Mendo Lake Family Life February 2014

mendo lake February 2014

Cute Valentines

to Make With Kids Spreading Peace Through

Yoga Wintertime

Family Hikes Ukiah Author’s New Book

Celebrates Chinese Culture

ns o i t c stru n i h t wi Because k ids don’t come

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February 2014

Feature Stories

8

5 Ready, Set, Camp!

Is your child ready?

8 Ukiah Author’s Modern Take on a Traditional Tale Natasha Yim’s road to publishing a vibrant tale set in modern Chinatown.

10 Yoga is Life Building confidence, lighting a passion, and raising awareness in Lake County schools.

12 7 Lake County Hikes Move more while enjoying the beauty of Lake County.

16 Preteen Dating How to guide these first relationships.

10

16 Make Your Own Unique Valentines Cute ideas to make with kids.

20 Cutie Fruity Fun ideas for you and the kids to make February Fruitastic.

Every Issue

12 4 MendoLakeFamilyLife

6

Dear Readers

7

Bits and Pieces

Exercise boosts kids’ school performance

Ukiah Unified to Hire Back Music Teachers

New Year’s Baby

22 Calendar of Events

Spot a Gray Whale

29 Classifieds 30 Humor Break

MendoLakeFamilyLife.com February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Ready, Set,

You are considering a summer camp, but how to choose? There’s a camp that is ideally suited for every child, providing a summer of growth and fun whether your child attends a day or overnight camp, a specialized or traditional camp.

Camp!

Finding the Right Camp for Your Child

With a little help from the American Camp Association, here’s some sound advice that helps parents sort through the choices that camp delivers. As spring approaches, parents and children can look forward to planning for the future—a future that includes the opportunities for exploration and discovery that arrives with summer camp.

How to Decide When Your Child is Ready for Camp Children are ready for new experiences at different stages.

Parents know their children best and these questions can help gauge whether this is the summer your child will start camp.

What is your child's age, and what is your perception of his or her readiness www.mendolakefamilylife.com

February 2014

level? Children under seven who have not had overnight experiences may do better with a day camp as their first camp experience. If you think your child might not be ready for an overnight camp experience, consider day camp to prepare him or her for overnight camp.

How did your child become interested in camp? Does your child talk about camp on a sustained basis? How much persuasion is necessary from you?

Has your child had positive overnight experiences away from home? Visiting relatives or friends? Were these separations easy or difficult?

What does your child expect to do at camp? Learning about the camp experience ahead of time allows you to create positive expectations.

Are you able to share consistent and positive messages about camp? Your confidence in a positive experience will be contagious.

If you decide this is the summer that your child is ready for a great camp, Family Life’s Family Expo and Camp Fair on April 11th has representatives from tons of camps to help you choose the perfect one.

MendoLakeFamilyLife 5

Dear Reader

February is the perfect time to take your loved ones on some spectacular local hikes. Lake county residents can join the county-wide Move More 20+14 Sharon Gowan Challenge to get Publisher/Editor twenty minutes or Sharon@family-life.us more of moderate physical activity daily for fourteen weeks. Recommit to those fitness goals and enjoy a little more nature.

Discover banana slugs and sprawling vistas, minute mushrooms and soaring trees, history and wildlife.

Roslyn Griffin believes that yoga can help in difficult times by building confidence, lighting a passion, and raising awareness in elementary school children. See how her yoga program is positively affecting kids in Lake County schools on page 10.

Parents of preteens may wish there was a little less nature-driven attraction going on. Parenting preteens through their first relationships takes a watchful eye, careful timing, and tactful communication. These important tips on page 16 can guide you through what can be a difficult time.

Wishing you a terrific February full of X’s and O’s

Features Editor

Happy Valentines Day!

Ann Ingraham ann@family-life.us

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

And don’t forget to take time to celebrate.

Chinese New Year is approaching and Ukiah-author Natasha Yim has written a new children’s book that highlights this colorful holiday.

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us

It’s not too early to start thinking about summer camps, especially if you’re considering an overnight camp for the first time. Summer will be here in four short months.

Karlon Baker karlon@family-life.us Jolie Cook jolie@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Marketing

Your One Stop Valentines Shop!

Jordan Lewis jordan@family-life.us

Calendar Patricia Ramos

Contributing Writers

BALLOONS CANDY FLOWERS JEWELRY AND GIFTS

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205 South State Street, Ukiah • 463-2290 www.mendocinoballet.org

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Bits & Pieces

Exercise boosts kids’ school performance

A

s we all work on our new year’s resolutions to move more and be healthier, we need to remember all the benefits this also has for our kids. Kids are increasingly sedentary and exercise is a wonderful way to boost brain power, along with maintaining physical and psychological health.

A new study of eleven-year-olds has found that moderate to vigorous exercise was associated with increased academic performance in English, math, and science.

These gains from exercise were also seen in sixteen-year-olds. Interestingly, girls’ science results benefited the most from extra exercise. Who would have thought that a tough soccer practice could help your child win the science fair? ¶

New Year’s Baby

J

osiah Blake Lemoin Sneathen is the first 2014 baby born in the Family Birth Center at Sutter Lakeside Hospital. Born to parents Ashley Kay Sneathen and Brandon Scott Lemoin Sneathen on January 3, 2014 at 4:47 PM, Josiah weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce and measured 21.75” long.

The family is also the very first recipient of a 2014 Imagination Library membership and will receive a book in the mail each month to enjoy. The first 100 babies born in 2014 in the Family Birth Center at Sutter Lakeside Hospital will receive a year-long scholarship to enroll in Imagination Library.

This program is sponsored by a partnership between Sutter Lakeside, the Lake County Office of Education, and the Lake County Literacy Task Force.

“Our Birth Center is always busy. The New Year’s baby always makes us pause, celebrate and remember how much we love what we do here at Sutter Lakeside,” said Jackie Rad, R.N.C., Nurse Manager of the Family Birth Center. ¶

Ukiah Unified to Hire Back Music Teachers The Ukiah Unified School District’s board of trustees approved the hiring of three music teachers at the end of 2013. The positions were eliminated in 2008 and one music teacher remains, Denise Doering, who teaches both vocal and instrumental music at Ukiah High School.

“Arts and music are extremely important to the community and I am pleased that we will be able to offer an expanded music program to our students,” Superintendent Debra Kubin said.

When the new teachers are hired, they will have classes at Ukiah High School and both Ukiah middle schools and will teach fifth- and sixth-grade students.

