This year’s lineup includes folk, blues, and alternative rock performers like Neko Case, k.d. lang, Laura Viers, Harry Belafonte, Eric Bibb, the Wood Brothers, Trampled by Turtles, and Ruthie Foster. A special activity-packed Kids’ Zone makes the festival a family-friendly affair. Youngins can receive superhero training from Captain Encouragement and be entertained by circus tricks, multiple crafts projects (tie-dye anyone?), and their own child-centered concerts by festival performers.

The event will be held June 23–26 at Black Oak Ranch in Laytonville. Tickets are $45–$90 for youth, $75–$325 for adults, and may be purchased at katewolfmusicfestival.com.

The Blue Canyon Gang is ready to rustle up trouble.

Wild and Woolly

C

elebrate local frontier history at Wild West Day on June 4, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., in Upper Lake on Main Street. Don your favorite period attire and watch the Blue Canyon Gang play out an old fashioned Western show down. Or see floats and horses in a parade at 10 a.m. Enter costume or beard contests, too. A particular focus of this year’s celebration is the Harriet Lee Hammond Library, which, in celebration of its 100-year anniversary, will host special activities all day. If you get hungry just thinking about all that fun, never fear, all three meals will be available. A pancake breakfast will be served 7–10 a.m. at the North Shore Upper Lake Fire House. Then a tri-tip barbecue and strawberry social will be served 11 a.m.–4 p.m. in the IOOF building. See lakecounty. com/event/wild-west-day for more information.

8 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Handmade Charm

N

eed a little retail therapy? Find a treasure and support a good cause at the Spring Bazaar in Lakeport. You’ll find crafts, household items, vintage clothing, and even soaps and perfumes, among other goodies.

Live folk music will be the soundtrack for your shopping adventure, and hot dogs and chili will keep you energized. The event will be held on June 11, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., at the Lakeport Yacht Club in Lakeport. Proceeds go to the Main Street Gallery’s Summer Youth Program, which introduces art to underserved kids.

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Dance All Night

S

trolling through the fairway, cotton candy in hand, is an American summer tradition. Get your taste of it—with a high-octane twist—at the Redwood Empire Spring Fair, where monster trucks will be the stars of the show. Watch the four-wheeled giants leap and spin, or take the kids on roller coaster and Ferris wheel rides.

Feeling extra zippy? Dance the night away to bands like Kingsborough or Banda Los Ninis.

The carnival will be held at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds in Ukiah on June 3, 3 p.m.–midnight, and June 4 and 5, noon–midnight. Carnival wristbands are $27. See the monster trucks at the Ukiah Speedway in Ukiah on June 3 and 4 at 7 p.m. The 2016 Dirt Nationals will be held on Sunday at 5 p.m. Monster truck tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for ages 3–11. For more information, including where to buy discounted pre-sale tickets, see redwoodempirefair.com.

Kingsborough plays the Redwood Empire Spring Fair in Ukiah.

An Americana Evening

A

Under the Big Top

W

atch the limber-limbed bend in unimaginable ways and the fearless fly through the air at the Flynn Creek Circus. Unicyclists, knife throwers, hula-hoopers, trapeze artists, and acrobats will aim to wow with their strength, agility, and plain old courage.

Look for them under the big top in Giorno Field in Ukiah June 23–26 and in Friendship Park in Mendocino June 30– July 4. Ukiah shows are at 7 p.m. June 23–25, 4 p.m. on June 25, and noon and 3 p.m. on June 26. Mendocino shows are at 7 p.m. on June 30 and July 1, 1:30 and 4 p.m. on July 2, 1 and 4 p.m. on July 3, and 1:30 p.m. on July 4. Find out about other local shows and buy tickets, which are $12–$50, at flynncreekcircus.com. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

June 2016

piano that plays itself is musical magic.

And you could have it for yourself. Just go to the Americana Dinner and Auction, where a player piano will go to the highest bidder. Besides buying cool stuff, you can also feast on chicken and tri-tip barbecue— fuel for dancing to local band Plaid Planet’s toe-tapping tunes. The event will be held on June 25, 6–10 p.m., at the Clearlake Senior Center in Clearlake. Tickets are $30 or $25 in advance. Call the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce at 994-3600 to purchase.

MendoLakeFamilyLife 9

Bruno Sabatier with his wife, Nikki, and children Sophie and Sebastian.

Five-star Father

By Melissa Chianta

Tiny fingers grasping a protective hand;

A Local Dad Reflects on Family

“Da-da” whispered into a willing ear;

10 MendoLakeFamilyLife

late night contemplations of a tender, sleeping face—being a father is full of moments of sheer happiness and beauty.

And it’s also a lot of work.

Bruno Sabatier holds down two jobs while organizing youth activities and serving on the Clearlake City Council. And he’s also the president of a nonprofit. Balancing his many commitments is a minor time management miracle, but among all his duties, two people are always tops on his list: his kids.

“I have to spend my time with my children,” he says. Besides a parent, they “need a friend…someone to play with, someone to talk to, someone to confide in. And if you

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

GIVE US A SHOUT!

don’t spend that time, then that’s never going to happen,” he asserts.

Bruno Sabatier, 36, and his wife, Nikki, were in their twenties when they planned their first pregnancy.

Nikki was in her last year of college and Bruno had enrolled in then Yuba College (now Woodland Community College) to make a better life for his

We want to know what you think.

• What did you like in this issue?

• What do you want to see more or less of?

• Know a teacher, coach, or special person who makes local family life better?

• Know of an upcoming event or fun family outing?

• Want to write stories or recipes, or blog for Family Life?

e-mail melissa@family-life.us

Have a Healthy Summer!

“Education is freedom.”

—Bruno Sabatier

family. Baby Sebastian arrived three weeks early in December of 2006, right in the middle of their finals.

“I was so enamored with my son I completely forgot to go to my study group. But I did a good job,” he recalls.

Nikki went on to get a teaching job in the Konocti Unified School District while Sabatier enrolled in the University of California, Davis, commuting from Clearlake two or three times a week until he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science.

Along the way, they had a second child, Sophie, in 2011.

From the beginning, Sabatier was committed to being an involved father. A remote job managing billing, auditing, and programming for Arcata’s Mad River Hospital, a position he still holds, allowed him to stay home with his son for several years. He’d sneak in work or studying when Sebastian was napping, or when he got older, went to preschool. After a while, Sabatier was able to fit in community work, too. His first endeavor was the Power to the Youth day, which he organized in www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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MendoLakeFamilyLife 11

2010 in Clearlake with the help of fellow classmates and the Lake County Pride Foundation (LCPF), a nonprofit that serves homeless youth in Lake County. The event was so successful, Sabatier still organizes and produces it six years later.

Never

“Our main goal was very simple, we just wanted music and basketball.

But it ended up being so much more than that. We ended up with 30 booths; we had four different live bands playing.” In subsequent years, flag football, a skateboard competition, and bouncy houses were added. This year’s event is on August 6 in Clearlake’s Austin Park.

Moms typically control 80% or more of their household budgets

To show his gratitude to LCPF, Sabatier stayed involved with the organization, and now is its president. In addition, in 2014, he was elected to Clearlake’s city council. And he works on smaller events for kids—such as skate park competitions and hip hop shows— throughout the year.

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At the beginning of 2016, Sabatier took a job as an outreach specialist for Woodland Community College in Clearlake. He’s in charge of helping new students enroll and maintaining student programs. Having used education to better his own life, the new position is right up his alley.

