Mendo Lake Family Life July 2023

We are sti in the fight against COV D. t has not yet bn defeated. t has bn knocked down, but not knocked out.

f you fl sick, stay home. Use masks and social distance when neceary.

We must be watchful, alert, and aware. We must know when to take action.

t is important to learn how to protect yourself and others.

Protect

SECOND boosters are available 4 months after 1st bivalent booster for over 65 and 2 months after 1st booster for immune-compromised.

We especially recommend the updated booster for:

• Those who are 65 years and older

• Those who are pregnant

• Those who are immune-compromised

• Everyone 6 months old and up is eligible for the updated Pfizer or Moderna booster.

Children over 6 months are eligible for the new bivalent vaccinations. Please consult with your child’s provider.

It’s summer! Do you have teens in the house? If you do, you may be spending the next couple of months teaching them how to drive. If the idea of letting your kid get behind the wheel is a little terrifying, you aren’t alone. Let “Mom’s Driver’s Ed” (page 20) show you how to be a driving coach and keep your cool.

Perhaps you’re passed the driving lessons and moving on to life-away-from-mom lessons. Kids headed for college need to know how to wash their clothes and make

dinner. Turn to “College Bound” (page 12) to find out what else to teach them.

As kids work toward their independence, take a moment to celebrate our nation’s independence. See “Fourth of July Fun” (page 22) for a list of great spots to catch local fireworks. Before you head out, make sure to pack up a picnic. “Eco-Friendly Picnics” (page 16) will tell you how to do it with the Earth in mind.

Happy July!

Marketing/ Sales/Events

Patricia Ramos

707-205-1539

patty@family-life.us

Features Editor

Melissa Chianta

melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager

Donna Bogener

production@family-life.us

Contributing Writers

America’s Test Kitchen

Debbie Ausburn

Tanni Haas

Sandra Ann Harris

Kerrie McLoughlin

Billing

Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office

P.O. Box 351 Philo, CA 95466 (707) 205-1539

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

Fire Up the Grill

Make Mushroom Burgers

By America’s Test Kitchen

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

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

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

Grilled Portobello Burgers with Goat Cheese and Arugula

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

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

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

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme

¼ teaspoon table salt

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (½ cup)

1 cup baby arugula

¼ teaspoon balsamic vinegar

4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

1 tomato, cored and sliced thin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Serves 4

See a Circus

Based in Mendocino County, the Flynn Creek Circus has won awards around the globe for their acrobatic feats. In their new show, Desert Myth, Ukranian, Canadian, and American acrobats act out an original story, evolved from multicultural folklore, about searching for water in a parched land. The performances will be held July 1–9 at Friendship Park in Mendocino and July 21–23 at the Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa. Shows are at a variety of afternoon and evening times. Admission is $18–$185. On July 6 and 21, tables will be $15 off. For details and to purchase tickets, go to flynncreekcircus.com.

Get Your ’80s Music Fix

Ah, the ’80s—the era of big hair, heavy eyeliner, and boom boxes. Kids played Pac-Man wars at the arcade and made their slow-dance moves to Journey’s “Open Arms.” Journey still performs but only occasionally, so it may be hard for fans to catch them. Journey Revisited aims to fill in the gap. The tribute band will perform hits like “Don’t Stop Believin’” and “Oh Sherrie” as part of the free Clearlake Concert Series. Joining them will be another ’80s tribute band, Def Leppard Revisited. Both shows will be on July 1 at 7 p.m. at Austin Park in Clearlake. For more information, go to tinyurl.com/mrze5.

Hang Out with Goats

Growing up, fathers and farmers Lyle and Liam Coburn loved their grandmothers’ cooking. And at Crazy Quilt Farms, they aim to recreate it, selling homemade cinnamon rolls, cookies, and lemonade. The goodies will be part of their free Family Fun Day, which will feature games, local vendors, a barbecue, and a petting zoo full of goats, chickens, ducks, rabbits, and a pony. The festivities will be held on July 29, 9 a.m.–2 p.m., at Crazy Quilt Farms in Upper Lake. The petting zoo is $5. See crazyquiltfarm.com for details.

