mendo lake FREE!
August 2022
Back-toSchool
Explore Nature What to pack
Head Start Careers in child care
Go team! Raise good sports
District calendars
BACK TO SCHOOL
Are You Ready?
✓ School supplies ✓ Sports physical ✓ Dental checkup ✓ Immunizations
Make sure to put us on your Back-to-School checklist. Call now to make an appointment. We’ll make it easy.
IN UKIAH, WILLITS, AND LAKEPORT
years
of Caring
WE ACCEPT MEDI-CAL, MEDICARE, PARTNERSHIP AND OTHER INSURANCE.
FOR AN APPOINTMENT, CALL:
(707) 468-1010
1-855-FOR-MCHC • mchcinc.org •
MCHC HEALTH CENTERS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.
UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT LEARN • INSPIRE • CREATE • GROW • COMMUNICATE • COLLABORATE • DEVELOP • INNOVATE
g Ar t s n i m r o rf e P al & u s i V 2 1 K STEM • GREAT THINGS
ARE HAPPENING AT UKIAH UNIFIED
Art & Music Programs • Outdoor Education Career Education, Honors & AP Courses ENROLLING NOW! From Performing Arts classes with SPACE, to over 30 Career courses, we’re engaging our youth and helping them One-to-One Chromebooks create their future! for K-12th Grades
511 S. Orchard Ave. • 707-472-5000 • www.uusd.net
August 2022
Every Issue
12
6
Dear Reader
8
Cooking with Kids Pizza in a Pan
10
Bits and Pieces Make Funny Radio
Features 12 Parents Rejoice! It’s okay to be happy about the start of school.
14 The Happiest Kid in the Cafeteria Tips for sprucing up packed lunches.
16 School Calendars All the vacation days in one place.
18 The Really Big Kids Help teens get ready for high school.
Showered with Light
20 Let’s Get Wild Invite kids to explore nature.
Powerful Pipes
22 The Story of a Child Care Pro 24 Build Emotional Resilience Three ways to help a teased child.
26 Go Team! How to successfully participate in group sports.
August 2022
20
It’s Time for the Fair
How one local mom turned volunteering into a career.
28 4 MendoLakeFamilyLife
The Cosmic Bard
In Praise of Blackberries
28 Calendar of Events Art Blooms at Botanical Gardens
34 Humor Break When Will the Target Trips End?
8 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
YOU DO WHAT IT TAKES TO PROTECT YOUR CHILD
GET YOUR CHILD VACCINATED BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS
FIND A PROVIDER
Immunizations are required to attend childcare, pre-K, public and private schools. Contact your child’s healthcare provider or a health clinic to make an appointment today. Scan the QR code to find a doctor or clinic near you, or visit: www.mendocinocounty.org/healthproviderlist
Dear Reader
I
t’s finally here, the start of the school year! And if you are beyond blissed out about that fact, don’t feel guilty. So says veteran mom Sharon Gowan Publisher/Editor Christina Katz in Sharon@family-life.us “Parents Rejoice!” (page 12). She’s leaping for joy right along with you. Perhaps your kids are not as happy about the first day of school as you are. That’s okay. You can’t change their attitude, but you can help them prepare for what’s ahead. For students just going into high school, in particular, there are big changes, including perhaps going to a whole new school. Read “The Really Big Kids” (page 18) for tips on how to help your teen adjust.
you ask your children to contribute to the process. Check out “The Happiest Kid in the Cafeteria” (page 14) for creative ways to spruce up your student’s brown bag. We know that you’re probably already making plans for vacation days. That’s why we’ve put all of them in one place—our School Calendars (page 16). Turn to them throughout the year, when you want to know when the kids will be at home. The start of classes can be as stressful as it is exciting. Turn to humorist (and former childhood educator) Jessica Guerrieri’s “When Will the Target Trips End?” (page 34) for a good laugh about it all. We hope the coming weeks go as well as possible. And remember we’ll be here for you all year long, offering the information you need to stay balanced and keep your family strong.
Sometimes a great lunch can be just the ticket for helping kids feel positive about their day. It doesn’t take much effort or time to pack a tasty, healthy meal, especially if
DID YOU KNOW? HELPS YOU
Marketing/ Sales/Events Patricia Ramos 707-205-1539 patty@family-life.us
Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us
Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us
Contributing Writers America’s Test Kitchen Jessica Guerrieri Tanni Haas Christina Katz Luis Fernando Llosa North Coast Opportunities Kim John Payne Susie Spikol
Billing Jan Wasson-Smith
Publishing Office P.O. Box 351 Philo, CA 95466 (707) 205 1539
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will walk you through the entire process of becoming a child care provider in your home.
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have subsidies available to help with child care expenses for qualifying families.
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have ongoing training & referrals to help make your child care business the best it can be!
1-800-606-5550 x211 ncoinc.org 6 MendoLakeFamilyLife
August 2022
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REDWOOD COAST REGIONAL CENTER
mendo lake
WE ARE HIRING! JOIN OUR TEAM
LOCAL
#1 local resource for for 30 years local families
Associate Service Coordinator: Lakeport or Fort Bragg Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist: Ukiah Early Start Coordinator: Clearlake Enhanced Service Coordinator: Ukiah Intake Specialist: Ukiah Nurse Consultant: Ukiah Service Coordinator: Lakeport, Fort Bragg and Ukiah
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August 2022
MendoLakeFamilyLife 7
Cooking with Kids
Pizza in a Pan
A Favorite with an Unconventional Twist By America’s Test Kitchen
T
o get the crispest, crunchiest browned crust on homemade pizza without a pizza stone (or the need to preheat said stone for a long time), take the delightfully unconventional route of using a skillet. You start by rolling out the dough—use store-bought or make your own—and building the pizza right in the skillet. The bottom of the crust gets a jump start toward browning on the stovetop before the skillet is transferred to the oven to bake. The simple no-cook tomato sauce is a comfy bed for Italian sausage, shredded mozzarella, and a little Parmesan. Let the dough sit at room temperature while preparing the remaining ingredients and heating the oven; otherwise, it will be difficult to stretch. ¶ Reprinted with permission from One-Hour Comfort by America’s Test Kitchen (America’s Test Kitchen, 2021), americastestkitchen.com.
8 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Skillet Sausage and Cheese Pizza Serves: 4 Total Time: 1 hour • 1 (14.5-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes, drained with juice reserved • 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided • ½ teaspoon red wine vinegar • ½ teaspoon dried oregano • 1 small garlic clove, minced • 1 pound pizza dough, room temperature • 12 ounces sweet or hot Italian pork sausage, casings removed, divided • 8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups), divided • 1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup), divided 1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Process tomatoes, 1 tablespoon oil, vinegar, oregano, and garlic in food processor until smooth, about 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to 2-cup liquid measuring cup and add reserved tomato juice until sauce measures 1 cup. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 2. Grease 12-inch ovensafe skillet with 2 tablespoons oil. Transfer dough to lightly floured counter, divide in half, and gently shape each half into ball. Cover 1 dough ball with plastic wrap.
August 2022
Coat remaining dough ball lightly with flour and gently flatten into 8-inch disk using your fingertips. Using rolling pin, roll dough into 11-inch circle, dusting dough lightly with flour as needed. (If dough springs back during rolling, let rest for 10 minutes before rolling again.) 3. Transfer dough to prepared skillet; reshape as needed. Using back of spoon or ladle, spread ½ cup sauce in thin layer over surface of dough, leaving ½-inch border around edge. Pinch 6 ounces sausage into approximate dime-size pieces and evenly distribute over sauce. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan evenly over sausage. 4. Set skillet over medium-high heat and cook until outside edge of dough is set, pizza is lightly puffed, and bottom is spotty brown when gently lifted with spatula, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer pizza to oven and bake until crust is brown and cheese is golden in spots, 7 to 10 minutes. Using pot holders, remove skillet from oven and slide pizza onto cutting board. Let pizza cool slightly before slicing and serving. Being careful of hot skillet handle, repeat with remaining 2 tablespoons oil, dough, sauce, 1 cup mozzarella, and ¼ cup Parmesan.
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CATCH A WAVE
Totally fun.
THIS SUMMER!
SUMMER SURF CAMP! (KOA BEAR) Aug 8-10
GROUP & PRIVATE LESSONS
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Totally you.
