Mendo Lake Family Life December 2014

mendo lake December 2014

Selfie with Our Elfie Cover Contest Winner!

Health Careers New school opens

Light the Tree

Top spots for fun

Join the

‘Selfie with Our Elfie’

Sweepstakes

A Better New Year 8 party ideas

The Hathaway-Cummins family makes time to unplug and reconnect each day. Technology can be a useful tool but it’s important to balance the use of technology with family bonding time. Ashley and Daniel use real life experiences on their urban farm in Clearlake to teach their kids. This has increased their eagerness to learn and improved family communication. If that’s something you want, make it a goal to unplug and reconnect with your family daily.

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As part of our mission to improve the health of our community, we are excited to bring quality care closer to home. From the common cold to annual exams and vaccinations, your care team at the Redwood Medical Clinic is here for you.

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December 2014

8

Feature Stories 8 “Selfie with Our Elfie” Winners Enter our $1,000 sweepstakes. These kids did.

10 Healthy Futures

A new program prepares kids for medical careers.

10

12 Best Gifts of the Season Terrific ideas for the kids on your list.

14 No More Have-to Holidays!

Make you and your family a priority.

16 A Better New Year’s Bash Have a blast without leaving home.

Every Issue 6

Dear Readers

7

Bits and Pieces

Love Lake County Shop and Sing Attention Chocoholics: Willy Wonka Is Here

20 Cooking with Kids

A Nose So Sweet 22 Calendar of Events

Was It Miss Scarlet with the Letter Opener?

30 Humor Break

18 Family Fun

I Dream of Christmas

20 4 MendoLakeFamilyLife

On the cover: Owen David Barmore (4) is the winner of the “Selfie with Our Elfie” cover contest. Photo by Fran Russell at Russell Event Photography.

MendoLakeFamilyLife.com December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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Dear Reader

H

appy holidays to our loyal readers! Thanks for making us the number one lifestyle Sharon Gowan magazine for local Publisher/Editor Sharon@family-life.us parents. We hope the spirit of the season has visited you. It sure seems to have Owen Barmore, our terrific cover model, smiling. He is the big winner of the “Selfie with Our Elfie” cover contest! We’ll be picking another cover kid from the Selfies we receive.

There’s still time for you to win thousands of dollars in gift cards. If you’re planning to shop in Sonoma County over the holidays, turn to page 9 and find a list of participating businesses. Go to one—or all!—of them and take a Selfie (or a picture of your kids or pets) with our Elfie. Then

e-mail your Selfie to us. Take a Selfie at multiple locations and increase your chances of winning. New “Selfie with Our Elfie” businesses are popping up all the time. Go to sonomafamilylife. com to see the latest list. Join our e-mail list for updates and news. The last day to enter is December 17.

Patricia Ramos patty@family-life.us

Business Marketing Renee Nutcher renee@family-life.us

We know that you could use some ideas for keeping the kids busy over winter break. Read “I Dream of Christmas” (page 18) for a snapshot of seasonal celebrations, and be sure to see our December calendar (page 22) for even more local happenings.

Jolie Cook jolie@family-life.us

Features Editor Melissa Chianta melissa@family-life.us

Want your fun to be at home? Check out “A Better New Year’s Bash” (page 16) for ways to make the big night a hit without ever leaving your driveway.

Production Manager Donna Bogener production@family-life.us

Marketing Jordan Lewis jordan@family-life.us

Join Us for Ornament Making!

Wednesdays 3-5pm Friday Evenings 5-7pm

Princess Parties Bounce Houses • Arcade • Darts Pool Table • Shuffle Board Birthday Parties • Anniversary New Toddler Zone

POP

Office Manager

Psara’s

Calendar Patricia Ramos

Cover Photographer Fran Russell

Contributing Writers Gudrun Cram-Drach Christina Katz John Corippo Bull Garlington

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

Publishing Office 134 Lystra Court, Suite A Santa Rosa, CA 95403

POP

Tel (707) 586-9562 Fax (707) 586-9571

POP

Outrageous Playland

209 S. School St. • Ukiah 707-462-PLAY www.popukiah.weebly.com 6 MendoLakeFamilyLife

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Bits & Pieces

Love Lake County

P

ersonal empowerment coaches will tell you that affirming your strengths boosts self-esteem. The Love Lake County initiative applies this principle at the community level. It focuses residents on what’s great about their neck of the woods, with the hopes of inspiring economic growth and plain old good will. If you visit downtown Lakeport, you’ll find a giant blackboard on which community members have written what they appreciate about Lake County. Everything from farms to the Kelseyville Pear Festival and the circus is on the list. You’re welcome to grab a piece of chalk and add your favorite things, too. If you can’t make it to the board in person, you can go to lovelakecounty.com and share your positive vibes there. ¶

Attention Chocoholics: Willy Wonka Is Here Shop and Sing

G

et your fill of great entertainment and holiday shopping at the Symphony of the Redwoods Holiday Music Revue and crafts fair on December 20 at Cotton Auditorium in Fort Bragg. Three a cappella groups, two soloists, and the Symphony of the Redwoods will perform holiday favorites at 7 p.m. (The audience will be invited to participate in a sing-a-long, too.) Meanwhile, a craft fair will entice early concertgoers with nifty creations from 10 a.m. through the end of the concert’s intermission.

Concert tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors; youth 18 and under are free. ¶

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

W

hat child wouldn’t do anything for a lifetime supply of candy? Kid contestants vie for the coveted prize in the Ukiah Players Theatre production of Willy Wonka the Musical at the Ukiah Playhouse. As actors play out the classic story, you and your family can imagine yourselves touring Wonka’s famous chocolate factory or biting into three-courses-in-one meal gum. Shows run through December 14: Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at ukiahplayerstheatre.org and are $20 for adults, $17 for students and seniors, and $10 for children 12 and under. ¶

December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 7

Kelina, Kody & Kadyn at Cold Stone

Take a ‘Selfie with Our Elfie’ Kids Clayton at Sonoma Mountain Marketplace

KaMaile e Ar t & So ul Music

Dannielle at Bernstein Orthodontics

Owen & Betsy at Cold Stone

Jiana at Snoopy’s Home Ice

Blue Jen na a t ntal e D Apple Group Kimmy at Great Clips

8 MendoLakeFamilyLife

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Sweepstakes Our Selfie Elves will be hanging out at these participating locations, waiting to have their selfies taken and e-mailed to Sonoma Family Life Magazine before December 17 TH.

WIN 1000 IN PRIZES $

Check our website for Elf locations!