“Education is freedom,” he says. “If we can get young students to see that college is really going to benefit them and that they should go to college no matter what field they want to go into, then their ability to compete for jobs is going to be that much better and our ability to take care of ourselves as a community is going to be that much better,” he explains.

Obviously, Sabatier is a busy guy. He and his equally involved wife—the curriculum coach and internship coordinator for Clearlake’s Konocti Education Center as well as the president of the teachers’ union— share parental responsibilities. He cooks breakfast in the morning for Sebastian and Sophie, now 9 and 5,

“You need to be humble and recognize that while you are trying to raise a child you are also trying to change yourself in a better way as well.”

—Bruno Sabatier

and she makes dinner; they take turns transporting the kids from school to soccer or karate or home. After the children go to bed, they both catch up on community and professional responsibilities.

Keeping up with their busy schedules is a constant balancing act. And even though Sabatier is emphatic about putting his kids first, sometimes work wins out.

For instance, the other day, a special city council meeting kept him from attending his son’s play. It was the first time in his fathering career that he couldn’t go to one of his children’s activities.

“It literally put me in a dark mood to know that I was sitting there missing what my son was doing, which to me was an experience I can never get back.

My wife was there to support him, and she can tell me what she saw, but it is a whole different scenario when you are

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

actually witnessing your child doing something spectacular,” he says.

“The energy and the amount of attention that you need to provide is so intense that I could never possibly recommend [parenthood],” he says, unless someone is “adamant” that he or she really wants a family. “Then go for it, please.”

Despite the difficulties in balancing his career and familial responsibilities, he knows it’s much harder for single parents, for whom he has a lot of empathy.

“If you have sports games that you want to bring your kids to and they are 12 and 6 years old, they aren’t going to play in the same league. They are different ages. So now you find yourself with two games at the same time. How do you do it?” he asks.

Because the demands of parenting are so relentless, he says the job is not for everyone. You have to really, really want to have kids in order to make the sacrifices necessary to raise them, he believes.

From the beginning, Sabatier was committed to being an involved father.

Besides being willing to put in major amounts of time and energy, Sabatier says parenting also requires a certain amount of introspection and humility. For instance, he’s noticed that often what he doesn’t

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“You need to be humble and recognize that while you are trying to raise a child you are also trying to change yourself in a better way as well,” he explains.

Even though parenting is stressful, Sabatier recognizes he wouldn’t be where he is today without his children.

“Fatherhood is what totally guided me toward education, toward career, toward life choices,” he says. “I love having a family, and I would never change that for anything in the world.”

The glimmer in his kids’ eyes when they say, “I love you, Dad,” makes all the planning, juggling, and late nights working worth it. ¶

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like about his children’s behavior reflects something he doesn’t like about himself.

Students turning 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2, 2016 are eligible to enroll in our Transitional Kindergarten Program

Registration forms available at school offices and at www.uusd.net June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 13

9 Steps to a Great Family Camp Out

S’mores Under the Stars

By Ashley Talmadge

C

amping has become an increasingly popular family activity, and it’s not hard to see why. There’s no better way to experience all of nature’s offerings. A leisurely hike, jumping fish, s’mores around the campfire—it all adds up to hours of stress-free quality time with the ones you love most. And even the plushest camping accommodations are inexpensive compared to other lodging. So when in-town temps soar this summer, pack up your family and head to the mountains or shore for a breath of fresh air. Here are tips to ensure a great experience.

Research and reserve. Get recommendations from friends, and access online information about campgrounds, including site maps and fees. During the summer months, it’s best to reserve your site in advance when possible. National, state, and county parks often provide excellent camping facilities at moderate cost.

Privately owned campgrounds are 14 MendoLakeFamilyLife

more expensive, but may come with amenities such as laundry facilities and pools. Narrow your online search by clicking on desired features— showers, flush toilets, hiking trails, beach access, playground, pet-friendly, etc. See sidebar for websites.

Make a list and check it twice. A printout of must-haves can help you avoid leaving

Fill your phone with nature-related apps, and there will be no need to lug ten field guides and a journal on your next hike. necessities at home. Who wants to drive 20 miles for a box of Band-Aids? A comprehensive checklist can be found at Coleman (checklists.coleman.com/guide/ coleman-camping-checklist) or Love the Outdoors (lovetheoutdoors.com/ camping/checklists.htm). Pare and adapt according to your family’s needs.

Get your gear. If you already have the essentials, be sure everything is in good working condition. You don’t want to discover the hole in the tent during a downpour. Equipment can be expensive, and there are many options.

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

If you’re new to camping (or trying it for the first time with children), you may want to borrow a tent and other items from a friend. Rentals are also available.

Make a dry run. Before you hit the road, practice using any unfamiliar piece of equipment. Set up the tent, install the car-top carrier, and light the stove. Not only will you avoid fumbling in bad weather, you’ll give

Be sure everything is in good working condition.

You don’t want to discover the hole in the tent during a downpour. the kids a preview of the camping experience. Maybe you’ll want to try a night or two of camping in the backyard before heading to the campground.

Plan meals. You can chop veggies ahead of time, and use precooked frozen foods as ice blocks in your cooler. If you’re using a camp stove, foods that can be cooked with hot water (pasta, instant oatmeal) are quick and easy. And never underestimate the value of grabbing a meal at the local pizzeria or burger joint if you’re camping near a town.

Check the weather. If you’re camping at elevation or on the coast, remember that evenings and early mornings may be chilly. You may also need to prepare for rainy or windy conditions.

Review rules. When you arrive at the campsite, scope it out before you set up equipment. Call a quick family meeting and point out site boundaries, www.mendolakefamilylife.com

bathrooms, trash containers, and water. Remind the kids to respect neighboring sites, clean up after themselves, and refrain from feeding wildlife. Make sure everyone is aware of potential dangers such as creeks, cliffs, and rash-producing plants.

Relax and unwind. After you’ve set up camp, it’s time to let the great outdoors work its magic. Hike and fish.

Organize a scavenger hunt. Prop your feet by the campfire. Eat s’mores. Tell ghost stories after the sun goes down.

Drink an adult beverage. Play a card game with the kids by the lantern’s glow. Find constellations you can’t see in the city. It’s all good.

Dealing with “tech deficit.”

Younger than “tween-age” kids will have no problem occupying

themselves with nature’s bounty: mud, sticks, rocks, water. Amid their fort-building and cricket-chasing, they’ll scarcely notice the lack of screens and devices. If you’re at a state park, check out the Junior Rangers Program. Kids will love the ranger-led activities and guided walks, where they can learn about the local flora and fauna. For older kids (as well as parents!), technology has its benefits.

Fill your phone with nature-related apps, and there will be no need to lug ten field guides and a journal on your next hike. Another tech bonus: You can easily log your discoveries. ¶ Ashley Talmadge is a freelance writer and mother of two young boys.

She and her family spend as many summer nights as possible camped out under the stars.

2016

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MendoLakeFamilyLife 15

Parents But Not Partners How to Raise Kids with Your Ex

By Joryn Jenkins

Y

ou just finalized your divorce, but it’s never really over because you have children together. What are the best ways to co-parent?

How can you do what’s right for the kids but keep the peace with your ex? Follow these tips to help you figure it out.

ex’s character flaws, but you do have to accept that they exist and work around them if you want to co-parent your children successfully.