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Join us for forever friends and a lifetime of adventure! www.gsnorcal.org/join
For more information: 707-544-5472 ex 3017
For more info please send an email to info@gosurfmendo.com
Scan to start your Girl Scout adventure!
707-357-1042
www.gosurfmendo.com
SFGCONNECT A NEW PROGRAM FOR AGES 7–10
OPEN TO SINGERS IN THE BAY AREA, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AND BEYOND.
For more information, please visit sfgirlschorus.org/sfgconnect www.mendolakefamilylife.com
August 2022
MendoLakeFamilyLife 9
Bits & Pieces
Make Funny Radio
W
hy did the invisible man turn down a job offer? He just couldn’t see himself doing it. It’s one of the many jokes in Rob Elliott’s Laugh-Out-Loud Jokes for Kids (Revell, 2010). Children will read aloud
and record some of the book’s jokes at the Kids, Jokes, and Making Radio library event; then, as a kind of advertisement for the Round Valley Library, the local radio station KYBU 96.9 FM will later broadcast the funny recordings. The event will be held on August 11, 2–3 p.m., at the Round Valley Branch Library in Round Valley. See tinyurl. com/5n6duvdt for more information. ¶
Showered with Light
O
ne hundred and thirty-three years. That’s how long it takes for the Swift-Tuttle comet to orbit the sun. And every time it does, it leaves behind lingering debris. When the Earth’s atmosphere passes through this debris, the Perseid meteor showers fill up the sky. The firey celestial show can be seen in the predawn hours through August 24. In honor of the annual astronomical event, Mendocino Magic will host a campout August 12–14 at its campground in Laytonville. On the evening of August 13, guests will be invited to watch the showers with telescopes at Methuselah’s Observatory; tea and miso soup will be served. Camping reservations are $75–$175; tickets for August 13 only are $25 for youth and $45 for adults. Find out more and purchase tickets at mendocinomagic.com/perseids. Learn more about the showers at tinyurl.com/3ahukuyh. ¶
The Cosmic Bard hakespeare may have lived in the 17th century, but that doesn’t mean his plays have to be set in that era—or even this galaxy. The Lake County Theatre, for example, is setting its performance of Twelfth Night on the planet Illyria. The play will be performed with live music and costumes that give it the feel of a sci-fi dramedy, one with an “it’s complicated” relationship theme: Viola is in love with Duke Orsino, who is head over heels for Countess Olivia. Meanwhile, Olivia falls for Cesario, who is actually Viola dressed up as a man. And all of this happens in a galaxy far, far away. The play will be performed for free August 5–7 at 7 p.m. at Austin Park in Clearlake. Bring blankets or chairs. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/5axuytdx. ¶ 10 MendoLakeFamilyLife
KAREN PAVONE
S
Twelfth Night
August 2022
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Powerful Pipes
S
arah Clarke can sing. The Portland, Oregon, vocalist gained a reputation for her powerful pipes in a band called Outer Orbit. Now she’s the lead singer for Con Brio, a Bay Area group that plays original funk tunes. As part of the Sundays in the Park Concert Series, the band will perform for free on August 14 at 6 p.m. at Todd Grove Park in Ukiah. Learn more at cityofukiah.com/ sundays-in-the-park. Get a taste of Con Brio’s music at thebandconbrio.com/home. ¶
Con Brio
It’s Time for the Fair
R
aising livestock is hard work. Just ask any of the students in the Ukiah High School Animal Husbandry program. Student Autumn Walker spent one to two hours a day with her goats, grooming and feeding them and just letting them get used to her presence. At the Redwood Empire Fair, kids, like Autumn, who have raised animals, put them up for sale at the Junior Livestock Auction. For them, the fair is where they reap the rewards of their labors. But for many others, the fair is just about having fun. And there are plenty of opportunities, including a carnival and motor vehicle events featuring Monster Trucks, a truck and tractor pull, and a Junior Mudd Bogg. There’ll also be live music performances and family-friendly activities such as pony rides and corn dog and pie eating contests. And, in addition to livestock exhibits, there’ll be an exotic animal exhibit, too. The fair will run August 4–7 at the fairgrounds in Ukiah. Carnival wristbands are $30–$35. For a complete schedule, go to redwoodempirefair.com. ¶
In Praise of Blackberries
“B
lackberries take all my blues away.” That’s the first line of the Blackberry Festival anthem, which sings the praises of not only the fruit, but also the annual Covelo shindig that celebrates it. Blackberry pastries and wine are stars of the festival; live music, arts and crafts booths, a foot race, a climbing wall, and children’s activities are also part of the show. The fun happens on August 20, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and August 21, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., at the festival grounds in Covelo. Admission is free, but, because coffers have run low during the pandemic, the festival producers are asking for donations via gofund.me/0f823fc5. For more information, go to roundvalleyblackberryfestival. com. Those craving more blackberry action after the event can check out the Blackberry Cobbler Festival on August 27, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., at Mountain Meadow in Cobb. There’ll be live music and a cobbler contest. See facebook.com/events/514992030407379 for details. ¶ www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Blackberry Festival
August 2022
MendoLakeFamilyLife 11
once again how quickly the time flies by before—boom—they are home again. If you are a stay-at-home parent with older and not-yet-school-age children at home, back-to-school means you have more time and energy for your little ones. And that’s great, because let’s face it, the oldest kids probably got more face-to-face time simply by virtue of being born first.
Parents Rejoice! Don’t Apologize for Back-to-School Glee By Christina Katz
A
ll across social media, it’s that time of year again. Of course, I’m talking about time to take the funny photo of kids looking gloomy about going back to school while the parents are jumping for joy. Of course, these photos are staged to the point where there seems to be a competition of who can jump the highest while looking the most crazy-happy. I even found a photo of a dad spraying a shaken-up bottle of champagne all over the driveway. How he missed the kids in their first-day-of-school best and the photographer is unclear. But what is clear is parents get giddy about sending kids back to school. And why shouldn’t we? If you are a work-at-home parent like myself, sending the kids, and in my
12 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Feeling happy about kids going to school doesn’t mean you hate your kids. case the husband, who is a teacher, back to school means getting hours upon hours of uninterrupted time in which to think, do chores, run errands, relax, work, and notice August 2022
I enjoy being with my family and I enjoy their absence. What’s weird for me about back-to-school season is how many parents don’t seem to understand the yin and yang of it. So many seem to feel the need to apologize for how cheerful they feel. Based on how much some parents apologize, feeling giddy about school starting must mean you hate your kids and never want to see them again. Come on, guys, feeling happy about kids going to school doesn’t mean you hate your kids. Parents should be allowed to experience the gamut of feelings about our kids without pressure to constantly apologize for how we feel. These are our kids. They push our buttons sometimes. We push their buttons sometimes. That’s called being a family. I don’t think it’s a crime for even the most devoted, loving parents to dance a tiny or even a huge jig when school starts. And if parents continue to behave as though they are in a Broadway musical or a Disney www.mendolakefamilylife.com
princess movie throughout the entire first month of school, bursting into song and dance right after the door shuts or the bus pulls away or the carpool winds down, we should not judge them.
I enjoy those six uninterrupted hours I am virtually guaranteed during the school year. As a work-at-home parent, I enjoy those six uninterrupted hours I am virtually guaranteed during the school year. But, whether it’s Thanksgiving or winter, spring, or summer break, I am always happy to have my family around. As long as they don’t plan on sticking around for, like, ever. As long as the vacation has an expiration date, variety is good. But when vacation is over, it’s “Okey-doke, off you go!”
Oh, wait a sec. I may have misunderstood. They are actually inviting me to get to my desk pronto and get to work, because apparently my productivity took quite a dip over the summer. And now they are pointing out the pile of back-to-school bills that have been accumulating over the past few
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz has been gleeful about back-to-school her entire life, so dancing this little jig is nothing new. Except for having to pay all the bills—that part came later.
REDWOOD COLLEGIATE ACADEMY A SMALL SCHOOL FOR BIG THOUGHTS
So let your summers shake things up like that dad’s bottle of champagne, and then let the school year settle things down. Because let’s face it, having six totally flexible hours a day can get old. Okay, well, that last line wasn’t true. But everything else I’ve said so far has been utterly sincere. I enjoy being with my family and I enjoy their absence, which always makes my heart grow fonder. And now, if you will excuse me, it’s time for me to flit about my house in my pajamas while being followed by imaginary cartoon birds and butterflies that exist only to do my bidding. They are inviting me to eat bon-bons or go back to bed or dance naked throughout the house or just do whatever I want to do.
weeks. So, if we are done here, I’d better get busy. After all, I’ve only got six hours. ¶
We are a FREE public charter school focused on fostering a community of students who are prepared for college, leadership, and independent living.