Advanced Auto Glass & Detail Art & Soul Music School Bernstein Orthodontics Blue Apple Dental Group Cal Skate Cold Stone Creamery Double Decker Lanes Exchange Bank

Goodwill Redwood Empire Great Clips for Hair Mountain Mike’s Pizza Right at Home Riley Street Art Supply Snoopy’s Ice Home Sonoma Mountain Marketplace Vibe Yoga Studios

E-mail your Selfie to contest@sonomafamilylife.com

SonomaFamilyLife.com

Healthy Futures New School Opens Doors to Medical Professions

M

ost teenagers undoubtedly question the relevance of algebra or the Periodic Table of the Elements to their everyday lives, let alone their futures. But at Lower Lake’s new Konocti Medical Magnet High School, the education is oriented around a concrete goal: a career in health care.

Relevance is the point, and students are responding with open arms.

At the grant-funded school, Lake County ninth through 12th graders will be prepared for advanced training in various medical professions, such as certified nurse assistant, medical assistant, and phlebotomist. The school will take an integrated approach to education, using core classes to teach students about various health topics.

“For instance, learning about bioethics would mean studying about Nazi genetic research in history, writing about it in English, and learning about the results of the research in science,” explains Jeff Dixon, the former Lower Lake High School principal who is now directing the magnet school.

10 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Each year, a student will take a special health-oriented class such as Health Science and Research Methods, Medical Career Research and Field Experience, or World Health Practices.

Twelve job-shadow experiences will be required in the junior year, and two weeklong internships in the senior year. Area facilities such as Sutter Lakeside Hospital and St. Helena Hospital–Clearlake are partnering with the school to create internship opportunities.

So far, students are enthusiastic about the new program. “They like the hands-on activities,” such as learning how to take a blood pressure reading and practicing CPR, says Dixon. They

are also excited about taking field trips. Each month they will venture off to places such as the University of California at Berkeley, UC Davis, and Chico State, as well as to medical facilities.

The program is being funded by the state California Career Pathways Trust grant, which funds programs that prepare students for careers and college. The idea to apply for the grant came from Dixon’s boss, District Superintendent Donna Becnel. When Dixon and Becnel were researching what kinds of careers would be in demand in the next decade in Lake County, they found that many of them

The school will take an integrated approach to education, using core classes to teach students about various health topics. were in health care. So they decided that the focus of the grant proposal would be a medical magnet school.

Though there are a handful of other such schools in the state and in other parts of the country, Dixon and Becnel didn’t use any one school as a model for their proposal. Rather they set out to build a program based on the unique needs of their students and county.

After carefully constructing the proposal, Dixon sent it in. But he honestly “didn’t think anything would come of it.” He knew that schools from all over the state, including large urban areas, were competing for funds.

The chances of being awarded any money at all were slim.

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

So when the news came in the day before the end of the last school year that the state had awarded Konocti Unified School District $2.1 million, he was shocked.

Dixon had to jump into action right away, and worked throughout the summer readying the program for incoming students in the fall.

Because there was so little time to prepare, certain aspects of the program are still not in full gear. For instance, during this transitional year, students are taking most of their courses at Lower Lake High School.They are transported to the Konocti Education Center, home of the new magnet school, for sixth and seventh periods. Next year, they will attend classes exclusively at the Education Center. Also, only some students are taking college courses this year, but eventually all students will be required to have six college courses, in areas such as foreign language and the life sciences, under their belts before they graduate.

It’s a rigorous program, and students seem ready for the challenge.

Forty-two kids applied this summer; after the school year started, that number rose to 65, the school’s capacity—for now. Dixon is hoping for 120 applications next year. If interest continues to grow, a lottery system may be implemented to choose enrollees.

It’s clear that the Konocti Medical Magnet High School is poised to do its job: open doors to profitable careers—and Lake County teens are ready to take the leap. ¶

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December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 11

Books (cont’d.)

Junior Builder: Rescue Vehicles

Silver Dolphin Books, 2014, $16.95, silverdolphinbooks.com.

Ages: 5+.

Here I Am

by Patty Kim Capstone Young Readers, 2014, $14.95, capstoneyoungreaders.com.

Hotlist Dog, Cold Dog Ages: 5for to 10.everyone’s wish Holiday finds

by Frann Preston-Gannon POW!/powerHouse Books, 2014, $12.95, Each year, the National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) enlists the help of expert judges and families powkidsbooks.com. forwiththe to play with, test and evaluate hundreds of new children’s products. Here are the gems theyFun honored goldentire family. awards this year. All proved high in quality, entertainment and educational value, and – of course – in fun.

See the entire list of gold, silver and honors winners at NAPPAawards.com or download the app from Cozi – the online family calendar and organizer – and view all the winners on your phone.

Toys

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Reality Shock!

ENTER THE NAPPA SWEEPSTAKES

at Facebook.com/N for your chance to winAPPAawards of award winning toys,a collection books and games.

Sisters

by Raina Telgemeier Scholastic Corporation/Graphix, 2014, $10.99, scholastic.com.

Ages: 8 to 12.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 2014, $28.95, ripleybooks.com. Ages: 13+.

Air Storm Firetek Bow Zing, $29.97, www.firetekbow.com.

Ages: 8+.

Bunzi

Chillafish $49.99, Chillafish.com. Ages: 1 to 3.

Get Out Play Kit Waboba, $24.99, waboba.com.

Ages: 5+.

The Cat, the Dog, Little Red, the Exploding Eggs, the Wolf, and Grandma

Gravity Maze

ThinkFun, Inc., $29.99, thinkfun.com.

Ages: 8 to Adult.

The End (Almost)

by Jim Benton Scholastic Corporation/ Scholastic Press, 2014, Geomag, $45, 2014, $16.99, Paint Your Own Scholastic Corporation/Klutz, Press, scholastic.com. Porcelain geomagworld.com.

Party Kit scholastic.com. $16.99, $16.99, klutz.com. Ages: 8+.

Ages: 5+. 4 to 8.

Ages: MindWare, $39.95, 3 to 5. mindware.com. Ages: Ages: 8+.

by Diane Fox, illustrated by Christyan

Gyrobot

Thames and Kosmos, $44.95, thamesandkosmos.com.

Ages: 6+.

The World Of Eric Carle Learning Table and Chair

Music

Creative Baby Inc., $49.99, creativebabyinc.com. Ages: 3+.

KOR Geomag Make Your Own Fox,Paco ScholasticWashi Corporation/Scholastic Tazoo Tape Stickers

Wikki Stix One-of-a-Kind Piggy Bank

Razor E100 Glow Razor USA, $169.99, razor.com. Ages: 8+.

Omnicor, Inc./The Wikki Stix Company, $24.95, wikkistix.com.

Ages: 5 to 8.