You can’t really co-parent until you’re done getting divorced. People don’t always decide at exactly the same time to get divorced. It’s not unusual that one is ready to divorce but the other is not. When that happens, if the final judgment is entered and someone is still not acclimated to the idea, co-parenting will be difficult. The one who wanted the divorce has to wait for the slower one to catch up. If you’re too nice, you send the wrong signal. So be patient and kind, but be firm. Until the other person is over it, don’t talk about anything except issues involving your kids.

Being parents together is not a state of being; it is a work in progress.

And it is work.

Understand that a parenting relationship is hard work.

Just as you should commence your marriage with the idea that you 16 MendoLakeFamilyLife

will both work together on “being married” every day, so, too, you should commence your divorce the same way, committed to working on parenting your children together. Being parents together is not a state of being; it is a work in progress. And it is work.

Eat a meal together once a week, or at least monthly.

Breaking bread together is a great way to make peace. After all, it’s hard to yell at someone in a restaurant. This regular meeting can be designated as a time to discuss what’s going on in your children’s lives, as well as parenting issues.

Understand that your ex will not change. He or she didn’t change during the marriage, and he or she won’t change after it, either. Now you know that you can’t live with your

Be nice. You’re not married anymore. Treat your ex like you would a friend, or, if not that, then someone from work. She’s your children’s mother; he’s your children’s father. Be polite and respectful.

Understand that you will disagree on some things.

Hopefully, you share most of the same views on parenting. But every once in a while, you won’t. Pick your battles. Try to address each one, working through your disagreements with solid communication and

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

mendo lake problem-solving skills. If you can’t agree on anything at all, seek the help of a specialist or a counselor.

Don’t take it personally. You might be tempted to translate everything your ex says or does as criticism of you. Remember, his or her world no longer revolves around you. It’s, therefore, quite possible that a comment, as critical as it may

Treat your ex like you would a friend, or, if not that, then someone from work. sound, or action, as painful as it may feel, has nothing to do with you.

Don’t let his or her opinion rule you.

Don’t let it rattle your confidence in your ability to parent.

Bite your tongue. It’s not always wise to “speak your truth.” Ask yourself if what you want to say will serve the greater good. If not, why speak? Especially when you know that it’s not about what you say, it’s about what she or he hears.

Sometimes it’s best to say nothing.

You can be each other’s friends or worst enemies. This is the most important advice. If you realize this, then you can make being friends (and ideal co-parents) your goal. Envision that as a reality, and you can make it happen. Nobody wins, especially the kids, when you are enemies with your ex. ¶ Joryn Jenkins is a divorce attorney and author of War or Peace: Avoid the Destruction of Divorce Court.

Find her at openpalmlaw.com.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

magazine • web • email

#1 local resource for local families

LOCAL for 25 years

2016

Passes good June 1 thru Aug. 31, 2016

SUMMER YOUTH PASS $45all summer County-wide

Unlimited rides to summer school...

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Youth Summer Pass for students 18 years & younger.

Pass good all summer long on all MTA fixed routes. $5.00 and a Youth Summer Pass will get you to and from Santa Rosa on MTA’s North Coast and South Coast Buses!

For more information: www.mendocinotransit.org or call 800-696-4MTA / 462-1422 Tickets: Mendocino Transit Authority, 241 Plant Road , Ukiah CA 95482 Available on board an MTA bus or at the MTA office in Ukiah or Fort Bragg. This pass not valid on MTA Dial-A-Ride.

wheel deal!

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 17

Good, Cheap Fun 32 Simple Ways to Save Money This Summer

By Christina Katz

C

omplicated money-saving strategies just don’t work for today’s busy moms.

Especially during the lazy-crazy days of summer, maintaining a budget needs to be simple.

Thanks to these 50 tips, creating special memories doesn’t have to break the bank or leave you stranded at home.

In fact, you might be surprised how much you can save while still enjoying summer to the fullest.

18 MendoLakeFamilyLife

6

Check your AC for needed maintenance and replace filters.

You don’t want to find out your AC doesn’t work on the hottest day of the year and incur a rush repair.

7

Make homemade granola from oats, nuts, and dried fruits purchased in the bulk food section.

Don’t forget the honey and peanut butter. It’s a delicious way to start the day.

8

Teach kids that the best things in life are not always new. Shop garage sales, flea markets, and local thrift shops for clothes and shoes.

1

Leave your car behind as much as possible. Use a bike instead. Give it a seasonal tune up and add baskets and racks. If you go long distances, bring along a tire repair kit.

2 3

Check for discount coupons on websites. Competition between destinations can yield sweet savings.

Grow your own cutting garden.

Fill an entire bed from end to end with varieties like daisies, lilies, gladiolas, sunflowers, and zinnias.

4

Camp in the backyard. Use whatever camping gear you have on hand and borrow anything else you need from friends and neighbors.

5

Make sun tea.

Remove the tags from 10–12 black tea bags (buy in bulk), and leave the jar in the sun until water turns amber.

Add mint and lemon or create your own tasty variations.

9

Invest in a few inexpensive sprinkler heads. During the hottest weeks of summer, turn on the sprinkler at set times every afternoon.

Encourage kids to invite their friends

Encourage entrepreneurism with an old-fashioned lemonade stand. over for a quick dash about, squirt fight, and bubble-blowing contest.

10

Build a raised garden bed to keep out weeds and pests.

Plant a whole summer’s worth of salad plants. Pace plants to harvest on an ongoing basis.

11

Check our calendar on mendolakefamilylife.com for free music performances and festivals. You can also sign up for our Funblasts, and have great ideas for free entertainment e-mailed to your inbox every week.

12

For whimsical porch and patio décor, make shoe pots out of old shoes and boots. Fill with

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

19

Check out lake and ocean beaches within an hour’s driving distance.

Leave early and stay all day to maximize the fun without adding the hotel stay.

20

lightweight potting soil and add annuals, ground cover, or succulents— or a combination of all three.

13

Encourage lying about by hanging a hammock, scattering lounge chairs throughout the yard.

14

Visit the library each week for a steady supply of reading materials and educational media.

Remember, the library is often cool on extremely hot days.

15

Have cooler, will picnic!

Make sure you own a sturdy cooler on wheels with a drip tap at the bottom. Buy reusable ice packs or fill with ice and bring along a whole day’s worth of hydration rather than paying for expensive sugary drinks.

16

Have a family yard sale. Don’t forget to check attics and basements for things you will likely never want or use again. Let kids sort, price, and sell in exchange for a percent of the profits.

17

Invite birds and butterflies into your yard by planting sweet-smelling flowers like cosmos, phlox, and zinnias. Purchase seed in bulk and feeders at the thrift store.

18

Use your slow cooker to make your own BBQ sauce, baked beans, or ratatouille.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

When the big movie you want to see is released, eat lunch at home first, and then go enjoy the matinee.

21

27 28 29

Attend a parade. Bring a picnic and homemade lemonade.

Cut your own lawn or teach your older kids how to cut it.

Make raking a family affair.

Let children paint favorite words on wooden boards and rocks with smooth surfaces. Set these around the yard for inspiration.

30

Use long days to teach your kids about money. Encourage entrepreneurism with an old-fashioned lemonade stand. Have kids make their own piggy banks. Open up savings accounts for each child. Set goals for earning and saving, and offer fun rewards for meeting them.

Keep firework purchases to sparklers and attend free public fireworks displays instead.

22 23

Keep a bag of swim towels and bathing suits, binoculars, and hand-held pruners in the car, so you will be ready to get wet, bird watch, or collect an impromptu bouquet at a moment’s notice.

Hang tree swings. They cost a lot less than swing sets, and create lifelong memories.