Anyone interested in becoming involved in the district’s music program, or helping set it up, is asked to contact Assistant Superintendent Maria Armstrong at 707-472-5053. ¶

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 7

Ukiah Author’s Modern Take on a Traditional

Tale

By Ann Ingraham

U

kiah author, Natasha Yim’s, latest book, published this January, is Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas, a spirited retelling of the classic Goldilocks tale with a plucky heroine in a bustling contemporary Chinatown.

Yim, was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and moved to Singapore and Hong Kong before coming to college at Dominican University in San Rafael, CA. Eventually she found her way to Ukiah where she raises her three children and writes. “Sure, it’s simple writing for kids…Just as simple as raising them,” states the quote by Ursula K. LeGuin at the top of Yim’s blog.

Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas road to publishing was not a simple one. That Yim’s story was published at all shows that Yim has some pluck of her own. “I knew the story had something. I kept getting great feedback, and so I kept with it. I knew someone would publish it,” Yim said.

8 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Yim, author of Sacajawea of the Shoshone; Cixi, the Dragon Empress; and Otto’s Rainy Day, began writing Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas in 2005 and revised it for over a year before she submitted it to five publishers. After seven months she hadn’t heard from one publisher so she wrote them a letter of inquiry and found that the editor that received the manuscript had left, but passed it along to the new editor.

She found out that the new editor was going to attend the Book Passage Children’s Writers & Illustrators Conference in Corte Madera and Yim decided to go. Yim happened to be sitting next to the editor at lunch and they worked on editing the manuscript

together. This editor invited Yim to resubmit the manuscript after more revisions. Months after sending the revisions, Yim found out that editor had left the company.

Yim then found out that the third editor was interested in the Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas manuscript, but it was lost. She sent it again and they wanted to publish it, but then the publishing house closed. Finally, she sent it to Charlesbridge Publishing who had published her book Otto’s Rainy Day and, after more revisions, they agreed to publish it.

Yim knew she wanted to write a fairy tale with a twist. “I was bothered by the original Goldilocks story. I wanted to give her better morals. I wanted the story to have a better resolution. In my story, she has more compassion.”

She also wanted to include the customs of Chinese New Year. “It’s my favorite Chinese holiday. It’s a

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

wonderful, loud colorful celebration.

I knew there could be some great vibrant illustrations.”

Yim is passionate about bringing her stories to the public and, despite her busy schedule, has always found snippets of time to write. She writes in the early morning before taking her children to school and she also sometimes manages to write for an hour before her children come home.

She meets with a writing group every six weeks and also attends retreats for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

When asked about how Yim creates stories that are interesting to children, she said, “I’ve worked with kids a lot. And I’ve read a lot of picture books. The language comes easy for me. I think about how the story is

interesting to me. The audience is a child, but the gatekeepers are the business and marketing people for a publisher. It’s a strange position. I write stories that interest me and hope others will be too.”

Yim initially thought she wanted to write for adults, but realized that she prefers writing for children. “I think it’s magical and wonderful when a child picks up a book. They can still get into the magical world, whereas adults are more jaded. I love visiting schools.” Yim joked, “Children really see me as a rock star. They are so fascinated by how I wrote the

story. They are so excited. And this excitement is where the love of reading starts. I love instilling that passion!”

Natasha will be doing a book reading and signing of Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas at the Willits Grange on February 1st from 4 to 7 p.m. at a fundraiser for the Willits Elementary Charter School.

Come celebrate Chinese New Year, enjoy student performances and a book fair, make arts and crafts, eat delicious Asian food, hear Natasha read her book, ask your own questions of Natasha, and pick up a book of your own. ¶

Did You Know?

That all Waldorf grades students learn to play 3 to 4 musical instruments

Join Us! Move More

All School Open House Feb 8th

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Join hundreds of Lake County residents who pledge to get more physical activity in 2014.

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6280 Third Street • Calpella www.waldorfmendocino.com

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Find out more at MoveMore2014.org February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 9

Yoga

is Life

Y

Girls at Burns Valley Elementary School in Clearlake honoring the light within themselves through yoga.

By Denise Rockenstein

oga. It’s said to soothe the mind, body and soul—and apparently an aching back when your book bag is just a bit too heavy.

A group of about a dozen or so enthusiastic, and very limber, girls are learning the benefits of balancing oneself from the core.

After an hour with Yoga Instructor Roslyn Griffin, the girls say they are relaxed, free from the stress of their school day, and ready to face their remaining responsibilities, such as

“The more people I can touch with yoga, the more the community will change and people will start making better decisions. chores and homework, with calm and ease. The girls say their backs feel a whole lot better, too.

“Yoga is life. Everything you do is yoga,” Roslyn says. “When you breathe, it’s life. When you move, it’s life. It’s all about making the proper decisions for the mind and maintenance for the body.”

10 MendoLakeFamilyLife

The disciplines of yoga date back as far as the fifth century BC. The art is meant to bring a physical, mental and spiritual state of peace.

Roslyn’s passion for yoga dates to the birth of her third daughter in 2001. She enjoyed the practice so wholeheartedly, by the time her daughter reached kindergarten, Roslyn was sharing the art with others.

Roslyn says the journey to enlightenment begins with self. “If we fix ourselves, we fix the world,” she says. “The more people I can touch with yoga, the more the community will change and people will start making better decisions.

When more people are making better decisions, the better the community will be.”

Each week the free yoga sessions give the girls a chance to release themselves from all the typical anxieties they face, from peer pressure to the challenges they may

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

face at home. As they go through the yoga positions and breathing techniques they are encouraged to talk and share their concerns in a safe and secure environment.

“I can let my inner-self out. I can let go of all my problems right here,” Tiera Bright, 13, said.

The girls say the sessions help them relax and release their worries. Izabella Salazar, 8, said she sometimes feels angry after school and yoga helps her to calm down.

with her family if any of them have back problems.

Caprice Brooks, 9, said yoga helps her focus so she can do her homework. Jenna White, 9, like many of the other girls, said sometimes she has too much homework and her backpack is too heavy. “Yoga makes my back feel better,” she said.

Jasmine Acosta, 9, said she likes having a place to talk about anything that is bothering her and Emily Austin, 13, said she likes learning about the body and just hanging out with her best friend, Hailey Smith.

Emily Blair, 8, who said she was “born with a lot of flexibility,” says yoga helps stretch her body and keep her limber.

Volunteer Yoga Instructor Roslyn Griffin spots Emily Blair, 8, for a back bend during a yoga session at Burns Valley Elementary School.

Abby Tuso, 9, and Jasmin Sanchez, 8, agreed. “Sometimes when I’m mad, I can go do yoga and I will feel better,” Jasmin said.

“Yoga helps me calm down,” Aryann Price, 9, said. “I breathe out and I let it all go.” Aryann said she has also learned a few moves she can share www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Roslyn aims to strengthen the girls’ sense of self-worth.