YOXObug Flye

Jam on Rye –

Just Say Hi! – Brady Rymer

Absolutely Positively Getting Along – Cool Beans Music, East Coast Recording Company & Robinsong Studio, 2013, $15, absolutelypositivelygettingalong.com.

Ages: 5 to 10.

12 MendoLakeFamilyLife

by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Marcellus Hall, Scholastic Corporation/Arthur A. Levine Books, 2014, $17.99, scholastic.com. Ages: 4 to 8.

Play from Scratch, $24.99, yoxo.com. Ages: 7+.

Brady Rymer and the Little Band that Could, 2014, $15, bradyrymer.com.

Ages: 2 to 7.

Various Artists

What’s New? The Zoo!

Randy Kaplan

Yellow Thing Records & Books, 2014, $14.99, randykaplan.com. Fun for the entire family.

Simply Fantastic: An Introduction to Classical Music

The Secret Mountain, 2014, $16.95, thesecretmountain.com. Ages: 4+.

‘Til The Morning: Lullabies and Songs of Comfort – Through the Woods –

The Okee Dokee Brothers The Okee Dokee Brothers, 2014, $19.95, okeedokee.org.

Fun for the entire family.

Edie Carey & Sarah Sample

Edie Carey & Sarah Sample, 2014, $15, ediecarey.com and sarahsample.com.

Fun for the entire family.

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Virtual & Apps MiP

WowWee, $99.99, wowwee.com.

Fun for the entire family.

National Geographic Kids Magazine iPad App

Dr. Panda’s Restaurant 2

National Geographic Society, Free, itunes.apple.com. Ages: 6 to 14.

Fun for the entire family.

TribePlay Limited, $2.99, drpandagames.com. Ages: 3 to 7.

Star Wars Scene Maker Skylanders Trap Team

Activision, $74.99 for starter pack, skylanders.com. Fun for the entire family.

Disney Publishing Worldwide, Free w/ in-app purchase, disneystories.com.

Ages: 6 to 8.

Tiggly Shapes

Tiggly - Kidtellect Inc., $29.95, get.tiggly.com/shapes.

Ages: 18 months to 4 years.

DVDs Dino Dan: Tyrannosaurus Trek

NCircle Entertainment, 2014, $12.99, NCircleEntertainment.com.

Ages: 2 to 4.

The Snowman

NCircle Entertainment, 2014, $9.99, NCircleEntertainment.com.

Fun for the entire family.

Cat in the Hat: Space is the Place!

NCircle Entertainment, 2014, $10.99, NCircleEntertainment.com.

Ages: 2 to 6.

Pocoyo: Season Set Volume 1

NCircle Entertainment, 2014, $22.99, NCircleEntertainment.com.

Ages: 2 to 4.

Octonauts: Calling All Sharks!

NCircle Entertainment, 2014, $12.99, NCircleEntertainment.com.

Ages: 2 to 4.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 13

Oblig atio na nd

t Your Family a h W Nee o t s ds Ye

Say No to

No More Have-to Holidays!

C

By Christina Katz

rowds, traffic, in-laws, extra bills to pay—no wonder the holidays stress out so many people.

If you are one of these people, you are not alone. According to some reports, up to 90 percent of adults become stressed about at least one aspect of the holidays.

14 MendoLakeFamilyLife

This year can be different. If you are ready to take your mood from stressed to holly-jolly, then call on this list of radical advice for grinning, not grimacing, your way through the holidays.

1

Take charge. Declare yourself your life’s official cruise director. If you are waiting for others to make you happy—and feeling disappointed or resentful because they don’t try hard enough or try but miss the mark—stop. Make a bucket list, a compilation of everything you have always wanted to do. Start checking off peak moments as soon as

possible. Then put the whole family through the bucket-list–making process. For guidance, consult Lara Krupicka’s books Bucket List Living for Moms and Family Bucket Lists.

2

Determine your holiday preferences. Do you always let your extended family members and friends plan your November and December for you? If so, maybe you aren’t clear about what you prefer to do. Ask yourself the question, “How do I really want to spend my holidays?”

Make sure your answer is honest and specific, not just a reaction to what you don’t want. Share your

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

needs with others. For example, if you’d rather wake up in a ski lodge on Christmas morning and have someone else serve meals so you can hit the slopes with the fam’, so be it!

3

Share your vision with your immediate family.

If your family loves you, and I assume that they do, then your vision for the holidays matters to them. Even if they don’t share your enthusiasm for Black Friday shopping, dreidel-spinning, or Christmas caroling, everyone should be able to accommodate everyone else in the family.

4

Give each immediate family member a chance to chime in.

Okay, so you have gotten clear on the ways you enjoy spending the holidays. Now it’s time to encourage the rest of your family to share what they want. Come on, they tolerated your eccentricities; now it’s your turn to back up them. And yes, you have to attend the sporting event you could probably live without and go to The Nutcracker Suite for the umpteenth time, or the annual office party. If these are the things that make the holidays magic for your family, who are you to disagree?

5

Create your perfect holiday. If you can’t remember the last time you just stayed home for Christmas or Hanukkah and unwrapped gifts from under your own tree or lit your own menorah, then maybe it’s time to simplify your holiday season without feeling like you have to apologize to the entire world. www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Once you and your immediate family members have established your personal preferences, you can communicate what you want to friends and extended family members. Yup, your family is allowed to carve out your traditions and make space to create your memories. Once your family knows what it needs, it’s your collective responsibility to follow through and make those things happen as best as you can.

is learning to let other people face their feelings without continually adjusting your needs to fit theirs.

Guilt is a kind of internalized shame that may have kept you in line in the past, but it’s time to shake off this type of programming and live the life that really makes you happy. In claiming your joy, you make the world a more positive place. And contributing to a better world is the real reason for the season. ¶

Communicate without guilt. Give the extended family plenty of time to accept your plans. They don’t have to like them. In fact, you might think they will never speak to you again. But part of being an adult

Christina Katz is an author, journalist, and writing coach who has been working on developing her backbone her whole adult life. Now you know everything that has taken her years to figure out. Her latest book is The Art of Making Time for Yourself.

6

Great Gifts!

Come in, we’d love to meet you

Fun and Unique Gifts for Everyone!

jewelry • clothing • crystals • cards toys • coloring books • home decor unique local & imported gifts

101 S. Main St. • Ukiah • 462-4010 December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 15

A Better New Year’s Bash

By Gudrun Cram-Drach

Make Your Own Fun with These Kid-Friendly Activities

T

he typical New Year’s Eve party, often consisting of late-night dancing and too much champagne, is not exactly a kid affair. Nor is sitting in front of the television all night just to watch the ball drop in Times Square. So, this year, why not make your home into a family party zone, and then everyone can have fun and enjoy the transition to a brand new year.