Fire up the grill to keep the kitchen cool. Purchase meat in bulk, divide, marinade in freezer bags, and stock the freezer.

To save on gas, grill a few items for the week. Don’t forget shish-ka-bob spears, foil, and grill baskets for grilling veggies.

24 25

Go to bed early, wake up with the larks, and go for a long day-hike. Pack oranges and granola bars.

31 32

Happy summer savings, everyone! ¶ Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz never needed much money as a kid to create summer memories, but she has noticed that everything costs a lot more when you are a parent.

Make a note on your calendar of the free days at local museums and nature centers.

Spruce up furniture you find at yard sales and flea markets with a couple of coats of paint. Let it dry outside.

26

Make your own salad dressings and BBQ and dipping sauces using fresh herbs from the edges of your raised garden bed.

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 19

Birth of a Father

Advice for Brand-new Dads

By Denise Morrison Yearian

W

hen a child is born, much emphasis is placed on helping the new mother and baby adjust. But they aren’t the only ones undergoing change. Most first-time fathers experience stress due to sleep deprivation, change in routines, and their own apprehensions about parenting.

“There are a myriad of emotions that come with being a new father,” says Armin Brott, author of multiple books and one DVD on fatherhood.

“Most often it’s a feeling of pride and excitement. At the same time, there can be apprehensions—‘Will I be a good father?’ ‘Can we afford this?’ ‘How is this going to change our lives?’”

This was what David Wuttke found.

“When my son, David Jr., was born, I had overwhelming feelings of anxiety and excitement all at once,” he says. “I had been babysitting since I was 16, so my anxiety wasn’t about child care. It was the reality of the responsibility that this was my son. And that sent a shock to my system.”

20 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Just knowing there’s another person to care for can be a big stressor for first-time fathers. And then there’s the problem of bonding with the newborn.

Many men simply don’t know how to go about it.

“If a mother is nursing, it naturally brings her in contact with the baby,” says Brott. “Dads don’t have that same natural bonding method, so they often get stuck doing the dirty work. But it shouldn’t be that way.”

Susan Maroto, LCSW, and parent educator in prenatal care and postpartum adjustment, agrees.

“There are things moms can do to help dads feel competent in that role,” she says. “Encourage them to take part in all areas of child care—feeding,

bathing, reading, and putting the baby down. Just be careful you aren’t overly critical. Standing behind your husband and correcting his every move will only frustrate him. Show him what needs to be done, then let him develop his own style.”

Fortunately for Wuttke, basic training occurred as a teen sitter

Just knowing there’s another person to care for can be a big stressor for first-time fathers. and paid big dividends when his son was born. Soon after his wife, Christine, delivered, she enrolled in college and David was thrust into solo evening child care.

“I never had to think about how to take care of David. I just fell back on my babysitting days,” says Wuttke. “If he was crying, I would say, ‘Okay, let’s guess what he

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

needs?’ Then I’d check his diaper. If that was okay, I’d try to feed him. If he wasn’t hungry, I thought maybe he had gas or needed to sleep. One of those usually did the trick.”

no meaning anymore,” says Franco.

“It became irrelevant after a while, and we just fit sleep in whenever we could.”

For Anthony Franco, the adjustment wasn’t that easy. When his wife, Lisa, gave birth to the twins, Franco seemed to be fine. But four months into it, things changed.

The Wuttkes solved this problem by enlisting the help of relatives. “There were times Chris and I said, ‘We need a break,’ and my mom would take David so we could rest. We even called my grandparents so we could have an occasional night out.”

“I started experiencing panic attacks and didn’t know why,” he remembers.

“I would be in the supermarket when all of a sudden I would get this overwhelming sense of dread and lightheadedness.”

Extended family and friends can be a huge help or add significant stress, depending upon the dynamic of the relationship, say experts. This is where husbands can help their wives by setting boundaries.

This went on for several months until Franco finally went to the doctor.

“Dad should take the role of communicator outside the family and,

“He asked me where it was happening, and I told him it was when I was buying diapers, formula, and other things for the twins,” he continues.

“That’s when he pinpointed the problem. He said this happens to a lot of new fathers. He prescribed a little anti-anxiety medication, and then I was fine.”

Brott believes it’s important for men to have someone with whom they can share their stress. “Some men have close friends they can confide in. But a lot don’t, so they keep all those concerns in and the stress level builds,” he says. “They shouldn’t be afraid to talk with other men and find out what they have gone through. Chances are they’ll find others felt the same way, too.”

One concern most new fathers share is fatigue. Franco and Wuttke both had a hard time with this.

if needed, limit visitors,” says Maroto.

“Encourage others to help in practical ways, such as dropping off meals, running errands, or watching the baby for 20 minutes so the couple can take a quick walk.”

What’s most important is to realize this is a period of adjustment and life does get easier.

“It’s like anything new, it takes a little time,” says Franco. “It took about 18 months before I became completely comfortable with the twins. Now we’re pretty much inseparable.” ¶ Denise Morrison Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children and four grandchildren.

Words from the Wise Looking for a way through the new-daddy darkness? Let these media light your way.

Books Armin Brott, The Expectant Father: Facts, Tips, and Advice for Dads-to-Be (Abbeville Press, 2010).

Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden, Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads (Simon and Schuster, 2004).

Jack Heinowitz, Pregnant Fathers: Becoming the Father You Want to Be (Andrews McMeel, 1997).

Wade F. Horn and Jeffrey Rosenberg, New Father Book: What Every New Father Needs to Know to Be a Good Dad (Better Homes and Gardens, 1998).

S. Adams Sullivan, The Father’s Almanac: From Pregnancy to Pre-school, Baby Care to Behavior, the Complete and Indispensable Book of Practical Advice and Ideas for Every Man Discovering the Fun and Challenge of Fatherhood (Main Street Books, 2011).

DVD Armin Brott, Toolbox for New Dads: The Complete Guide for the Expectant Father (Razor Digital Entertainment, 2008).

Websites newdads.com mrdad.com

“The one thing I really didn’t expect was that time on a 24-hour clock had www.mendolakefamilylife.com

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 21

Family Fun Cocoa Tea will play the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in Boonville.

King for a Day

8 Local Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day

Boonville Does Pops harbor vintage Bob Marley posters in his man-cave? Has he always been a Rasta boy at heart? He’ll flip for the reggae-flavored Sierra Nevada World Music Festival June 17–19 at the Mendocino County Fairgrounds. Besides lots of Jamaican beats, there will be activities for kids such as arts and crafts, a bouncy house, and dance and music workshops. If you want to make a weekend affair of it, family camping is available.

Tickets are $60–$175 (camping extra) and are available at snwmf.com.

22 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Photo By Nathaniel Frey

L

et’s face it: Earning a living and taking care of a child (or two or three) is downright exhausting. All parents need a break. On his special day, make sure Dad gets to play his way. Here are some dynamic ideas to get him started.

Frey Vineyards will host a Taste of Redwood Valley.

Redwood Valley If the man of the house likes to unwind with a good glass of vino, why not treat him to a whole weekend of refined local wine? A Taste of Redwood Valley will kick off with a multi-course, farm-to-table winemaker dinner at Frey Vineyards on June 17, 6–9 p.m., and continue through June 19 with visits to local wineries. So Dad won’t just get a tour of reds and whites, but also of the rolling hills of Redwood Valley. Tickets are $70 for dinner alone, $35 for a weekend tasting pass, and $95 for dinner and tasting.

