mendo lake FREE!
December 2015
Valley Fire Tale A silver lining Green X-mas 10 Eco-friendly tips
Go Local! Get great gift ideas
Interfaith Families
A holiday how-to
HILLSIDE HEALTH CENTER MEDICAL CARE DENTAL SERVICES BEHAVIORAL HEALTH WOMEN’S HEALTH Care for Her
333 Laws Avenue Ukiah, CA
(707) 468-1010
We Care for Your Whole Family Susie Hadel, FNP, trained at Stanford, has been a provider with MCHC for 15 years, and loves to make homemade cannolis from scratch with her family.
WE ACCEPT Medicare, Medi-Cal, Partnership and other insurance. Our financial counselors are here to help you with your coverage options. MCHC HEALTH CENTERS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.
Chris Ayeko, FNP, is a board member of Hands for Global Health, has provided care to the under-served abroad, and loves to cook Burmese dishes.
Mario Espindola, MD, finished an intensive residency program at UCSF/Fresno Family and Community Medicine, speaks Spanish and English, and enjoys Mendocino County dining.
We’re a Family Medicine Team. We work together to care for patients of all ages, children and adults, building life-long relationships with each one.
For an appointment, call
(707) 468-1010
When Feeling Better Can’t Wait ...
Rapid Care is here.
Rapid Care is Open After-Hours & Weekends Rapid Care is designed for urgent, but non-life-threatening conditions. Our staff of highly trained medical professionals are ready to care for your urgent need. We treat cuts, bumps and sprains, minor skin rash, ear infections, mild asthma, flu and pneumonia, animal bites, fever, sinus infections and other minor illnesses and injuries.
Pediatrics 707.463.7459
|
Walk-Ins Welcome. Open After-Hours and Weekends. Accepting Medicare, Medi-Cal and all forms of insurance.
Family Practice 707.463.7488
December 2015
Every Issue 6
Dear Reader
7
Bits and Pieces Holiday Tuna Tales Tangled Up in BobFest Hot Chocolate & Hay Rides
10 Features 8 Great Gifts for Giving Perfect presents for kids.
10 Money for Makers How North Bay Made helps local artists grow their businesses.
14 Silver Linings A Valley Fire victim finds healing among the ashes.
16 Ho-Ho Hanukkah! How to blend Jewish and Christian traditions.
18 It’s Easy to Be Green Eco-friendly ways to celebrate the holidays.
16
22 Calendar of Events A Merry Middletown Christmas
27 Crafting with Kids It’s a Wrap
28 Cooking with Kids In Praise of Pumpkin
29 Dear Teacher Turn Around a Lousy Day
30 Humor Break
20 Tell Me All About It Pass down family history through intergenerational interviews.
14 4 MendoLakeFamilyLife
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
7
Signing Bonuses FOR QUALIFIED MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS
Join our fast growing state-of-the-art outpatient facility. POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
QUALIFIED HIRES CAN RECEIVE:
APPLICANTS MUST:
• Doctors & Dentists
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• Have great customer and patient care skills
• Purchased Referred Care Asst.
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• Clinic Operations Manager
• Competitive salary
• Certified Medical Assistant
• Regular office hours No night shifts
• Registered Dental Assistant • RN Certified Diabetes Educator • RN – Pediatric Experience • Human Resources Coordinator • Clincal Applications Coordinator • Quality Improvement Coordinator
• Enjoy working with the local community
• Medical insurance for entire family • 403-B retirement plan • Paid time-off and 15 paid holidays • Educational loan repayment–multiple programs available
• CHR (Community Health Rep.) JOB DESCRIPTIONS & APPLICATIONS AT:
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL:
(707) 263-8382
Lake County Tribal Health Modern Medicine
Personalized Care
707-263-8382 • 1-800-750-7181 • 925 Bevins Ct., Lakeport • www.lcthc.com
Dear Reader
H
appy holidays! It’s the season of carols, lights, and visits from family near and far. As you look for the perfect gifts, Sharon Gowan remember to go Publisher/Editor local—and green! See Sharon@family-life.us “Money for Makers” (page 10) to find out about retailers who sell the work of local artisans and farmers. And then read “It’s Easy to Be Green” (page 18) for simple ways to make your holidays environmentally friendly. One tip: Replace wrapping paper with gift bags. Read “It’s a Wrap” (page 27) to find out how to make your own. Besides making gift bags, there are plenty of ways to keep kids entertained this season. Just check out our Calendar of Events (page 22) for
happening parades and community celebrations near you. Get Grandpa Jack and Aunt Miriam involved in holiday fun by letting the kids interview them. Your kin will most likely love sharing stories from their lives with your children. And kids relish the role of “reporter.” Let “Tell Me All About It” (page 20) guide you through this unique way of passing down family history.
Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us
Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us
Interviewing relatives puts the holiday focus where it belongs: on family and love, two things Valley Fire survivor Tim Gill contemplates in his moving essay “Silver Linings” (page 14).
Jolie Cook jolie@family-life.us Marie Anderson marie@family-life.us
We hope your holidays are full of bright smiles, warm hearts, and buckets of joy. Thank you for sharing them with us!
Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us
Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us
Blue Ribbon Pets
Calendar
Pets of the Month Sponsor • Adopt-a-Pet Discount
Patricia Ramos
Like our Facebook Page for Special Discounts
Sara Barry Joyce Beydler Tim Gill Holly Hester Christina Katz Sara Marchessault Kerrie McLoughlin
(707) 485-8454 • www.brpets.com
Humane Society for Inland Mendocino County PETS OF THE MONTH. COME MEET US TODAY! Kewanne is a little shy at first,
but is actually very affectionate and outgoing. She is also afraid of men and should be in a home with little exposure to them. This girl would do best in a home where she can get plenty affection and love to help her get past her initial timidness.
Toby is a 4-year-old Poodle that is
very people-oriented and would love to be your constant companion. He is good with dogs and older children (over about 8) but would require a fenced in area. He’s active and playful, and would love to have a new home with people of his own again.
Mystery is a sweet, slender cat
with a whole lot of love to give. She raised her five kittens and is now ready to find a home of her own. She is very good with other cats and anyone who will give her some affection as she loves to be the center of attention.
Whitney is a timid but sweet
5-year-old Chihuahua that is good with small dogs but prefers adults and older children. She is a little over weight but with someone to play with and a yard to run in she would soon trim down. She has always been indoors and is housebroken, spayed and ready to go to her new home.
Contributing Writers
Billing Jan Wasson-Smith
Publishing Office 134 Lystra Court, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403 Tel (707) 586-9562 Fax (707) 586-9571
9700 Uva Dr. Redwood Valley (707) 485-0123 • www.mendohumanesociety.com 6 MendoLakeFamilyLife
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Bits & Pieces
Holiday Tuna Tales
O
nce upon a time, the Lone Star State boasted a town called Tuna. And in that town were 22 odd ducks with a quirky view of all things holiday. Listen to their stories in the light-hearted A Tuna Christmas, in which two actors from the Lake County Theatre Company play 22 roles. Performances will be held at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake on weekends, December 4–20, at 7 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 and $15 in advance and $15 and $18 at the door. See lakecountytheatrecompany.org for more information. ¶
Tim Barnes and Rod Rehe perform in A Tuna Christmas.