“We are building confidence, lighting a passion and raising awareness to their selves, the community and the world,” she said.

Roslyn ends every session with the traditional “Namaste,” which means: “The light in me honors the light in you.” She said it is all about restoring respect. “In today’s society there is a lack of respect for teachers, and I want to bring awareness to that,” she said. “Teachers are to be respected. Elders are to be February 2014

respected. It’s basically about restoring respect and owning your own lives. I want them to learn to be responsible for their own actions.”

Roslyn leads yoga sessions for girls at Burns Valley and Lower Lake Elementary Schools. She also hosts yoga sessions for adults. For more information, look for Clearlake Yoga Studios on Facebook or call her at (707) 272-2217. ¶

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MendoLakeFamilyLife 11

Get Out & Move More 20+14

7 Lake County Hikes

By Carol Cole-Lewis

L

ooking for ideas for getting more movement during the Lake County-wide Move More 20+14 physical activity challenge? Why not take a hike! The weather is relatively mild, and any rain is refreshing.

Plus, the scenery is spectacular and there are many opportunities to see beautiful birds and other cool wildlife.

Here are seven areas you can choose from for your walks in the country. Why not pick one a day for a wonderful week of hiking? And, be sure to sign up for the Move More 20+14 challenge at movemore2014.org.

12 MendoLakeFamilyLife

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

2

Boggs Mt. Demonstration State Forest Middletown, CA This forest benefits from a very active group of community residents who

Nathan deHart Photography

Clear winter days offer the best chance to enjoy an uninterrupted view of Napa, Lake County and beyond.

1

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park Highway 53 between Lower Lake and Clearlake This park is a feast for both the history and nature lover—it contains archeological sites of the Southeastern Pomo that are at least 10,000 years old, as well as a 19th Century Ranch House and Barn complex. There’s also a nature preserve that embraces www.mendolakefamilylife.com

hundreds of acres of valuable wildlife habitat and Tule marsh, with one of the largest great blue heron rookeries (nesting sites) on Clear Lake. On the second Saturday of every month, the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association offers monthly guided nature walks and tours of the historic ranch house. Find out more by visiting andersonmarsh.org.

February 2014

frequently put on events and activities.

On February 8th at 9 a.m., and on the first Saturday of every month thereafter, you can help keep park trails in tip top shape by taking part in maintenance projects. Get trail maps, check out the event calendars, and more by visiting the Friends of Boggs Mountain web site: boggsmountain.net.

3

Cache Creek Natural Area 21777 E State Hwy. 20, Clearlake Oaks The Cache Creek area is excellent for winter wildlife watching, especially along the dog-friendly, seven-mile-long Redbud Trail. Many bald eagles winter here, and one of California’s last MendoLakeFamilyLife 13

Come in out of the Cold And Get the Best Workout You’ve Ever Had! (707) 468-9642

(707) HOT-YOGA

www.radiantyogaukiah.com

ENJOY A FRESH FARM SHARE

Join a CSA Farm • Support local farmers.

• Eat seasonal healthy food.

• Save time doing groceries Find a CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) farm near you by visiting www.MendocinoLocalFood.org

As seen in the New York Times, Nick News, Bay Area Backroads & KQED’s Truly CA. For nearly 40 years, children have run away to join our circus in beautiful Mendocino County!

Our multi-cultural curriculum of circus and performing arts encourages self-discovery, leadership and growth in a positive and affirming environment. Voted Family Favorite by Bay Area Parent and Best Overnight Camp by East Bay Parent’s Press and Oakland Magazine! www.campwinnarainbow.org Email: arainbow.org Phone: 510-525-4304

14 MendoLakeFamilyLife

herds of free-roaming tule elk often can be spotted in the Wilson Valley area. Some thirty-five miles of hiking and equestrian trails are available to visitors. Get your trail map and find more information here: blm.gov/ca/st/ en/fo/ukiah/cachecreek.html.

4

Highland Springs Recreation Area 3600 Highland Springs Road, Lakeport This space is a favorite for locals who want to play outdoors. There’s a nice beach with a swimming area, picnic areas, a basketball court, and horseshoe pits besides many hiking trails and opportunities for fishing and kayaking. It’s even rumored that the first disc golf course in the world is here—it’s free, and definitely a fun alternative for people who want to “do something more” than just walk. Get trail maps and more at highlandspringstrailsvolunteers.com

5

Mt Konocti County Park Konocti Road, Kelseyville Get a spectacular view of Northern California by hiking to the top of Mt. Konocti. It’s a two-hour moderate walk to the top, with the most active part of the walk during the first ten minutes. The trail is well developed along an access road, with map signs and marker posts that indicate your progress. There are plenty of places to sit and view the countryside, and several bathroom facilities situated conveniently along the trail. You can even see the old cabin of Mary Downen, built in 1903, and journey through the amazing Canyon Oak grove. Find exact directions to the trail head and more information here: konoctitrails.com/trails-information/ mt-konocti-regional-park.

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

6

Mount St. Helena Trail Route 29 between Middletown and Calistoga Clear winter days offer the best chance to enjoy an uninterrupted view of Napa, Lake County and beyond.

The five-mile hike to the summit has over 2,000 feet of elevation gain, so be prepared for a workout. The hike starts on Stevenson Memorial Trail, climbing just under a mile and passing through the area where the famed author Robert Louis Stevenson Kidnapped and Treasure Island honeymooned with his new bride in 1880. For maps, more information, and other hiking ideas explore the Mount St. Helena Trail Listing on the EveryTrail website: everytrail.com/ guide/mount-st-helena-trail.

7

Rodman Slough Education Center and Preserve 6350 Westlake Road, Upper Lake Rodman Preserve and the surrounding oak woodlands, are home to a wide variety of wildlife, including a large great blue heron rookery. Bring your kayak along, too, to get even closer to nature.

The Lake County Land Trust offers weekly Saturday walks (weather permitting) at Rodman Preserve.

Walks start at 8 a.m., June through August, and 9 a.m., September through May. Visit Rodman Slough on the web at lakecountylandtrust.org/ rodman.htm.

For more ideas Be sure to visit the Konocti Trails website at konoctitrails.com/ trails-information Carol Cole-Lewis is a Lake County resident with a passion for fitness and is a member of the Move More 20+14 Project Team (movemore2014.org). www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Raspberry Rugelach Twists

Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 1/2 cup cream cheese 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 large egg mixed with 1 tablespoon water 1/4 cup raspberry or strawberry preserves 1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the butter, cream cheese and vanilla in a food processor or standing mixer and mix until combined.