Purchase tickets at atasteofredwoodvalleysummer2016.eventbrite.com.

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

STS For Less Stress, Fly

Fort Bragg Whip out the Trivial Pursuit and Candy Land and enjoy a little friendly competition with Dad at the free Family Game Day on June 18, 2–4 p.m., at the Fort Bragg Library. The whole clan can play new and classic table games or compete on the library’s Wii U games. See fortbragglibrary.org for more information.

Lakeport Wheels and wine will be the stars of the 15th Annual Home Wine and Beer Makers Festival, which, this year also features a Camp’N Shine car show.

On June 18 in Library Park, your favorite fella can peruse more than three dozen vintage Volkswagen and other air-cooled vehicles and, in the afternoon, taste the wares of local amateur wine makers and home brewers. The car show is free and runs 8 a.m.–5 p.m. while the winemaker and brew fest is $25 and runs 1–5 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Lake County Symphony and Youth Orchestras. See homewinemakersfestival.com for details.

Middletown Have Papa bring his checkbook and his appetite to the South Lake County Firefighter’s Fifth Annual Dinner and Auction fundraiser. He can dine on roasted chicken and pesto pasta, enter a raffle, bid on little treasures, and even win a door prize. The event will be held on June 17, 5–10 p.m., at Twin Pine Casino. Tickets are $40. See twinpine.com for more information.

Ukiah Does Dad complain that he doesn’t have enough time to workout? Make this Father’s Day a fit one. Grab his favorite pair of running shoes and enter him in the Fifth Annual Jesse Pittman Memorial Fund 5K Run/Walk on June 18. The whole family can join him in this all-ages run around part of Lake Mendocino. Register online at runsignup.com (search on “Jesse Pitman”)

by June 14 for $23; after that the fee goes up to $25. The race starts at 9 a.m. at the Ky-en Recreation Area, Pomo C. The run benefits the Jesse Pittman Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is granted to Mendocino County high school graduates.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Portland (PDX) TS

Kelseyville Dad and the kids can rock out to the guitar-driven tunes of Beatz Werkin at the Kickin’ in the Country Street Dance. The whole of Kelseyville’s Main Street will be closed for one big, free, family-friendly party on June 16, 7–10 p.m. Put on everyone’s dancing shoes and have a hip-shakin’ time.

Seattle (SEA)

©P N

Hidden Valley Lake J Silverheels Band You and your guy can twist and shout as J Silverheels churns out music of the fifties, sixties, and seventies.

The local band will be playing its brand of old fashioned rock ’n roll on June 17, 5–8 p.m., at the Hidden Valley Lake practice green as part of the free Concerts on the Green series. See hvla. com for details.

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport

Nonstop Service to & from Wine Country

Sonoma County Airport

(STS)

Las Vegas (LAS)

Los Angeles (LAX) Orange County (SNA) San Diego (SAN)

Phoenix-Mesa (AZA)

www.sonomacountyairport.org

local local resources resources baby essentials baby essentials consignment consignment local local artisans children’s children’s and maternity clothes maternity toys, books, toys, and more! more! and

198 S. School St. Ukiah 707.462.1020 www. MendoBaby.com Check us out on Facebook!

Weekly Deal Day!

$3 Thursdays all clothing on plastic hangers $3 regardless of marked prices June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 23

June

Calendar of Events

Round ’Em Up!

C

alifornia’s oldest, continuous-running rodeo is right in our backyard. The Willits Frontier Days and Rodeo will feature ten days of events, including rodeo activities, a gymkhana, a truck pull, a horse show, carnival rides, concerts, and a street dance. Most events held at the Jack Tharp Arena or Rec Grove Park in Willits. The festivities will begin June 24 and end July 4 with a parade at 11 a.m. in downtown Willits, followed by a barbecue at noon at Rec Grove Park. For a complete schedule and event pricing, see willitsfrontierdays.com.

Thursday 2 FREE Compassionate Friends. A

nonprofit self-help bereavement support group for families that have experienced the death of a child.

6–8 p.m. Hospice Services. 1862 Parallel Dr., Lakeport. tcf.onthelake@gmail.com.

FREE Anime & Manga Club for Teens. Discussions, examples,

drawings & screening of popular anime. Ages 12–19. 1st & 3rd Thursdays. 3:30 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg.

964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org.

FREE Karate (self-defense).

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Activities League (SAL) Program. Kyoshi Michael Tobin instructing. Thursdays.

Ages 5–9: 6–6:45 p.m. Tweens, teens & adults: 7–8:30 p.m. $10 annual insurance/registration fee, which can be waived in the best interest of the child. Willits Body Works & Gym. 1511 S. Main St., Willits. 354-0565.

Friday 3 International Glamping Weekend.

Fishing, kayaking, hiking, wine-tasting, miniature golf & more. Family-friendly.

Pets allowed. Check-in: June 3, noon.

Check-out: June 5, 11:55 p.m. $99 for 24 MendoLakeFamilyLife

2-person campsite. Online registration required. Shady Acres Campground.

7805 Cache Creek Way, Clearlake. shadyacresclearlake.com.

FREE Summer Concert Under the Stars. Live rock & blues music with

dancing. Food & wine available for purchase. Children & well-behaved pets welcome. No outside food or drinks. 6–9 p.m. Langtry Estate.

2100 Butts Canyon Rd., Middletown.

995-7521. langtryestate.com.

FREE Wood & Glory 2016. Antique

wood boats in the marina & classic cars in the parking lot. Thru June 5. Thursday & Friday Wine & Glory Tour free. Sunday cruise & picnic free.

Fee for other events. Various venues in Lakeport. acbs-tahoe.org/events/event/ wood-&-glory.

FREE Haiku’s Pub Walk/Run 5K. We will start at Haiku Activewear Shop & end at the Mendocino Brewing Ale House. 6:30 p.m. 302 S. School St., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

Redwood Empire Spring Fair. Fine arts, agriculture, livestock, live music, petting zoo, carnival rides, monster trucks, food & games. Thru June 5.

Carnival: June 3, 3 p.m.–midnight; June 4 & 5, noon–midnight. Carnival wristbands $27. Monster trucks at

Ukiah Speedway in Ukiah on June 3 & 4 at 7 p.m. The 2016 Dirt Nationals June 5. Adults $22. Ages 3–11 $18.

Redwood Empire Fairgrounds.

1055 N. State St., Ukiah. Ukiah Speedway. 1055 N. State St, Ukiah. redwoodempirefair.com.

Saturday 4 FREE Wild West Day. Celebrations will include costume & beard contests, parades, good eats, live music & vendors. Stop by 100-year-old library for a book sale. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Parade 10 a.m. Main St., Upper Lake.

People Services Annual Chicken-Que Fundraiser. $7

or $25 for 4 people. 2–6 p.m. Lake County Fairgrounds. 401 Martin St., Lakeport. 263-3810. lakecochamber. chambermaster.com.

FREE Kids Craft Time. All

supplies provided. Saturdays. 11 a.m.– noon. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. 964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org.

The Wizard of Oz & Dance Classics. Featuring dancers from

the Mendocino Ballet Company & students in ballet, jazz & tap programs.

2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Mendocino College

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Center Theatre. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. mendocinoballet.org.

Teen Yoga & Calming Jars. Learn a

few gentle yoga techniques from local yoga instructor Amelia Bernard. After class make a calming jar. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Advance sign-ups are required.

463-4490. Ukiah Library. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah. mendolibrary.org.