FRANKIE JAMES SUNSTROKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Flynn Creek Circus

Journey Revisited

Listen to the Next Etta James

Oakland singer Terrie Odabi has received many accolades for her powerful voice. According to San Francisco Chronicle columnist Lee Hildebrand, “She is easily the most dynamic blues and soul woman to have emerged in the Bay Area since Etta James came out of San Francisco’s Fillmore District in the Fifties.” See her perform with the award-winning Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra in a free outdoor concert on July 9 at 6 p.m. in Todd Grove Park in Ukiah. The show is part of the free Sundays in the Park Concert series. See cityofukiah.com/sundaysinthepark for information.

Get Free Sports Physicals

For athletes, back-to-school also means back-to-sports. And sports participation requires a physical exam. So Adventist Health Ukiah Valley is hosting a Sports Physical and Back-to-School Fair at which kids can get free physicals. There will also be free backpacks and school supplies, as well as other resources, available. The fair will be held on July 29, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., at 260 Hospital Drive in Ukiah. For more information, see tinyurl.com/mufvrn8e

Take in Outdoor Shakespeare Play

Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure is considered a comedy. But not in a Comedy Central kind of way. Its classification, scholars have argued, is only because of its happy ending. But the play itself, which resolves around the Duke of Vienna and a nefarious judge, is full of tragic soliloquies, executions, and attempted blackmail. So it’s more like CSI than SNL. Drama or comedy, its appeal has lasted for four centuries. Locals will get a chance to see it for free at the Lake County Theatre Company’s Shakespeare at the Lake, July 29–30 at 7 p.m. at Library Park in Lakeport. It will also be staged August 4–6 at 7 p.m. in Austin Park in Clearlake. For details, see laketheatre.org/shakespeare-at-the-lake

Anthony Paule & Terrie Odabi

College Bound

10 Life Skills Your Kids Should Know

By Kerrie McLoughlin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Make sure young drivers always carry a spare.

SUMMER FRIDAYS

June 16 - 5 - 8 pm

Summer Kick-off

Oak Manor Park

June 30 - 7 pm

Moonlight Movie Madness: The Sandlot

Anton Stadium

July 14 - 7 pm

Moonlight Movie Madness: Minions: Rise of Gru

Vinewood Park

July 28 - 5 - 8 pm

Touch-a-Truck

Anton Stadium Parking Lot

August 11 - 4 - 8 pm

Art in the Park

Todd Grove Park

August 18 - 7 pm

Moonlight Movie Madness: ET

Observatory Park

For more information, For more information, contact (707) 463-6231 contact (707) 463-6231

Apply today & begin your child's journey to school success! Receive a $16,000 education for your child at little

Apply today & begin your child's journey to school success! Receive a $16,000 education for your child at little or no cost.

Nurturing classroom experiences for children 3 months to 5 years old. Potty-training assistance provided.

• Nurturing classroom experiences for children 3 months to 5 years old.

Nurturing classroom experiences for children 3 months to 5 years old.

• We do not require children to be pottytrained. We will help!

• Children with disabilities welcome.

Potty-training assistance provided. Children with disabilities welcome. Accepting applications year-round.

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

Also providing unique home visits for infants, toddlers & pregnant women! Apply Now! C E N T E R

Do you have questions? Email: EnrollHeadStart@ncoinc.org

Near Brookside School at Spruce St & Lincoln Way Lake County Upper Lake - 2nd Street Lakeport - Lakeport Blvd Clearlake - Pearl Ave Clearlake - Meadowbrook Dr Coast Fort Bragg - Lincoln St

or no cost. Applications online: www.ncoinc.org (707)

www.mendolakefamilylife.com July 2023 MendoLakeFamilyLife 15

Eco-Friendly Picnics 6 Steps for Going Green

By Sandra Ann Harris

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

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

Shop at a farmers’ market or produce stand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pack a sturdy cardboard box with reusables to share.