Tangled Up in BobFest
C
elebrate the North Bay’s counter cultural past at BobFest on December 12 at 8 p.m. at SPACE Theater in Ukiah. Listen to the band BobFest (yes, the band shares the same name as the festival) play original arrangements of classic Bob Dylan tunes. Enjoy a free local-whiskey tasting before the performance and bid on auction items during the intermission. The event is SPACE’s annual winter fundraiser. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, and are available at the Mendocino Book Company and the SPACE box office. See spaceperformingarts.org for more information. ¶
Hot Chocolate & Hay Rides
W
hat are holidays without caroling and treats? Find both at Saracina Vineyards in Hopland on December 5, 2:30–5:30 p.m. Sing carols in wine caves, hop on a hay ride, then warm up to a fire for s’mores, hot chocolate, and, of course, wine. Tickets are $30, $25 for wine club members, and may be purchased by calling the Tasting Room at 670-0199 or visiting saracina.com/shop/events. ¶
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 7
Toys & Games (continued)
WINNER
Spiral Art Design Center
Lakeshore, $19.99, www. LakeshoreLearning.com, Ages 4-11
Worry Eaters
TONKA Mighty Dump by Dynacraft
Dynacraft, $349.95, www.dynacraftbike.com, Ages 3 and up
The Haywire Group, $22.99, www.haywiregroup.com, Ages 3 and up
Apps, Tech Toys & Websites
ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy
Age of Learning, $7.95 per month (subscription), www.ABCmouse.com, Ages 2-7
Bluebee Pals
Kayle Concepts, $59.99, www.bluebeepals.com, Ages 3 and up
Speakaboos
Speakaboos, $4.99 for a 1-month subscription and $49.99 for a 1-year subscription, www.Speakaboos.com, Ages 2-7
Books HOUSE OF ROBOTS by James Patterson - Audiobook Edition
Hachette Audio, $17.98, www.soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio, Ages 8-12
I AM MALALA (Young Readers Audiobook Edition): How One Girl Stood Up for Education and Changed the World Hachette Audio, $22.98, www.soundcloud.com/hachetteaudio, Ages 10 and up
8 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Music Together Singalong Storybooks: Hey, Diddle Diddle, Ridin’ in the Car and Two Little Blackbirds Music Together, $9.95 board book; $13.95 hardcover, www.musictogether.com/storybooks, Ages 1-8
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Music & DVDs
Deep Woods Revival
Red Yarn Productions, $15, www.redyarnproductions.com, Ages 2-8
Miss Melodee’s “Find Your Melody” Album
Melstar Entertainment, $14.99, www.missmelodee.com, For the entire family
French for Kids: Allons Danser! (Let’s Dance!) Whistlefritz, $14.99, www.whistlefritz.com, For the entire family
Simpatico by Renee and Friends
One Melody Records, $11.99, www.reneeandfriends.com, For the entire family
Meet the Pod Squad
NCircle Entertainment, $9.99, www.ncircleentertainment.com, Ages 3-7
The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child Double Feature NCircle Entertainment, $19.99, www.ncircleentertainment.com, For the entire family
Tomorrow Is a Chance To Start Over by Hilary Grist The Secret Mountain, $16.95, www.thesecretmountain.com, Ages 2-8
The Wonder Years Complete Series Time Life, $249.95, amzn.com/B00NUNILZK, Ages 8 and up
Julie Kertes is General Manager of the National Parenting Publications Awards.
WIN HOLIDAY LOOT!
Visit NAPPAawards.com to access our digital holiday magazine, Jingle: Your Guide to Holiday Fun. Read about ways to save during the holidays, get DIY gift ideas, try the best winter recipes and enter to win our holiday sweepstakes worth $600 in toys, games and more! Sweepstakes ends Dec. 11, 2015.
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 9
Scott Cratty’s Westside Renaissance Market in Ukiah has dedicated half of its inventory to local products.
Money for Makers
“There is a whole movement across the country to bring back local manufacturing and local making. The gist is to identify products that are made in our region, help promote those products, and actually get those makers into additional retail outlets,” says Kelley Rajala, who ade in China. Made in Honduras. officially cofounded North Bay Made with weaver Made in Mexico. Flip over or check Pam Dale in 2013. the tag of practically anything you Dale and Rajala are also co-owners of Made Local Marketplace, which features hundreds of locally buy, and chances are that it’s made made fine crafts. (See facing page for a sample of somewhere else. Even if it’s made the work they sell.)
M
Nonprofit Helps Local Stores and Artists Thrive
in the US, it’s probably not made locally. Unless, of course, you shop at Made Local Marketplace in Santa Rosa or any of the other 14 Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake County stores that participate in North Bay Made, a nonprofit that connects local makers and retailers.
10 MendoLakeFamilyLife
One of the purposes of both Made Local and North Bay Made is to help makers gain access to local retail stores. Both institutions have a different part in the process. Made Local assesses makers’ capacity to take on a larger market, helping them hone their product designs, packaging, and pricing, explains Rajala. Meanwhile, North Bay Made helps “established makers
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Olive Oil from SunHawk Farms
Woven Scarves by Pam Dale
get into other retail stores to increase their sales and visibility,” she says. Besides makers, North Bay Made also works with stores, helping them find local products that are a good fit for their clientele. For instance, the owners of the Mendocino Country Store in Mendocino, parents Michael and Corinne Gordon, went through Made Local’s inventory with a clipboard in hand and selected products that appealed to both of them. “We connected them to probably 35 local and regional artisans that they now carry in their store. So that was great for them because it would have taken them a long time to hunt down those people. And it was great for the makers because now they have an outlet [in a local] store,” says Rajala. One of the first local businesses Rajala and Dale worked with was Westside Renaissance Market, owned by Scott Cratty. The Ukiah grocery, the last neighborhood market in the area, was revived by Cratty 7 years ago to www.mendolakefamilylife.com
“There is a whole movement across the country to bring back local manufacturing and local making.” —Kelley Rajala
outpost in the back of my store that they help maintain and keep up,” he says. “Then reciprocally there have been a lot of Mendocino products that they wouldn’t have otherwise encountered that they [have brought] from my store over there. When we started working together, their store didn’t have any refrigeration in front and essentially no food things, and my store had very limited nonfood things.” So does North Bay Made actually work? Are local makers expanding their businesses?
Pottery by Jessie Stimson
become a hub for locally produced food, and thanks to the help of Rajala and Dale, fine crafts. According to Cratty, Westside Renaissance Market and Made Local are “models” of what North Bay Made hopes to achieve: stores with a “whole bunch of product exchange” between them. “[Rajala and Dale] brought [some products] from their store to…a little December 2015
“Yes,” says Dale, adding that a good maker-store fit “creates the potential for substantial growth.” For example, North Bay Made helped the award-winning Sonoma Chocolatiers, run by Sebastopol parents David Gambill and Susan McCarn, sell their chocolates not just in their Sebastopol tea shop but also at the Mendocino Country Store. (Gambill and McCarn are currently running a crowdfunding campaign on sonomachocolatiers. com to help fund further product development and marketing.) MendoLakeFamilyLife 11
Chocolate from Sonoma Chocolatiers
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Soap from Plum Blossom Farm
Sebastopol potter Larry Robinson and Petaluma potter Candace Birchfield have also seen their businesses grow with the help of North Bay Made. Robinson’s “stuff just sells out constantly up in Mendocino,” Dale
Buying local products gives consumers a connection to their communities. enthuses. And Birchfield “has enough income coming in from her expansion into the North Bay Made retail outlets that she can...expand her line,” she continues. Meanwhile, Made Local has provided a successful retail outlet to several Mendocino County products, including biodynamic olive oil from Sky Hawk Farm in Hopland and goat cheese from Shamrock Artisan in Willits. A lot of the businesses that North Bay Made supports are, like Sonoma Chocolatiers, run by moms and dads: Gowan Cider, a new Philo-based company that makes award-winning hard cider; Sebastopol’s The Kefiry, which
produces non-dairy kefir products; Forestville’s Billy’s Mini Goat Farms, which rents out grazing goats and makes goat milk soap; and Poppy’s Creations, a Manzanita-wood candle, clock, and lamp maker in Middletown, are just a few examples. When Virginia Allen and her husband, Ray, owners of Billy’s Mini Goat Farms, first started making soap, they weren’t even planning to put it in stores. They were content to sell the soap, which they initially made for their daughter, at farmers markets. Then someone suggested they try to sell their product at retailers, including Made Local. Their soaps are now in several local stores, and are so popular, the company is expanding their distribution to San Francisco and Berkeley. Rajala says that giving makers like the Allens a chance to nurture their businesses and make a living at what they do is what North Bay Made is about. Retailers get an opportunity to grow, too: Made Local has just moved to bigger digs on Fourth Street to accommodate its burgeoning selection of products. Right now, nearly 300 makers sell their work in the store,
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
which is looking for even more artists to participate. Meanwhile, North Bay Made is reaching out to retailers to join the collective. Along with makers and retailers, consumers also benefit from “going local.” Small businesses create jobs, invest in local services and nonprofits, and draw in tourists, who are attracted to the one-of-a-kind items they sell. Buying
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Wooden Toys by Lee Miller
North Bay Made helps makers gain access to local retail stores. local products also gives consumers a connection to their communities. “When you have a product that you love, that somebody hand made, and [making it] is what they do for a living, it just has so much more meaning than [something] made in China,” says Rajala. If you want to add more meaning and a greater sense of community to your holiday season, Rajala and Dale invite you to consider purchasing any number of the handcrafted products that are proudly North Bay Made. ¶ To find out more about North Bay Made, see northbaymade.org.