Change the clocks. If midnight is too late for your little one, avoid a meltdown with some DIY time travel.

Set the clock to 11 p.m. whenever you like, then party down until “midnight.”

Tuck in the tots with a new bedtime story, and celebrate the real midnight with the grownups and older children.

Disguise yourself. Have a masquerade ball, and invite everyone to dress up. Put on a Venetian-style mask, or wear a crazy costume. If 16 MendoLakeFamilyLife

everyone is dressed up, the night will feel more special. Amp up the elegance by learning a few ballroom dance moves, and then teach them to your kids. The waltz is the easiest.

Glue it down. Make a poster to commemorate all the important moments of the past year. Glue photos, flyers from special events, and magazine cutouts to an 18”x24” piece of poster board or foam core. Using colored pencils or markers, draw pictures or

write reminders of memorable events, personal messages, and hopes for the future around the photos. If relatives are coming by, ask them to bring something to contribute to your poster. Hang it in a common space until you make a new one next year.

Splish-splash. Run a special bath with bubbles or bombs that color the water and add sparkles. Fill the tub with balloons, and let your child wear a funny hat and glasses. Bring in plastic noisemakers, and play music in the bathroom to make the atmosphere even more festive.

Let it glow. Remember black lights? Easily found in big-box stores or online, these long-wave ultraviolet lamps make bright colors glow. With fluorescent or glow-in-the-dark paint, paint pasta and use it for making jewelry or pictures. Decorate the kids with bright or white face paint, and make sure they are wearing something white. It’s so much fun to realize your white t-shirt can glow bright purple.

Tonic water (with quinine) makes

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT PROGRAM

things glow under a black light, too, so incorporate the mixer into your beverages, gelatin desserts, or water balloons.

Share. In a calmer moment or perhaps over dinner, tell each member of your family why you are proud of them, and what you love about them.

Ask everyone to share one or two New Year’s resolutions with the rest of the family. Then discuss how you can work together over the next year to help each other succeed.

BECOME A CERTIFIED NURSE ASSISTANT Classes begin February 16, 2015 Orientation February 11 Classes Mon & Wed 4 pm - 9 pm & Saturdays 7 am - 3:30 pm 14092 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake

Lake County Office of Education Career Technical Education

Questions: Please contact Norma Cromwell at ncromwell@lakecoe.org or 994-9001

Sing and dance. With a little extra technology, such as a karaoke application (TheKaraokeChannel. com), or the current interactive dance

The best part about celebrating New Year’s Eve at home? You’ll always have someone to kiss! app on your home gaming console, you can turn your living room into a nightclub. Or just make a playlist of high-energy club music that the whole family can dance to.

Light up the silver screen.

Maybe you’d prefer a calmer evening of popcorn and a good cuddle on the couch. Figure out in advance how to display a slideshow of your digital photos and videos on the television, and remember the past year with the family. Or simply rent a holiday-themed movie.

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The best part about celebrating New Year’s Eve at home? You’ll always have someone to kiss! ¶ Gudrun Cram-Drach is freelance writer and mom of twin toddlers.

She can’t wait to party down with her kids on New Year’s Eve.

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

• Free Child Care Referrals.

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

Rural Communities Child Care

MendoLakeFamilyLife 17

Family Fun

I Dream of Christmas Celebrate the Spirit of the Season

T

he twinkle of decorated evergreen trees, Santa’s Ho-ho-ho, and the smell of hot cider are all part of what makes this time of year special. Find a piece of the magic at these area events.

Fort Bragg

and community organizations. Kids can get their pictures taken with Santa at Westamerica Bank, and merchants will stay open late offering cocoa, cookies, and cider to wandering browsers. See visitkelseyville.com.

Mendocino

Watch the Holiday Lights Parade on December 6 at 7 p.m. Parade begins and ends on West Pine Street, running through Oak and Main Streets. You can enter floats through December 5. Entrants will be judged 5–6:15 p.m. at the West Pine Street staging area.

Proceeds go to the Mendocino Coast Children’s Fund. See mendocinocoast. com for more information.

Be enchanted by the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens Fifth Annual Festival of Lights. Walk through paths lined with flora illuminated by multicolored lights.

The event runs December 4–7 and 11–14, 5–7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults; children 16 and under are free. Log on to gardenbythesea.org to see beautiful photos of last year’s festival.

Kelseyville

Middletown

Experience small town charm at Christmas in the Country on December 5, 5:30–8:30 p.m., on Main Street in Kelseyville. The star of the show is the 21st Annual Parade of Lights, which will feature floats by area businesses

See Santa arrive in a fire truck at the annual Christmas in Middletown event on December 13, 4–8 p.m., on Hwy. 29, Calistoga Road. Join carolers, visit shops, munch on cider and cookies, and, most importantly, say Hi to the walking

18 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Christmas tree—that funny costume may be disguising your school principal.

Ukiah Visit Santa Claus, tour the Sun House, peruse local artisans’ arts and crafts, and savor a cup of hot cider at the Annual Holiday Open House at the Grace Hudson Museum on December 6, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Admission is free.

Participants receive 15 percent off museum gift shop purchases. See gracehudsonmuseum.org.

Upper Lake Stroll along Main Street in Upper Lake on December 6, 6:30–8 p.m., and enjoy the Light Parade, tree lighting, holiday music and caroling, and, of course, Santa. Local charities will be selling sandwiches, chili, hot drinks, sweet treats, popcorn, and hotdogs. For more information, call Debbie at 275-2000.

For parade entry, call Pam at 275-2429.

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Birth your way

Proud Sponsor of the Humane Society adopt-a-pet discount

Blue Ribbon Pets

Motherhood changes your life forever...

MEET the Midwives

Like our Facebook Page for Special Discounts

3rd Wednesday of each month.

(707) 485-8454 www.brpets.com

7-8pm, at Coldwell Banker, 190 S. Main St., Lakeport.

Humane Society FOR INLAND MENDOCINO COUNTY

www.BloomMidwife.com

Call for a free consultation 707-972-9443

TheOpenSolar Living Center Every Day 10am-6pm • Renewable Energy Education • Guided Tours • Picnics, Ponds & Playgrounds • Educational Displays • Healthy Snacks • Largest Straw bale Store • Huge Selection of Eco-Books • Toys, Clothing, Other Gifts • Solar Parts, Panels & Systems.

Lucy Bee

Lucy Bee is independent.

She loves attention and will take all the love she can get. She is a medium haired kitty that is as sweet as can be and needs a quiet home.

Hazel

Spike

Spike is a wonderfully loveable cat that will follow you room to room.

Spike is the sweetest guy that will win the hearts of everyone who comes into the room.