Thursday 9 FREE Youth Tribal Celebration. A tribal community event to celebrate graduates from junior high, high school, college, adult ed., GED, job skills, college certified & Lake County preschool programs. 4–6 p.m. Lake County Fairgrounds. 401

Martin St., Lakeport. 263-8382, ext.

1313. lcthc.com.

Saturday 11 FREE Nature Walk & Ranch House Tours. Walk at 8:30 a.m. Ranch house

tour begins immediately after walk, unless it rains, in which case the walk will be canceled & the tour will

FREE Coastal Trail Celebration.

Check out Fort Bragg’s new South Trail. Food, fun, entertainment & more. See one-of-a-kind blue whale skeleton. Noon–4 p.m. South Trail on Cypress St. Fort Bragg. mendocinocoast.com.

Pushing tradition to the edge...

Sunday 5 Lake County Youth Orchestra Concert. Spring Concert. Adults

$5. Ages 18 & under free. 3 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

Retro Sunday Community Appreciation Day. $1 entrance

fee. Well-behaved dogs on 6 ft. non-retractable leash only. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. 18220 North Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. 964-4352, ext. 16. gardenbythesea.org.

Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation Tour & BBQ. A guided historic

walking tour at 9:45 a.m. followed by a ranch-style BBQ at noon. $40.

Ridgewood Ranch. 16200 Hwy. 101, Willits. 391-3872. seabiscuitheritage.org.

Tuesday 7 FREE Pajama Storytime. Bring your

child, cuddle up, listen to stories, sing along & unwind. 1st & 3rd Tuesdays.

6–6:30 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. 964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

new 2016 show

info & tickets at

flynncreekcircus.com also playing Santa Rosa, Morgan Hill, Calistoga, Point Arena, Fortuna, Windsor & Gilroy

ukiah June 23-26 Giorno Field

Mendocino June 30 - July 4

Circus Camp July 5-9

Charmingly Nostalgic, Top Quality, Human Circus

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 25

occur at 8:30 a.m. Southeast corner of Clear Lake, at the formation of Cache Creek, on Hwy. 53 between the cities of Lower Lake & Clearlake. 995-2658. andersonmarsh.org.

FREE 60th Anniversary of Kelseyville Lumber. A fun-filled

customer appreciation day. Music, food, vendor booths & children’s activities. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. 3555 N. Main St., Kelseyville. kvlumber.com.

FREE Spring Bazaar. Open-air

market on the lake. Fine art, crafts, treasures, collectibles & homemade goodies from a variety of local vendors. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Lakeport Yacht Club. 15 Fifth St., Lakeport. lakeportmainstreet.com.

FREE Hero Project Hullabaloo!

Family-friendly day to kick off the summer. Superhero scramble obstacle course. Other games & activities, including a color explosion. Food & drink. Lunch noon–2 p.m. Activities 2–5 p.m. Everyone is welcome but space is limited. Pre-registration required: lakecountyheroproject.com.

Skill Share Fair. A Do-it-yourself Industrial Arts Day. Workshops in essential skills for the home, garden, garage & farm. Stations will be set up to experiment. Hosted by the Grange Farm School. $25. Lunch $10. Work trade available. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. 16200 N. Hwy. 101, Willits. grangefarmschool.org.

FREE Solar Living Center 20th Anniversary. Thru June 12. Kids

Zone, workshops, speakers, live music & food. Parking $5. On-site camping $25/night. June 11: 11 a.m.–midnight.

June 12: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. 13771 S. Hwy. 101, Hopland. Sign up for camping sites: solarliving.org.

FREE Secrets of the Turkey Vulture.

5-mile hike to see turkey vulture nests.

No dogs permitted. 10 a.m.–noon.

26 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Hopland Research & Extension Center. The Rod Shippey Building.

4070 University Rd., Hopland.

744-1424, ext. 105. hrec.ucanr.edu.

Sunday 12 FREE Californio Days/Fiesta of the Horse. Wear a costume from your

favorite era in California history. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Show begins around 10:30 a.m. Ceremonial dancing begins around 1:30 p.m. Crafts, arts & living history presentations 10 a.m.–1 p.m.

Rancho de la Fuente. 2290 Soda Bay Rd., Lakeport. californio.us/ images/2016postercolor.pdf.

Lake County Land Trust Spring Fundraiser. Featuring wine, hors

d’oeuvres & live music. $50. Call or go online to make reservations, which are required. 3–6 p.m. Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant. 9520 Main St., Upper Lake. 262-0707. lakecountylandtrust.org.

FREE Sundays in the Park Concert Series. Pride & Joy plays funky

R&B & Motown. Bring your blanket or low-back chairs. Choose from numerous food & beverage vendors or bring a picnic. 6 p.m. Todd Grove Park. 600 Live Oak Ave., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

Thursday 16 FREE Kickin’ in the Country Street Dance. Beatz Werkin.

Bring your chairs & dancing shoes. 7–10 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. visitkelseyville.com.

Friday 17 FREE Concerts on the Green.

J. Silverheels band plays rock ’n roll.

No personal alcohol or dogs allowed.

BBQ available. 5–8 p.m. HVL Practice Green. 19210 Hartman Rd., Hidden Valley. hvla.com.

We Are Monsters. A new children’s musical. June 17–19 & 24–26. Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m. Sundays 2 p.m.

Konocti Education Center. William Cornelison Event Center. 15850 Dam Rd. Ext., Clearlake. 533-9645.

Dinner & Auction Fundraiser.

Dinner, door prize, raffles, games & live auction. $40. Proceeds go to South Lake County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association. 5–10 p.m. Twin Pine Casino. 22223 Hwy. 29, Middletown.

987-3089, ext. 4. twinpine.com.

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival. Family-friendly with

many activities for kids, including arts & crafts, bouncy houses, dance & music workshops. Family camping available. All day. Thru June 19.

See website for lineup & ticket & camping prices. Mendocino County Fairgrounds. 14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. snwmf.com.

FREE Moonlight Movie Madness.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (PG-13). Grab your blankets & low-back chairs to enjoy movies on the big screen under the stars.

Dusk. Alex R. Thomas Plaza. 310 S. State St., Ukiah. cityofukiah.com/ moonlight-movie-madness.

Saturday 18 FREE Camp’N Shine Car Club Festival. More than 3 dozen

vintage Volkswagen & other air-cooled vehicles. Pets welcome on leashes. 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Library Park. 222 Park St., Lakeport. homewinemakersfestival.com.

Home Wine & Beer Makers Festival.

Amateur winemakers & home brewers offer the public tastes of their best efforts. Samples from commercial wineries & brewers.

Arts, crafts, agricultural products & food. Music by the David Neft Duo,

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Konocti Fiddle Club & classical guitarist Travis Rinker. Children & leashed pets welcome, but tastings restricted to 21 & over. Proceeds benefit Lake County Symphony & Youth Orchestras. $25. 1–5 p.m.

Library Park. 225 Park St., Lakeport. homewinemakersfestival.com.

FREE Family Game Day. Play new & classic table games or compete on our Wii U games. 2–4 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg.

964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org.

Thursday 23 Hometown Celebration.

Entertainment. Vendors selling handmade items. 5–9 p.m. 100 thru 300 block of S. Main St., downtown Willits. 459-7910. willits.org.

Flynn Creek Circus. A rurally based, award-winning circus bringing international talent to the North Bay. Adults $30. Seniors $22. Ages 1–13 $15. Purchase tickets in advance for discount. Thru June 26. June 23 & 24: 7 p.m. June 25: 4 & 7 p.m. June 26: noon & 3 p.m. Giorno Field. 506 Park Blvd., Ukiah. 510-381-4004. flynncreekcircus.com.