We are a FREE public charter school focused on fostering a community of Somos una escuela autónoma pública GRATUITA enfocada en construir una comunidad de estudiantes para la students who are preparedpreparados for college, universidad, el liderazgo y la vida independiente. leadership, and independent living. Small class sizes for grades 7-12
Clases pequeñas para los grados 7-12
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• FREE Public School Profesores amables y Supportive, highly qualified educators • Advanced Placementacreditados Options MESA and VEX Programa de • Caring, Teachers Robotics Credentialed Program Robótica VEX y MESA • Centrally Located at the Fairgrounds Archery and other Tiro con arco y otros athletics deportes • Clubs & Electives, Student Council Middle School Programa STEM de STEM Program • Serving Grades 7-12Escuela Intermedia courses students for college Honores and Preparing Programa de Early College independent living in a safe, challenging, Universidad Temprana Program well Individualized managed charter school. Consejería universitaria
707-467-0500 1059 N. State Street, Ukiah PREPARING STUDENTS FOR COLLEGE AND INDEPENDENT LIVING IN A SAFE, CHALLENGING, WELL MANAGED CHARTER SCHOOL.
PREPARAR A LOS ESTUDIANTES PARA LA UNIVERSIDAD Y LA VIDA INDEPENDIENTE EN UNA ESCUELA CHÁRTER SEGURA, DESAFIANTE Y BIEN ADMINISTRADA.
August 2022
www.redwoodacademy.org www.redwoodacademy.org @redwoodcollegiate @redwoodcollegiate
707-467-0500
1059 North State Street, Ukiah
MendoLakeFamilyLife 13
almond butter, cashew butter, and sunflower seed butter? Or consider a healthy brand of chocolate nut butter with whole-wheat pretzels for dipping. Expand your sandwichmaking repertoire. For variety, cut sandwiches into halves, triangles, quarters, or use a cookie cutter to make shapes. Use whole grain rather than white bread. Experiment with whole grain wraps, bagels, pita, flatbread, or naan.
The Happiest Kid in the Cafeteria How to Make Better School Lunches By Christina Katz
E
ating family meals together at home is important, but don’t underestimate the importance of the meal you send to school with your child each day. Just like how we sit down and break bread with our family, kids sit down at school and do the same with peers of their choosing—and it’s just as important.
A positive experience eating lunch at school begins with a positive experience opening up that lunch box and finding out what’s inside. The same old peanut butter and jelly, pretzels, and apple may work for the first couple of years, but as a child gets older and develops more sophisticated preferences, you can do better. Work together with your child to create portable, healthy meals. Instead of complaints about how friends have better lunches, you’ll 14 MendoLakeFamilyLife
start to hear stories about the funny conversations that happened at lunch or who traded what for what. With a little bit of effort, you’ll notice that your child conveys a content, relaxed tone about lunchtime, exactly like the one you strive to create at dinnertime at home. So when it comes time to whip up a great school lunch, keep these simple tips in mind: Experiment with nut butters. Why limit your child’s sandwich to just peanut butter when there is also August 2022
Work together with your child to create portable, healthy meals. Send real fruit. Ditch fruit-flavored or artificial fruit snacks. Stock up on small, no-leak containers so you won’t be afraid to chop up ripe fruit and send it to school. For variety, use whatever fruit you have on hand and make a simple fruit salad every Sunday night. Chop up veggies. Prepare whatever you have on hand on Sunday, and separate into bags or containers for the week. Include a bit of damp or dry paper towel to keep veggies moist or dry—whichever helps them last. Try homemade trail mix for snack time. You can come up with combinations that are customized for each child. Just visit the bulk foods section of your grocery store and create combos for each week. Start “Thermos Thursdays.” Send something hot, such as soup, mac n’ cheese, or pasta. Be sure to heat the food up well before pouring it into your child’s thermos. Put the lid www.mendolakefamilylife.com
on tightly but not so tight your child can’t get it open.
of jelly beans, a lollipop or two, or a couple of chocolate kisses.
Send low-fat milk instead of sugary juice. Or let them buy milk at school. If you don’t want to send sugar-loaded juice, try flavored waters. In a pitcher refrigerate water with lemon, lime, berries, or herbs.
Once a month, let them get hot lunch. But only once a month. Make a big deal about going over the lunch schedule and picking out a day. Then see which type of lunch they prefer.
Make homemade cookies or bars. You can make them over the weekend and, if they’re stored properly, they’ll last all week. Freeze, if necessary—they will thaw by lunchtime. If your child is new to the school, include an extra treat to offer to new friends. Remind them to eat veggies to keep the treats coming.
Why limit your child’s sandwich to just peanut butter? If you play your lunch-making cards right, hot lunch once a month won’t steal the show. ¶ Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz knows better than to slack off on shopping for school lunches. If she does, she’ll have to hear about it all the way home from school.
Offer bonus sweets in moderation. Sneak something fun into their packs on Friday: a tiny bag
Healthy lunch foods to try: Hummus Yogurt Dried fruit Nuts and nut butters Cheese sticks Cut veggies Rice and beans Granola or Granola bars Rice cakes Trail mix Popcorn Whole grain crackers Hard-boiled eggs Pita or bagel chips Fruit leather Pistachios Protein bars Veggie chips
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE
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Enroll Today!
707.468.1138 (Boys) 707.468.3896 (Girls) www.igdvs.org
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August 2022
MendoLakeFamilyLife 15
2022–23 School Calendars Lake County
Holidays for all schools: Sept. 5, Nov. 11, Jan. 16, May 29 First Day
Thanksgiving
Winter Break Presidents’ Days Spring Break
Last Day
Kelseyville Unified
Sept. 6
Konocti Unified
Aug. 10
Lake County International
Not available at this time
Lakeport Unified
Aug. 11
Lucerne Elementary
Other Days Off
Nov. 22–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 2
Feb. 20
Apr. 10–14
June 16
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 22–Jan. 6
Feb. 20–24
Apr. 10–14
June 7
Oct. 10–14
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 22–Jan. 4
Feb. 17 & 20
Apr. 3–7
June 2
Sept. 2, Oct. 10 & 17, Mar. 17 & 20
Aug. 10
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 6
Feb. 17 & 20
Apr. 3–7
June 1
Oct. 10
Middletown Unified
Aug. 15
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 2
Feb. 20–24
Apr. 10–14
June 2
Upper Lake Unified
Aug. 10
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 6
Feb. 17 & 20
Apr. 3–7
June 1
Oct. 10
Design Your Future
Create Who You Want To Be
READ WITH YOUR KIDS UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
WASC Accredited
Not Immunized? No Problem. La Vida Can Support You. La Vida Charter School
511 S. ORCHARD AVE., UKIAH • 707-472-5000
16 MendoLakeFamilyLife
August 2022
707-459-6344
11785 Orchard Lane, Willits
lavidaschool.org
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Mendocino County
Holidays for all schools: Sept. 5, Nov. 11, Jan. 16, May 29 First Day
Thanksgiving
Winter Break Presidents’ Days Spring Break
Last Day
Other Days Off
Anderson Valley Unified
Aug. 15
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 6
Feb. 20
Apr. 10–14
June 8
Sept. 19, Oct. 10, Nov. 1, Mar. 10
Fort Bragg Unified
Aug. 17
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 2
Feb. 20–24
Apr. 10–14
June 9
Oct. 13 & 14, Nov. 1
Instilling Goodness
Aug. 22
Nov. 23–25
Dec. 15–Jan. 6
Feb. 20
Mar. 27–31
May 31 (B) & June 1 (G)
La Vida Charter School
Aug. 29
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 2
Feb. 20
Apr. 3–10
June 6
Laytonville Unified
Aug. 18
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–30
Feb. 17–20
Apr. 10–14
June 8
Mendocino Unified
Aug. 22
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 2
Feb. 20–24
Apr. 10–14
June 9
Point Arena Schools
Aug. 17
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 16–Jan. 2
Feb. 16–21
Apr. 10–14
June 16
Nov. 1 (HS), Mar. 17 (HS)
Potter Valley Community
Aug. 18
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 23–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–20
Apr. 10–14
June 8
Oct. 14, Nov. 1
Redwood Collegiate Academy Aug. 22
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 23–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–24
Mar. 27–31
June 8
Oct. 14 & 17, Apr. 10
River Oak Charter School
Aug. 24
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 23–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–20
Mar. 27–31
June 8
Oct. 10, Nov. 1, Apr. 10
St. Mary Catholic School
Aug. 18
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 23–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–20
Mar. 27–31
June 9
Sep. 23, Nov. 1, Dec. 2, Apr. 7 & 10
Sequoia Career Academy
Aug. 22
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 23–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–24
Mar. 27–31
June 8
Oct. 14 & 17, Apr. 10
Tree of Life Charter School
Aug. 22
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–20
Mar. 27–31
June 8
Nov. 1
Ukiah Junior Academy
Aug. 17
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–30
Feb. 20
Mar. 27–31
June 2
Oct. 24, Nov. 1, Jan. 17, Apr. 3 & 4
Ukiah Unified
Aug. 22
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 23–Jan. 6
Feb. 17–20
Mar. 27–31
June 8
Nov. 1
Willits Unified
Aug. 22
Nov. 21–25
Dec. 19–Jan. 3
Feb. 17–20
Apr. 10–14
June 9
Nov. 1
Nov. 1, May 12
Ukiah Junior Academy
Contact us to schedule a free consultation today! 707.462.6350 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
https://www.myuja.org August 2022
office@myuja.org MendoLakeFamilyLife 17
to “home rooms” and the frequent changes in classes throughout the day. They also can help them plan their day by studying the physical layout of the school together: “If your child can begin to imagine what their first few weeks at high school might look like, this may help with the anxiety that can accompany the transition.”