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

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

Step 6: Make it happen.

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

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

Stress-Free Vacays

7 Tips for Planning Family Adventures

By Debbie Ausburn

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Give each child responsibility for planning one or more days.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not every vacation has to involve Disney World.

Mom’s Driver’s Ed

How to Safely Teach Teens to Drive

By Tanni Haas

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

turning the teaching experience into a tension-filled meltdown zone.” Try to stay calm, even if your teens are creating the tension in the car. “Just role with it,” says Corinne Peek-Asa,

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

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

Fourth of July Fun

Catch Local Fireworks

July 1

Clearlake

FREE International Worm Races, Festival & Parade. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Parade at 11 a.m. starts at Redbud Park and ends at Austin Park, where there will be games, carnival & worm races. Fireworks at dark. Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr. tinyurl.com/ uwtvmhux

Fort Bragg

FREE Fort Bragg

Independence Day Fireworks. 9:30 p.m. Viewing: South Coastal Trail at Noyo Headlands ($20 parking fee), Pomo Bluffs Park & Todd Point Parking Area. tinyurl.com/32xf5tu4

Lakeport

Fireworks & Racing. Gates open: 3:30 p.m. Racing starts: 5 p.m. Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Lake County

Fairgrounds. 401 Martin St. tinyurl. com/3c549y7v

Point Arena

South Coast Independence Festival. July 1, 4–11 p.m.: Street fair in Arena Cove, with live music, arts & crafts & activities. Food & drink available for purchase. Fireworks at dusk. Bring flashlight & jackets. No pets. $10; ages 11 & younger, free. Parking at city hall & Point Arena High School. Shuttle buses available. July 2: Parade starts at noon, along Main St. & Hwy. 1. tinyurl.com/yu3nd5xk .

July 2

Clearlake Oaks

FREE Annual Maxine Sherman Memorial Fireworks Display. Fireworks are launched from Clearlake Oaks Beach Park. The best views are from boats, anchored east of Rattlesnake

Island. Next best viewing area is from Clarks Island. Donations accepted. Dusk. clearlakeoaks.org/ fireworks.

Lakeport

FREE Konocti Vista Casino Fireworks. On hotel lawn. Bring own seating. BBQ & drinks (fee): 6 p.m. Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd. tinyurl. com/3wxmcbms.

July 4

Lakeport

FREE Lakeport Street Fair & Fireworks. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Street fair on Park St., adjacent to Library Park (200 Park St., Lakeport). tinyurl. com/3wxmcbms.

Mendocino

FREE July 4th Lawn Party & Parade Viewing. Music & munchies along with margaritas, wine & beer from North Coast Brewing Company. Non-alcoholic options available. Bring chairs & blanket for parade. No pets. Donations accepted. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Kelley House Museum. 45007 Albion St. tinyurl.com/3tr8u9sh.

FREE Mendocino Annual 4th of July Parade. Noon–1 p.m. mendocinocoast.com

Willits

FREE Parade. 11 a.m. Main St. willitsfrontierdays.com.

Tanni Haas, Family Life

July Calendar of Events

Saturday 1

Fireworks & Racing. Gates open: 3:30 p.m. Racing starts: 5 p.m. Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Lake County Fairgrounds. 401 Martin St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/3c549y7v.

South Coast Independence Festival. July 1, 4–11 p.m.: Street fair in Arena Cove, Point Arena, with live music, arts & crafts & activities. Food/drink available for purchase. Fireworks at dusk. Bring flashlight & jackets. No pets. $10; ages 11 & younger, free. Parking at city hall & Point Arena High School. Shuttle buses available. July 2: Parade starts at noon, along Main St., & Hwy. 1, Point Arena. tinyurl.com/yu3nd5xk.

FREE Fort Bragg Independence

Day Fireworks. 9:30 p.m. Viewing: South Coastal Trail at Noyo Headlands ($20 parking fee), Pomo Bluffs Park & Todd Point

Parking Area, Fort Bragg. tinyurl. com/32xf5tu4

FREE Junior Ranger Program. Ages 7–12. Kids explore natural & cultural resources via hands-on activities & guided hikes. Saturdays (except July 8). Two sessions: 10–11 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Clear Lake State Park Center. Visitor Center. 5300 Soda Bay Rd., Kelseyville. tinyurl.com/5n7jkhuy.

FREE Campfire Program. Families learn about cultural & natural resources through educational talks, demonstrations, music, art & storytelling. Features local expert guest speakers. July 1 & 15. 8–9 p.m. Clear Lake State Park Center. Education Pavilion. 5300 Soda Bay Rd., Kelseyville. tinyurl. com/3jypme62.

FREE Kickin’ in the Country Street Dance. July 1: Groovy Judy. July 20:

Hip Replacements & Terry Hanck. Bring chairs & dancing shoes.

6–9 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. visitkelseyville.com

FREE Clearlake Concert Series. July 1: Journey/Def Leppard Revisited. July 22: Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers. Bring blankets & chairs. 7 p.m. Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. tinyurl.com/bdd5pveh

FREE Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program, 1942–1964. Traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum explores a program that brought millions of Mexican guest workers to the United States to help fill the labor shortage during World War II & beyond. Donation suggested. See the exhibit at 3 sites: Courthouse Museum (255 N. Main St., Lakeport); Schoolhouse Museum (16435 Main St., Lower Lake); Gibson Museum

(21267 Calistoga Rd., Middletown). Courthouse: Thursdays–Sundays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Schoolhouse & Gibson: Thursdays–Saturdays, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. facebook.com/ MuseumsOfLakeCountyCa

Full Buck Moon Night Tour. Beverages & snacks. $50. Reservations must be made by phone no later than 3:30 p.m. 3 days before event.

FREE 65th Annual Redbud Parade. 11 a.m. Starts at Redbud Park & travels to Lakeshore Dr. to Austin Park. Clearlake.

FREE Find Your Voice. July 1: Sing Along. July 8: Decorate Journal Cover. July 15: Chalk Art/Poetry. July 22:

Rock Art. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Willits Library. 390 E. Commercial St., Willits. tinyurl.com/5fba7pwn.

FREE International Worm Races & Festival. Games & carnival. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fireworks at dark. Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. tinyurl.com/uwtvmhux

FREE NCO Caring Kitchen Project Summer Teen Program. Teens learn kitchen & gardening skills while preparing healthy, healing meals for cancer patients. July 10–25. Mondays & Tuesdays. 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Caring Kitchen. Mendocino College. Bldg. 6200. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. tinyurl.com/mr36j9yw. To apply, e-mail Allegra Foley: afoley@ ncoinc.org.

Sunday 2

FREE Konocti Vista Casino Fireworks. On hotel lawn. Bring own seating. BBQ & drinks available for purchase at 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/3wxmcbms.

Willits Frontier Days. July 2: Cowboy Breakfast (7 a.m., Rec Grove Park, Willits): $9–$13. Junior Rodeo (9 a.m., Jack Tharp Arena, Willits): $10; ages 2 & under, free. July 3:

CCPRA Professional Rodeo (7 p.m., Jack Tharp Arena): $10–$25; ages 2 & younger: free. July 4: Parade at 11 a.m. on Main St., Willits. willitsfrontierdays. com

FREE First Fiddlers’ Jam. Listen to fiddle tunes played by members of the Northern California Old Time Fiddlers Group. Noon–2 p.m. Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum. 9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Hwy. 128), Kelseyville. elystagestop.com.

FREE Family Fun at Alex Rorabaugh Recreation Center. Open gym. Kids younger than 12 must

DID YOU KNOW?

be accompanied by an adult. Sundays. Noon–4 p.m. 1640 S. State St., Ukiah. tinyurl.com/37t3tmz8.

FREE Maxine Sherman Memorial Annual Fireworks Display. Fireworks are launched from Clearlake Oaks Beach Park. The best views are from boats, anchored east of Rattlesnake Island. Next best viewing area is from Clarks Island. Donations accepted. Dusk. Clearlake Oaks. clearlakeoaks.org/fireworks

Monday 3

FREE Traveling Toy Library. Families welcome to check out toys & materials for children ages 0–5. Sponsored by Easterseals Northern CA. 1173 11th St. (next to post office), Lakeport. Early Learning Center. 14085-2 Lakeshore Dr. (next to WIC), Clearlake. Send email to schedule time & location for pick-up: earlyinterventionreferral@ esnorcal.org

Tuesday 4

FREE Lakeport Street Fair & Fireworks. 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Fireworks: 9:30 p.m. Street fair on Park St., adjacent to Library Park (200 Park St., Lakeport). tinyurl. com/3wxmcbms.

FREE July 4th Lawn Party & Parade Viewing. Music & munchies along with margaritas, wine & beer from North Coast Brewing Company. Non-alcoholic options available. Bring chairs & blanket for parade. No pets. Donations accepted. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Kelley House Museum. 45007 Albion St., Mendocino. tinyurl.com/3tr8u9sh.

FREE Mendocino Annual 4th of July Parade. Noon–1 p.m. Mendocino. mendocinocoast.com

FREE Virtual Circle Times. Songs, storytime, activities & socialization opportunities for little ones. English & Spanish versions available. facebook. com/First5ELC. Sign up via email: earlyinterventionreferral@esnorcal.org

Wednesday 5

FREE Summer Reading Teens Program. Crafts, games, VR, snacks & more. Wednesdays. 5–6:30 p.m. Lakeport Library. 1425 N. High St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/2ntabxcw

FREE Queer & Trans Parent Online Support Group. Open to queer/ trans community who are expecting, adopting &/or parenting babies up to 2 years of age. Wednesdays. 11:30 a.m. postpartum.net/get-help/queer-parents

Friday 7

FREE KXBX 98.3 Summer Concerts. July 7: Fargo Brothers (R&B). July 14: Breaker One 9 (country). July 21: Andre’s All-Star Band (R&B soul). July 28: LC Diamonds (classic hits). 6:30 p.m. Library Park. 200 Park St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/ymuhd7h5

Lake County Rodeo. CCPRA Pro Rodeo featuring 7 Pro Events plus local Barrel Racing & local Team Roping events. Thru July 8. 6–9 p.m. Lake County Fairgrounds. 801 Martin St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/yn222h3t

FREE Dungeons & Dragons Club. Playing 5th Edition D&D. Space is limited. Ages 13 & older. Fridays. 1–4 p.m. Registration required: 707-987-3674. Middletown Library.

21256 Washington St., Middletown. D&D at other Lake County libraries: tinyurl.com/2p94kvrv.

Saturday 8

FREE Summer Music Series. July

8: The Decades (pop hits). July 15: Bobby Hustle, Dread Kennedy (reggae). July 22: Ariel Jean Band, American Mile (country). Concerts held on hotel lawn. Bring own seating. Food & drinks for purchase. Music: 6 p.m. Konocti Vista Casino. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/yc2jwjnz

FREE StoryWalk & Crafting Party. Take a short walk while reading a StoryWalk® book with your kids. Crafting activity afterward. Bring picnic lunch. Held second Saturday of the month. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Clear Lake

Time: Check-in opens at 9 am

Who: Kids ages 17 & under

$10

walk-up registration

State Park. Visitor Center. 5300 Soda Bay Rd., Kelseyville. tinyurl.com/ mhp8yxvj.

CasparFest. Kids’ activities, local bands, dancing & 30+ vendors & informational booths. $20 entry fee, but no one will be turned away because of lack of funds. No pets. Noon–8 p.m. Caspar Community Center. 15051 Caspar Rd., Caspar. casparcommons. org/calendar/index.php.