Kate Wolf Music Festival. Eric

Bibb, Harry Belafonte, k.d. lang headlining. Kids’ area, workshops.

Adults $75–$325. Youth $45–$90.

Thru June 26. Black Oak Ranch.

50350 N. Hwy. 101, Laytonville. katewolfmusicfestival.com.

Friday 24 Taste of Downtown Ukiah. Local

beer & cider. Food from local farmers prepared by downtown restaurants & food vendors. 5:30–8 p.m. Downtown Ukiah. ukiahmainstreetprogram.org.

Willits Frontier Days. California’s oldest, continuous rodeo. 10-day celebration filled with rodeo activities,

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

It’s Pool Time!

Get Ready for a Splash Blast

W

hen kids get hot, they get grumpy.

Keep ’em cool at a public pool! Easily accessible and affordable, pools provide hours of fun to your little ones. So pile on the waterproof sunscreen, and let the party begin.

Lake County Middletown Middletown County Pool. 20962 Big Canyon Road. 262-1618.

Wednesday–Sunday. Call for start dates, public swim times, and fees.

Mendocino County Ukiah City of Ukiah Municipal Pool. 591 Park Boulevard. 467-2831.

Public swim open June 13. Monday–Friday, 1–4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 1–5 p.m. Call for fees. Swim lessons available.

Willits Willits Municipal Pool. 299 N. Main Street. See website for summer session dates, hours, and fees: thecityofwillits.com/ city-departments/city-pool.

Fort Bragg Fort Bragg/CV Starr Community Center, Sigrid and Harry Spath Aquatic Facility. 300 S. Lincoln Street. 964-9446.

Center features multiple pools, adult swim area, children’s play zone with beach entry and a water slide and river. Swim/Slide/Splash! waterpark features turned on everyday 1-4 p.m. during the summer.

Swim lessons available. Adults: $7 drop-in, $60 for one month ($50 per month ongoing), $60 for a 10-visit pass. Kids: $5 drop-in, $35 for one month ($30 per month ongoing), $45 for a 10-visit pass. Call for non-district drop-in rates. ¶

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 27

parades, gymkhana, contests, carnival rides & food. Thru July 4. Many events free. See website for schedule, venues & fees. Rodeo Grounds.

Willits. willitsfrontierdays.com.

Saturday 25 FREE Monster Sailboat Race. You

don’t need to have a boat. We have many boats in need of able-bodied crew. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Braito’s Buckingham Marina. 1555 Eastlake Dr., Kelseyville. kbsail.org.

Americana Dinner & Auction. Live & silent auctions, BBQ dinner & live music. $30. 6–10 p.m. Clearlake Senior Community Center. 3245 Bowers Rd., Clearlake. lakecochamber. chambermaster.com.

Taste of Mendocino. Wine

from more than 30 Mendocino wineries as well as artisanal food, both for purchase. Raffle for round-trip tickets to any Surf Air destination.

1–5 p.m. Gallery 308 building at Fort Mason Center for Arts

BECOME A CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT Tuesdays & Thursdays 8:30am–4:30pm

glimpse of a diverse selection of private gardens on this self-tour guide.

Plant sale & garden activities to follow. $40. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mendocino Art Center. 45200 Little Lake St., Mendocino. visitmendocino.com.

2016 Fort Bragg Quilt Show. More

than 100 stunning quilts of all sizes & styles. Thru June 26. June 25: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. June 26: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Dana Gray Elementary. 1197 E. Chestnut St., Fort Bragg. oceanwavequilters.com.

Tuesday 28

LAKE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION TO TEACH. TO SERVE. TO LEARN.

Lake County Office of Education Career & College Readiness Department Hance Community School campus 1510 Argonaut Rd, Lakeport, CA 95453 Questions: Please contact (707) 263-8918 ext 284 ncromwell@lakecoe.org • www.lakecoe.org

Love Working with kids?

WORK AT HOME • CHOOSE YOUR OWN HOURS • WORK WITH CHILDREN Own Your Own Business • Free Training and other great incentives for attending fun workshops.

• Child Care Assistance for lowincome eligible families.

• Free Child Care Referrals.

28 MendoLakeFamilyLife

24th Annual Mendocino Coast Garden Tour. See a behind-the-scenes

Relay for Life. Celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer.

10 a.m. Eagle Peak Middle School.

8601 West Rd., Redwood Valley. relay.acsevents.org.

Classes start August 23, 2016

1-800-606-5550 ext. 211

& Culture. 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco. tasteofmendo.com.

FREE Lunch & Learn Series. Tips & techniques for making summer salads fun, delicious & satisfying.

Ukiah Valley Medical Center’s own chef will demonstrate how to use fresh, seasonal ingredients. Taste samples & take home recipes. Noon–1 p.m.

Ukiah Valley Medical Center. 275 Hospital Dr., Ukiah. RSVP: 462-4778 or ukiahcoop.com.

Thursday 30 Flynn Creek Circus. A rurally based, award-winning circus bringing international talent to the North Bay. Adults $30. Seniors $22. Ages 1–13 $15. Purchase tickets in advance for discount. 7 p.m. Friendship Park. 998 School St., Mendocino. 510-381-4004. flynncreekcircus.com.

Rural Communities Child Care

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Marketplace Tutoring

Schools

Tuition-free Montessori elementary for ages 5-13  Hands-on, arts and music integrated with academics

 National Green Campus  Promotes responsibility,

W

atching boats languidly float along the water is a classic way to spend a lazy summer afternoon. The keelboats in the Koncoti Bay Sailing Club’s (KBSC) Monster Sailboat Race will be anything but lazy, though, as they speed along Clear Lake to cross the finish line. Vessels will launch from Braito’s Buckingham Marina in Kelseyville and finish in Lakeport, though the route may shift, depending on conditions. You don’t need a boat to participate, just agility, so bring your teen and see if you can find a team to sail with. (Younger children aren’t encouraged to sail.) The race is free and will be held on June 25, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. If you’d prefer a more casual, noncompetitive, sailing experience, come to one of KBSC’s social sails, held throughout the summer. See kbsail.org for more information.

707-468-1300

Childcare/Preschools

707-462-0913 Give Your Give Child a Head Start!

Free Your & Low-Cost Quality Preschool! www.treeoflifeschool.net

treeoflifeschool@pacific.net

Child a classrooms for ✓ 1/2-day & full-day ages 18 months Head to 5 years ✓ Potty-trained not necessary Start! ✓ Children with disabilities welcome

✓ Referrals for transportation available Free & Low-Cost Quality Preschool!

Also providing FREE in-home services for infants, toddlers & pregnant women!

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

• Ukiah

North Ukiah - Bush St. Nokomis - Washington Ave. South Ukiah - S. State St. Peach Tree - S. Orchard Ave.

• Willits

Near Brookside School at Spruce St. & Lincoln Way

La Vida • Lake County

Upper Lake - 2nd Street Upper Lake - Clover Valley Lakeport - Howard Ave. Clearlake - Pearl Ave. • Free K-12 Public Charter Clearlake - Meadowbrook Dr.

Charter School www.ncoinc.org Head Start (707)Development 462-2582 Program License #230111843 Child • Home Study• Coast with

Be Green

I

Located on north end of Fairgrounds PO Box 966 Ukiah 95482

www.tutoringcenter.com

Head Start Child Development Program

f your family is like most, it’s probably miraculous if the kids remember to put their juice boxes in the trash let alone the recycling bin. But there are many ways to be environmentally conscious without relying on your kindergartner’s refuse judgment calls.