The Really Big Kids 6 Ways to Prepare for High School By Tanni Haas
B
y the time they reach high school, your kids are no longer kids, but they’re not yet adults either. They occupy a unique middle ground we call the “teenage years.” How do you prepare your teens for all the academic and social challenges of high school? Here’s what the experts say.
Visit the school. Starting high school often means literally moving to a different school and that can make any teen anxious. One of the best things you can do is to make it a priority to visit their new school on back-to-school night. As Michael Zwiers, a professor of educational psychology, says, “Familiarity helps to reduce anxiety.” The experts at KidsHealth, a major health-news site, add that high schoolers should 18 MendoLakeFamilyLife
familiarize themselves with all the important parts of their new school, including the main office, the various administrative offices, and the school nurse. Explain school expectations. Describing how high school differs from middle school will help teens feel less anxious. Karmen Russell, PhD, a child psychologist, suggests that parents introduce their teens August 2022
Make it a priority to visit their new school on back-to-school night. Teach them organization. As in middle school, success in high school in large part depends on how organized your kids are. They have lots of courses, taught by different teachers, and the workload is often heavy and difficult. “Learning and mastering the skills of getting organized, staying focused, and seeing work through to the end,” the experts at KidsHealth say, “will help teens in just about everything they do.” They suggest that parents keep their teens organized with binders, folders, and notebooks for each course, a calendar with upcoming deadlines, and a daily to-do list of assignments. Let them handle homework. Unlike organization, experts agree that parents should take much more of a hands-off approach when it comes to homework. As Amanda Morin, senior expert for Understood, a nonprofit that supports people with learning and thinking differences, pointedly says, “If the last time you studied pre-calculus was when you were in high school, www.mendolakefamilylife.com
you probably won’t be of much use when your teen has questions.” Kris Bales, an educational curriculum reviewer, adds that high schoolers should take responsibility for their own education; they’re supposed to be what she calls “self-directed learners.”
friends, Chen says, remind them of all the times they successfully made friends in the past: “Bring his strengths to the forefront to help him understand why his current friends chose to spend time with him in the first place.”
Manage the stress. High school Describing how high can be stressful: The academics are school differs from hard, and so is the pressure to fit in middle school will help GIVE YOUR CHILD a joysocially. Grace Chen, an education teens feel less anxious. ful learning experience researcher at the well known full of discovery with : education site Public School Review, • Exploration of own says that, if academics Create support networks. interests & abilities are the primary worry for your teens, help Another way to help teens manage • Experiential learning fielda trips, arts that includes themwith create schedule stress is to encourage them to • Respectful and caring ample time for homework as well create support networks of adults learning community as •friends. Conversely, and/or other teens. Chen suggests Peace education andif your teen Open House is concerned about making new that parents help them assemble mindfulness • Earth stewardship
Wednesday, April 13
a network that includes an older sibling, an extended family member, as well as a teacher, school counselor, or perhaps even their pediatrician, whomever your teens are comfortable talking to. Zwiers recommends that peers also be included in the network. If your teens have friends who’ll attend the same high school, they should consider traveling to schools together in the morning and/or meeting up before school or during lunch. As Zwiers says, “This will give them the opportunity to share and compare experiences—essentially normalizing what they’re going through, while brainstorming solutions to challenges they might be facing.” ¶ Tanni Haas, PhD, is a college communications professor.
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MendoLakeFamilyLife 19
So, treat wherever you go with the same respect. Gear up. This won’t require fancy equipment, but it helps to have a few essentials things in a backpack, ready to go when you hear that a snake has been spotted in your neighborhood or an owl is hooting out your door.
Top 10 Things to Have in Your Pack
Let’s Get Wild Tips for Young Naturalists By Susie Spikol
A
re you an animal person? Do you find bears, butterflies, or turtles more interesting than people? If holding a frog, humming to a snail, following a fox track, or hooting to an owl are things you’d like to do, you’ve come to the right place. Read on and discover secret tried-and-true steps to uncovering the world of the everyday wild creatures in your own neighborhood. No matter where you live, animals live there too, and you only need to know a few simple things to start exploring. Tips Pay attention! Wild animals are all around us. Slowing down, tuning in, and being quiet will help you notice them. Don’t forget the tiny things, like the red velvet mite, who is even smaller than the head of a pin, or the jewel-like hummingbirds of your world. Every animal is someone to meet.
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Practice kindness. Animals are living, breathing creatures, just like you. When you have the chance to be up close and connect with them, be just as kind and friendly as you would if you were meeting a person. Safety first. Your animal adventures will have you exploring at dawn, dusk, and night. No matter where or when you are going, always let a grown-up know. If you go on a night adventure, bring along a grown-up. Also, practice personal safety by paying attention to your surroundings and making sure the animals you are searching for aren’t a danger to you. Leave it better than you found it. Keep the natural world full of nature, not your trash or food. If an animal visited your house, you wouldn’t want them to trash it, right? August 2022
1. Binoculars (purchased or DIY) 2. Your field journal* 3. 1–2 pencils 4. Ruler 5. Magnifying lens 6. Plastic bags for collecting things like fur, bones, and poop 7. Rubber, latex, or plastic gloves 8. Flashlight 9. Field guides for your area on topics like birds, animal tracks, and amphibians and reptiles 10. Camera (optional) *Note: Your field journal doesn’t need to be fancy—just a notebook where you can write down your observations, record your findings, and map and sketch what you see.
Excerpted, with permission, from The Animal Adventurer’s Guide: How to Prowl for an Owl, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-Handed by Susie Spikol and illustrated by Becca Hall (Roost Books, 2022), roostbooks.com. If you ask Susie Spikol her favorite animal, she will not be able to choose. As a naturalist and the author of The Animal Adventurer’s Guide, she helps people of all ages fall in love with and connect with the natural world. Find her at susiespikol.com.
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Celebrating
ILLUSTRATION BY BECCA HALL
#1 resource for local families magazine • web • email • events
YEARS
DIY Tube Binoculars Binoculars are a great tool for watching animals, from birds and butterflies to chipmunks and whales, because they let you see what is far away and help your eyes focus on the animal. If you have a pair, that’s great! If you don’t, you can make your own. Even though they won’t make the faraway creatures look closer, these simple tube binoculars will really help your eyes focus on the animals you see. Things You’ll Need 2 cardboard tubes or toilet paper rolls Duct tape, any color
Sequoia Career Academy Focusing on the future of every student
Stickers (optional) Hole punch Ribbon, string, or yarn 1. Line up the tubes next to each other lengthwise and wrap the duct tape around the tubes to form a binocular shape. 2. Decorate them with stickers to give them your own style, if you want. 3. Punch a hole on the outside edge of each tube. 4. Tie a strand of ribbon, string, or yarn through the punched holes to make a loop big enough to fit over your head. The binoculars should hang down to the middle of your chest.
FREE public charter school Small class sizes Supportive, highly qualified educators Career exploration and planning MESA and VEX Robotics Program Archery and other athletics After school program Individual academic advising Credit recovery for timely graduation
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MendoLakeFamilyLife 21
her dedication, and in 2016 they nominated her to serve on the Program Policy Council (PPC), the parent-led advisory board that oversees the program’s finances, policies, and direction. The PPC reading material was sometimes intense, but it prepared her for what was next. In 2016 she quit her job and, with encouragement from a staff member who saw potential in her, took a position as a Head Start substitute
The Story of a Child Care Pro Local Mom Builds a Career at Head Start By North Coast Opportunities
I
n 2015 Amber Alves was a new mom, working a minimum wage job at an alarm dispatcher company and supporting her husband through college. Her family just moved to Kelseyville, and she was looking for opportunities to socialize her three-year-old. A friend told her about the local North Coast Opportunities Head Start Child Development center. When she walked in that first day, Alves knew it would go a long way in preparing her child for kindergarten but didn’t realize it would change the trajectory of her professional career.
Head Start encourages parents to be involved in the program, and Alves seized the opportunity to volunteer in her child’s classroom. With her husband, she attended Healthy Families classes, where 22 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Employees have access to a tuition repayment program. they met other parents and formed a social network. Parents noticed August 2022
“It’s not an easy job, but it’s so rewarding.” — Miriam McNamara teacher. Alves states that her experience on the PPC and with the staff she met as a volunteer provided the knowledge and confidence she needed to take the leap. “I was super nervous, and they encouraged me by saying, ‘I think you were born to do this. You should pursue your education because you’re a natural,’” said Alves. “Because we are an education program, bringing people into the field is part of our model,” said Miriam McNamara, Head Start program director. “The investment in staff and families begins on day one.” Many Head Start positions require additional education to move up, so its employees have access to a tuition repayment program, paid work-release time to attend class, and a learning library of textbooks. Alves moved away after completing the 2016–2017 school year, but when she returned she became a www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Head Start classroom aide as she began her associate’s degree in early childhood education at Woodland College. After taking the necessary credits, she was promoted to assistant teacher.
Anyone in the early childhood education field must have a love for children and their best interest at heart, yet 54 percent of Head Start employees reported that interacting
A 2020–2021 employee survey found that 62 percent of staff stays with Head Start because they enjoy all aspects of the job, while 76 percent said working with children is what they enjoy most.
Head Start encourages parents to be involved in the program.
“It’s not an easy job, but it’s so rewarding,” said McNamara. “We are boots on the ground during a child’s most critical period of brain development. We are one of the main resiliency factors for families and children experiencing childhood trauma.”
with team members is what motivates them to come to work every day. “They are the best mentors I’ve ever had,” said Alves. “They’ve helped me be a better teacher, a better mom. Of course, working with kids is rewarding; it’s fun to watch them grow throughout the school year with everything you’ve taught them.”
Next year, Alves will qualify for an advanced associate teacher position. While she eventually plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree, she’d like to wait until her children are a bit older. “Maybe I’ll just move up in the company. You never know.” To learn more about Head Start and to view career and volunteer opportunities, visit ncoheadstart.org. North Coast Opportunities (NCO) is the Community Action Agency that serves Lake and Mendocino Counties as well as surrounding areas. NCO reacts and adjusts to community needs, including disaster response and recovery. For more information, visit ncoinc.org or call 707-467-3200.
& begin child's journey to school success! ApplyApply todaytoday & begin your your child's journey to school success! Find out how we keep children and families safe by reviewing our
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Lake County Apply Apply Do you have questions? Email: Lake - 2nd Street Upper Lake Upper - 2nd Street EnrollHeadStart@ncoinc.org LakeportBlvd. - Lakeport Blvd. Lakeport - Lakeport Now! Now! Empowering and families to Empowering children children and families to reach their potential! highest potential! reach their highest
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Applications online: www.ncoheadstart.org •(707) (707)462-2582 462-2582 or 1-(800) 326-3122 326-3122 Applications online: www.ncoinc.org 1-(800) Applications online: www.ncoinc.org (707) 462-2582 or 1-(800)or 326-3122 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
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MendoLakeFamilyLife 23
Here, in brief, are three strategies that will help strengthen your child’s emotional resilience so that they can better face and overcome teasing, exclusion, or bullying.
Build Emotional Resilience How Parents Can Help a Teased Child
By Kim John Payne with Luis Fernando Llosa
I
(Kim John Payne) have received countless calls from distressed parents despairing at the emotional toll teasing and exclusion have taken on their child. They ask questions such as “Can you help us give our son more confidence to join in?” or “Is there a way I can coach my daughter to stand up for herself?” Understandably they desperately seek the tools to deal directly with their child’s problems. But before I talk about tools and strategy, I always say, “First we need to explore your family’s pace of life to see if we need to dial things back a bit.” There is little sense in pouring more water into a cup that is already overflowing. Sure, we can come up with commonsense strategies to help ease the teasing. But if life is moving too fast for the child—with too many activities and too little time to decompress—the tactics will not have a container to hold them. All 24 MendoLakeFamilyLife
that effort will become spillage and may well increase the child’s feeling of hopelessness. The question becomes, do we want to spend our time mopping up the spill or simply put our hand on the tap and turn down the flow? My book Simplicity Parenting provides detailed strategies for dialing back the frenetic pace of family life. August 2022
1. Increasing Rhythm and Predictability In a child’s school life, transitions (arrival, departure, class change-overs) and recess are the times when teasing and other social confrontations are most likely to occur. They are also the times that are most changeable and socially unpredictable.
We want home to be a sanctuary where they can seek support and relief. There is really nothing that a parent can do about what happens in school because it’s outside our control. But we can counterbalance that instability by making extra efforts to create a home life that is as secure and predictable as possible. It’s important to know the big daily rhythms that provide the “when” things happen and the little rituals that give the “how” they are done. This creates a sense of security, allowing a child’s nervous system to relax and revive. And its importance cannot be overstated. 2. Dialing Back After-School and Weekend Activities Children who struggle socially need extra time to decompress. Cutting back on the number of play dates, after-school clubs, and weekend activities they are involved in will help alleviate their anxiety. One shouldn’t stop everything, of course. Your child can remain involved in some activities that boost their self-esteem. But www.mendolakefamilylife.com
concentrating more on family-based pursuits (such as games, hikes, and home-centered projects) can have a calming, comforting effect. If they are used to a fast-paced life, they may initially complain that they have nothing to do. But boredom can be a gift. As they experience more downtime, children will search for things to do. And they will likely become more innovative and creative out of necessity. Becoming involved in here (at home), where it is safe and relaxing, is just what they need when they are not being seen or treated well out there in school, where there is a lot of social pressure. 3. Filtering Adult Information We should moderate and filter what we say in front of kids, especially when
they are being teased or excluded. Our children want us to acknowledge the social difficulties they are going through and may, of their own accord, bring them up. But we shouldn’t broach the topic repeatedly ourselves.
Children who struggle socially need extra time to decompress. Every time these stressful situations are discussed, our children relive them emotionally. They re-experience the release of adrenaline and cortisol (the fight-or-flight hormones). We want home to be a sanctuary where they can seek support and relief. So try to keep things light and fun. You can check in with your child from time
to time and let them know they can always speak to you about how things are going, but take care not to process your emotions and worries about their social woes in front of your child. ¶ Excerpted, with permission, from Emotionally Resilient Tweens & Teens: Empowering Your Kids to Navigate Bullying, Teasing, and Social Exclusion by Kim John Payne, MEd, and Luis Fernando Llosa (Shambhala, 2022). Kim John Payne, MEd, has been a counselor, educator, consultant, and researcher for more than 30 years and is the author of the widely acclaimed book Simplicity Parenting, as well as The Soul of Discipline, and Games Children Play II. Luis Fernando Llosa is an award-winning Peruvian-American sports-writer, speaker, investigative reporter, and youth sports consultant who has coached kids and teens for 25 years.
Expires Expires:09/01/22 08/01/22 • Code: Family Life Magazine
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3. Get in the spirit. You have heard that attitude is everything, and nowhere is this saying more relevant than once your child becomes a team member. If you want your child to be a positive contributor, have regular conversations with her or him about how fortunate he is to be part of such an awesome group.
Go Team! 10 Ways to Raise Good Sports
By Christina Katz
I
n the reality television age, when contestants are either considered superstars-in-the-making or deserving of international ridicule, parents may struggle to instill basic teamwork principles in their children. Becoming members of a team can help kids constructively channel their energy and creativity, and learn about sportsmanship first-hand. The experience will likely challenge and stretch them—and you. Keep these teamwork tips fresh in your mind and your entire family will have a better experience.
1. Commit wisely. Join teams pursuing goals your child is passionate about. It’s great to be good at more than one thing, but resist the urge to over-commit to too many teams at once. If you and your child try to please every coach at once, you won’t be able to please any coaches at all. 2. Communicate consistently. Conflicts, illnesses, and field trips 26 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Kids need help finding the value in experiences that don’t immediately thrust them into a spotlight. 4. Be an eager learner. Coaches love engaged, enthusiastic players. Assume your child, no matter how capable, has not yet mastered the entire skill set. Skills are an ongoing journey. If your child does not have more to learn, then maybe it’s time to graduate from the team.
Sometimes you have to say, “Good game,” when you don’t feel that way.
5. Contribute your best. We need to ditch the idea that some people are natural born players and others are not. Anyone can contribute something to a team if she or he follows her or his innate instinct to be generous. Discuss with your kids the difference between giving whole-heartedly and brown-nosing.
are bound to happen. Try to manage expectations by communicating schedule conflicts to coaches as early as you can. Other parents may not bother, but you don’t want to be one of them.
6. Stay open to constructive criticism. Part of being on a team is responding to criticism. Feedback will not likely be given perfectly every time. The coach and team administrators are also not perfect. Members need to learn to take
August 2022
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helpful feedback and, to the best of their ability, try to apply it without pushback. 7. Bounce back from disappointments. Sitting the bench, getting cast as the understudy, making JV instead of varsity—kids need help finding the value in experiences that don’t immediately thrust them into a spotlight. Help them find the silver lining so they can maximize it as they keep growing. 8. Cultivate courtesy. Sometimes you have to say, “Good game,” when you don’t feel that way. Coaches expect kids to park their pouting and behave with humility. Increase the odds your kids will
be on their best behavior by being impeccable in your behavior, too. Cultivate your family’s reputation as team players and you will raise good sports.
Coaches love engaged, enthusiastic players. 9. Take confusion to the top. Misunderstanding? Miscommunication? Miffed for any reason? Wait 24 hours before you fire off that email. Taking out your anger or frustration on the coach or administrators hurts your child’s reputation and yours. So compose yourself and ask for help in
understanding the situation before you demand heads on a platter. 10. Encourage new members. When you and your child became part of the team, you looked to others to learn the ropes. Once your rookie becomes a veteran, it’s your turn to welcome new members and families. Stick out your hand, introduce yourself, and offer whatever assistance you can. There is only one rule: Keep your comments constructive. Your little team member and fellow families will thank you for rising above gossip and slander. ¶ Christina Katz is a mom, author, and journalist. Find her at christinakatz. com.
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898 S. Main St., Fort Bragg 707-964-9999 August 2022
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August
Calendar of Events
Art in the Gardens
Art Blooms at Botanical Gardens
N
Monday 1 FREE Traveling Toy Library. Check out toys & materials for children ages 0–5. Sponsored by Easterseals Northern CA. Mondays: 1:30–3:30 p.m. 1173 11th St. (next to post office), Lakeport. Wednesdays: 1:30–3:30 p.m. 14085 Lakeshore Dr. (next to WIC), Clearlake. Visit Facebook to confirm schedule: facebook.com/First5ELC. FREE Vacation Bible School. For
age 3–grade 6. Theme is All Aboard the Rocky Railway. Bible stories,
crafts & games. Aug. 1–5. 5:30–7:40 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Ukiah. 514 W. Church St., Ukiah. tinyurl.com/2d5retca.
Tuesday 2 FREE Virtual Circle Times with First 5 Lake County. Songs, story
time, activities & socialization opportunities for little ones. English version: Tuesdays 10 a.m. & Thursdays 4 p.m. Spanish version: Tuesdays 4 p.m. &
STEVE RITCHIE
ature has inspired artists for eons. So it makes sense to hold an art show in a natural setting. Enter Art in the Gardens at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens in Fort Bragg. The event will feature a variety of fine art, including weavings, jewelry, painting, pottery, photography, clocks, glass, woodcuts, and more. For those who want to make, as well as buy, art, there will be workshops in paper collage, basketry, and painting, including a kids’ acrylic painting class for ages 9 and older. New Nashville West, the Real Sarahs with Alex de Grassi, Moon Rabbit, and Mama Grows Funk will perform live music throughout the event, which will be held August 6–7, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission is $15 for ages 6–14, $25 for ages 15 and older, and free for ages 5 and younger. Find out more information and purchase tickets at gardenbythesea.org/calendar/aig-2022. ¶
Thursdays 10 a.m. Sign up via email: earlyinterventionreferrals@ esnorcal.org. Info: esnorcal.org/ early-intervention.
Wednesday 3 FREE Stories in the Park. Facilitated by Willits Library. Wednesdays. 10:30–11 a.m. Recreation Grove Park (located across from library). Corners of S. Lenore Ave & E. Commercial St., Willits. tinyurl.com/3dh43j9f.
Healthy Kids Need Healthy Teeth. Visit Your Dental Provider!
2 steps to a healthy smile! Funded by the CDPH under Contract # 17-10704
28 MendoLakeFamilyLife
August 2022
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FREE Kids’ Farmers’ Market. Local kids selling their homegrown produce in front of the library. Aug. 3 & 10. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Ukiah Branch Library. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah. tinyurl. com/52w2hz6d.
Thursday 4 FREE Middletown Chess Club. A
friendly competition open to all ages. Thursdays. 3–4:30 p.m. Middletown Library. 21256 Washington St., Middletown. tinyurl.com/yffz2xsz. Cat Mother: Mendocino Coast Music. Exhibit features a collection
of ephemera, albums, artwork & articles about legendary local ’70s band, which toured with Jim Hendrix. Suggested donation: $5. Exhibit runs thru Aug. 28. Thursdays–Sundays. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Kelley House Museum. 45007 Albion St., Mendocino. tinyurl. com/2p9x6tb4.
Redwood Empire Fair. Carnival rides, livestock shows, art & flower exhibits & vendors. Carnival wristbands: $30–$35. Aug. 4: 3–10 p.m. Aug. 5: 3–10 p.m. Aug. 6 & 7: noon–10 p.m. 1055 N. State St., Ukiah. Event schedule: redwoodempirefair.com.
Friday 5 FREE Mama Walk & Talk. One-hour weekly walk hosted by Mother-Wise. Open to all Lake County moms. Fridays: 9:30 a.m. Mother-Wise. 180 N. Main St., Lakeport. facebook.com/ MotherWiseLakeCounty. FREE Shakespeare at the Lake.
Twelfth Night, a comedy of love & deception. Bring low-back chairs or blanket. Donations suggested. Aug. 5–7: 7 p.m. Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. facebook. com/ShakesTheLake.
FREE Summer Concerts in Library Park. Bring blanket, chair
& picnic. Aug. 5: Blonde Ambition (Madonna tribute). Aug. 12: Tom Rigney & Flambeau (Zydeco). Aug. 19: Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers (ZZ Top tribute). 6:30–8:30 p.m. Library Park. 200 Park St., Lakeport. lakeportmainstreet.com/ events/2022-08. FREE Summer Concerts at Robinson Rancheria. Aug. 5: Dustin
Saylor (country & classic rock). Aug. 12: John Paul Hodge (Western soul). Aug. 19: Jason Weeks (hits from ’60s to today). Aug. 26: Nick Eng (classic rock/top 40). Bring blanket or chair. 5–9 p.m. Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino. 1545 Hwy. 20, Nice. lakecountybloom.com/big-calendar. FREE Dungeons & Dragons Club. Ages 13 & older. Playing 5th
edition of D&D. Space limited.
Join the Move Naturally Steps Challenge. July 1 - September 30, 2022 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
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Fridays. 1–4 p.m. Middletown Library. 21256 Washington St., Middletown. Registration required: call 707-987-3674.
Saturday 6 Write On! Learn the basics of
constructing a story from Jordan O’Halloran, a local self-published writer. Saturdays. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Lake County Arts Council. 325 N. Main St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/2j4j32ar. FREE Self-Guided Hikes. One-mile family-friendly walk. Dogs are not permitted. Saturdays. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Rodman Preserve. 6350 Westlake Rd., Upper Lake. lakecountylandtrust.org. Junior Ranger Program. Ages 7–12.
Aug. 6: Water cycle. Aug. 20: Weather & climate. Aug. 27: History of Clear Lake Park. 9–11 a.m. Clear Lake State Park. Education Pavilion. 5300 Soda
Bay Rd., Kelseyville. tinyurl.com/ y89x52uj. Caspar Beach Concerts. Aug. 6: Boonfire. Aug. 20: Surfsquatch. Aug. 27: New Nashville West with Gene Parsons. Bring lawn chairs. 2–5 p.m. Caspar Beach RV Park. 14441 Pt. Cabrillo, Mendocino. tinyurl. com/4u457nkd. Art in the Gardens. Arts exhibit
in the garden, along with music, food & drink. $15–$25. Ages 5 & younger: free. Aug. 6 & 7. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Mendocino Botanical Gardens. 18220 Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. Tickets: gardenbythesea.org/calendar/aig-2022. Lens Tours at Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. Led by docents. Tours
last 20–40 mins. & are first-come, first-served. All children must be taller than 4’ 2”. No babies or pets allowed. Masks required. $5–$10. 10 a.m.–4
p.m. Arrive by 3 p.m. for last tour. Point Cabrillo Lighthouse. 13800 Pt. Cabrillo Dr., Mendocino. (Half-mile walk from parking lot.) pointcabrillo. org/visit/events.
Sunday 7 FREE First Fiddlers’ Jam. Listen to
fiddle tunes. Noon–2 p.m. Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum. 9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Hwy. 128), Kelseyville. elystagestop.com. Artist Demonstration & Papermaking Workshop. Learn
how to make casted paper. Free with museum admission ($4–$5; families, $12). Noon–3 p.m. Grace Hudson Museum. 431 S. Main St., Ukiah. gracehudsonmuseum.org.
FREE Crazy Quilt Petting Zoo. Food & drinks for purchase. Held first & third Sundays of each month. Aug.
Mendocino College Theatre Arts and Lake County Theatre Company Present
William Shakespeare’s
July 30-31 Library Park Lakeport August 3-7 Austin park clearlake ALL SHOWS 7pm FREE ADMISSION
thrilling & sophisticated children’s camps at select locations
‘...the distinction between past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.’- Einstein Touring June to October under the BigTop 30 MendoLakeFamilyLife
More info: LCTC.US or 707.278.9628 PRESENTED in cooperation with Lake COUNTY Friends of Mendocino College, City of Lakeport, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and City of Clear Lake.
August 2022
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
7 & 21: 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Crazy Quilt Farm. 1215 St. Hwy. 20, Upper Lake. crazyquiltfarm.com.
Thursday 11 FREE Kids, Jokes & Making Radio!
Kids will read & record jokes from the book Laugh Out Loud Jokes for Kids. Recordings will be played over the air on local public radio station KYBU 96.9 FM. 2–3 p.m. Round Valley Branch Library. 23925 Howard St., Round Valley. tinyurl.com/3usaswwk. Skunk Train: Cinema in the Redwoods. Train ride departs
from Fort Bragg depot & arrives at The Glen (new outdoor theater) for the screening of Austin Powers. Ticket includes round-trip train ride, music, a drink token (redeemable at the bar) & a bucket of bottomless popcorn. $32–$75. 6:30–9:50 p.m. Skunk Train Depot. 100 W. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. skunktrain.com/ cinema-in-the-redwoods.
Friday 12 FREE Moonlight Movie Madness.
Free outdoor film screening. Pre-movie activities: 7 p.m. Movies: dusk. Aug. 12: Wall-E. 432 Observatory Ave., Ukiah. Aug. 26: Encanto. Oak Manor Park. 500 Oak Manor Dr., Ukiah. Bring blankets & low-back chairs. tinyurl.com/26pmr4xn. Skunk Train: Music in the Redwoods. Train departs from
Fort Bragg depot & arrives at the Glen outdoor theater for a musical performance. Aug. 12: Moon Rabbit. Aug. 19: Deep Pockets. Aug. 26: Mama Grows Funk. Ticket includes round-trip train ride, music, a drink token (redeemable at the bar) & a bucket of bottomless popcorn. $32–$75. 6:30–9:45 p.m. Skunk Train Depot. 100 W. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. skunktrain.com. www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Perseids Meteor Shower at Mendocino Magic. Aug. 13: view
star & meteors at Methuselah’s Observatory. Tea service & hot miso soup included. Camping reservations: $75–$175. Aug. 13 only: $25 for youth & $45 for adults. Aug. 12–14. Mendocino Magic. 3000 Branscomb Rd., Laytonville.
Online registration recommended: mendocinomagic.com/perseids.
Saturday 13 FREE Anderson Marsh Nature Walk.
Meet Ranch House: 8:15 a.m. Walk begins: 8:30 a.m. Anderson Marsh State Historic Park. 8400 St. Hwy. 53, Lower Lake. andersonmarsh.org.
2022
Passes ggoood June 1 th thrru Aug. 31, 2022
SUMMER
YOUTH PASS
$45 ALL SUMMER COUNTY-WIDE Unlimited rides on all MTA buses for children up to age 18. $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 Buy your Summer Youth Pass on board any MTA bus or at the MTA office in Ukiah or Fort Bragg. This pass not valid on Dial-A-Ride.
wheel deal! August 2022
MendoLakeFamilyLife 31
FREE Old Time Machines Car Show. Features vintage cars, RVs,
farm vehicles & machines. Fundraiser for Operation Tango Mike. Food & drinks for purchase. Vehicle entry: $30. 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Library Park. 200 Park St., Lakeport. tinyurl. com/2p97cj2w. Register vehicle: tinyurl.com/44vnnwt7. FREE Summer Music Series. Aug.
13: Buck Ford & Lance Michael Cornwall Band. Aug. 20: Kyle Smith, Clear Conscience & Dubcraft. Bring blanket or low-back chair. Food & drinks for purchase. 6–10 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. Marina lawn. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. facebook.com/KonoctiVistaCasino. FREE Noyo Harbor Fish Market.
Fleet sells catches off boats. Live music, family activities, food trucks & arts & crafts vendors. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Noyo Harbor. 19101 S. Harbor Dr., Fort Bragg. noyoharbordistrict.org.
FREE Children’s Festival of the Hungry Ghosts. Kids make a
variety of crafts: dragon head mask, paper lantern & pop-up Great Wall. Donations appreciated. 1–3 p.m. Community Center of Mendocino. 998 School St., Mendocino. kwantaitemple.org/events.
Sunday 14 FREE Sundays in the Park Concert.
Con Brio with Weird Year play soulful party funk. Bring blanket or low-back chairs. Food & drinks for purchase or bring picnic. 6 p.m. Todd Grove Park. 600 Live Oak Ave., Ukiah. cityofukiah. com/sundays-in-the-park.
Thursday 18 FREE Kickin’ in the Country Street Dance. Chris Cain Blues Band.
Bring chairs & dancing shoes. 7–10 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. visitkelseyville.com.
Flynn Creek Circus: Balloons, Birds & Other Flying Things. A
rurally based, award-winning circus bringing international talent to the North Bay. Tickets are sold by table or bench, regardless of age of attendees. $81–$416. Aug. 18: 8 p.m. Aug. 19: 8 p.m. (adults 21+ only). Aug. 20: 1 p.m., 5 p.m. & 8 p.m. Aug. 21: 1 p.m. Giorno Field (next to Anton Stadium). 506 Park Blvd., Ukiah. flynncreekcircus.com.
Saturday 20 FREE Blackberry Festival. Arts &
crafts, blackberry delicacies, live music, climbing wall & children’s games. Aug. 20: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Aug. 21: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Festival Grounds. Covelo. roundvalleyblackberryfestival.com. Saracina Sunflower Festival. Ticket
includes 2 drinks, tumbler & live music. Proceeds benefit Redwood
PRESENTED BY
PRE-MOVIE ACTIVITIES AT 7 PM MOVIE AT DUSK
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Planes: Fire & Rescue (G) June 24th Ukiah Airport
The Sandlot (PG) July 1st Anton Stadium
Space Jam (PG) July 29th Vinewood Park
Wall-E (G) August 12th Observatory Park
Spiderman: No Way Home (PG-13) July 15th Ukiah Valley Golf Course
Encanto (PG) August 26th Oak Manor Park
For more information, call (707) 463-6231 or visit www.cityofukiah.com/recreation 32 MendoLakeFamilyLife
August 2022
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Food Bank. Only ages 21 & older may attend. $75. 1–9 p.m. Music starts at 3 p.m. Saracina Vineyards. 11684 Redwood Hwy., Hopland. Tickets: tinyurl.com/4vnwvphe. Art in the Redwoods. Thirty-plus
vendor booths, live music, storytelling & local food & drink. $10. Food & drinks for purchase. Aug. 20 & 21. 2 time-slots: 10 a.m.–1 p.m. & 1–4 p.m. Gualala Arts Center. 46501 Old State Hwy., Gualala. tinyurl.com/bddvzatx.
Sunday 21 Lake County Symphony Chamber Orchestra Baroque Concert. $15.
Ages 17 & younger: free. 2 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/3b2jpkwy.
Thursday 25 FREE Thrilling Thursdays: Slime Day. All ages. Learn about borax
by making borax slime & a bouncy ball. Young children will need adult assistance. Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum. 16435 Main St., Lower Lake. facebook.com/ MuseumsOfLakeCountyCa/events.
Saturday 27 FREE Sinister Science. Ages 5–12. Kids learn a variety of hands-on science experiments. 2–3 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. fortbragglibrary.org. Midday Luau at the Moose. LC Diamonds & Bill Vanderwall play live music. $15–$20. Free for ages 4 & younger (no meal included but one can be purchased for $5). Fundraiser for Lower Lake High School scholarships. 3–7 p.m. Moose Lodge. 15900 St. Hwy. 20, Clearlake Oaks. lakecountybloom. com/big-calendar.
Move, Lake County! 5K Fun Run & Wellness Faire. Run entry fee:
$55 or $15 for ages 6–12 (must be accompanied by adult). Fair includes free fitness classes & health & wellness vendors. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. Race starts & ends in Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. lakecochamber.com/ move-lake-county.
Sunday 28 FREE CMAS Adventure Day Camp.
Ages 7–16. Plant & animal track identification, team scavenger hunts, fire safety & first aid demos. Space limited. Presented by Children’s Museum of Art & Science. Noon–4 p.m. Clear Lake Campground. 7805 Cache Creek Way, Clearlake. Limited to 30. Register at: tinyurl.com/ cmascamp.
YEARS Celebrating
YEARS as the #1 resource for local families magazine • web • email • events www.mendolakefamilylife.com
August 2022
MendoLakeFamilyLife 33
Humor Break cannot possibly keep on top of that. During week three, your little ones officially realize that their 3–6 hour, 5-days-a-week experience is, in fact, school and not a trip to Disneyland. This week may involve some light to moderate bribery. I hope your children are still thrilled by stickers.
When Will the Target Trips End? Your Back-to-School Survival Guide By Jessica Guerrieri
A
s a former educator, self-appointed humorist, and mother of three, I’m here to guide you through what’s to come. Though I’m only slightly more qualified to offer unsolicited back-to-school advice than the supermarket octogenarian who waxes on about the benefits of fresh beet salads.
The two most common rookie mistakes: 1) Buying back-to-school supplies without the teacher’s list in hand and 2) attempting to gauge how anything is going before one month and one week into the school year. The first week is a mythical, illogical unicorn. It’s mostly reconnecting with friends, fun class summer surveys, and breaking in new shoes. Do yourself 34 MendoLakeFamilyLife
a favor: Save your receipts and don’t humble-brag post about how amazing everything is. You’re going to feel really sheepish when your kid sets the school record for volume of glue eaten. The second week is quite possibly the most unpredictable. It could all go completely sideways, but fear not, this is normal! The greatest thing you can do as a parent is continue to establish a routine that’s sustainable for the long haul. Meaning, don’t surprise the kids with sugary treats unless you want “Friday Donuts!” to become a weekly standing tradition. And go ahead and throw away your elaborate, well-intentioned reward chart made with the same gung-ho enthusiasm of the first week of lockdown—you August 2022
As a former study skills teacher, I suggest sitting down with your students and going through their backpacks. Crumpled papers and brown bananas, at this point, don’t necessarily doom them to star in a future episode of Hoarders. But make sure they are the ones to clean out the pack, and then add “backpack check” to your floor-length daily checklist. One month in and, sadly, you aren’t quite inside the window of time that I consider to be cruise control. You’re still frequenting Target to purchase shoes that don’t cause blisters and a backpack that’s seven times bigger than the original (to carry the flood of paperwork sent home), and to return any clothing items you purchased thinking “this is so cute” only to find out your fiercely independent pre-pre-teen strongly disagrees. Congratulations! You made it to my arguably completely arbitrary “one month and one week” milestone. Good, bad, and definitely at times ugly, the new reality finally has settled in. I never promised perfection, just a somewhat blurry version of normalcy, one where your children may be the students, but every day you still feel like the one getting schooled. Jessica Guerrieri is a mom and a freelance writer and aspiring novelist. Find her at jessicaguerrieri.net and on Instagram and Twitter @witandspitup.
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Marketplace Preschools
Schools
Give Your Give Child a Head Start! C E N T E R S
Free Your & Low-Cost Quality Preschool! • Ukiah Child a classroomsTuition-free ✓ 1/2-day & full-day for Montessori North Ukiah - Bush St. ages 18 months to 5 years Nokomis - Washington Ave. Head elementary South forUkiah ages 5-13 - S. State St. ✓ Potty-trained not necessary Peach Tree - S. Orchard Ave. Start! Hands-on, arts and music ✓ Children with disabilities welcome • Willits
integrated with academics Near Brookside School at ✓ Referrals for transportation available Free & Low-Cost Spruce St. & Lincoln Way National Green Campus Quality Preschool! • Lake County Also providing FREE in-home services for
Promotes responsibility, Upper Lake - 2nd Street infants, toddlers & pregnant women!
Head Start Child Development Program www.ncoinc.org Head Start
Hungry Ghosts Are Coming
I
(707)Development 462-2582 Program License #230111843 Child
n the United States, ghosts are part of Halloween lore. But in East Asian countries the Hungry Ghost Festival is held during the middle of the seventh month of the lunar year: August. It’s a special time when the ancestors are allowed to leave their otherworldly abodes and eat; it’s also a time dedicated to the restoration of peace and balance. Children can get a taste of the celebration at the Children’s Festival of the Hungry Ghosts in Mendocino. Promoted by Mendocino’s Temple Kwan Tai, one of the oldest Chinese temples in California, the festival will give kids a chance to catapult a ghost and make a dragon-head mask, a dragon glider, and even a pop-up Great Wall. The festival will be held on August 13, 1–3 p.m., at the Community Center in Mendocino and is free; those who make a donation will be entered into a raffle for a mini dragon figurine. Find out more at kwantaitemple.org/events. ¶
Applications online: www.ncoinc.org • (707) 462-2582
I
t’s that exercise class with an interesting name: Zumba. But what is it exactly? Founded in 2001, Zumba is Latin-inspired dance aerobics. But to really know what it’s like, it helps to take a class. And the curious can do just that at the Move Lake County 5K Fun Run and Wellness Faire, at which there’ll be free classes in Zumba as well as yoga and Jazzercise; health and wellness vendors will be exhibiting their wares, too. The event will be held on August 27 at Austin Park in Clearlake; the 5K Fun Run will start at 8 a.m. and the fair will follow. The fair is free; participating in the run costs $55 for adults and $15 for ages 6–12. Sign up and find out more at lakecochamber.com/ move-lake-county. ¶
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Lakeport - Howard Ave. Clearlake - Pearl Ave. ClearlakeLocated - Meadowbrookon Dr.
• Coastnorth end of Fairgrounds Fort Bragg - Lincoln St. PO Box 966 Ukiah 95482
707-462-0913 treeoflifeschool@pacific.net www.treeoflifeschool.net
mendo lake Find a School or After-School Activity in our Online Directories MendoLakeFamilyLife.com
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Find critical COVID-19 info plus lots of free kid-friendly activities. August 2022
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