2. Slowly add the flour, little by little until just combined.

3. Divide the dough into 2 balls, wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll each dough ball into a 9-inch round and cut each into 12 equal wedges, like a pizza pie, using a pizza cutter or knife.

5. Before separating the wedges, evenly spread the rounds with the preserves.

6. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top and press them down gently to adhere to the dough.

7. Starting with the wide end of a wedge, roll into a spiral. Repeat with each other wedge.

8. Place the rolled cookies on a baking sheet with the tip pointing down and brush with egg wash.

9. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Remove and enjoy.

Recipe from the Baking Around the World Cookbook by Yvette Garfield.

February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 15

Preteen Dating

By Denise Yearian

B

Trivial Terrain or Timely Talks?

oys and girls have always been attracted to one another.

But when attraction begins varies tremendously from one person to another. For some, those feelings of attraction start in late elementary school. For others, it’s not until high school. Although the age gap varies, experts agree when a child of nine-or ten-years-old begins showing interest in the opposite gender, parents need to sit up and take notice.

“Kids this age may have a boy-or girlfriend, but still not know what dating means,” says Shaunti Feldhahn, relationship researcher and analyst, and author of For Young Women Only.

“They are mimicking what they see played out on TV or by teenagers, but they don’t have a full grasp of how a relationship works.”

Parents, she says, may have a tendency to dismiss these early relationships as trivial, but they should be taken seriously.

16 MendoLakeFamilyLife

“It’s an advanced signal of what is to come and needs to be addressed by Mom and Dad while they still have a major influence in their child’s life,” Feldhahn suggests.

Jane Bowen, director of a statewide parent education organization agrees. “Parents should take the lead in facilitating age-appropriate discussions with their preteen regarding friendships, dating, decision making and sex. If your son says he has a girlfriend or is ‘going

out’ with someone, ask what that means,” she says.

But according to Bowen, talking about it shouldn’t be a one-time deal.

“These conversations need to happen frequently so parents know where their preteens are in relationships and preteens know what their parents’ expectations are,” she continues.

This is what Patty and David Ford did with their nine-year-old daughter Amber. “When she was in the fourth grade, Amber would tell me that so-and-so liked her and that other girls in the class had boyfriends,” recalls Patty. “I felt like if she came and shared it with me, it was important that we talk about it.”

Ford told her daughter she was too young to have a boyfriend, but she was careful to keep the line of communication open. Two years later, a bigger relationship issue cropped up.

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

With the parent-child dialogue already established, Ford was able to help her daughter navigate the sticky situation.

“This past fall, a boy at school gave Amber a necklace,” says Ford. “Since it was right before her eleventh birthday we told her if she wanted to keep it, it would have to be a birthday gift.”

But on her birthday, the same boy gave Amber a card with $50 tucked inside of it. Amber didn’t know what to do, so she brought the money home and talked it over with her mother.

“I told her there was no way she could keep it, and she understood,” Ford explains. “We talked about how accepting a gift like that could make the boy think their relationship could possibly go to the

next level—holding hands, giving him a kiss, that kind of thing. We agreed that I would call the boy’s parents, explain the situation and tell them the money would be returned the next day.”

“Rather than imposing rules preteens may resent, help them understand reasons why the rules are there.”

When parents talk with their children, they should communicate their values and expectations and then lay out boundaries. Equally important is to explain why the boundaries are there.

“Rather than imposing rules preteens may resent, help them understand

reasons why the rules are there so they begin to develop that internal compass,” says Feldhahn.

Parents should also try to find out what is influencing their child—be it friends, an older sibling, or some form of media—so they can address the issue as a whole.

“When Amber and I talk about relationships, I find out what is going on not just with her, but with the entire sixth-grade class,” says Ford. “It helps me understand what’s influencing her. Is it persuasion from a new friend? Is she trying to fit in? Does she feel pressured?”

Although ten-year-old Jordan Adams isn’t yet attracted to the opposite gender, he fell prey to a

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MendoLakeFamilyLife 17

peer-induced pair off that made him uncomfortable.

“This past fall, Jordan’s school organized a dance for the kids,” explains his mother Amy. “It was supposed to be a reward for good

“Attractions are normal and will only increase as children grow.”

nothing about the pair offs; it had been instigated by the students.

“Up to this point, I hadn’t discussed boy/girl relationships with Jordan,” Adams says. “I didn’t think I needed to. But I’m realizing now that even if he isn’t thinking about girls, the kid sitting next to him in class may be, so I’ve got to maintain a constant dialogue with him.”

grades, but things spiraled out of control. Jordan came home one day and told me he didn’t want to go to school because everyone had a date for the dance and he didn’t.”

“Attractions are normal and will only increase as children grow,” Bowen concludes. “If we want to prepare our kids for healthy dating relationships later on, we need to start communicating and building a trusting relationship with them now.” ¶

Adams called the school and talked with the principal. He informed her that the administration knew

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children.

Resources For Young Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and Lisa Rice How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk by Adele Faber How to Talk so Teens will Listen and Listen so Teens will Talk by Adele Faber You and Your Adolescent Revised Edition by Lawrence Steinberg, Ph.D. Raising a Thinking Preteen: The “I Can Problem Solve” Program for 8- to 12-Year-Olds by Myrna Shure and Roberta Israeloff

RIVER OAK CHARTER SCHOOL Kindergarten – 8th Grade A Free Public School – Established in 1999

Open Enrollment Feb. 3-27 Steiner-methods/common core standards, Foreign language, Instrumental music, Art, Woodwork, Drama, Leadership

555 Leslie St., Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 467-1855 www.riveroakcharterschool.org 18 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Ukiah Independent Study Academy Flex Time & Days • Tailored Learning College & Career Readiness

UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

925 N. State Street, Ukiah • 707-472-5062 February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Craft Valentines

Make Your Own Unique Valentines

V

alentines Day is a joyful and simple holiday. It’s a time to tell your friends and loved ones how much you really like them. You can buy valentines at the drugstore, but it always feels better to create and give your own unique valentines. Your children’s (and your own) friends will truly appreciate the care that was taken during the creation of these sweet gifts.

Heart Crayons

Supplies: old crayons, silicone pan with heart-shaped molds, scrap paper, double-sided foam mounting tape, scissors, colored card stock, and markers.

1. Heat oven to 250 degrees.

2. Collect old crayons, peel off paper, and break into pieces.

3. Fill each heart-shaped mold with crayon pieces.

4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until melted.

5. Once cool, remove hearts and use foam tape to stick them to card stock circles.

6. Write or stamp valentines messages around the heart.

Handprint Hearts Supplies: white paper, pink and red finger paint, large paintbrush, black Sharpie 1. Paint the palm of one hand red and stamp the hand on your paper facing downwards on a diagonal.

2. Paint the opposite palm pink. Stamp the hand on your paper facing downward on a diagonal, opposite the other handprint.

They will overlap to form a heart.

3. Using a black Sharpie, write cute loving messages around the handprint.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 19

20 MendoLakeFamilyLife

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 21

Photos: Radlund Photography, Styling: Sarajane Lien • Excerpted American Girl magazine. Copyright © 2013. American Girl. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

February Calendar of Events Spot a Gray Whale Come to a weekend whale talk on Saturday or Sunday at 11 a.m. through March 30th at MacKerricher State Park. Learn about the gray whale’s annual 10,000-mile round trip migration and about other marine mammals seen along the Mendocino Coast.

Talks begin near the visitor center at the main entrance to MacKerricher State Park in Ft. Bragg. Docents provide binoculars. Later the group drives to Laguna Point to catch a glimpse of a formidable whale. Call 961-0471 for more information. ¶

1 Saturday FREE Kitchen Project. A hot meal is

provided every Sunday for anyone who wishes to come. Children included!

2/2 & 2/16: United Christian Parish.

745 Brush St. 2/9: St. John’s Episcopal Church. 1190 No. Forbes St. 2/23: St. Mary’s Catholic Church. 801 N. Main St. 4–5 pm. co.lake.ca.us.

2nd Annual Winter Gala. Presented

by the Willits Elementary Charter School. The event includes student performances, book fair, live music, arts & crafts, Asian food, silent auction, raffle & more! This event also features a book reading & signing of Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by local author Natasha Yim! 4–7 pm.

Tickets $5 adults & free children 18 & under. Willits Grange. 459-1400.

Adopt a Pet. Inland

Mendocino Humane Society. 10 am–3 pm. 1st & 3rd Sat. of each mo. Pear Tree Center. Ukiah.

22 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Crab Feed by St. Elizabeth Seton

Catholic Church. Happy hour at 6 pm.

Dinner 7 pm. Boonville Fairgrounds.

Presale tickets only $35. Call Gloria at 895-3071.

FREE Whale Watching at MacKerricher State Park. Docents

talk about the annual gray whale migration & about other marine mammals seen along the Mendocino coast. Sats. & Suns. 11 am. Park located 3 miles north of Fort Bragg on Hwy 1, near the town of Cleone.

961-0471. parks.ca.gov/Events.

9 am. Sats. 1–2 pm. Redbud Library.

14785 Burns Valley Rd., Clearlake. For more details call the library at 994-5115.

FREE Konocti Junior Tennis League. For ages 8–18. It is free &

instruction is offered in learning to play & increasing skills in scoring & playing matches. New members always are welcome. 11 am–noon. Sats.

Tennis courts on Gard St. off Third Street. Kelseyville. 279-9652 FREE Saturday Run/Walk events.

Walk. No

The Lake County Milers walking & running club holds regular events for fun & fitness. The group is very friendly & welcomes new participants.

We do our best to accommodate everyone’s pace/ability. 8:30 am. Meets at Kelseyville Lumber, 3555 N. Main St. lakecountymilers.com.

No dogs please.

Heavy rain will cancel. Start time is

Little Orphan Annie. A musical theater classic based on “Little Orphan Annie.” You can “bet your bottom dollar” that this will be a show you won’t want to miss.

FREE Every Saturday Walks at Rodman Preserve. 9–10 am.

6350 Westlake Road, Upper Lake. lakecountylandtrust.org.

FREE Guided Bird and Nature

dogs please. Heavy rain will cancel. Start time is 9 am. Sats.

6350 Westlake Rd., Upper Lake. lakecountylandtrust.org.

FREE Knitting Club.

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

w

Clearlake

Tickets $12 adults & $6 children 18 & under. Sat. 2 pm & 7 pm. SPACE Theater. 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah. spaceperformingarts.org.

Youth Center

Low-cost Pet Vaccination Clinic.

Rabies vaccine & licensing. Healthy animals only! Cats required to be in carriers & dogs on leashes. 9:30–11 am.

Middletown Animal Hospital. 21503 S. State Hwy. 29. middletownvet.net.

987-2000.

2 Sunday FREE First Fiddlers’ Jam. Listen to some terrific fiddle tunes played by members of the No.Cal. Old Time Fiddlers Group. Music to move inside for cold weather. 1–3 p.m. Ely Stage Stop Country Museum. 9921 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville. 263-4180 X 102.

FREE Kitchen Project. The hot

meals are open to everyone. Children are welcome. 4–5 pm. United Christian Parish. 745 N. Brush St., Lakeport.

FREE Ukiah Family Story Time.

Suns. 1 pm. Ukiah Library. 105 N. Main St. co.mendocino.ca.us/ library/child.htm.

3 Monday FREE American Legion Lewis White Post 76. All eligible veterans—come join us for camaraderie & community service. Potluck starts at 6:30 pm, meeting follows at 7 pm. 7–8:30 pm.

Ukiah Veteran’s Memorial Hall. 293 Seminary Ave. 468-0213.

FREE Game Night! Elks Club, Lodge 2704. Mons. 3–6:30 pm. 3775 Lakeshore Blvd., Lakeport. 263-8422.

Lake County Youth Services is a non profit program serving the youth ages 7 thru 17.

We will be providing after school programs Mon–Fri, 2 to 6pm where children can get homework help, enjoy fun activities and a snack. We will also facilitate special activity programs through-out the year. For information on programs please call.

WE ARE NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR

Our After School Program

Snacks, structured programs and tutoring provided $ 15 a week

WE ARE NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR: Boxing Instructors & Dance Instructor

Please go to out web site for job description and application, or send resume’ to: 47501 Golf Ave., Clearlake, CA 95422 All employee’s and volunteers will need to pass a back ground check and drug test.

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT! EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS Want a tax deduction, donate your old vehicle.

Call Enterprise Towing at 707 994-8801 and they will pick it up!

Must have title

Board Meetings are the 2nd Tuesday of each month @6pm at the Center 707-994-KIDS 4750 Golf Ave., Clearlake clearlakeyouthcenter.org

FREE Konocti Infant Development.

The KID Center provides qualified www.mendolakefamilylife.com

To make a monetary donation: send to: Attn: Youth Center P.O. Box 1042 Lower Lake CA 95457 Please make checks out to LCPF/ Youth Center

February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 23

Community Acupuncture accessible affordable effective Ukiah Start your healthy resolutions today!

Sliding Scale $20-40 - Gift Certificates Available Now 203 S. School St., Ukiah • www.acupunctureukiah.com • 391-9995

Build Your Own Home!