At the Solar Living Center’s 20th Anniversary Celebration, you can find out about a variety of ideas, such as aquaponics, permaculture, electric vehicles, natural building, industrial hemp, and bee care. There will be live music by Dgiin and Sol Horizon, too, and even a Kids Zone to keep little ones entertained. The free event will be held June 11, 11 a.m.–midnight, and June 12, 11 a.m.– 5 p.m., at the Solar Living Center in Hopland. See solarliving.org for more information.

respect, and peace

307 North State Street Ukiah

C E N T E R S

Come Sail Away

Applications online: www.ncoinc.org • (707) 462-2582 Fort Bragg - Lincoln St. On-Site Classes

mendo lake

LOCAL for 25 years

#1 local resource for local families

magazine • web • email • events

• WASC Accredited

707-459-6344 www.LaVidaSchool.org 16201 N. Hwy. 101, Willits

Accelerated Achievement Academy • • • •

Free Public School Grades 4-12 Small classes Support for struggling students

(707) 463-7080 1031 N. State St.

Like Us On Facebook June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 29

Humor Break

Dad, Guess What?

By Bull Garlington

The Endless Chickenbutt Continuum

I

f he says it one more time, I will kill him. This is not hyperbole. I have cause, just cause, to take him out—my son, the new teenager, the purveyor of the non sequitur, the little @#$#% who thinks this is the pinnacle of high comedy:

You have to be standing there elbow deep in sink-water splendor thinking about your other life, the one wherein you stand with an insouciant slouch against the dark mahogany bar of a private club that is feting your recent literary—

Dad, guess what?

Dad, guess what?

Wait, let me stop right here. You need context for this to make sense.

You have to know the buoyant hope with which I unconsciously respond to my son; you need to envision his beatific dome turning to me in the car, a smile on his face that can melt steel, a sparkle in his eye foretelling outstanding accomplishment, recognition, genuine inspiration.

You have to be hauling a bag of dog food up onto your shoulder,

Dad, guess what?

I mean, you have to believe, the way I always believe, that this time, this grin, this smirk is heartfelt. This time it’s not a sucker’s bet. You have to let your mind unspool histrionic scenarios of potential greatness: He’s on the honor roll; he’s been chosen to be valedictorian; he invented flubber.

Dad, guess what?

30 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Did they transmogrify themselves into the— Dad, guess what?

You have to be asleep, deep into the dream about the mahogany bar, Don Draper just finishing his riveting extemporaneous speech lauding your singular character, people crying, the reporter from Life magazine applauding, and you— Dad, guess what?

I always believe that this time, this grin, this smirk is heartfelt. This time it’s not a sucker’s bet. envisioning yourself trim and well-jeaned, worn flannel sleeves rolled up, neighborhood soccer moms slowing down their minivans and thinking how lucky Mrs.— Dad, guess what?

You have to be on your knees in the laundry room fishing underwear out of the dryer vent and wondering how in the name of God—I mean, how is it even possible? Did the underwear pull the lint screen out?

You have to be hunkered over your old Royal, like an anvil with buttons, your mind reeling with the pure, unadulterated beauty, the sheer mind-bending brilliance of the first sentence of your first screenplay, when the main character—a perfect blend of Cary Grant, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Campbell—looks into the camera and says— Dad, guess what?

WHAT!? WHAT?! FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS HOLY—WHAAAAAAAT?!!!!

Chicken butt! ¶ Bull Garlington is the author of Death

By Children, the ForeWord Review’s Humor 2013 Book of the Year. Find him at bullgarlington.creativewriter.pro.

June 2016 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Now Accepting K-12 Registration

Mendocino Ballet Mendocino Ballet Dance Classes Dance Classes Dance Classes Ballet • Tap • Jazz

Contemporary Dance Ballet classes for ages 3-Adult Ballet Tap/Ballet Special class for ages 4-7

Intensive Workshops

Tap classes for 7-Adult Ballet classes for ages in ages August

Ukiah Independent Study Academy Serving K-12

Flex Time & Days • Tailored Learning Eligible for UHS Sports • Middle College Opportunity College & Career Readiness • WASC Accredited

Jazz/Contemporary classes

Classes for all ages & 4-7 Tap/Ballet class for ages

Special intensive classes in levels from 3-Adult

Tapforclasses ages August our Art offor Classical

7-Adult Dance this Summer!

Ballet program Jazz/Contemporary classes Summer Classes & Workshops Special intensive classes in starting Soon!

For more information call our office at 463-2290 or For m August for our email at balletoffice@sbcglobal.net Art of Classical For more information callFacebook, our office at 463-2290 Follow us on or Twitter email at balletoffice@sbcglobal.net and Instagram!Ballet program

UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

1000 Low Gap Rd., Ukiah • 707-472-5906

3-Adult

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

www.mendocinoballet.org www.mendocinoballet.org

“Where Dance Come “WhereDreams Dreams toto Dance Come True!”True!”

For more information call our office at 463-2290 or email at balletoffice@sbcglobal.net Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Mendocino Ballet

Dance Classes

www.mendocinoballet.org

“Where DreamsBallet to Dance classesCome for agesTrue!”

3-Adult Evenings, 6pm Todd Grove Park

Tap/Ballet class for ages 4-7

Mendocino Ballet Tap classes for ages 7-Adult

Ken Fowler Motors Inc., The City of Ukiah, KWINE & MAX Radio present:

Jazz/Contemporary classes

Special intensive classes in

Dance Classes

August for our Art of Classical Ballet program

For more information call our office at 463-2290 or For m Ballet classes for ages 3-Adult email at balletoffice@sbcglobal.net Follow us on Facebook, Tap/Ballet class for ages 4-7 Twitter and Instagram!

Tap classes www.mendocinoballet.org

for ages 7-Adult

“Where Dreams to Dance Come True!”

Jazz/Contemporary

classes

Special intensive classes in www.mendolakefamilylife.com

June 2016

MendoLakeFamilyLife 31

August for our Art of Classical

Your hospital. Home to some of

medicine’s most powerful technology.

When it comes to you and your family, you want nothing but the best healthcare has to offer.

From our state-of-the art medical imaging services to the most advanced operating rooms in the region, we’re bringing the best care possible closer to home.

Visit Us at Our New Location DeCamp

To Eureka

Valley Road

101

McDonald’s

East Hill Road

Best Western

East Hill Road

ain SM

Ma

rce

la D

r

Dr

Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital

t

Stree

N

ek Haehl Cre

l Rd

Backed by a Team of Great People Technology is only as powerful as the people behind it. Rest assured, our team of physicians, nurses and staff leverage technology each and every day so they can focus on you – from prevention, to diagnosis and treatment.

20

chte Bae

State-of-the-Art Surgical Suites Our four fully integrated state-of-the-art surgery suites are among the most advanced in the region. This is in addition to a dedicated endoscopy/urology procedure room.

306

Simerson

Willits Fort Bragg Road

MRI & CT Technology Our new advanced MRI offers clearer, more precise images. Plus, both MRI and CT imaging are available at one convenient location.

101

Sherwood Road

101 Fair Oaks

To San Francisco

1 Marcela Drive in Willits (On US 101, take Baechtel Rd., then East Hill Dr. & turn on Haehl Creek Dr.)

707.459.6801 www.howardhospital.org

Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital