Mendo Lake Family Life April 2018

mendo lake FREE!

April 2018

Raise Fit Kids

Tips for all ages

Homesick Empower children

Mac & Cheese A new take It Isn’t Fair

Life with siblings

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Children’s Advocacy Walk and Festival

Growing Resilient Together Saturday, April 21, 2018 | 10:00 am Library Park, Lakeport, CA Register for the Advocacy Walk on Eventbrite or at www.lakecoe.org First 100 registrants receive a free t-shirt

Free | Games | Food | Fun

Lakeport

F o r mo r e i n f o r ma t i o n g o t o la k e c o u n t y c h i l d r e n s c o u n c i l . c o m o r l a k e c o e . o rg

Why drive miles out of your way to recover from surgery or an injury?

When you need physical therapy, we’re available right here, close to home.

When it comes to recovering Get Seen Within

TWO WEEKS

from a life-changing injury or surgery, nothing beats the

Get Back to Life Sooner Physical Therapy can help you with:

comfort of home and care from

• Sports Injuries

• Joint Replacement

people you know. So when you

• Back & Neck Pain

• Strains/Fractures

• Work Injuries

• Acute/Chronic Pain

• Stroke

• Vertigo/Dizziness

• Balance Problems

• Post-Op Rehabilitation

need help after stroke, knee surgery or a sports injury, we’re right here for you. Your road to recovery starts as soon as your doctor determines that you need help as part of your plan to recovery. And because we’re

• Women’s Health

right where you live you don’t have to drive too far to get quality care. We are fully staffed so there is little to no waiting time for your first appointment.

3 Marcela Drive, Suite D | Willits C A | 707.456.3141 | www.howardhospital.org

April 2018

Every Issue 6

Dear Reader

8

Bits and Pieces Power Up Your Creativity Arty Soiree Kelseyville Crooner

10 Features

Dance for Peace A Garden of Delights Smiling with Scorpions Elegance in Three Lines

14 Calendar of Events Singing with Soul

7

Mac & Cheese Makeover It’s quick and easy.

10 Homesick Not Helpless Empower your child.

12 Growing Up Healthy Raise a fit kid.

22 Life Isn’t Fair Our local humorist on teaching kids to share.

4 MendoLakeFamilyLife

8

7 April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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FREE

Family Expo & Camp Fair FRIDAY APRIL 13 3-7 P.M. AT CODDINGTOWN MALL, SANTA ROSA

RECREATION & PARKS W

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B

Redwood Adventure Camp

Dear Reader

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pring has sprung! It’s an optimal time to think about fitness, especially since today’s kids Sharon Gowan can spend more Publisher/Editor Sharon@family-life.us time sitting in front of screens than moving around. “Growing Up Healthy” (page 12) offers tips for making sure children of all ages get the exercise they need.

Mall in Santa Rosa. Collect information on a wide array of local camps that teach everything from horseback riding to foreign languages to circus arts. Talk to camp faculty, enter to win prizes, and take in loads of kid-friendly entertainment, too.

One place kids can get plenty of opportunities to run around? Camp!

Discover the terrific programs in our area at our free camp fair on Friday, April 13, 3–7 p.m., at Coddingtown

Whatever the coming days hold, we hope there are many moments of joy and growth for your whole clan.

While you’re figuring out the family’s summer, be sure to take time out to laugh. See “Life Isn’t Fair” (page 22) for a good chuckle on a touchy sibling subject—making sure every little thing is divided equally.

Office Manager Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us Warren Kaufman warren@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Web and Social Media Natalie Bruzon natalie@family-life.us

Contributing Writers Holly Hester Malia Jacobson Karen Nochimowski Ashley Talmadge

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office P.O. Box 351 Philo, CA 95466 (707) 586-9562

Mmmm... Tri-Tip & Jumbo Prawns!

Silent, Dollar & Live Auctions • 50/50 Raffle tickets

Tickets at DFM Auto Repair, or Hole in the Wall, Ukiah phone Marge 463-2238 or order online at: Ticket River - Redwood Empire Lions

APRIL 15TH

Carl Purdy Hall, Redwood Empire Fairgrounds • 12–2:30 pm Benefits our Redwood Empire Lions Club 6 MendoLakeFamilyLife

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Cooking with Kids

Mac & Cheese Makeover Cook a Classic in a Flash

By Momma Chef

I

will let you in on a Momma Chef secret: When my kids were younger, they ate boxed mac and cheese, more than I would like to admit. I made sure to buy the all-natural, organic brands so I wouldn’t feel too guilty, but I knew there had to be an easy way to make homemade mac and cheese.

What I really wanted was to be able to throw it all together, without needing to use an extra pot to boil the noodles— just a 1-bowl dish. It definitely took a while to master this recipe, but I finally got a big “thumbs up” from my boys!

This is so unbelievably easy, you don’t even need to boil the noodles first; it makes the boxed mac and cheese look difficult. I hope your kids love this as much as mine do. ¶ This article originally appeared on MommaChef. com. It has been reprinted here with permission.

The focus of Karen Nochimowski, founder of MommaChef.com, is to empower and inspire busy moms everywhere with simple and easy-to-make recipes.

Every Momma Chef recipe is created using no more than six ingredients and takes under six minutes prep time.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Momma Chef’s Quick and Easy 1-Bowl Mac and Cheese Ingredients

• 2 cups elbow macaroni (regular or whole grain) • 4 cups 2% or whole milk • 1 tsp. salt • 3 tbsp. salted butter, melted • 5 cups shredded cheese (I like using a mixture of sharp cheddar and Mexican blend) Instructions 1. Add macaroni, milk, salt, melted butter, and 3 cups of shredded cheese into a large bowl and mix well.

2. Pour into a 9-by-13-inch greased baking dish.

3. Sprinkle remaining 2 cups of cheese over mixture and cover with foil.

4. Bake covered at 350°F for 35 minutes, then remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes uncovered.

April 2018

MendoLakeFamilyLife 7

Bits & Pieces

Power Up Your Creativity

M

any turn to making art to get through difficult times. So, after fires ravaged Lake County, the Middletown Art Center created the Resilience Project, a series of $5, 5-hour Saturday afternoon art classes. Run like a workshop, each class features instruction in one of several areas: photography, poetry and creative writing, painting, and printmaking. See middletownartcenter.org/events.html for more information on the project, which runs every Saturday through May 19 and culminates with an exhibit. ¶

Painting Resilience at the Middletown Art Center

Arty Soiree

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upport little ones’ ballerina dreams at a fundraiser for Mendocino Ballet.

Dine on catered cuisine, sip wine and beer, watch a performance of young dancers, and then hit the dance floor yourself. Live and silent auctions will feature vacation getaways, fine liqueurs, local artists’ work, and opportunities to purchase gift baskets and services in the area, too. The Spring Fling Gala Fundraiser will be held on April 21, 6–10 p.m., at Barra of Mendocino winery in Redwood Valley. Tickets are $60. See mendocinoballet.org or call 463-2290 for more information. ¶

8 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Alicyn Yaffee

Kelseyville Crooner

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azz vocalist and guitarist Alicyn Yaffee has a “small town girl makes good” story. Her musical gifts nurtured at Kelseyville High School, she found her way to New York City and made an album, Someone Else, of original songs. Now she’s performing with Santana’s bassist on April 22 at 3 p.m. at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake. Tickets are $25 and available by calling 275-2244. To check out Yaffee’s music, go to sonicbids.com/band/alicynyaffee.

For more information about the concert, see tallmanhotel.com. Note that the intimate venue is not appropriate for young children. ¶

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Dance for Peace

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A Garden of Delights

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ince 2006, the Fort Bragg High School Learning Garden has been teaching kids about the art of growing produce. And it provides food to Fort Bragg school cafeterias, too. Help support the garden’s Youth Intern Program by going to the Earth Day Festival. There will be live entertainment and music, educational kids’ activities, workshops, a plant sale, silent auction, yummies from local chefs, and, of course, the beauty of the garden itself. The free event will be held on April 21, noon–5 p.m., at the Learning Garden in Fort Bragg. For more information, see facebook.com/events/154487485210677. ¶

n the early ’80s, internationally known Bay Area choreographer Anna Halprin created the Planetary Dance as a communal prayer for peace.

Originally performed on Mount Tamalpais during a difficult time for the community, the all-ages dance is now conducted all over the world, including in Austin Park in Clearlake. The focus of the Planetary Dance for Lake County is community healing, connection, and renewal. Join in on April 22, 11 a.m.–3 p.m. See facebook.com/events for more details about the event. And check out planetarydance.org for more information, including a short documentary, about the practice. ¶

Smiling with Scorpions

California Academy of Sciences

S

Dr. Lauren Esposito

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

piders and scorpions and bears—oh my!

Discover the slightly scary wonders of the outdoors at NatureFest. The event starts with a lecture on bears and a locally sourced dinner on April 27, 6–9 p.m. Then, on April 28, early-morning bird watching will be followed by an exploration of scorpions and spiders with Dr. Lauren Esposito and a scientist- and naturalist-led investigation of the environs. The day wraps up at 3 p.m. with the harmonies of folk musicians the Real Sarahs and Gwyneth Moreland. The events, which are $5–$65, will be held at the Hopland Research and Extension Center in Hopland. See a complete schedule and register, by April 13, at bit.ly/ naturefest2018. ¶

April 2018

Elegance in Three Lines

S

ince Ukiah and haiku are palindromes, how could the town not hold a competition that celebrates the Japanese poetry? See local adults and kids read their winning three-lined poems at the UkiaHaiku Festival on April 29, 2–4 p.m., at the Civic Center in Ukiah. For more information, see ukiahaiku.org/ haiku-festival-info.html. ¶

MendoLakeFamilyLife 9

word conjures the image of a lonely, friendless child sobbing into a pillow night after night.

Much has been written on preventing and treating camper homesickness, as if it’s a disease. But, as psychologist Michael Thompson emphasizes in his book, Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from Parents Can Help a Child Grow (Random House, 2012), “Homesickness is not a psychiatric

Homesick Not Helpless Even Confident Campers Get the Blues

By Ashley Talmadge

A

t 10, Ravit Pearlman is a veteran camper. She started going to overnight camp just before her seventh birthday, and she comes from what her mom, Sacha Reich, enthusiastically describes as a “camp family.” Her dad, Aaron Pearlman, went to the same camp as a boy and later became a counselor there. Asked what she looks forward to at summer camp, Ravit doesn’t hesitate.

“Seeing my friends again!” she says. Her eyes sparkle as she eagerly outlines the scene: canoeing, the ropes course, bonding with the counselors, whispering to her cabinmates after dark.

And Ravit also mentions being homesick at camp. A couple times each summer, in fact. Yet interestingly, she seems to have little desire to distance herself from the experience.

Indeed, she speaks almost wistfully about the short spans of melancholy when she misses something from 10 MendoLakeFamilyLife

home and is comforted by a friend.

It is evident that she expects such feelings to arise and has strategies for coping with them.

How can this be? After all, one of the most troublesome questions for the parent of a first-time camper is: Will my child be homesick? The very

“Homesickness builds confidence.”

— Christopher Thurber illness. It is not a disorder. It is the natural, inevitable consequence of leaving home.” Virtually everyone endures homesickness at some point in life, whether because of a family move, going away to college—or spending a month at summer camp.

But experts say there’s often a silver lining. Kids like Ravit learn a lot about themselves when they undergo a short-term bout of the blues in a safe and supportive environment.

Psychologist and camp consultant Christopher Thurber has researched homesickness extensively. In his article “The Great News About Homesickness,” Thurber maintains, “Homesickness builds confidence.

Overcoming a bout of homesickness and enjoying time away from home nurtures children’s independence and prepares them for the future.”

Parents have a leading role in setting the stage for a camper’s success.

Homesickness is caused, in part, by a lack of familiarity with a new environment. Ravit’s mom suggests

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

The most important thing a parent can do is to show confidence in the child’s ability to problem-solve, make decisions, and have a good time. Experts unanimously agree that parents should never offer to pick up a child early from camp. As camp director Erec Hillis says, “A pickup deal tells your camper that you will rescue him at a moment’s notice, as opposed to the message that you believe in his ability to do great at camp.”

While away, many kids come to understand what they love about their family. Because she and her brother go to the same camp, Ravit sometimes seeks him out for support. “That’s an argument for having siblings go to camp together,” laughs her mom. “It will bring out unusual qualities in siblings that you might not experience at home.” www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Experts unanimously agree that parents should never offer to pick up a child early from camp.

FLY TS

Thurber’s research shows that frank pre-camp discussions about the normalcy of homesickness can relieve a child’s anxiety. Camp owner and director Kevin Gordon advises, “Discuss with your child what to do when feeling homesick at camp and how to work through this situation if and when it arises…. Discuss your plan for keeping in touch with them while they are away.”

Close relationships with fellow campers and trust in the counselors become the real basis of a positive camp experience. Ravit and her father agree that camp friendships tend to develop faster and feel “deeper” than those formed in other social arenas.

Living in close quarters, with the

©P N

enlisting help from the camp to make contact with at least one other camper before the session starts. She says, “Just knowing somebody’s face and name so you can sit on the bus with them can be such a helpful bridge.”

Ravit’s dad suggests packing a few comfort items—a blanket or stuffed animal—“so they feel like they can set up a little bit of home in the cabin.”

Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport (STS)

Nonstop flights to: - Seattle (SEA) - Portland (PDX) - Los Angeles (LAX) - Orange County (SNA) - San Diego (SAN) - Phoenix (PHX) - San Francisco (SFO)

obligation to work out any differences, is part of it. But campers also learn they can rely upon each other for support.

Ravit, like so many other campers, has learned important life lessons from her occasional bouts of homesickness— how to seek and accept comfort from people outside her family; an understanding that homesickness is transitory, and that she’s resilient enough to get through it; and how to manage those feelings when they inevitably arise again—all important steps as she gains independence.

Hillis says, “Your child is likely to skin a knee, lose something, get a bug bite, or be homesick for a night during his or her term at camp…. It is also true that these challenges will make up less than five percent of your child’s memory of camp—the other 95 percent is really fun.” Ravit’s sparkling eyes tell the story: She can hardly wait for the next camp session to begin. ¶ Ashley Talmadge is a freelance writer and mother of two boys. Her articles have appeared in dozens of parenting and lifestyle publications across the United States.

April 2018

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asking kids to put away toys one at a time or ferry items up and down stairs.

Growing Up Healthy Fitness for Kids of Every Age

By Malia Jacobson

C

hildhood may seem to move at a faster pace these days but children don’t. Recent research shows that, worldwide, today’s children are slower and less fit than their parents were: Modern kids take about 90 seconds longer to run a mile than their predecessors did 30 years ago, and children’s cardiovascular fitness has dropped 5 percent since 1975.

You can reverse this troubling trend at home, though. These family fitness tactics for kids of every age will help your brood embrace better health, improved energy, and more fun.

Toddler-Preschool Years (ages 2–5): Family Flex The good news: toddlers usually get plenty of exercise, says Beverly 12 MendoLakeFamilyLife

J. Allen, Ph.D., former professor of Physical Education and Recreation at North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina. “Children this age are very active and get the exercise they need from running, jumping, climbing, rolling, bending, pulling, pushing, and dancing.” Help preschool-age kids get physical by playing tag together, wrestling, and

But don’t encourage copycat workouts— very young kids shouldn’t follow along with certain grown-up exercises, says Dale Speckman, a director of and head trainer at a large gym. “Young children simply aren’t ready for high repetition, high intensity workouts like jogging or interval training,” he says.

If kids want to work out with you, do some simple exercises with their own body weight like lunges, planks, and squats.

Elementary Years (ages 6–12): Unsportsmanlike Conduct For kids who like sports, the elementary years bring a whirlwind of new opportunities to stay active, from soccer to softball. But less athletic kids may begin to shirk exercise, particularly if they feel inept at sports.

Fortunately, competitive sports play isn’t the only way kids can get needed exercise, says Allen. Parents can encourage kids of all stripes—sports lovers and sports avoiders alike—to get enough exercise by establishing a regular family outing, such as ice-skating, swimming, or a long outdoor walk; visiting parks and public spaces, where kids can be active; and exploring less competitive physical pursuits such as biking, skateboarding, and gymnastics.

Whatever pastimes kids gravitate toward, it’s important for parents to model that physical activity is enjoyable, says Allen. “Make sure kids have access to fun equipment like skates, Frisbees, and hula hoops. And remember that physical activity is important for all children, including those with disabilit[ies]. Your child’s

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Summer Classes Art, crafts, cartooning, LEGO Animation, and even ice skating at the Charles M. Schulz Museum!

pediatrician can tell you more about the amounts and types of physical activity that are appropriate for your child’s ability.”

June 4–August 10 Reserve your space online schulzmuseum.org/learn/classes-camps or call

Teen Years (ages 13–18): Safe Shred Trend-loving teens may hop on the latest fitness bandwagon to attain a “shredded” (teen-speak for well-defined or muscular) physique.

Whatever pastimes kids gravitate toward, it’s important for parents to model that physical activity is enjoyable.

But high-intensity workouts like CrossFit and P90x aren’t suited for teenagers, says Speckman. “CrossFit utilizes many Olympic-style lifts that are extremely technical and require high levels of joint mobility and stability. These technical lifts take several weeks to teach in order to perform safely and effectively.” Sport injuries are on the rise in children and teenagers, something experts attribute to early sport specialization and teens with still-growing bodies performing too many repetitions—something CrossFit may encourage. Parents of young fitness enthusiasts should seek trainers that are certified in youth fitness, Speckman adds. Even if a trainer has a background in strength or sports training, youth training is vastly different and should be left to a certified professional. ¶

(707) 284-1272

Ukiah Police Department

NOW HIRING

Police Officer (Entry Level or Lateral)

Police Academy students are encouraged to apply as lateral officers for graduation employment. Bilingual (English/Spanish) abilities are highly desirable and will be given preference.

$4,827 - $6,161 per month; $5,069 - $6,469 per month with Intermediate P.O.S.T. Certificate; and $5,322 $6,793 per month with Advanced P.O.S.T. Certificate.

Benefits: City paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employee and 50% of the cost for dependent coverage; paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave. The City also provides Credit Union membership, a deferred compensation program, and bilingual specialty pay.

Retirement: The city is a member of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

For Forfurther furtherinformation informaitonand andtotoapply applyonline, online, please pleasevisit visitususatat www.cityofukiah.com/jobs/ or call 707-463-6272 http://www.cityofukiah.com/jobs/ or call 707-463-6272

Malia Jacobson’s latest book is Sleep Tight, Every Night: Helping Toddlers and Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks, or Tirades.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

April 2018

MendoLakeFamilyLife 13

April

Calendar of Events

Singing with Soul The mighty voices of Loralee Christensen and Terrie Odabi join the nine-piece Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra for a night of soul music to benefit the victims of the Sulphur Fire. A master guitarist who has toured with Charlie Musselwhite, Anthony Paule has performed with his band in such far-flung places as the Canary Islands, for the Maspalomas Soul Festival, and Italy, for the Poretta Soul Festival. With three brass players, the group plans to deliver serious dance-floor grooves. See the show on April 27 at 7 p.m. at the Soper Reese Theatre in Lakeport. Tickets are $15­–$25 and are available at sopereesetheatre.com. ¶

Sunday 1 FREE Easter Egg Hunt. 2,800 eggs will be hidden. Ages 0–12. 1:15–2 p.m.

Sponsored by the Lakeport Rotary.

Lake County Fairgrounds. 401 Martin St., Lakeport. lakecounty.com.

Wednesday 4 Lakeport. Sutter Lakeside Hospital (Human Resources): 5176 Hill Rd. E., Lakeport. 349-1210. facebook.com/ motherwiselakecounty.

Tuesday 3

FREE Shoe Drive. Mother-Wise

fundraiser. Donate your gently worn, used & new shoes. Ends Apr. 10.

Drop-offs: Mother-Wise: 180 N. Main St., Lakeport (Tuesdays–Thursdays. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.). First 5: 1950 Parallel Dr.,

children’s film. Donations accepted.

Rated G. 7 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre.

275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

FREE Teen Dungeons & Dragons.

3:30–4:30 p.m. Lakeport Library.

1425 N. High St., Lakeport. 263-8817. library.lakecountyca.gov.

rforming arts circus and pe l ia nt de si re A 7 to 14 for kids age

Thursday 5

camp

FREE La Leche League.

TO N U WA RD THE F

Breastfeeding support group. Babies are always welcome. 10 a.m.–noon.

Mendo Baby. 198 S. School St., Ukiah.

462-1020. facebook.com/MendoBaby.

✓ Juggling ✓ Unicycle ✓ Swimming ✓ Song Writing ✓ Dance

www.campwinnarainbow.org 14 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Factory. A screening of the classic

Learn how to create characters & plot out a world & story in preparation for starting a campaign. Wednesdays thru Apr. 18. 4–6 p.m. Fort Bragg Library.