RCHDC - Helping Families Afford their Dreams

staff & a safe environment & appropriate learning activities & materials so each child (6 wks–3 yrs).

The KID Center offers all children a nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks.

For pregnant and parenting teens enrolled in high school. Mon.–Fri. 7:30 am–1:30 pm. 9345 Winchester, Lower Lake. 994-1760. co.lake.ca.us.

4 Tuesday $2 Tuesdays! Best deals on clothes

at Mendocino Baby. Tues. 10 am–5:30 pm. 198 S. School St., Ukiah. mendocinobaby.com.

FREE 14th Annual Coast High School Poetry Slam. Teams from

Fort Bragg, Pt. Arena & Mendocino will compete for the championship.

Arena Theate. Point Arena. 884-9189 or blake@snakelyone.com. or go to artsmendocino.org FREE AWANA Kids Club. Ages 3

years to sixth grade. Games, theme nights, Bible devotions and awards for verse memorization. Tues. 6:30–8 pm. Clearlake Baptist Church. 555 N. Forbes St., Lakeport. 263-3256.

YES, YOU CAN! You Can Qualify - Call Today 463-1975 x123 • First Time Home Buyer-Builder Program • Construction Experience Not Required • No Money Down - Low Interest Rate

For young children & their parents.

Tues. 10–11 am. Safe Passage Family Resource Center. Fort Bragg. 964-3077.

5 Wednesday FREE Mendocino County Museum.

First Wed. of each month free. 10 am–4:30 pm. 400 E. Commercial St., Willits. mendocinomuseum.org

Rural Communities Housing Development Corporation

499 Leslie St. Ukiah • www.rchdc.org/self-help 24 MendoLakeFamilyLife

FREE Tuesday Morning Play Group.

6 Thursday FREE Chinese New Year for Teens.

3:30–5:30 pm. Cloverdale Library. 401 N. Cloverdale Blvd. 894-5271.

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Now Accepting Clients

FREE James K Visits Storytime!

The popular recording artist for the younger set, (2–5) invites his audience to sing along and move to the music.

There is time for play and socializing after the program. Cloverdale Library.

401 N Cloverdale Blvd. 894-5271.

MIDWIFERY Serving Lake and Mendocino Families Home Birth • Water Birth • Well Woman Care

7 Friday Music Together. Early childhood

music & movement program for children birth–5 yrs. 10 classes (plus 1 make up). Call for rate & schedule.

Action Network Family Resource Center. 39144 Ocean View Dr. #3, Gualala. 884-5413.

FREE Call to Audition: Guys and Dolls, Jr. This story introduces us to

colorful characters who have become legends in musical theatre. Lead Roles: Must have strong singing voices. Ages 12–19 yrs. All other Roles: Minimum age: 8 yrs. Fri. 5–8 pm. Sat. 11 am–2 pm. Fort Bragg Library. Laurel St. 964-SHOW. gloriana.org.

FREE Grace Hudson Museum. Free

to all on the first Friday of each month.

Grace Hudson Museum. Ukiah. gracehudsonmuseum.org.

FREE Positive Parenting. Fris. 11

am–1 pm. Action Network. 39144 Ocean Dr. Suites 3 & 4, Gualala. raiseandshine.org.

707-987-9667

FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION • www.lakemidwife.org

Come Explore College and Careers Workshop at Mendocino College For Grades 7-12

My Future, My Way Workshop

Sat. Feb. 22 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Mendocino College • 2565 Parallel Drive, Lakeport Register in advance at 994-9001 or www.lakecoe.org

Own Your Own Business

WORK AT HOME • CHOOSE YOUR OWN HOURS • WORK WITH CHILDREN

FREE Story Time for Preschoolers.

• Free Training and other great incentives for attending fun workshops.

Fris. 10:15–11:30 am. Lakeport Library.

1425 N. High St., Lakeport. 263-8817.

• Child Care Assistance for low income eligible families.

8 Saturday Trail Maintenance. Bring water,

work gloves & a hand tool (loppers or clippers). We’ll also have tools available. Meeting in the Boggs parking lot. 9–11 am. Boggs www.mendolakefamilylife.com

• Free Child Care Referrals.

1-800-606-5550 ext. 211 February 2014

Rural Communities Child Care

MendoLakeFamilyLife 25

Located in Beautiful, Little Lake Valley of Willits

Mt. Demonstation State Forest. boggsmountain.net.

8th Annual Wine & Chocolate. Join

• Small Class Sizes • Personal Attention to each student

A Christ-Centered Education Adventist Christian School of Willits

• A Safe Place to Grow

A Journey to Excellence Participant School 707-459-4333 • www.willitssdaschool.com

Christian Education to the children of this area for 50 years.

Turning your fleeting moments into precious memories

us for an afternoon of Wine & Food tasting, Wine & Olive Oil Sensory Classes, Wine Store & Silent Auction while supporting the programs & services of Lake Family Resource Center. Tickets: $35 Advance & $40 at Door. 12–4 pm. 2550 Big Valley Road, Kelseyville.lakefrc.org.

A Night at the Speakeasy. Enjoy

an evening at the speakeasy, casino, games, auction, dancing. 7 p.m. doors open at 6. 18 years and older. $15 presale tickets. $20 at the door. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. soperreesetheatre.com.

FREE Hug A Trail Day. 11 am–1 pm.

Boggs Mountain Demonstration State Forest. Middletown. 928-4378. boggsmountain.net/calendar.

FREE Pre-Valentine Benefit Shopping Night. There will be

Maternity, Child & Family Photography (707)245-5321 | BobRiderPhotography.com

ALL GIRLS CHESS TOURNAMENT 2/15/14 SAVE THE DATE

CHESS FOR KIDS All Levels Welcome!

Call today! (707) 527-6427 www.chessclubforkids.com

26 MendoLakeFamilyLife

hot cider, stories for children, & Valentine’s Day-themed crafts. All proceeds from sales made during the event go to Community Center of Mendocino. 6–8 pm. Gallery Bookshop & Bookwinkle’s Children’s Books. Main & Kasten, Mendocino.

937-2665. gallerybookshop.com.

Pancake Breakfast by VFW Post 1900. Everyone welcome! Come enjoy

breakfast for $7.00. Come support your veterans! Proceeds from the breakfast support local programs. 8–11 am. Ukiah Veteran’s Memorial Hall.

293 Seminary Ave. 468-0213.

Symphony of the Redwoods Winter Concert. Featured artist: Stephen Harrison, cellist. Tickets $20 adults & free children 18 &

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

under. Sat. 8 pm. Sun. 9 pm. And 2 pm. Cotton Auditorium. Fort Bragg.

SymphonyoftheRedwoods.org.

9 Sunday Crab Feed & Auction Fundraiser.

Adults $3. Under 10 $16. Helps local families & causes. 12–2:30 pm.

Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. Carl Purdy Hall. Ukiah. For tickets, call 463-2238 or go to DFM Auto Repairs or Holes in the Wall.

St Anthony’s-Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast. 8 am–noon. St.

Anthony’s Hall. Lansing St., Mendocino. stanthonysofmendocino.com.

10 Monday KBA Annual Pasta Feed & Membership Drive. Bring new

members to join. There will be a raffle & raffle prizes are needed. 6–8 pm. Lions Club House. Kelseyville. visitkelseyville.com.

11 Tuesday FREE Memorial Day Parade Planning Committee. Volunteers

needed & welcome. Contact us.

Parade coordinated by the VFW Post 1900. Ukiah Veteran’s Memorial Hall.

293 Seminary Ave. 468-0213.

“Kids Day” ages 6–12 get in free! Visit our website for tickets & schedules.

Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds. cloverdalecitrusfair.org

11 am–1 pm. Action Network. 39144 Ocean Dr. Suites 3 & 4, Gualala. raiseandshine.org.

15 Saturday

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group.

Helps grandparents cope with this special responsibility. 2nd & 4th Fris.

5th Annual All Girls Chess Tournament! All ages and skill levels

welcome! 9:30 am–1 pm. $25 Entry fee.

Access. Quality. Care.

Choose Our

Health Centers for All Your Medical Care

13 Thursday FREE Around the World in 30 Instruments. Family Library

Concerts. 2/13 2–4 pm Willits Library. 2/14 Time TBA Fort Bragg Library. 2/15 4–5 pm Ukiah Library. mendolibrary.org.

14 Friday Cloverdale Citrus Fair. Come Rain

or Shine! President’s Weekend. 2/17 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

(707) 468-1010 333 Laws Avenue Ukiah, CA 95482

(707) 263-7725 5335 Lakeshore Blvd.

Lakeport, CA 95453

(707) 456-9600 45 Hazel Street Willits, CA 95490

Primary care is the foundation of a healthy lifestyle.

We ACCePt medicare, medi-Cal, Partnership & other insurance. no one is turned away because they can’t pay. federALLy qUALified HeALtH CenterS • WWW.mCHCinC.org

mediCAl • dentAl • behAviorAl heAlth • CAre for her February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 27

Trophies and prizes for all! Roseland Prep High School. Santa Rosa. chessclubforkids.com.

for details. 2–5 pm. 462-6789. contact@ ukiahmainstreetprogram.org.

Crab Feed Extravaganza. Fundraiser

Aloysius. Crab, salad & bread. Raffle

for the Northshore Fire Protection District’s dive team. $35 per person or $240 for a table of 8. Tickets at U-Haul in Kelseyville, Main Street Gallery in Lakeport, or Lakeport Yacht Club board members. Sat. & Sun. 2–5 pm.

279-9100.

& auction. Full bar. $40 pp. Limited seating. 882-2903 for tickets.

Crab Feed. Lakeport Yacht Club.

$35 per head or $30 per head if you buy a table for 8. Sat. & Sun. 2–5 pm.

Fifth Street boat ramp in Lakeport. lakeportchamber.com/calendar.

FREE San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade. Over 100 units will participate in the parade, many of the floats & specialty units will feature the theme of this year’s Chinese zodiac sign. Nowhere in the world will you see a lunar new year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, and exploding firecrackers. 5:15–8 pm. Union Square. San Francisco.

Check website for parade route. chineseparade.com.

KHS Sober Grad Pizza Night. All

You Can Eat Pizza! $10 per person (presale) or $12 per person (at the door). Guido’s Pizza will be donating 100% of the proceeds! Come help support the 2014 KHS Sober Grad Night! 3–8 pm. Guido’s Pizza.

Kelseyville. 262-2479 Lantern Festival/Chinese New Year. 3rd Annual Lantern Festival,

hosted by the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas & the Ukiah Main Street Program. Tentative date. Call or email

28 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Point Arena Crab Feed at St

Register for Kelseyville Little League. Baseball or Softball. Register online at kelseyvillelittleleague.com.

Player Assessments Feb. 15, 22 & 23.

Draft to follow after last tryout. 5065 Konocti Rd., Behind Kelseyville Grade School.

17 Saturday Presidents’ Day. Federal Holiday.

Schools, banks, libraries and city offices will be closed.

19 Wednesday Mendocino College Foundation Tour. Hour-long, guided walking

tours of this beautiful campus. 12–1:30 pm. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah.

467-1018. Foundation@mendocino.edu.

FREE Museum on the Go. The

Children’s Museum of Sonoma County will bring their “Museum on the Go” to our library! Drop in anytime between noon and 4:30 pm for an interactive science experience.

Cloverdale Library. 401 N Cloverdale Blvd. 894-5271.

21 Friday FREE HazMobile. Households can

bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons. TVs, monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes not accepted. Fri. & Sat. 9 am–1 pm. Highlands Senior Svc. Community Center. 3245 Bowers Ave.,

Clearlake. recycling.co.lake.ca.us or 707-263-1980.

22 Saturday Bingo Bash 2014. Mark your

calendars now as this event sells out early. Crown Hall. Mendocino.

937-3239.

FREE My Future, My Way Workshop.

Students in grades 7 thru 12 in Lake & Mendocino Counties are invited to attend workshops geared at college & career awareness. Lunch provided.

Must register in advance at lakecoe.org or by phone 994-9001. Questions email tserpa@lakecoe.org. 8:30 am–3:30 pm. Mendocino College. 2565 Parallel Drive, Lakeport.

Science & Consciousness: Is a theory of everything possible?

8–11 pm. Taylor Observatory. 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville. taylorobservatory.org.

St Mary’s Mardi Gras Fundraisor.

Call for event details. Sat. & Sun. Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. Ukiah.

462-3888 The World of Plants. Family Fun

at the Museum. Children’s Art Workshop. Limited space, reservations encouraged, materials included.

Free with Museum admission. 1–4 pm. Grace Hudson Museum. Ukiah. gracehudsonmuseum.org.

25 Tuesday FREE Clothing Swap. Clothes for the whole family! Bring ‘em, swap ‘em, take ‘em. All gently used clothing welcome, especially for school-age children. 10 am–1 pm. Safe Passage Family Resource Center. Fort Bragg.

964-3077.

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Marketplace Schools

Schools

La Vida Charter School • Independent Study • K –12 • Free Public Charter • Academic & Specialty Classes • Gifted & Talented Served • Inspired by Waldorf Education 16201 N. Hwy. 101, Willits

707-459-6344

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

 National Green Campus  Promotes responsibility, respect, and peace

Located on north end of Fairgrounds PO Box 966 Ukiah 95482

www.lavidaschool.org

FREE Public Charter School Grades 6-12, Willits Prepare them for the World!

• Average Class Size 15 Students • After-School Tutorial Help with Certified Teachers • Opional Three Year Graduation Program • DRAMA PROGRAM! Partners with Willits Shakespeare Co. & Willits Community Theater • Free College Classes for Credit • Independent Study

Everything you need for your Child’s Success!

Services

707-462-0913

Classified Ads Work Advertise Here

Your Child can Thrive!

Online learning ignites the minds of children like yours

MINI STORAGE!

BEST SELECTION OF BABY CLOTHES AND FURNITURE IN THE COUNTY Hours: 12:30-5:30, Sun-Thurs, Closed Fri & Sat 14380 Olympic Dr (near Postoffice) Clearlake 994-1825

Tutoring

707-994-JIMS

2330 Industrial Ct., Clearlake

(Just North of town, Off Hwy. 53 & Ogulin Canyon Rd. at La Rosa Plaza)

un FBlast!

Weekend

Beauty

Yuba College

The Beauty of

A Smart Choice

Like Us On Facebook Family Support We’re Looking For Nurturing

Call 586-9562

ome check us out! Meet our Director, John Kirchiro, and tour the campus.

Call 459-5506 to set up an appointment.

During the school year, you can also “shadow” a student for the day.

Apply and Enroll Today!

707-995-7900 • clc.yccd.edu

Foster Parents

FREE Makeover & 20% Discount

UKIAH, WILLITS, REDWOOD & POTTER VALLEY

Mina Kvasnicka

Free Orientation Feb. 6 & 20, 5:30 pm

• Hands-on professional support • Monthly stipend up to $2,100

Independent Beauty Consultant

www.marykay.com/mina

15880 Dam Road Extension • Clearlake

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Jim’s

COME CHECK US OUT!

OUTDOOR BOAT, RV & VEHICLE STORAGE TOO!

Enroll now K12.com/AAS Charter School is a free public school serving 6th through 12th grade students or 877-506-8631 student can attend. It has fully credentialed teachers for all academic classes a fully accredited middle and high school.

ommitted to small classes and averages udents per teacher, with a maximum of udents in a class. rates an independent study program e students can meet weekly with a er for individualized instruction or se and take onsite classes with other nts when space allows. rs a unique three year High School uation Program. hasizes academic rigor combined with e variety of electives classes.

BEST KEPT STORAGE SECRET?

BABYBABY

Providing for your youngster since 1986

Units Starting at $ 45 A Month

treeoflifeschool@pacific.net www.treeoflifeschool.net

YOU KNOW? 459-5506 • www.willitscharter.org

AGINE A SCHOOL THAT….

WHAT IS LAKE COUNTY’S

Retail

Call for Info 707-489-9449

February 2014

TAPESTRY FAMILY SERVICES

290 E. Gobbi St. Ukiah • 463-3300 x115 www.tapestryfs.org

MendoLakeFamilyLife 29

Humor Break

AS THE DERBY IS STARTING

entire auditorium of parents shushed, their heads swiveling in unison toward me, I thought to myself: “I should have used a hair dryer.”

By “Bull” Garlington

L

et us establish now I am not very good at this fatherhood thing.

Never have been, never will be. I am a struggling father, an amateur, a dilettante. My children know this—I’ve been proving it to them since they were born. For my son, the proof was never so obvious as during the pinewood derby.

I tend to plan the way some people fall off a cliff. I back plan, coming to my senses moments after something expensive lies smoldering at my feet long enough to say “Maybe I should have read the instructions.”

So nobody should be surprised I screwed up my, I mean my son’s pinewood derby car.

First of all, the manufacturer’s verbiage claiming their paint will dry in one hour is a big fat lie. The only thing happening in an hour is the Scoutmaster will come into the broom closet where you’re building your car (your son’s car) as the derby is starting to tell you [unprintable] or he will [unprintable]. And the wheels will get stuck to the fuselage.

Which really doesn’t matter in the great story arc of life. But there is a moment when it does matter. There is, in fact, a moment where those wheels, 30 MendoLakeFamilyLife

shellacked to the body of the car by a generous application of Krylon Red #5, bear the weight of a ’57 Chevy in a single glance as your son tries to place his racecar on the track . . . and it sticks to his fingers.

However, there is another moment even heavier. When the chucks release

Look, I know something about being shamefaced: I attempted dating in the 80s. I worked at a theme park. I drove a Gremlin. I drove a purple Gremlin. and all the cars speed down the slope toward the finish line. All the cars.

Except his.

Yeah, the manufacturer coulda said something about that.

Look, I know something about being shamefaced: I attempted dating in the 80s. I worked at a theme park. I drove a Gremlin. I drove a purple Gremlin.

So I knew how to react. I knew precisely the harrowing precipice of dignity my father-and-son dynamic skidded uncontrollably toward in the gravity of that glance. As my son’s public humiliation went nuclear, as an

The next year was no better. Heck, the next two years were no better. My car—my son’s car—never placed. I spent at least fifty bucks on kits, sand paper packs, chrome pipes, high gloss lacquer; but no matter how many hours I put into my car–into my son’s car—I didn’t place. He didn’t place.

Finally the kid said, “Dad, can I try?” and then I got it. I mean, it was soooo obvious. I should have seen it coming a mile away: this was one of those blunt lessons of fatherhood, a Zen smack, a light bulb as bright as the sun, and it was shining across that dim auditorium directly onto me and I knew, I knew right then I needed powdered graphite lube.

The kid was having none of it. He grabbed a chunk of pine and built what appeared to be a wedge of cheese with a number 7 scrawled on its side.

It wasn’t sanded. The wheels were crooked. It was yellow. This car had nothing going for it.

He didn’t win. I mean, he was racing a block of cheddar against a Sponge Bob, a 3rd generation doorstop, and a perfectly rendered 1967 Camaro Super Sport. He came in fourth.

And he didn’t care.

Winning has nothing to do with it. ¶

February 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

February 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 31

sonoma

presents‌

Friday April 11th 3:30–7:30 p.m.

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts

SENSATIONAL SUMMERS START HERE! Get Started Today! Find summer camps, family travel, fun, and learning.

Plan your next party or family event!

Graduations, Birthdays and more! Find family home experts to make your home-sweet-home! Enjoy demonstrations, prizes and discounts. sonoma

707-586-9562