Rosie

This adorable black and white female puppy is 10 weeks old. Not only is she very smart, she is incredibly sweet as well.

This female Boxer Mix is 1.5 years old and loves toys. She also loves to run and play and gets along well with other dogs.

9700 Uva Dr. Redwood Valley

(707) 485-0123

13771 S Hwy 101 • Hopland • 707-472-2403 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Pets of the Month

www.mendohumanesociety.com December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 19

Cooking with Kids

A Nose So Sweet

Make Rudolph’s Chocolaty Treat a Tradition

By John Corippo

R

eindeer noses hardly sound like a palatable delicacy. But what if they were made of chocolate and peanut butter? Think of a nubby Kit Kat bar, and you’ll understand why these “noses” are one of our family’s favorite holiday treats.

While they may just be peanut butter balls to those with little imagination, reindeer noses have all the required elements of a perfect holiday goodie: They are simple to prepare, delicious, and fun to eat—though at times a bit messy; the chocolate covering will most definitely

Reindeer noses are as fun to play with as they are to eat.

melt in your small ones’ hands. I have come to love watching my sons place these bonbons on their noses, small drips of melted chocolate left in their wake. We like to make sure to put red sprinkles on one of the candies; it would be criminal to leave Rudolph out of the game.

Reindeer noses have become an anticipated part of our holiday celebration—my sons ask for them the minute we pull out decorations from storage. Perhaps they will become part of your family’s tradition, too.

Reindeer Noses Ingredients • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter • 3 tablespoons butter, softened • 1 cup powdered sugar • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips • Red sprinkles

Directions Mix the peanut butter and butter together in a mixing bowl. Gradually add in the powdered sugar until well combined and a dough ball is formed. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to firm up dough.

Make 1-inch balls from dough. Place the balls on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper, and chill in the refrigerator for a half hour. The dough balls should be somewhat firm. They need to be able to hold their shape before being dipped in chocolate.

Melt chocolate chips in a small pot over very low heat, stirring frequently so that chips melt evenly. Dip dough balls into melted chocolate using a bamboo skewer. Remove balls from the skewer with a fork and set them on the lined cookie sheet. For a “Rudolph” nose, cover ball in red sprinkles while chocolate is still warm.

Place balls back in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

John Corippo lives in Ukiah, where he is a husband and father to two sons as well as a fire captain, paramedic, hazmat specialist, journalist, college instructor, avid sports fan, and stand-up paddleboard representative.

20 MendoLakeFamilyLife

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

The Ukiah Unified School District

Wishes you the Happiest of Holidays May we sugguest "the gift that never stops giving"

Books!

Press Here by Herve Tullet Press the yellow dot on the cover of this book, follow the instructions within, and embark upon a magical journey!

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit!

Root Cellar by Janet Lunn For twelveyear-old Rose, the root cellar is a passage through which she can escape the present and travel back in time to the 1860’s and the Civil War. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly A grieving seventeen-year-old musician travels to Paris to complete a school assignment and uncovers a diary written during the French Revolution by a young actress attempting to help an imprisoned little boy, Louis Charles, the lost king of France.

Ukiah Unified School District

511 S. ORCHARD AVE., UKIAH • 707-472-5000

Victorian High Tea & Christmas Fair We Book Up!

MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!

Family health care for all of Lake County.

HOSPITAL SERVICES 707-262-5000 COMMUNITY CLINIC 707-263-6885 AFTER HOURS CARE 707-262-5088 sutterlakeside.org

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

(707) 245-7342

November 21st to December 21st

NOW ON Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays

Lakeport Engish Inn

675 N. Main St., Lakeport • lakeportenglishinn.com December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 21

December Calendar of Events Was It Miss Scarlet with the Letter Opener?

T

his New Year’s Eve, step into a kind of theatrical game of Clue at the Mafia Murders Mystery Dinner. Wine and dine with sketchy characters from the Lake County Theatre Company who will play out a whodunit in front of your very eyes—and you get to participate, too.

The event will be held December 31. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner will be served at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40. Call 994-5437 to find out the venue for the performance and to purchase tickets. ¶

Wednesday 3 FREE Mendocino College Campus Tour. Visit auto technology, ceramics,

science & culinary arts management departments & nursing facility, followed by lunch. 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Mendocino College Center for the Visual & Performing Arts Building. 1000 Hensley Creek, Ukiah.

RSVP. 467-1018. visitukiah.com.

Ornament Making. Wednesdays

3–5 p.m. & Friday 5–7 p.m. Thru

Santa doesn’t like bullies • Respect • Discipline • Self Confidence

LET US HELP YOU FIND YOURS

FREE Ukiah Holiday Trolley. Enjoy holiday music & ring the bell as the antique trolley drives thru town. Trolley circulates hourly.

Thru Dec. 21. Thursdays & Fridays.

3:30–5:54 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays.

Noon–2:45 p.m. & 3:45–6:39 p.m.

462-1422. mendocinotransit.org.

Fifth Annual Festival of Lights. The

20 OFF

$

First Month, December only

Lake County Martial Arts 22 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Thursday 4

Willy Wonka the Musical. Thursdays 7 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays. Sundays 2 p.m. Adults $15. Seniors/students $12. Fridays & Saturdays. 8 p.m.

Adults $20. Seniors/students $15.

Thru Dec.14. Ukiah Players Theatre.

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

and neither should you

1624 Parallel Dr, Lakeport,

December. Join us at Psara’s Outrageous Playland for Ornament Making & other fun. 209 S. School St., Ukiah. 462-PLAY. popukiah. weebly.com.

263-0706

gardens are decorated with colorful holiday lights. It’s a spectacular, must-see scene. Handicap accessible. $10 adults. 16 & under free. No pets.

5–7:30 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays.

Thru Dec. 14. Mendocino Coast

Botanical Gardens. 18220 N. Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg. 964-4352 x10. gardenbythesea.org.

Christmas Skunk Train. Featuring

Santa, elves & storytellers. Come enjoy music, hot chocolate & cookies. Train is 90 minutes roundtrip. Departs from Willits & Fort Bragg daily. Dec. 5–Dec 23. Call or visit website for schedule.

Foot of Laurel St., Fort Bragg & 299 E. Commercial St., Willits. 964-6371. skunktrain.com.

Friday 5 FREE Grace Hudson Museum.

First Friday of each month. 10 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. 431 S. Main St., Ukiah. 467-2836. austin.directrouter. com/~gracehud.

FREE Shameless! This

exhibit is all about art as a product, a commodity, a thing that can be sold. Thru Dec. 28. Call or visit website for center’s hours. 5–7 p.m. Gualala Arts Center.