499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. 964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org.

W O B N I A R A N WIN

Check us out and register today at:

FREE Willie Wonka & the Chocolate

FREE Teen Craft Hour. Tuesdays.

CAMP

✓ Stilts ✓ Trapeze ✓ Silks ✓ Drama ✓ Clowning

Terrie Odabi and Anthony Paule

Friday 6 510.525.4304

Birdhouse Bidding. Birdhouse silent auction. Begins during First Friday Art Walk, 5–7 p.m. Bid on birdhouses thru Apr. 27 at 5 p.m. Fundraiser for the Caring Kitchen Project, which

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

serves nutritious meals to cancer patients. The Corner Art Gallery. 201 S. State St., Ukiah. 462-1950.

Saturday 7 Spring Dance Festival. Lake County

dancers, choreographers & teachers. $10–$20. Thru Apr. 8. Apr. 7: 7 p.m.

Apr. 8: 2 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre.

275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

April 28: Printmaking. Middletown Art Center. 21456 Hwy. 175 at the junction of Hwy. 29, Middletown.

809-8118. middletownartcenter.org.

Sunday 8

of the Northern California Old Time Fiddlers Group. Noon–2 p.m.

Ely Stagestop & Country Museum.

9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Hwy. 128), Kelseyville. 533-9990. facebook.com/ events/139286006740335/670.

FREE First Fiddlers’ Jam. Listen to fiddle tunes played by members

History Happy Hour. Join the Museums of Lake County for a night of friendly competition. Think you have the stuff to become a trivia master? Compete as a team or a solo adventurer. 6–8 p.m. Drinx Bar & Grill. 370 S. Main St., Lakeport. facebook.com/events/345867672582518.

FREE Spanish Natural Childbirth Class/ Parto Natural, clases en español. Maya Carlos LM (partera

licenciada) y Gloria González Campise (partera aprendiz y doula) presentaran una clase sobre el embarazo y el parto natural. Les invitamos a esta clase cada primera sábado del mes. Cambiamos el tema y presentamos un video corto cuando sea possible. Es gratuito y abierta al publico. Vengan! Las y los esperamos! 11 a.m.–noon. Mendocino Baby. 198 S. School St., Ukiah.

462-1020. facebook.com/MendoBaby.

FREE Window Birdhouse Hands-On Workshop. You & your child build a birdhouse & decorate it. 9 a.m.– noon. Home Depot. 350 N. Orchard Ave., Ukiah. 462-3009. Register at homedepot.com/workshops.

Resilience Photography. Learn

about photography. $5. Noon–5 p.m.

Other Resilience Project art classes: Apr. 14: Writing. April 21: Painting. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

HILLSIDE (707) 468-1010

333 Laws Ave., Ukiah

LAKEVIEW (707) 263-7725

5335 Lakeshore Blvd., Lakeport

Baseball fever is incurable.

For everything else, see us.

No matter what your sport is, our goal is to make sure you enjoy it in good health.

LITTLE LAKE (707) 456-9600

45 Hazel St., Willits

Se habla español mchcinc.org

MEDICAL • DENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH • CARE FOR HER

MCHC HEALTH CENTERS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PROVIDER AND EMPLOYER.

April 2018

MendoLakeFamilyLife 15

Tuesday 10

Friday 13

Saturday 14

Guys & Dolls Dress Rehearsal

FREE The Art of Ironing. Members

FREE Teen Leadership Council.

Fundraiser. A preview of Ukiah Players Theatre’s production of Guys & Dolls. Benefits Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House. $20–$25.

Appetizers & beverages: 6 p.m.

Show: 7 p.m. Ukiah Players Theatre.

1041 Low Gap Rd., Ukiah. 462-9226. ukiahplayerstheatre.org.

of Partners Gallery set up ironing boards in the gallery to catch-up on their ironing. Visitors are encouraged to bring their wrinkled clothing to be pressed (clean items only) or just sit & talk about ironing, a domestic art that is dying out. Apr. 13–15: 1–4 p.m. Partners Gallery.

355 N. Franklin St., Fort Bragg.

962-0233. partnersgallery.com.

Teens will gain valued skills & experience helping with projects & designing new teen space as well as planning events & recommending books. 3–4 p.m. Ukiah Library.

105 N. Main St., Ukiah. 467-6434. mendolibrary.org.

Thursday 12 Guys & Dolls. $11–$20.

Thursdays– Saturdays: 7 p.m. Sundays: 2 p.m.

Thru May 5. Ukiah Players Theatre.

1041 Low Gap Rd., Ukiah. 462-9226. ukiahplayerstheatre.org.

Mendocino Coast Uke Fest. Apr. 13:

Free ukulele jam & sing-along, 7 p.m.

Apr. 14: Workshops, 10–11:30 a.m. & 1:30–3 p.m., $30. Buffet dinner: 5–7 p.m., $10. After dinner the Ukeholics of Anderson Valley will perform.

Redwood Coast Senior Center. 490 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. rcscenter.org.

Family Fun on Wheels!

Birthday Parties Fundraisers School Parties Large Arcade

Giant Arcade & Indoor Soccer!

FREE Cobb Safe 2018. Emergency preparedness event. County & state representatives. South Lake Fire Safe Council Chipping Program. Warning systems update. Start a Cobb CERT (certified emergency response team).

10 a.m.–4 p.m. Cobb Elementary School. 15895 Hwy. 175, Middletown.

FREE Nature Walk & Ranch House Tours. The

ranch house tour begins immediately after the nature walk.

Personalized Learning Check www.lavidaschool.org for schedule of May Open Houses

Regular Hours Friday 3:30–7pm & 7:30–10:30pm Saturday & Sunday 12–2:30pm & 3–5:30pm Saturday Only 8:30–10:30pm

Lottery for next year’s enrollment is May 1 401 Martin St. Lakeport, at the Lake County Fairgrounds www.ParadiseSkate.com • 707 262-0123

16 MendoLakeFamilyLife

La Vida 707-459-6344 Charter 16201 Hwy 101, Ukiah School lavidaschool.org April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

While rain will cancel the walk, the ranch house tour will still take place. 8:30 a.m. Anderson Ranch Pkwy., Lower Lake. 995-2658. andersonmarsh.org.

Hopland Hikes: Spring Step. Hike

thru oak woodlands & creeks. $5. No dogs. 10 a.m.–noon. Hopland Research & Extension Center. 4070 University Rd., Hopland. 744-1424, ext. 105.

Register: hrec.ucanr.edu.

Duo Baldo. Violinist Brad Repp &

pianist Aldo Gentileschi combine virtuosic performances of classical music with theatrical humor & pop culture references. Critically acclaimed. $10–$30. 7:30 p.m.

Mendocino College. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. 462-0236. ukiahconcerts.com.

A pap test takes

5

A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME FOR

Chowder & Jazz. 15th Annual

Chowder Challenge plus a concert of traditional New Orleans jazz. $25–$30.

11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Gualala Arts Center. 46501 Gualala Rd., Gualala.

884-1138. gualalaarts.org.

FREE Artists in Residence Show.

Emerging & established artists from all over the country exhibit their work thru the end of April. Reception: 5–8 p.m. Mendocino Art Center. 45200 Little Lake St., Mendocino. 937-5818. mendocinoartcenter.org.

Sunday 15 FREE Dressage Corner Grand Opening. Food, beer & wine & horse

exhibitions as well as rides. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. 17470 Morgan Valley Rd., Lower Lake. thedressagecorner.com.

Prawn & Tri-Tip Feed. Sponsored by the Redwood Empire Lions Club. Four kinds of prawn dishes, BBQ tri-tip, salad, beans & garlic bread. All proceeds benefit the community. $20–$40. 12:30–2:30 p.m. Redwood Empire Fairgrounds.

1055 N. State St., Ukiah. Call for tickets: 463-2238. facebook.com/ events/2042751392673926.

Tuesday 17 FREE Bibliotherapy Book Club.

For teens. Read books on depression, anxiety, grief, addiction & OCD. Facilitated by licensed therapists & trained librarians. 4 p.m. Ukiah Library. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah.

Registration required: 467-6434.

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www.mendolakefamilylife.com

April 2018

MendoLakeFamilyLife 17

Thursday 19 Mendocino Women’s Choir Spring Concert. Celebrating 26th anniversary

with songs of freedom, courage & humor as well as sing-alongs & classical pieces. Apr. 19–21: 7:30 p.m. Apr. 22: 2:30 p.m. Eagles Hall. 210 N. Corry St., Fort Bragg. mendocinowomenschoir.org.

Friday 20 The Last of the Red Hot Lovers.

Classic Neil Simon play. Weekends thru May 6 (except no show Apr. 22). Thursdays: 7 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays: 8 p.m. Sundays: 2 p.m. $15–$20. Willits Community Theatre. 37 W. Van Ln., Willits. willitstheatre.org.

FREE Audioboxx. Reno, NV, rock

band performs. Thru Apr. 21. 9 p.m.

Twin Pine Casino & Hotel. 22223 Hwy. 29, Middletown. twinpine.com.

Saturday 21 Children’s Advocacy Walk & Festival. First 100 registrants receive a free t-shirt. 10 a.m. Library Park. 225 Park St., Lakeport. Register for walk on eventbrite.com or lakecoe.org.

FREE Earth Day Festival. This

family event supports Youth Intern Programs at the Learning Garden.

Live entertainment & music, fun educational kids’ activities, informational workshops, plant sale, food from local chefs & silent auction.

Noon–5 p.m. Noyo Food Forest. The

FALL 2018

Learning Garden. 300A Dana St., Fort Bragg. noyofoodforest.org.

FREE Growing Resilient Together.

Children’s advocacy walk & festival.

Tribal dancers, clogging & Zumba. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Library Park. 225 Park St., Lakeport. lakecoe.org.

Spring Fling Gala Fundraiser.

Dinner, performance by members of the Mendocino Ballet & silent & live auctions featuring local goods & services. $60. 6–10 p.m. Barra of Mendocino. 7051 N. State St., Redwood Valley. mendocinoballet.org.

95th Annual Spring Wildflower Show. 400 varieties of trees, shrubs & flowers. Apr. 21 & 22: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Mendocino County Fairgrounds.

14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. andersonvalley.org/events.htm.

mendo lake

Offering Pre-School, Kindergarten, First Grade • Bible-based education • Academic excellence • Positive learning environment • Small class sizes • Excellence in WritingTM program • Home School oversight with on-site electives • Spanish, music, computer, and art electives • After school child care • Tuition assistance available 8555 Uva Drive, Redwood Valley (across from “The Broiler”) (707) 485-8778 • www.deepvalleychristianschool.org Like us at: Deep Valley Christian Education Center

18 MendoLakeFamilyLife

LOCAL

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April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

4th Annual Anderson Valley Goat Festival. A

celebration of all things goat. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Mendocino County Fairgrounds. 14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. andersonvalley.org/ events.htm.

Draw Til You Drop! A marathon

fundraiser for the Arts Council of Mendocino County & Art Center Ukiah. Commit to making art for a minimum of 12 hrs. while being entertained by musicians & each other.

Open to high school students & adults.

10 a.m. Bartlett Hall. 495 Leslie St., Ukiah. artsmendocino.org.

FREE Wind & Whale Celebration.

Watch the grey whale mothers & calves swim by the point & look up at the kites flown by the Berkeley Kite Wranglers. 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Point Arena Lighthouse. 45500 Lighthouse Rd., Point Arena. 882-2809. pointarenalighthouse.com.

Trashion Show. Wearable

art made from materials that have been diverted from the waste stream. A benefit for Near & Arnold’s School of Performing Arts & Cultural Education (SPACE). $25. 7 p.m.

SPACE. 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah.

462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org.

Sunday 22 Alicyn Yaffee. Kelseyville native

returns from NYC to perform jazz concert. Intimate venue, not suitable for young kids. $25. 3 p.m. Tallman Hotel. 9550 Main St., Upper Lake.

275-2244. tallmanhotel.com.

Lake Winds. Contemporary chamber music concert. Classical period to the present. Lake County musicians. $15–$20. Ages 18 & under: free. 3 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

FREE Planetary Dance for Lake County. A peace dance for community healing, connection & renewal. A participatory event open to all. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Austin Park. 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Clearlake. planetarydance.org.

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens’ Retro Sunday. Admission

only $1. Family picnic & dogs welcome. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. 18220 N. Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. 964-4352, ext. 16. gardenbythesea.org.

Ukiah Unified School District

Ukiah Unified Kindergarten Enrolling Now Programs for campers 5th grade and up.

ADVENTURE AWAITS YOU! Enjoy Hiking, Horses, Swimming, Backpacking, Crafts, Nature, Archery, Spiritual Reflection, Campfires, Challenge course and Outdoor Skills.

Programs start July 8th! Register Now at www.RedwoodAdventure.org

2018-19 Kindergarten Registration and Transitional Kindergarten Registration Students age 5 by September 1, 2018 will be enrolled in Kindergarten

Providing opportunities Providing opportunities for for leadership development, leadership development, spiritual and spiritual and personal personalgrowth, growth, environmental stewardship, environmental stewardship, lifelong personal connections, lifelong fun and personal adventure.connections,

fun and adventure.

office@redwoodadventure.org (707) 703-9171 (707) 703-9171

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Students turning 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2, 2018 are eligible to enroll in our Transitional Kindergarten Program

Registration forms available at school offices and at www.uusd.net April 2018

MendoLakeFamilyLife 19

Wednesday 25 Cancer Awareness & Prevention Day. Presented by Consolidated Tribal Health Project. Presentations, information booths, raffle prizes, mobile mammography unit, kids’ activities & food. Noon–4 p.m. 6991 N. State St., Redwood Valley. 467-5667.

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IN PRINT • ONLINE • EVENTS • CONTESTS

586-9562

Friday 27 Spring Sulphur Fire Benefit

County Office of Education. 1152 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Saturday 28 Wildflower Brunch. Fill-your-own omelets, pastries, fruit & specific nature-related activities.

Music by David Neft. $20.

Reservations requested. Clear Lake State Park. Pavilion. 5300 Soda Bay Rd., Kelseyville.

279-4395. clearlakestatepark.org/ wildflower-brunch.

Concert. Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra with Terrie Odabi & Loralee Christensen. A nine-piece soul revue nominated for Blues Music Awards. Raffle, silent auction, beer, wine, soda & desserts. $15–$25.

7 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

Pasta for Paws. Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser for the Humane Society of Inland Mendocino. $18–$20.

Ages 6 & under: free. Dinner served: 5–7 p.m. Redwood Empire Fairgrounds. Carl Purdy Hall. 1055 N. State St., Ukiah. 485-0123.

FREE Earth Day Youth Art Contest

Symphony of the Redwoods Spring

Reception. 4–5

p.m. (Contest open to ages 3–16. Turn in entry form

by April 21. For accepted mediums, contact fortbraggbranchlibrary@ gmail.com.) Fort Bragg Library.

499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg.

964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org.

Hopland Bioblitz. Family-friendly

event for all ages. Join our team of experts to find & collect data on all species. No dogs permitted. Bird watching: 7–9 a.m., $15. Spiders & Scorpions: 10–11 a.m., $15. Bioblitz for All!: 11 a.m.–3 p.m., $5. The Real Sarahs & Gwyneth Moreland folk music concert: 3–5 p.m., $20. Hopland Research & Extension Center. 4070 University Rd., Hopland. 744-1424, ext.

105. hrec.ucanr.edu.

Concert. Live classical music. $20. 18

and under: free. Apr. 28: 7:30 p.m. Apr. 29: 2 p.m. Cotton Auditorium. 500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. 964-0898. symphonyoftheredwoods.org.

FREE Superhero Party. Make a

mask, catch villains, fill up on super snacks & earn a certificate from the Superhero Academy. 2–4 p.m. Fort Bragg Library. 499 E. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. 964-2020. fortbragglibrary.org.

Sunday 29 UkiaHaiku Festival. A celebration &

competition devoted to haiku. Listen to winning entries of youth & adult poets. Light refreshments. 2 p.m. Civic Center. 300 Seminary Ave., Ukiah.

463-6200. ukiahaiku.org.

Closing Ceremony for Child Abuse Prevention Month. 10

a.m. Lake

MendoLakeFamilyLife.com 20 MendoLakeFamilyLife

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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Hands-on, arts and music  ✓ Children with disabilities welcome • Willits

integrated with academics Near Brookside School at ✓ Referrals for transportation available Free & Low-Cost Spruce St. & Lincoln Way  National Green Campus Quality Preschool!

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f you need some kid-free time to let down your hair and boogie down, go to an Audioboxx concert. The Reno, Nevada, band will be playing its high-energy rock ’n roll at  Twin Pine Casino and Hotel in Middletown on April 20 and 21 at 9 p.m. Admission is free. ¶

Accelerated Achievement Academy Find a School or After-School Activity in our Online Directories MendoLakeFamilyLife.com

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et a sitter and watch a Neil Simon classic. The Last of the Red Hot Lovers was written in 1969, during the

heyday of the sexual revolution. And its protagonist, a gentle middle-aged soul, is trying to get in on the action.

Laugh at his missteps—and other ’70s silliness—at the Willits Community Theatre production of the play. Shows run weekends April 20–May 6 (except no show April 22); Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15–$20 and may be purchased via willitstheatre.org. ¶ www.mendolakefamilylife.com

• Coastnorth end of Fairgrounds Fort Bragg - Lincoln St. PO Box 966 Ukiah 95482

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MendoLakeFamilyLife 21

Humor Break

Life Isn’t Fair How to Stop Sibling Squabbles?

By Holly Hester

O

kay, here’s the scenario: We were on a plane last week and the flight attendant placed three Sprites on my tray for my kids. As she pushed the cart away, I glanced down and noticed something so horrible, so terrible, I could barely speak—

Not all the Sprites were poured equally.

This was a meltdown waiting to happen and the stakes were very high.

We don’t let our kids drink soda, so a Sprite on the airplane is like liquid gold to them. I quickly looked at my kids, who fortunately were engrossed in a SkyMall magazine—good, they hadn’t noticed yet—then I nudged my husband, Bill. “Take little sips out of their drinks to make them equal.

HURRY.” Bill looked at the unequal Sprites and gasped, then quickly went to work at trying to make them exactly the same. I got out my own SkyMall magazine to try and block the crime scene in progress, but this ended up catching Buck’s attention. His eyes became like saucers. His mouth creating a perfect “O,” just before shouting— “Daddy is drinking our sprites!”

Does this situation sound familiar to you? Some days I feel like my job as Mom has been replaced with the far less enjoyable job of Quantity Control Manager. My kids are constantly 22 MendoLakeFamilyLife

tea-totaling everything. Who had a longer playdate? Who got more sprinkles on their ice cream? Who sat in the front seat last and for how long? Who petted the dog more? Who sat on the best tree

The list of “Things I thought I’d never do as a parent and now I do all the time” is very long. branch with binoculars? Who held the binoculars longer? Who got to open the binocular case? Who watched Mommy grab the binoculars in an angry fit and go storming back into the house? The list goes on and on and on…

Before I had kids, I really never thought I’d ever let this happen. I know the list of “Things I thought I’d never do as a parent and now I do all the time” is very long, but getting in the trap of trying to make things equal for my kids is not something I’m just willing to accept.

First of all, it’s exhausting. Second, it’s so stressful. And third, and definitely the worst, it makes any fun, wonderful situation instantly awful. A celebration trip to the toy store turns from what it should be—uh, a trip to the toy store—into a competition that ends in tears and hurt feelings. I know that trying to make things fair and equal is human

nature and probably has a lot to do with a basic survival instinct. As a cave-child, if you continue to be handed the scrawniest piece of meat at dinner, well, that might affect your chances of staying a cave-child.

So if you want to live, you better make a fuss. But the fact that this behavior spills over into all aspects of my children’s lives is just too much. I know I’ve inadvertently made the problem worse by trying to make things equal in order to avoid potential meltdowns.

But how to stop it? I really have no idea. I’ve gotten mad a few times.

That doesn’t really help. I’ve explained to my kids that “things aren’t always fair” and while this parental chestnut is true, it seems to resonate as badly with my kids as it did when my parents said it to me.

I would love any suggestions.

Anything. My kids are still asleep and I just looked at the three bagels I was going to give them for breakfast and one bagel is seriously smaller than the others.

I’m doomed. ¶ Holly Hester lives in Sebastopol and writes about life on her blog, Riot Ranch. Find her book, Escape from Ugly Mom Island!, on Amazon.

April 2018 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Have More Fun & Create Great Memories Get weekly FREE e-mail updates for the best LOCAL family fun calendar visit

MendoLake Family Life.com

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Live Well is an integrated program that focuses on all aspects of your health.

During your first visit, a nurse practitioner will conduct an in-depth assessment, evaluating all aspects of your health and lifestyle. From this, our team will work with you to develop a customized treatment plan to help you reach your health goals.

This plan could include time with a fitness coach, dietitian, counselor, or a specialist.

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