FREE Anderson Marsh Guided Nature Walk. Walks are 1.5–3 hours, depending on the route. Bring water, sturdy shoes & binoculars. Rain cancels walk. Held second Saturday of the month. 8:30 a.m. Anderson Marsh State Historical Park. Anderson Ranch Pkwy., Lower Lake. andersonmarsh.org/ nature_walks.html.

FREE Movies in the Park. July 8: Vivo. July 22: Grease. 7:30–9:30 p.m. Middletown Square Park. (Park at the library/senior center: 21266 Calistoga Rd., Middletown.) thebloom.news/ big-calendar.

Mr. Lake County Pageant. Fundraiser for the Lake County Theatre Company’s building fund. $35. 7 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. tinyurl. com/35mhtttx

Sunday 9

FREE Sundays in the Park Concert Series. July 9: Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra featuring Terrie Odabi (soulful funky blues). July 23: The Expendables with the Mystic Roots Band & Lake Anthony (reggae rock). Blanket or low-back chairs only. Food/ drinks for purchase or bring picnic. 6 p.m. Todd Grove Park. 600 Live

Oak Ave., Ukiah. cityofukiah.com/ sundaysinthepark

Wednesday 12

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

Friday 14

FREE Summer Fridays & Moonlight Movie Madness. July 14, 7 p.m.: Minions: Rise of Gru (Vinewood Park, 1260 Elm St., Ukiah). July 28, 5–8 p.m.: Touch-a-Truck (Anton Stadium Parking Lot, 558 Park Blvd., Ukiah). Bring blankets & low-back chairs. tinyurl.com/yzcvedj6.

Saturday 15

Mendocino Music Festival. Orchestral to bluegrass, chamber music to jazz, Big Band to Zydeco. July 15–29. Full schedule & ticket prices: tinyurl.com/ycxbuvaw.

Wednesday 19

Adam Moezinia & the Folk Element Trio. Jazz & folk music. $20. 7 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. tinyurl.com/4ta4cjj7

Friday 21

FREE Blue Zone Project: Movement Moai. A moai is a group of 5–8 people who walk together for an hour, once a week for 10 weeks. Open to all. Noon–1:30 p.m. Ford House Visitor Center & Museum. 45035 Main St., Mendocino. For other moai events, see tinyurl.com/52wfcnzb.

Pomo Cultural Family Fun Day. Use pump drill, create stick dice, tour Pomo Gallery (noon). 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Courthouse Museum. 255 N. Main St., Lakeport.

Saturday 29

Family Fun Day. Petting zoo ($5), games & vendors. 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Crazy Quilt Farms. 1215 Hwy. 20, Upper Lake. tinyurl.com/tz47wfv8

FREE Sports Physical & Back-to-School Fair. Health screening, free backpacks, school supplies & other resources for students & families. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. 260 Hospital Dr., Ukiah. tinyurl.com/mufvrn8e

FREE Shakespeare at the Lake. Lake County Theatre Company performs Measure for Measure. Bring low-back chair or blanket. Donations suggested. July 29 & 30. 7 p.m. Library Park. 200 Park St., Lakeport. laketheatre.org/ event/measure-for-measure.

FREE Harry Potter Monopoly. Play a wizarding version of life-sized board game. Kids 7 & younger will need to team up with older players. 2–4 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. tinyurl.com/2u26xffh.

Kids’ Triathlon. Ages 17 & younger. 3 levels for different age groups. Registration: $10–$15. Todd Grove Park. 600 Live Oak Ave., Ukiah. ukiah.recdesk.com.

Monday 31

FREE Vacation Bible School. Bible, games & snacks. 3 years–grade 6. (Must be potty trained). Dinner included. July 31–Aug. 4. 5:30–7:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Ukiah. 514 W. Church St., Ukiah. Register: tinyurl.com/3vmxf9ar.