46501 Old State Hwy., Gualala.

884-1138. gualalaarts.org.

Improv TheatreSports: Students vs. Teachers.

Featuring Own It! Using the format of a competition,

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

opposing teams perform scenes based on audience suggestions, emphasizing spontaneous & collaborative storytelling with ratings by a referee. $5 students. $10 adults. 7 p.m. Ukiah High School, Little Theatre. 1000 Low Gap Rd., Ukiah. 462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org.

Alice & Alex in Wonderland. Free

to SPACE students. $5 for the general public. Tickets will be available the night of the show. 7–8 p.m. SPACE Theater. 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah.

462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org.

Friends of the Library Christmas Book Sale. Fri.

4–8 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Ukiah Library. 105 N. Main St., Ukiah. 463-4153. co.mendocino.ca.us.

Benefit for Hospice of Ukiah.

Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Available for purchase at the Mendocino Book Company, dig Music, Hospice Thrift & Gift. Dinner available 5–6:30 p.m.

Dancing 6:30–10 p.m. Silent Auction & raffle. Saturday Afternoon Clubhouse. 107 S. Oak St., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

FREE First Friday Family Movie Night.

Free popcorn. Candy, soda & hot dogs available. Kid-safe family films from Disney & other moviemakers.

Movie starts at 6:30 p.m. 274-8326. lucernecommunitychurch.com.

FREE Christmas in the Country.

The 21st annual Parade of Lights for holiday cheer. 5:30–8:30 p.m. Main St., Kelseyville Mendocino County

Fairgrounds. Apple Hall. 14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. visitkelseyville.com.

Saturday 6 Holiday Bazaar. Crafts, gifts & much

more! 11:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Mendocino County Fairgrounds. Apple Hall.

14400 Hwy. 128, Boonville. 895-3011. mendocountyfair.com.

First Saturday Bird Walk. Hosted

by the Mendocino Coast Audubon Society. Geared toward novice birders. Walks are free, but the gardens require an entrance fee. 9 a.m. Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.18220 Hwy. 1, Fort Bragg.

Meet in the parking lot. 964-4352 x10. mendocinocoastaudubon.org.

Annual North Coast Toy Run.

Whether you have a motorcycle or

Mendocino Transit Authority, Ukiah Chamber of Commerce & the Ukiah Main Street Program

TROLLEY HOURS:

Trolley circulates route once an hour Thursday through Sunday November 28th through December 21st PLATINUM SPONSORS

Thursday and Fridays 3:30 pm to 5:54 pm Saturdays and Sundays 12:00 pm to 2:45 & 3:45 to 6:39 pm

Thanks to Our Sponsors:

GOLD SPONSORS

El Azteca Restaurant • Be-Bops Diner • Pear Tree Center • Wal-Mart

SILVER SPONSORS

Mendocino Music Recyclers • Baskin-Robbins Rent-A-Center • B.A.S. Roofing Friedman’s Home Improvement Thompson’s Party Rentals

Call 462-1422 for more information www.mendolakefamilylife.com

BRONZE SPONSORS

Redwood Academy • Accelerated Achievement Academy Three Sisters • Parducci Wine Cellars • Larson’s Photography Expressions Candy • Rural Adult Program- UVAH Mayacama Industries- UVAH • Ukiah Natural Foods Co-op Servpro of Lake and Mendocino County • Canteen Services Triple S Camera • Gunnink’s Harley-Davidson Dig! Music • Mendocino Bounty Ukiah Shorin-Ryu Karate

Savings Bank of Mendocino County • Holes in the Wall Slam Dunk Pizza and Family Fun Center • U.S. Cellular and Party Creations

www.mendocinotransit.org

December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 23

Sonoma County Airport

Travel on Nonstop Flights to/from Los Angeles; Portland; San Diego; Seattle

Experience Flight Training Aircraft; Helicopters

Discover Scenic Tours Aircraft; Helicopters; Balloons; Historic Aircraft

©P N

TS

www.sonomacountyairport.org 707.565.7240 Follow STS on

not, enjoy a complete tri-tip dinner, a no host bar, raffle prizes & live music. Bikers meet at the Boatyard Shopping Center & arrive at Lions Hall for the festivities. $10 admission or a new unwrapped toy. Benefits Safe Passage Family Resource Center. 12:30–4 p.m. Lions Hall.

430 E. Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg.

964-3077. safepassagefortbragg.org.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Greenwood Community Center. 6129 S. Hwy. 1, Elk.877-1105. elkweb.org.

Christmas Faire. Handmade

crafts by 20 vendors, rum cakes, holiday food, tea room & raffle. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. 640 S. Orchard Ave., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

Annual Open House at the Grace Museum. Start the holidays off right! Visit Santa, tour the Sun House, enjoy the arts & crafts of local artisans & have a cup of hot cider. 15% off gift shop. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. 431 S. Main St., Ukiah.

467-2836. gracehudsonmuseum.org.

Green Christmas Crafting. Make sun

picture holiday cards, magazine angels & other gifts & decorations made from what some might call junk. Finish with warm apple cider & seasonal storytelling! Free but $5 donation is appreciated. Call to reserve your space. 11 a.m.–noon. The Solar Living Institute. 13771 Hwy. 101, Hopland.

Call 472-2460 to reserve a space.

FREE Simaine Cellars Sixth Annual Holiday Open House. Live music, holiday treats, wine sales, gift shop & appearance by Santa. Noon–5 p.m.

3001 S. State St. #42, Ukiah. 462-6300. visitukiah.com.

Horse-Driven Carriage Rides by E’lan Percheron. Rides begin & end at the

south entrance of JCPenney. Noon–4 p.m. Pear Tree Center. 305 N. Orchard Ave., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

Sunday December 7th 11am-4pm The Saturday Afternoon Clubhouse

Photos With Santa. Benefits New Life

107 South Oak St. • Ukiah Pictures With Santa Design Your Own Cookies Listen to Winter Stories Make Christmas Crafts Christmas Music

Fun for the Entire Family FREE! 24 MendoLakeFamilyLife

Community Church Youth Group.

Saturdays. Thru Dec. 27. 1–4 p.m. Pear Tree Center. 504 E. Perkins St., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

FREE Ukiah Christmas Tree Lighting.

5:30 p.m. Alex Thomas Plaza. S. School St. & W. Clay St., Ukiah. visitukiah.com.

Bring unwrapped toys Food for Foodbank Toiletries

FREE Truckers’ Light Parade. Ukiah Airport to the truck stop on North State St. 6 p.m. visitukiah.com.

The Platt Brothers in Space. SPACE Annual Winter Fundraiser & Auction.

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

The evening gala performance begins with wine & hors d’oeuvres to enjoy while perusing auction items. $25 adults. $15 youth under 18. Sunday matinee especially for kids. $20 adults. $15 youth. Tickets available at the Mendocino Book Company & the SPACE Box Office. 8 p.m. SPACE Theater. 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah.

462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org.

Gershwin: An American in Paris.

Ukiah Symphony. $25 adults. $20 seniors. $5 youth under 18. Sat. 8 p.m.

Sun. 3 p.m. Mendocino College Center Theatre. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. 462-0236. ukiahsymphony.org.

Holiday Light Parade. Christmas tree

lighting, music, caroling & visits with Santa. Vendors will be serving hot drinks, sweet treats, tri-tip sandwiches, chili, popcorn & hotdogs. 6:30 p.m.

Main St., Upper Lake. 275-2000. lakecounty.com.

Christmas Craft Show. 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Lakeport Senior Center. 527 Konocti Ave., Lakeport. 263-4218.

FREE Saturday Morning Matinee.

Family-friendly movies first Saturday of each month. Current releases & old favorites; animated & live-action films.

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Sat. 10:30 a.m. Lakeport Library.

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

FREE Clearlake Christmas Parade.

Visit with Santa at Austin Park. Photos with Santa cost $10 for one CD or two 5x7 inch prints. 6–8 p.m. Parade runs from Redbud Park to Austin Park, Clearlake.

goods & toys will be collected for neighbors in need. $10–$15. Saturdays & Sundays. 2 p.m. & 7 p.m. Thru Dec. 14th. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Hwy. 128), Kelseyville. 263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

contest among the three charities.

10:30–5:30 p.m. Silent auction 12–3 p.m. cachecreekvineyards.com.

Holiday at the Harbor. Ornaments

& a variety of gifts created by local artists. Saturdays. 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Holiday Store. 6199 E. Hwy. 20, Lucerne. thegourdgallery@yahoo.com. lakecounty.com.

Sunday 7 FREE First Fiddlers’ Jam. Listen to some terrific fiddle tunes played by members of the Northern California Old Time Fiddlers Group. Noon–2

Once Upon a Christmas Card. Lake

County Theatre presents a unique & original holiday production. Canned

Windshields

$

Starting at

99

Price Less Auto Glass

Our mobile unit comes to you

plus installation

Chip Repair

$

39

95

707-463-1638

2350 North State St. Ukiah Same location as Warranty Motors

Get Your Pet Photos at Moochie Poochie!

Call for appt.

Store Specials

Holiday Charity Faire. Benefits

Operation Tango Mike, Lake Family Resource Center & People Services. Christmas tree decorating www.mendolakefamilylife.com

(707) 462-1848 • 610 S. State St., Ukiah December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 25

w

Clearlake

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

Continuing thru the Fall

Archery Program

Lessons will be one day per week. competitions on selected weekends.

Affiliated with Middletown archery and USA Jr. Olympics. Call for information.

Boxing Program Thursdays at 6:30pm

With trainer Benito Rodriguez. $45 registration fee. $35 dollars a month after reg. (includes a mouth piece and wrap).

Join the Boy Scouts Wednesdays at 6:30pm Join the Girl Scouts 4th Wednesday 6pm

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

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

Must have title

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

THE MAFIA MURDERS MYSTERY DINNER

NEW YEARS EVE DECEMBER 31 2014

DOOR OPEN AT 6:30PM • DINNER 7PM TICKETS $40 • 707-994-KIDS LOCATION TBA 707-994-KIDS 4750 Golf Ave., Clearlake clearlakeyouthcenter.org 26 MendoLakeFamilyLife

p.m. 9921 Soda Bay Rd. (Hwy. 128), Kelseyville.

Santa’s Workshop. Pictures with Santa, cookie designing, winter stories, crafts & music. Bring donation of unwrapped toy, nonperishable food, or toiletries. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday Afternoon Clubhouse. 107 S. Oak St., Ukiah.

Tuesday 9 The Wacky Winter Song & Dance Extravaganza. Free

to SPACE students. $5 for the general public.

Tickets can be purchased at the box office in advance. Tues. & Wed. 6–7:30 p.m. SPACE Theater. 508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah. 462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org.

Thursday 11 Photos With Santa! Thursdays & Saturdays. Dec. 11, 13, 18 & 20. At Triple S Camera. Thurs. 3–6 pm, Sat. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. No appointment needed. Starting at $7. Holiday cards available. 260 S. School St., Ukiah. 462-3163. triplescamera.com.

Friday 12 SPACE presents Improv TheatreSports. Featuring

Own It! Improv Division & Beginning & Intermediate Improv students.

Using the format of a competition, opposing teams perform scenes based on audience suggestions, emphasizing spontaneous, collaborative storytelling with ratings by a referee. $2 adults. $5 students. 7 p.m. SPACE Theater.

508 W. Perkins St., Ukiah. 462-9370. spaceperformingarts.org.

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Saturday 13 Holiday Concert for the Coast.

Presented by the Ernest Bloch Bell Ringers. The audience will be invited to sing along on holiday songs. $10 advance. $15 day of performance.

Youth 17 & under admitted free with adult. 3 p.m. Gualala Arts Center.

46501 Gualala Rd., Gualala. 884-1138. gualalaarts.org.

The Nutcracker. $20 adults. $18

seniors over 65. $10 children/students under $18. Two different venues.

Dec. 13 & 14: Cotton Auditorium.

Dec. 19-21: Mendocino College Center Theatre. 7 & 2 p.m. Cotton Auditorium. 500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. Mendocino College Center Theatre. 1000 Hensley Creek Rd., Ukiah. 463.2290. mendocinoballet.org.

Victorian Christmas Faire & High Teas. Handmade

candy canes, dolls & more. Carolers, decorations & traditional servers in full costume.

Scones, tarts, tiny sandwiches, Devonshire cream, desserts, shortbread cookies. Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays. Thru Dec. 21.

Faire: 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. High Tea: noon & 3 p.m. For reservations 263-4317 or lakeportenglishinn.com.

FREE Christmas in Middletown.

Santa arrives on a fire truck. Walking Christmas tree, carolers & vendors.

Shops open late. 4–8 p.m. Main St., Middletown. lakecounty.com.

Hartley (Lakeport), Kelseyville & Lower Lake cemeteries. Ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember all soldiers. 9–10 a.m. Cotton Auditorium. 500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. visitkelseyville.com.

Wednesday 17 Meet the Midwives! Join

us every third Wed. in Lakeport to learn more about home birth, licensed midwifery, and personalized care before, during, and after pregnancy.

7–8 p.m. Coldwell Banker, 190 S. Main St. Lakeport. 972-9443. bloommidwife.com.

Saturday 20

FREE Wreaths Across America.