www.mendolakefamilylife.com
December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 13
longer there. I was really struck by the finality of what has happened. That the space in which that memory was created is gone forever. However, I also realized that, in a way, the fire gave that memory back to me. Despite replaying it, the images were not as crisp as they were when my boys were 3 and 7 years old. They
Silver Linings Healing from the Valley Fire By Tim Gill
I
was on a Southwest flight to San Diego tonight. As we were taking off, I closed my eyes and replayed the same memory I always do when my plane takes flight. During the more than 14 years since I left my teaching position at Middletown High School, I have flown at least 100 times for various reasons related to my job. When my sons were little, they would always have the same response when I would get home from a long trip. They would run over to
14 MendoLakeFamilyLife
our front door and, one at a time, as I came around the corner, yell “Daddy!,” running as fast as they could into my arms. I would give them a big bear hug, flip them over backwards, and then land them on their feet. That moment when they would yell “Daddy!” and jump into my arms is the memory I replay during every takeoff. When they got too big for me to flip, they would still yell “Daddy!,” and run and jump on me. Then when they became teenagers, they would yell “Daddy!,” and I would get a high-five instead of a hug. My sons are 16 and 20 now. Before the Valley Fire, the last time Jake, the elder, was home, I came home from work, and he and Connor yelled “Daddy!,” and we all had a good laugh. So tonight, when I instinctively closed my eyes and hit the play button, I realized that the home where this memory was made is no
Photo by Amber Sheridan
The Gill clan: Son Connor; Tim; Tim’s wife, Jamey; son Jacob; and Jamey’s dad, Jim Thompson. The family plans to rebuild their home, which was lost in the Valley Fire.
Thanks to the fire, many of my once-faded memories of living in our Cobb Mountain tree house are coming back to me. had faded a bit. Tonight, however, that memory was as clear as if it had happened last week. That wouldn’t be true if we hadn’t lost our home in the Valley Fire. As we headed toward 35,000 feet tonight, I realized that, thanks to the fire, indeed many of my once-faded memories of living in our Cobb Mountain tree house are coming back to me. It makes me happy to think of these moments, many of which I haven’t thought of in years. I had the middle seat and tears in my eyes; the two strangers on either side of me must have thought I was crazy. The tears were happy tears, though. Silver linings are sometimes hard to find when you are looking through the ashes. I found one tonight. Tim Gill works for Kelseyville School District. He and his wife, Jamey, have lived in Lake County most of their lives. They owned their home on Cobb Mountain for 16 years, and plan to rebuild.
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Sing Out!
8TH ANNUAL SING-ALONG A Community
Music Gathering
FREE EVENT - ALL ARE WELCOME
SUN. DEC. 20 3:30 First Presbyterian - Corner of Perkins & Dora
Cookies & Come sing Carols with the Hot Cider little ones & enjoy some Christmas Spirit & Cheer!
You’ll break into your happy dance with this BRACES SPECIAL! For a Limited Time, get
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For More Info. Denise Beckler (468-9235)
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Mendocino Transit Authority, Ukiah Chamber of Commerce & the Ukiah Main Street Program
TROLLEY HOURS:
Trolley circulates route once an hour Thursday through Sunday November 27th through December 24th PLATINUM SPONSORS
Thursday and Fridays 3:00 pm to 5:51 pm Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 pm to 2:51 & 4:00 to 6:51 pm
Thanks to Our Sponsors:
Holes in the Wall • Pacific Outfitters Savings Bank of Mendocino County
GOLD SPONSORS
Mendo Lake Credit Union • El Azteca • BeBop’s Pear Tree Center • Walmart
SILVER SPONSORS
Travelodge and Fairfield Inn Friedman’s Brothers • B.A.S. Roofing Northwest Insurance
Call 462-1422 for more information www.mendolakefamilylife.com
BRONZE SPONSORS
Triple S Camera • Baskin-Robbins • Jumperz UVAH • DIG! Music • Queens of Vintage Penny’s Trophies and Gifts • Mendocino Bounty Susan David’s Bookkeeping Brandon Kight Visual Creations Mendocino College Foundation Larson’s Photography
www.mendocinotransit.org
December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 15
Talk to each other. The bottom line on celebrations, holiday or otherwise, is to always do whatever you and your spouse deem best for your family. The only way to come to an understanding about what this means is to discuss it
Holiday joy can be doubled when you choose to light the menorah and decorate the Christmas tree.
How to Honor Different Traditions in Interfaith Families
Ho-Ho Hanukkah! By Christina Katz
A
s a woman who was raised Catholic and has been happily married to a Jewish man for the past 13 years, I can attest that once you become a parent in an interfaith family, you quickly become accustomed to not being able to please everyone. But since the wisdom of your hearts brought you and your partner together in the first place, why not call on that same source of wisdom to guide you through creating your own version of happy holidays? Holiday joy can be doubled, rather than halved, when you choose to light the menorah and decorate the Christmas tree. Here are a few tips about how to honor two traditions with grace. 16 MendoLakeFamilyLife
with each other. Be prepared for this to be an ongoing conversation, and probably one that you revisit each year. Protect your joint point of view. Never let bossy or opinionated family members home in on conversations that rightly belong between you and your partner. You only have one spouse, and that’s the person whose opinion you should value most. Your kids come next and the grandparents after them. Don’t treat your parents like children or allow them to treat you like a child. This behavior will only create conflicts between you and your spouse. Ignore disapproving outsiders. Never apologize for being an interfaith family, even if people in your extended family or circle of close friends do not approve of your union. You are not seeking their permission—as Perchik expressed so boldly in Fiddler on the Roof—you are asking for their blessing. Creating harmonious and joyful dual holidays in your own home is your parental right and your familial duty, even if it means agreeing to
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Sonoma County Airport disagree with certain members of your extended family. Keep both sets of traditions. At our house, we celebrate as much of both traditions as we can, without a worry about whether the holidays overlap or not. For me, this means a Christmas tree, presents, cookies, and a big dinner. For my husband, this means lighting two menorahs (one for him and one for our daughter) for eight nights of Hanukkah, and having our daughter’s friends over for potato latkes and some lively dreidel games.
school nights. Likewise, look for quiet, awe-inspiring Christmas moments, such as ending the day admiring the decorated tree and window lights. Don’t double your gift budget. We make an effort to celebrate the bounty of two holidays without going overboard. If you are an interfaith family, your kids’ friends may consider them “lucky” because they assume that they get double the gifts every holiday season. However, that’s not necessarily the case at our house. Our daughter typically gets a little present on the first day of Hanukkah and a bigger present on the last day of Hanukkah. One set of grandparents sends a couple of little Hanukkah gifts and a check, and the other sends a www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Participate wisely. When invited to join a new or old tradition on either side of the family, give the ritual a chance. We will try just about anything once. But we reserve the right to say no to pressure or anything that makes us feel uncomfortable. Maintaining an atmosphere where you can say yes or no without stern chastisement may not come easily in your extended family system. But start trying it, or you’ll never get there. Honor the choices of others. We don’t try to protect our family members from our choices. They need to be exposed to what we value, if we expect them to understand and accept our decisions. However, we also try to respect the choices that each of our family members make without imposing our values on them. Jewish families get Hanukkah cards and Christian families get Christmas cards. With interfaith families, we go with “Happy Holidays.” ¶ Author, journalist, and writing coach Christina Katz loves celebrating the winter holidays with her family and friends. Each year her family enjoys exchanging ornaments for the tree, and inviting a new group of friends over to play the dreidel game and eat potato latkes.
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The bottom line is to always do whatever you and your spouse deem best for your family.
Share the love. Another thing we enjoy about celebrating two holidays is that our daughter can share rituals from both traditions with her friends, no matter what religion they follow. This may expose her friends to a culture they may not have had the opportunity to learn about otherwise.
©P N
Focus on the beauty of ritual. You may be amazed at how moving such simple rituals as lighting the menorah candles can be, even on busy
couple of stocking stuffers and a check. The amount of gifts she receives is essentially the same as it would be if we only celebrated one holiday.
www.sonomacountyairport.org 707.565.7240 Follow STS on
home?
Space in your
heart?
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Become a foster or adoptive parent and help change the life of a child (707) 463-1100
www.tlc4kids.org Working with children since 1975
December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 17
It’s Easy to Be Green
you can even find real treasures— out-of-print books, vintage toys, and custom-made furniture and clothes. In addition, things like family heirlooms and nicely framed old family photos make meaningful presents.
It turns out being green is good for your wallet!
10 Holiday Tips for Saving the Planet— and Cash!
3
Recycle. Before the holidays even begin, make room for incoming presents by getting rid of existing clutter. Donate items to friends or to a local charity. Maybe someone will find your “trash” the perfect holiday treasure.
4
I
By Kerrie McLoughlin
suppose the winter holidays have always been one big clutter-and-junk accumulating fest. Our landfills are bulging, and more people are realizing it’s time to start thinking green for the holidays. But how can you do that with so many people to shop for? These 11 ideas will help you not only make eco-friendly choices, but save some cash, too. It turns out being green is also good for your wallet!
1
Reduce. Consumer polls have shown that millions of Americans are still paying off in October credit card debt accumulated over the holidays. Why do we do that to ourselves when the holidays are not about money, but religion, tradition, heritage, history, and family? Here’s an easy way to get into a green mood: Pretend you
18 MendoLakeFamilyLife
have a total of $100 to spend on everyone on your gift list. You’ll soon be thinking of creative gift ideas to cook, bake, make, and more.
2
Reuse. There’s no shame in purchasing used items for presents. You’ll spend half of what you would on new presents, and at places like craigslist.com and ebay.com as well as thrift shops,
Package sustainably. Cloth bags are an excellent substitute for wrapping paper. (Check out page 27 for directions on how to make your own.) You can also wrap presents in pages from old atlases, magazines, newspapers, or phone books. My mom sometimes wraps a present for me in a nice dish towel—a gift in itself!
5
Make it useful. Give herbs in pots, stainless steel water bottles, or beloved books that can be read again and again. Make your own gift certificates for services like babysitting, car washing, or some other helpful act. For a teen, how about an iTunes gift card, eco-friendly cosmetics and bath products, organic T-shirts, or a solar-powered desk lamp? Check out treehugger.com’s annual Green Gift Guide.
6
Join in. My mom likes to buy us a family membership to our
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
local zoo, which we put to use many times throughout the year. Other ideas include a membership to a children’s museum, an indoor pool, or the World Wildlife Federation (worldwildlife.org).
7
Give an experience. For adults, event tickets, a spa gift certificate, or cash for a date night and a sitter fit the bill. For kids, how about tickets to an upcoming circus or children’s music concert?
Family health care for all of Lake County.
8
Donate money. Consider giving money to a charity in the name of each person on your gift list. Not only will you avoid using paper to wrap presents, you’ll get the satisfaction of helping another human being as well.
sutterlakeside.org
Hospital Services 707-262-5000 Community Clinic 707-263-6885 After Hours Care 707-262-5088
9
Stocking stuffers. Instead of filling stockings with cheap junk that’ll end up in the trash in a week, try art supplies like colored pencils and crayons. Stubbypencilstudio.com has a great selection of products made from environmentally friendly materials.
10
No gift at all. Although you may feel inadequate about not giving everyone a present, realize that not everyone wants one. When my grandma told us that she didn’t want any holiday gifts, it felt strange at first. Then we realized how much stuff she already has in her home; it made sense that she would not want to add to the clutter. We don’t even miss giving her gifts because we make memories in other ways. Kerrie McLoughlin is a writer and mother to five children. Find her at thekerrieshow.com.
HEY MOM, GIVE US A SHOUT! We want to know what you think. • What did you like in this issue? • What do you want to see more or less of? • Know a teacher, coach, or special person who makes local family life better? • Know of an upcoming event or fun family outing? • Want to write stories, recipes, or blog for Family Life?
e-mail melissa@family-life.us www.mendolakefamilylife.com
December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 19
Tell Me All About It Conduct a Family Interview
By Sara Marchessault
K
ids are always crazy happy when winter break starts. But how do you keep them occupied so that you don’t actually go crazy yourself? Family interviews. Chances are, you will have a house full of out-of-town relatives or you’ll be on your way to visit them. See them as walking encyclopedias of information, family stories, and life experiences just waiting to be mined. When your child interviews Aunt Joann or Grandpa George about holidays of old or what life was like when they were kids, the path is paved for meaningful intergenerational connection as well as the preservation of family history. And you get to keep your sanity to boot! Here’s how to do it. 20 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Choose the tools. How will the interview information be collected? A voice recorder? A video camera? Pen and paper? Keep in mind that some folks don’t
Prepare a list of questions. Encourage your youngster to think of questions that will invite people to share their stories. (See sidebar for some examples.) Of course, some family members will be eager to talk. In this case, it doesn’t hurt to have a few strategies planned for keeping conversations focused. Ask for the interview. Once your preparations are made, it’s time to think about how you will invite family members to be interviewed. One approach is to ask in advance via e-mail or phone call. Another is to just wait until the holiday family gathering and ask in person. Make time and space. When the big day arrives, make sure the interviewer and interviewee have a reasonable amount of time and a quiet place to talk. Set up some glasses of water and a bowl of snacks to create a welcoming environment.
like being videotaped, but are okay with having their voices recorded. Once you’ve chosen a device, give your budding journalist an opportunity to use it before the interview begins. It’s a good idea to have more than one tool available, in case of technical difficulties.
Copy, edit, present. After the interview is over, copy the video or voice recording file, and save the original. Then edit the duplicate as necessary. If your kids don’t know how to edit, they can use online tutorials or instruction manuals to increase their skills. If the interview was captured via handwritten notes, type them up. Just the raw text is a treasure in and of itself, but if you want to go the extra mile, create a slideshow
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
using dialogue from the interview and a combination of old and new photos. Another option is to prepare the information in a story format.
Encourage your youngster to think of questions that will invite people to share their stories. Say thank you. Have your kids send the final presentation to the interviewee, along with a note of appreciation. However it is packaged, the interview will be a wonderful gift. ¶
Conversation Starters
G
ood questions are the foundation of a great interview experience. These queries are focused on the holidays, but your young interviewer can ask about anything: careers, vacations, advice to a young person, or even where to get the best pizza. Sometimes open-ended invitations like “Tell me about yourself” or “Tell me about your life” elicit the best stories of all. There’s plenty of room to make different queries and see to what the interviewee most eagerly responds. Where and when were you born? How many people were in your immediate family? What were the holidays like when you were growing up? What traditions did you have in your childhood? What new holiday traditions have you introduced to your children? What was the best gift you ever received? Who gave it to you? What is the gift from your childhood that you most remember?
Sara Marchessault is a writer, coach, and mom. Learn more about her work at saramarchessault.com.
Did you have any holiday disappointments when you were a kid? If so, what happened? Was the situation ever resolved?
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December Calendar of Events
A Merry Middletown Christmas
E
ven after the devastation of the Valley Fire, Middletown’s spirit remains strong. The town will be decked out in holiday finery during the event Christmas in Middletown, December 12, 4–8 p.m. Shops will be open and goodies will be available. Gather around fire pits, sip hot cocoa, and at 5:30 p.m., look for Santa Claus at Middletown Plaza. Get a passport in one of the participating stores and collect stamps throughout the town for a chance to win prizes. See christmasinmiddletown.com for more information. ¶
Tuesday 1 Magical Christmas Train. Put on your favorite winter pajamas & enjoy hot cocoa & treats while being entertained by storybook characters & Santa. The Christmas Train will depart afternoons & early evenings daily from Willits or Fort Bragg, Dec. 3–Dec. 23; & from West Sacramento weekends & some weekdays thru Dec. 23. $34–$61. 800-866-1690. xmastrain.com.
Wednesday 2 2nd Annual Farmers Market Holiday Feast. The evening includes a silent
auction, no-host bar & music by Them Travelin’ Birds. Adults $25. Youth under 15 $15. 5–9 p.m. Ukiah Senior Center. 499 Leslie St., Ukiah. winterfeast2015.brownpapertickets.com.
Thursday 3 FREE Ukiah Holiday Trolley. Enjoy holiday music & ring the bell as the antique trolley drives thru town. Trolley circulates hourly Thursdays– Sundays. Thru Dec. 24. Thursdays & Fridays 3–5:51 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays Noon–2:51 p.m. & 4–6:51 p.m. 462-1422. mendocinotransit.org. FREE Wii-U Gaming for Teens.
Thursdays. 3:30–5:30 p.m. (closed 22 MendoLakeFamilyLife
on Christmas Eve). Ukiah Library. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah. 463-4490. co.mendocino.ca.us. FREE Anime & Manga Club for Teens. Discussions, examples,
drawing & even some screenings of popular anime TV episodes. Ages 12–19. Every first & third Thursday. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. fortbragglibrary.org. FREE Lakeport Main Street of Lights. Come join the festivities &
have your picture taken with Santa. View the lighting of the gazebo while singing Christmas songs. 5–7 p.m. Library Park. 225 Park St., Lakeport. lakecounty.com.
Friday 4 Festival of Lights. The gardens are decorated with colorful holiday lights. It’s a spectacular scene. Handicap accessible. Adults $10. 16 & under free. Fri.–Sun. 5–7:30 p.m. Thru Dec. 20. Santa visits Dec. 12 & 18. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. 18220 N. Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. 964-4352. gardenbythesea.org. Zoo Lights. Enjoy the San Francisco Zoo under twinkling lights. This year’s lights will include the brand new, warm, indoor South American
Tropical Rainforest & Aviary as well as the Little Puffer Steam Train. 5–8 p.m. Fri.–Sun. thru Dec. 13. Dec. 18–30: Fri.–Wed. Jan. 1–3: Fri.–Sun. San Francisco Zoo & Gardens. Sloat Blvd. at the Great Highway, San Francisco. sfzoo.org. A Tuna Christmas. A
two-man show featuring 22 quirky characters, all residing in the crazy town of Tuna, Texas. Advance tickets $12–$15. $3 additional at the door. Thru Dec. 20. No Dec. 11 shows. Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m. Sundays 2 p.m. Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum. 16435 Morgan Valley Rd., Lower Lake. 533-3406. lakecountytheatrecompany.org. Holiday Gift Wrapping Fundraiser.
While presents are wrapped, visit with kittens & cats looking for a home for the holidays. All proceeds benefit the Redwood Coast Humane Society. $3.75–$4.75. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Cypress Village, Gualala. mendonoma.com. FREE Christmas in the Country.
Merchant open house followed by the parade of lights with Santa & lighted floats. After the parade, the tree will be lit in front of the Kelseyville Fire Station. 5:30–8:30 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville. visitkelseyville.com.
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Saturday 5 Romantic Russian Melodies. Ukiah Symphony Orchestra. Thru Dec. 6. Adults $25. Seniors $20. Ages 18 & under & students $5. Tickets available at Mendocino Book Company. Dec. 5: 8 p.m. Dec. 6: 3 p.m. Mendocino College Center Theatre. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. 462-0236. ukiahsymphony.org. FREE Open House. Arts & crafts sales, tours of the Sun House, a visit with Santa Claus & seasonal refreshments. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Grace Hudson Museum. 431 S. Main St., Ukiah. 467-2836. gracehudsonmuseum.org. FREE Holiday Light Parade.
illuminated big rigs & vehicles of all shapes & sizes. Route: State St. from Ukiah Airport to Jensen’s Truck Stop. Tree lighting will be held at Alex Thomas Plaza. Parade: 6–7 p.m. Tree lighting: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Alex Thomas Plaza. 310 State St., Ukiah. 272-0902. ukiahchamber.com.
benefit high school scholarships, Anderson Valley Library & other community projects. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Pictures with Santa 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mendocino County Fairgrounds. 14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. andersonvalley.org.
FREE Holiday Bazaar. Fresh
Hands-on workshop designed for children ages 5–12. Each child can bring home a newly constructed project, a kid-sized orange apron, an achievement pin & certificate.
evergreen arrangements, jewelry, candy, books, crafts, home-baked goods, raffle prizes, holiday money wreaths & much more! Proceeds
FREE Holiday Stacking Blocks.
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Presented by the Fort Bragg Fire Dept. & Nor Coast Rodders Car Club. You can enter just about anything you can put lights on! $25 entry fee. Benefits Mendo Coast Children’s Fund. 5 p.m. Redwood & Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg.
Own Your Own Business • Free Training and other great incentives for attending fun workshops. • Child Care Assistance for lowincome eligible families. • Free Child Care Referrals.
Safe Passage 16th Annual North Coast Toy Run. Whether you have a
motorcycle or not, enjoy a complete tri-tip dinner, a no-host bar, raffle prizes & live music. Bikers depart at 12:30 p.m. from the Boatyard Shopping Center & arrive at Lions Hall for the festivities. $10 admission or a new, unwrapped toy. 12:30–4 p.m. Lions Hall. 430 E. Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg. safepassagefortbragg.org. FREE Because We Have Daughters.
A fun & unique opportunity for girls & their fathers or any positive male influence. Share in fun & educational activities. Share insights & connect with other dads & role models. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Lake Family Resource Center. 896 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport. 279-0563. lakefrc.org.
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MendoLakeFamilyLife 23
9 a.m.–noon. Home Depot. 350 N. Orchard Ave., Ukiah. 462-3009. Register at homedepot.com/ workshops. FREE Dance Around the World! We will laugh, sing, dance & experience the joy & magic of the season. Learn sevivon (the dreidel dance), Jingle Bells & the Penguin Dance. 1 p.m. Ukiah Library. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah. 467-6434. FREE 7th Annual Holiday Craft Faire. Hosted by the Girl Scouts.
Kids Kraft Korner, clown balloon artist, gift-wrapping booth, pet gifts & so much more! 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. Carl Purdy Hall. 1055 N. State St., Ukiah. facebook.com/ events/364243870428295. FREE Upper Lake Holiday Parade.
Lighting of the Christmas tree, holiday music & caroling. Santa arrives to visit with the children. Vendors will be serving hot drinks & sweet treats. Tri-tip sandwiches & chili. Popcorn & hotdogs. All monies benefit non-profit organizations. 6–8 p.m. Tree lighting: 6 p.m. Parade: 6:30 p.m. Main St., Upper Lake. lakecounty.com. FREE Clearlake Holiday Parade.
The parade will begin at 6 p.m. at Redbud Park & continue to Austin Park on Lakeshore Drive. The parade will end with a tree lighting ceremony, where Santa & Mrs. Claus will be waiting to take pictures. Parents should bring their own camera, photographer not provided. 6–8 p.m. Redbud Park. 14655 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. lakecounty.com. Middletown Renaissance Christmas Pageant. Enjoy 2 hours of music,
drama & feasting to benefit the church & fire victims. $35. Tickets not available at door. Renaissance costumes encouraged but not required. 24 MendoLakeFamilyLife
Fridays 7 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays 2:30 p.m. Thru Dec. 13. Middletown Community United Methodist Church. 15155 Armstrong St., Middletown. middletownchristmas pageanttickets.weebly.com.
Sunday 6 FREE Cloverdale Lion’s Club Annual Christmas Toy Run. Enjoy
free coffee & doughnuts, a full no-host bar, a ride with Santa, raffle prizes & live music. 9–11 a.m. Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds. 1 Citrus Fair Dr., Cloverdale. Christmas Bazaar & Craft Fair. 10
a.m.–4 p.m. Harwood Hall. 44400 Willis Ave., Laytonville. 984-8089. laytonville.org. FREE Lake County Fair Holiday Gift & Craft Bazaar. Wares of local makers &
crafters, food, demos & pictures with Santa. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Lake County Fairgrounds. Lewis Hall. 401 Martin St., Lakeport. lakecounty.com. Christmas Charity Faire. Instead
of Christmas gifts, donate to local & international charity organizations in honor of loved ones. 11 a.m. First Presbyterian Church. Corner of Perkins & Dora, Ukiah.
Monday 7 Mushroom Walk. The gardens are home to more than 150 species of mushrooms. Enjoy an identification walk & learn mushroom lore with a local fungi expert. Free with garden admission. 1:30 p.m. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. 18220 Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. gardenbythesea.org.
Thursday 10 FREE Lake County Job Fair.
Presented by Marymount University & Workforce Lake. Job seekers should be dressed for success & be prepared
to submit applications with current résumé. To assist, Workforce Lake in Lakeport & Clearlake will be holding weekly Job Prep workshops. To register for the workshop, call 263-0630. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Marymount California University, Lakeside Campus. 3700 Country Club Dr., Lucerne. Peter Pan. Classic musical. Adults $18. Ages 12 & under $8. Thru Dec. 20. Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays 7 p.m. Sundays 2:30 p.m. Gloriana Musical Theatre. 210 N. Corry St., Fort Bragg. 964-7469. gloriana.org.
Friday 11 FREE Ugly Sweater Party. Be ugly &
gaudy at this annual holiday party & contest. Prizes given out for creativity, holiday spirit, couples & more. Must be 21 or older to attend. 7:30 p.m. Clearlake Club. 210 N. Main St., Clearlake. lakecochamber.com.
Saturday 12 FREE First Annual Santa Stomp.
Join with friends on the Ukiah Rail Trail. Wear your Santa hat or elf costume & bring your Christmas spirit! Walk, bike, roller skate, or skateboard to the end of the trail. Go back to the start for some cocoa & donuts. 9 a.m. Meet at corner of Clara & Mason Streets, Ukiah. FREE Ceramic & Bake Sale.
Functional & sculptural ceramics & baked goods. 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Inglenook Grange. 25601 Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. kozt.com. The Nutcracker. Mendocino Ballet. A
delightful holiday tradition! Adults $20. Seniors over 65 $18. Children/students under 18 $10. Dec. 12: 7 p.m. Dec. 13: 2 p.m. Cotton Auditorium. 500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. 463-2290. mendocinoballet.org.
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
BobFest. Annual Winter Fundraiser. The music of Bob Dylan & a live auction. Adults $30. Youth under 18 $20. All proceeds benefit SPACE. 8 p.m. SPACE Theater. 508 W. Perkins, Ukiah. 462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org. FREE Holiday Craft Fair. Food & sing along, raffles & festival cheer! Benefits Rainbow Preschool. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Santa Claus arrives 11 a.m. Preston Hall. 44867 Main St., Mendocino. mendocinocoast.com. Light Up a Life. Remember your
loved ones this holiday season. A personalized star will be placed on the Memory Tree & the name of your loved one will be recited at the Memory Tree Lighting Ceremony. Stars to honor a beloved pet are also available & will be placed on a smaller tree. $25 for a personalized
star. Proceeds benefit the Mendocino Coast Hospice Program. 4 p.m. Mendocino Coast District Hospital. 700 River Dr., Fort Bragg. mendonoma.com. Holiday Concert for the Coast. The Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers perform their annual holiday concert. Advance $10. Door $15. Ages 17 & under free with adult. 4 p.m. Gualala Arts Center. 46501 Old State Hwy., Gualala. 884-1138. gualalaarts.org. Holiday Dance Party & Benefit.
Project Santa. Dance to holiday tunes by DJ Sister Yasmin. Admission is a donation of fresh, nonperishable canned or dry food, cash, or a check. 7 p.m. Bones Roadhouse. 39080 Hwy. 1, Gualala. FREE Wreaths Across America.
Ceremonies to honor veterans across
America. Ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember all soldiers. In Lake County, the events will take place at Hartley Cemetery in Lakeport & Kelseyville & Lower Lake cemeteries. 11 a.m.–noon. visitkelseyville.com.
Friday 18 The Nutcracker. Mendocino Ballet. A delightful holiday tradition! Adults $20. Seniors over 65 $18. Children/ students under 18 $10. Dec. 18: 7 p.m. Dec. 19: 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Dec. 20: 2 p.m. Mendocino College Center Theatre. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. 463-2290. mendocinoballet.org.
Saturday 19 Stolen Moonlight. Le Cirque de Bohème. Old-style circus in the French tradition of the 1920s. Unicycler,
Now Accepting K-12 Registration PRESENTS
The Nutcracker Tickets: Adults: $20 Seniors over 65: $18 Under 18: $10 $ 5 more at the door Fort Bragg
Ukiah Independent Study Academy
Cotton Auditorium
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Mendocino College Center Theatre
Serving K-12
Flex Time & Days • Tailored Learning Eligible for UHS Sports • Middle College Opportunity College & Career Readiness • WASC Accredited
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www.mendocinoballet.org
Ticket Outlets: Mendocino Book Co. & Mendocino Ballet: Ukiah Out of this World: Mendocino • Mazahar: Willits Pippis Longstockings & Harvest Market: Fort Bragg
UKIAH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
1000 Low Gap Rd., Ukiah • 707-472-5906 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Dec. 18 at 7pm Dec. 19 at 2 & 7pm Dec. 20 at 2pm
“Where Dreams to Dance Come True!” December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 25
contortionist, juggler, hand-chair balancer & more. $18–$55. Shows on Dec. 19, 20, 26, 27. 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. CornerStone Sonoma. 23570 Hwy. 121, Sonoma. cornerstonesonoma.com. FREE All-day Holiday Craft Fair.
Ceramics, metalwork, woodwork, paintings. Benefits the Symphony of the Redwoods. 10 a.m.–8:30 p.m. Fort Bragg Middle School. 500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. 964-0898. kozt.com. FREE Holiday Lighthouse Open House. Hot spiced cider & holiday
cookies. Santa will be on hand 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Event runs 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Point Arena Lighthouse. 45500 Lighthouse Rd., Point Arena. pointarenalighthouse.com. Veterans Christmas Dinner. A free
Christmas Dinner for Veterans with
a minimal cost for family. Seating is limited & reservations are required. Veterans must get their free tickets & discounted $5 tickets for family members online or by phone. 3–5 p.m. Ukiah Senior Center’s Administration Bldg. 499 Leslie St., Ukiah. 968-7315. runsignup.com/race/ca/ukiah/ veteranchristmasdinner2015.
Sunday 20 FREE 8th Annual Sing-Along. A community music gathering. Come sing carols with the little ones. 3:30 p.m. First Presbyterian Church. Dora & Perkin Streets, Ukiah. 468-9235. Christmas Concert Rehearsal.
Lake County Symphony Orchestra’s Christmas Celebration Concert dress rehearsal. Adults $5. Children 18 & under free. 11 a.m. Soper Reese
Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com. Lake County Symphony Christmas Celebration. $25. Premium $30. 3
p.m. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.
Sunday 27 FREE 116th Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. All-day
citizen science event to count all the birds within a 15-mile circle centered in Fort Bragg. For all levels of birders from advanced to just starting. Starts at midnight listening for owls & goes on from there. Divided areas with team leaders. You can stay home & count birds in yards & at feeders, too. Midnight–5 p.m. mendocinocoastaudubon.org.
Thursday 31 New Year’s Eve Dance Party. Bring
in the New Year with music by Mixed Nuts. Appetizers, beer, wine & champagne bar. Tickets at the door. $20. 8 p.m.–12:30 a.m. Caspar Community Center. 15051 Caspar Rd., Caspar. mendonoma.com. New Year’s Eve Party. Dance the
Big Bright Rigs
U
kiah’s holiday season will be double the fun when two local favorite events merge to form one big holiday bash. The Truckers’ Light Parade and the Downtown Holiday Parade of Lights are now the Light Parade and Tree Lighting Ceremony, which will be held on December 5. At the tree lighting ceremony, held 5:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. at the Alex Thomas Plaza in Ukiah, watch the illumination of the town’s tree, listen to live music, and take advantage of the downtown stores’ late hours. Meanwhile, see gussied up big rigs as well as smaller vehicles in the parade, which will start at 6 p.m. on State Street, and travel from Ukiah Airport to Jensen’s Truck Stop. See Ukiah Main Street’s Facebook page for information. To register for the light parade, see ukiahtlp.com. ¶
26 MendoLakeFamilyLife
night away to vintage rock n’ roll. $40–$50. Includes savory appetizers, party favors & a glass of champagne to ring in the New Year. Doors open at 8 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
Crafting with Kids
It’s a Wrap
Make Your Own Cloth Gift Bags
By Sara Barry
I
t may be hard to imagine the holidays without gifts wrapped in crisp, shiny paper adorned with
ribbons and bows. But imagine this: Four million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags crumpled in trash bags and thrown away. That’s a lot of waste, and despite tradition, it isn’t necessary. Cloth gift bags are beautiful and reusable. Inspired to reduce the amount of paper she used during the holidays, mother of five Beth Plummer started making her own cloth shopping bags a few years ago. She and the kids have never looked back. Opening gifts may sound a little different—no more crinkling and ripping—but it’s not any less fun. It’s Sew Easy to Build Your Stash If you have basic sewing skills, putting together your own bags is really simple. Cut rectangles. Hem both short edges. Then fold the rectangle in half to form a square (right sides in). Sew up both sides. Turn right side out, and you have a bag.
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Plummer recommends starting off making bags that are 12 inches square, a size that fits many items. Use scraps for making smaller bags. Tie close your finished product with
To reign in costs, build your stash of bags over time. pretty cloth ribbon or twine, and make your own gift cards out of recycled greeting cards. There is an initial expense involved in switching to cloth bags. To reign in costs, Plummer recommends building your stash of bags over time, reducing
December 2015
your use of paper as you go. Start with fabric you already have on hand or buy some on clearance. Come January, you’ll find sales on holiday-themed fabric that you can use next year. As you switch from paper to cloth, you may need to reimagine what your wrapped gifts will look like and what opening them will sound like, but give it a try. Likely the biggest difference will be in the amount of trash you haul out to the curb. ¶ Sara Barry writes about seasonal family topics. She uses cloth bags to wrap gifts for her daughters.
MendoLakeFamilyLife 27
Cooking with Kids
In Praise of Pumpkin By Joyce Beydler
M
ake cooking an educational experience this holiday season with the help of this recipe, gleaned from the very first colonial cookery book, The Compleat American Housewife. Your kids will learn about 18th-century America while cooking up a tasty, traditional dessert. Colonial Pumpkin Pie Ingredients 1 3-4 pound culinary pumpkin (also called a “pie” pumpkin) 3 eggs 1/4 cup butter (let soften at room temperature) 1/2 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 teaspoons vanilla 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 frozen piecrusts Directions Note: The italicized portions of this recipe are excerpts from The Compleat American Housewife. 1. Stew a fine sweet pumpkin till soft and dry. Cut the pumpkin into chunks. Place the pumpkin in a large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and let simmer until the pumpkin is soft. Imagine doing this on a wood stove! When the
28 MendoLakeFamilyLife
A Holiday Favorite with a Historical Twist
pumpkin is done, drain, let cool, and peel. 2. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. 3. Rub it through a sieve. For a more authentic take, use a fine mesh sieve or food mill to puree the pumpkin. For convenience, you can also use a food processor. If you don’t have any of these tools on hand, mash the pumpkin using a potato masher or sturdy fork. Measure 2 cups of pumpkin puree and place it in a mixing bowl. 4. Mix with the pulp six eggs quite light. Eggs have gotten larger over the years. If you compared a modern egg to an egg from the 18th century, it would be twice as big! Whip three eggs (instead of six) with a whisk, and then combine with the pumpkin. 5. a quarter pound of butter... There was no refrigeration in the 18th century, so butter was kept at room temperature. Let the butter soften on the counter before use. When soft, add the butter to the pumpkin mixture and mix well. Colonial housewives measured ingredients by weight. Standardized measuring cups came later. 6. half a pint of new milk... Add the whole milk to the pumpkin mixture. Baking with half-curdled sour milk
was so common in colonial times that when fresh milk was used in a recipe, it was called “new milk” to avoid confusion. 7. some pounded ginger and nutmeg... Add the ground ginger and nutmeg to the pumpkin mixture. Ginger could be harvested locally, so it was a popular spice in the colonies. 8. a wine glass of brandy, and sugar to your taste... Add the vanilla and sugar. Brandy has a powerful, sweet flavor and helps enhance other flavors, but vanilla is more commonly used today. 9. Put a paste round the edges, and in the bottom of a shallow dish or plate... Unwrap the frozen piecrusts. Colonial bakers made “paste,” or dough, as they needed it. 10. Pour in the mixture, cut some thin bits of paste, twist them, and lay them across the top. Pour the pumpkin mixture into one of the piecrusts. Cut shapes out of the second piecrust and arrange them in a pattern on the pie for a decorative touch. 11. Bake it nicely. Place the pie in the oven and bake for 50–60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean and dry. To find out about other seasonal activities like the Colonial Pumpkin Pie, sign up for free at education.com.