There will be ceremonies to honor veterans nationwide. In Lake County, the events take place at

Holiday Revue with Symphony of the Redwoods Pops Orchestra. Join the many local singing groups for

Cut your Business Phone Bill by 25%

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Call for Free Consultation 462-8098 IN PRINT • ONLINE • EVENTS • CONTESTS Contact us today! 586-9562 • SonomaFamilyLife.com www.mendolakefamilylife.com

245 E Perkins St. Ukiah • 707-462-8098 Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 27

sing-alongs of Christmas favorites. $15 adults. $10 seniors. Free for 18 & under. 7 p.m. Cotton Auditorium.

500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. symphonyoftheredwoods.org.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair. 10

a.m. Cotton Auditorium. 500 N. Harold St., Fort Bragg. symphonyoftheredwoods.org.

FREE Technology Petting Zoo. Try

out an Ipad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire & Nexus 7 Tablet or bring in your own devices to get help with them.

Library staff will demonstrate how to download e-books. 1–3 p.m. Redbud Library. 14785 Burns Valley Rd., Clearlake. 263-8817. co.lake.ca.us.

Sunday 21 Lake County Symphony Christmas Celebration. $25–$30.

3 p.m.

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

Saturday 27 FREE Christmas Bird Count. Bring binoculars, water, & snacks or lunch.9 a.m. Lakeside County Park. 1985 Park Dr. off of Soda Bay Rd., Lakeport.

263-4977. redbudaudubon.org.

Wednesday 31 Black & White New Year’s Eve Gala. Konocti

Vista Casino.

Hotel, dinner, dance & breakfast $199 couple. Dinner/dance $119 couple, $79 individual. Includes champagne toast at midnight.7

p.m.–1 a.m. 2755 Mission Rancheria Rd., Lakeport. 262-1900 ext. 1118. konocti-vista-casino.com.

New Year’s Eve Party 2014!

Vintage rock ‘n roll, appetizers & beverages, including complimentary champagne to ring in the New Year. $40–$50. 8 p.m. Soper Reese Theatre. 275 S. Main St., Lakeport.

263-0577. soperreesetheatre.com.

New Year’s Eve Slumber Party. 6

p.m.–9 a.m. C.V. Community Center.

300 S. Lincoln St., Fort Bragg. starrcenter.net.

Mafia Murders Mystery Dinner.

Lake County Theatre Company.

Doors 6:30 p.m. Dinner 7 p.m. $40.

Location TBA. 994-5437.

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December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

Marketplace

n u FBlast!

Weekend

Get Moms Attention!

YOUR AD HERE Classifieds Work Call 586-9562

Sign up online for our weekly enews featuring the best family friendly weekend events.

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@

Schools

Accelerated Achievement Academy • • • •

Free Public School Grades 4-12 Small classes Support for struggling students

(707) 463-7080 1031 N. State St. Health

Calm, Relaxed Birthing Mindfulness • Relaxation A great start for your baby & you!

Birthing Classes Starting Soon!

707-263-7359

Tutoring

Susan Perry BA Cht Certified Birth Hypnotherapist and Doula www.syperry.wix.com/hypnotherapy

Too Many Colds & Flu? Explore Naturopathics!

707-468-1300

www.tutoringcenter.com

Natural Solutions • Be Well

Services

Not Quite Ready for Guests?

707-996-WELL

710 West Napa St., Suite 1 • Sonoma www.sonomanatmed.com

Got Trash? - Call Charles Charles D. Hearne

Home: 707-202-4297 Cell: 707-413-8597

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

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

Located on north end of Fairgrounds PO Box 966 Ukiah 95482

707-462-0913 treeoflifeschool@pacific.net www.treeoflifeschool.net

Your Child can Thrive!

Online learning ignites the minds of children like yours

Enroll now K12.com/AAS or 877-506-8631

La Vida Charter School

307 North State Street Ukiah

Hauling, Yard & Property Clean-up Reasonable Rates/Free Estimate

www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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

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December 2014

MendoLakeFamilyLife 29

Humor Break

Assembly Not Required

Why Barbies Are Better than Bikes

By Bull Garlington

S

ome of us, over the course of our adult lives, come to a quiet, disheartening conclusion about our relationship with simple tools.

I myself can barely use a can opener.

Certainly not a Philips screwdriver, and keep me away from socket wrenches or somebody loses an eye. Christmas terrifies me because of bikes and dollhouses. I once put together a Barbie mansion with such an astonishing lack of skill I got a foreclosure letter.

Long ago I made a pact to only buy toys already assembled. Dinosaur Hot Wheels with a working volcano jump? Not happening. Barbies? They are God’s gift to overthumbed dads. I bought my daughter enough Barbies to repopulate the Earth.

All I had to do was wrap them.

A note to Mattel: The trapezoidal assemblage you’ve packaged your dolls in is not wrappable. Please use a rectangle or a cube. Please don’t use curved edges and, whatever you do, don’t turn a perfectly usable square into some kind of sloped edifice.

That’s just mean.

30 MendoLakeFamilyLife

I know why you do it. It’s to protect the environment. You want to go green? Make the box a shape a man can wrap. I have to use 17 rolls of paper to get just one of those things sealed. You know how they say an acre of trees is lost every minute to deforestation? Around Christmas, that’s all because of me.

I tried shrink-wrapping our presents, but I set one on fire and the wife

I once put together a Barbie mansion with such an astonishing lack of skill I got a foreclosure letter. made me quit. My only hope was the last-resort wrap, the Tootsie Roll twist, where I just curl a sheet of paper around the poor doll and twist like I’m losing tug-o-war then tape the ends liberally. By liberally, I mean I make them bulletproof.

All my presents end up like this, little table-top piñatas with my kids

pounding and hitting them, and then attacking them with knives to get to the good stuff inside, which is never what they wanted.

One year I got my son a set of Lego race cars. When he finally got the wrapping paper off (screw driver, blow torch), he’d torn one corner and sliced through the plastic. He said, “Really? I’m 11.” My daughter kissed me on the cheek, patted me on the head, and said “Nice try.”

I finally tried planning ahead. I had a nice flat gift. I laid the paper out on the table, got a yardstick, measured, flattened, pleated, folded, taped, folded again, taped again, and finally produced a beautiful, perfectly wrapped present.

I turned to look for a bow and saw the actual toy sitting on the counter by the coffee machine. I picked up the gorgeous gift I’d just spent an hour working on; it fell limp across my hand.

I’d just wrapped nothing.

I put it under the tree anyway.

Bull Garlington is the author of Death by Children, the ForeWord Review’s Humor 2013 Book of the Year.

December 2014 www.mendolakefamilylife.com

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