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
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Free Your & Low-Cost Quality Preschool! www.treeoflifeschool.net
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✓ Referrals for transportation available Free & Low-Cost Quality Preschool! Also providing FREE in-home services for
By Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts
infants, toddlers & pregnant women!
Question: How do you boost your children's spirits when they come home feeling low because something bad happened to them at school? —Baffled
Head Start Child Development Program
North Ukiah - Bush St. Nokomis - Washington Ave. South Ukiah - S. State St. Peach Tree - S. Orchard Ave.
• Willits
Near Brookside School at Spruce St. & Lincoln Way
La Vida • Lake County
Upper Lake - 2nd Street Upper Lake - Clover Valley Lakeport - Howard Ave. Clearlake - Pearl Ave. • Free K-12 Public Charter Clearlake - Meadowbrook Dr.
Charter School www.ncoinc.org Head Start (707)Development 462-2582 Program License #230111843 Child • Home Study• Coast with
Answer: You want to avoid pooh-poohing what happened at school by saying things like, “That was nothing,” or “You’re making too much out of what happened.” The child obviously thought that it was a big deal at the time. At the same time, avoid blaming the child by asking, “What did you do or say that caused the teacher or another student to upset you?” If you do, it well may stop the child from communicating with you in the future. The best approach is to let your child vent and talk about the upsetting incident. You can agree with the child that what happened was upsetting to him or her. Quite often, this is sufficient to calm the child down. At this point, you can ask the child to consider what he or she might do in the future when faced with a similar situation. Together, you can discuss the child’s ideas. Plus, you can build the child’s confidence by bringing up that he has handled many unpleasant situations successfully in the past. Finally, if a situation is truly a serious one that is likely to continue, like bullying or a barrage of criticism from a teacher, it is time to step in and ask the teacher for help. And extra hugs and treats can also limit children’s low feelings. ¶ www.mendolakefamilylife.com
• Ukiah
C E N T E R S
Child a classrooms for ✓ 1/2-day & full-day ages 18 months Head to 5 years ✓ Potty-trained not necessary Start! ✓ Children with disabilities welcome
Applications online: www.ncoinc.org • (707) 462-2582 Fort Bragg - Lincoln St. On-Site Classes
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707-459-6344 www.LaVidaSchool.org 16201 N. Hwy. 101, Willits
Accelerated Achievement Academy • • • •
Free Public School Grades 4-12 Small classes Support for struggling students
(707) 463-7080 1031 N. State St.
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December 2015
MendoLakeFamilyLife 29
Humor Break
The 12 Denials of Christmas
Holiday Hazards I Won’t Avoid
By Holly Hester
12
I will not send out Christmas cards late this year. Sending a Christmas card after New Year’s does not say “Merry Christmas.” It says, “Behold, my disorganization!”
11
I will not send my mother-in-law another gift that contains nuts. She is allergic to nuts and even though I know this, I keep gifting her with heavily nut-laden products. At this point, even a casual observer would think I was trying to kill her.
10
I will not eat sugary desserts the entire holiday season. The roof of a gingerbread house does not constitute a healthy breakfast regardless of its raisin chimney.
9
I will not forget about the mailman’s present again. I can’t just hand him a bunch of cash like he’s my drug dealer.
8
I will not go out and buy a bunch of crappy toys. Just because my kids want a megaphone that makes farting noises and a plastic dog toy that vomits on the floor doesn’t mean I actually have to buy these things. It also doesn’t mean that a relative has to buy them either. If Aunt Marge wants to give my kids
30 MendoLakeFamilyLife
a potato gun that shoots ACTUAL PIECES OF POTATO around our house, then she can get her butt out of assisted living and clean up my mush-covered walls.
7
I will not let my children pick out the Christmas tree. The inside of our house is not the size of Rockefeller Center. It cannot accommodate a 50-foot tree with a family of bald eagles living in it.
6
I will not let my children string the lights on the Christmas tree. A tree with 4,000 lights wrapped tightly around it’s base and absolutely no lights on top looks strange, and I’m pretty sure is a fire hazard.
5
I will not lose all the receipts. This year, I’m going to buy a large box, stick all the receipts in it, and bury it in our yard. Then when all the crappy toys I swore I wouldn’t buy start breaking, I can proudly announce, “I have the receipt for that! Will someone please hand me my shovel?”
4
I will not wait until Christmas Eve to realize we’re out of batteries. Sure, I can send my husband out for the fifth year in a row to look for batteries at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve. And yes, he will
return with batteries. But he will not return full of Christmas cheer.
3
I will not use the busy holiday season as an excuse not to exercise. Actually, I will. Forget I said that.
2
I will not just say, “Oh, whatever” when my family asks me what I’d like for Christmas. Because “Oh, whatever” means a bathrobe.“Oh, whatever” means another loofah scrub. I’m not Aunt Marge. I want some fun presents. Like skateboarding lessons, a tube of bubblegum flavored lip-gloss, and a solar-powered margarita blender.
1
I will not forget that Christmas is actually about love. That late Christmas card is just a way of saying “I miss you.” All those odd presents are just a way of saying “You’re in my heart.” Christmas is also about the moments. Making hot cocoa together and watching the marshmallows disappear into the chocolate. Reading “T’was the Night Before Christmas” and feeling excited children squirm on my lap in footed pajamas. Hearing my son whisper, “Mommy, you know what? I love you.” Those are things I don’t need a list to remember. Happy, happy, happy holidays. ¶ Holly Hester lives in Sebastopol and writes about life on her blog, Riot Ranch. Find her book, Escape from Ugly Mom Island!, on Amazon.
December 2015 www.mendolakefamilylife.com
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Extended Holiday Shopping Hours Monday - Saturday 9am to 9 pm • Sunday 9am to 6pm Christmas Eve - 9am to 5pm • Christmas Day - Closed Saturday, December 26 - 9am to 6pm
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enjoy play
Santa and Mrs. Claus
Beginning Saturday, November 28, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in their Photo Studio in Village Terrace every weekend from 11am to 3pm. All proceeds benefit the Volunteer Center of Sonoma County.
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Chanukah Festival
Sunday, December 6 • 4pm in Village Court The Chabad Jewish Center invites you to Celebrate Chanukah. Join us for a Menorah Lighting Celebration. Hot Latkes, Live Music, Dreidels, Gelt, Prizes and More. For information, call 707.577-0277.
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The Secret Santa Marathon
Thursday, December 17 • 6am to 9pm While wrapping up your holiday shopping and enjoying the givestrolling entertainment, help us fulfill every last Secret Santa wish from our neighbors in need. For more information about Secret Santa, call 707.573.3399.
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The Gift of Endless Choices
Montgomery Village Gift Certificates are redeemable at all stores and restaurants in the Village. Plus if you purchase $100 or more in Gift Certificates at the Village’s Management Office you will receive a See’s Candies Certificate (good for 1 pound of See’s Candies, while supplies last). For details or to pre-order, call 707.545.3844. A PREMIER HOLIDAY SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
COMPLIMENTARY PARKING HIGHWAY 12 AT FARMERS LANE IN SANTA ROSA
WWW.MVSHOPS.COM
707.545.3844
Award-Winning Patient Care Has a
New Address
Come see us at our new home. The new Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is officially open. The New Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is better than ever. With our experienced physicians and nursing staff, we offer the area’s most advanced diagnostic imaging, a spacious emergency room and private rooms designed with patients in mind. Best of all, we still offer the same great care that you’ve come to love and depend on. Now we have a state of the art facility to match our award-winning patient care. A new place of comfort and healing that will serve our community for generations to come.
The New
Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital is Now Open
CALL 707.459.6801 One Marcela Drive | Willits, CA 95490 www.howardhospital.org Conveniently located on the corner of East Hill Road and Haehl Creek Drive.