V-Day Adventures

Little Red-Haired Girl Day

6 Local Ways to Celebrate V-Day Adv entures

After kids come onto the scene, it takes extra effort to make sure your relationship gets the attention it needs. Valentine’s Day weekend is a great time to put the spotlight on you and your significant other. And here are some great, local ideas for where to spend it. Find even more activities in our Calendar of Events (page 24).

Santa Rosa Charlie Brown has it rough. Besides being a (loveable) klutz and the victim of Lucy’s scorn, the star of Charles M. Schulz’s Peanuts also has a bad case of unrequited love. In honor of the object of his affection, the Little Red-Haired Girl, the Charles M. Schulz Museum is letting gingers of all ages into the museum for free on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Find out more at schulzmuseum.org. Jeremy Denk

Rohnert Park Share a passion for classical music? Pianist Jeremy Denk, winner of the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, will be playing Bach’s the Well-Tempered Clavier Book One on February 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Green Music Center on the campus of Sonoma State University. Tickets are $25–$55 and are available at gmc.sonoma.edu.

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Healdsburg If you and your honey are into world music, then Ladysmith Black Mambazo is probably on your playlists. Ever since Paul Simon featured the South African a cappella group on his 1986 album Graceland, they’ve enjoyed international fame. See them at the Raven Performing Arts Theater on February 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased at raventheater.org. Santa Rosa Seven months pregnant when she did her first Netflix special, former San Franciscan Ali Wong rose to stardom making sassy, sarcastic, and very adult jokes about what it’s like to be a mom. Get a sitter and check out her Milk and Money show at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts on February 15 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $49.50–$119.50 and may be purchased at lutherburbankcenter.org. Ali Wong ANY HAIRCUT $

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Sebastopol Chocoholics will find their favorite indulgence on the main menu at Dutton Estate Winery’s Chocolate and Wine Valentine’s Weekend. Sonoma Country Chocolate will provide the tempting dark nibbles while Dutton pours the vino. The event will be held February 14–16, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Just purchase the Casual Tasting for $15 or the Winter Small Bites (think: chilled corn soup and honey goat cheese with persimmon crostini) for $30 and get the Chocolate and Wine Pairing upgrade for free. See duttonestate.com for details.

Windsor Connect with your partner in the kitchen at the Valentine’s Day Sushi Making Class at the Notre Vue Estate Winery and Vineyards on February 14 at 6 p.m. Besides chef Edward Metcalfe’s expert instruction, the evening will offer a sushi dinner and a glass of sparkling wine. Tickets are $120 per person; purchase them at notrevueestate.com. ¶

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Calendar of Events February

Free Help with Taxes T ax forms can be intimidating and not everyone has the cash to hire an accountant. Enter the free Tax Preparation Assistance program at the Sonoma Valley Regional Library in Sonoma. It may be sponsored by the AARP, but there is no age requirement for using the service. Volunteers will be available to help prepare taxes on Tuesday and Fridays, 10 a.m.–2 p.m., February 4–April 14. There will be no sessions on February 18 and 21; and sessions close at 1 p.m. on February 11 and March 10. Assistance is by-appointment only; schedule a time at sonomacounty.libcal.com/event/6308398. Participants are directed to bring a photo ID, 2018 state and federal tax returns, proof of Social Security or Individual Tax Payer Identification number and 2019 tax documents, including all income and deduction information, to their appointments. ¶

Tuesday 4

FREE Tax Preparation Assistance. Tuesdays & Fridays: 10 a.m.– 2 p.m. Thru Apr. 14 (no tax preparation Feb. 18 & 21; closes at 1 p.m. on Feb. 11 & Mar. 10.) Sonoma Valley Regional Library. 755 W. Napa St., Sonoma. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

Thursday 6

FREE Kindergym. Thursdays. 10 a.m.–noon. Donations accepted. Forestville United Methodist Church. 6550 Covey Rd., Forestville. sebastopol.org.

Awakened Acting. Improv theater games. Ages 6–12: Thursdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m. Ages 13–17: Wednesdays, 3:30–4:30 p.m. $100/4 weeks. Sebastopol Community Cultural Center. 390 Morris St., Sebastopol. seb.org/activityguide.

FREE Breastfeeding Meet-Up. Facilitated by a lactation consultant. Thursdays. 12:30–1:30 p.m. Luma

Center. 616 Petaluma Blvd. N., Ste. A & B, Petaluma. facebook.com/ thelumacenter.

FREE Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) Drop-In Wellness Group for Teens. Teens learn healthy ways to cope with challenges. Ages 12–19. Thursdays. Thru. Mar. 12. 4–5 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library (History & Geneology Library). 211 E St., Santa Rosa. sonomacounty. libcal.com.

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FREE Dungeons & Dragons. 14 players (2 tables of 7). Grades 7–12. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story. Feb. 6–7 & 14–15: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8: 2 & 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 & 16: 2 p.m. $40–$48. 6th Street Playhouse. 52 W. 6th St., Santa Rosa. 6thstreetplayhouse.com.

Friday 7

FREE Teen Movie Night: Five Feet Apart. Romantic tale about a teen with cystic fibrosis. 4 p.m. Cloverdale Regional Library. 401 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

FREE Curious about Coding. Joe Svuecs explores coding & computers with Scratch. Ages 10 & up. Space is limited; register online. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Sebastopol Regional Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. sonomacounty.libcal.com/ event/6315904.

Saturday 8

Second Saturday Cartoonists: Ginger Wadsworth & Craig Orback. Meet, watch & talk to the creators of the new book Born to Draw Comics: The Story of Charles Schulz & the Creation of Peanuts. 1–3 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

FREE Exploring Seasonal Marshlands. Waterproof shoes are recommended; steady rain cancels. 11 a.m. Look for the State Park vehicle parked along the bike path near 3rd St.

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West & the ball fields for this drop-in program. Sonoma State Historic Park. 20 E. Spain St. #5729, Sonoma. sonomaparks.org.

FREE Valentine’s Crafts & Cupcakes. Kids make Valentine’s Day cards & decorate their own special cupcake. Supplies provided. 1–3 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library. 211 E St., Santa Rosa. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

FREE Celebrations: Havdalah Dance. For teens & young adults with special needs & their families. Food, music, activities & parent’s chat time. 4–6 p.m. Congregation Ner Shalom. 85 La Plaza, Cotati. nershalom.org.

FREE Valentine Tea. 9:30–11 a.m. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm. 655 Willowside Rd., Santa Rosa.

We want to know what you think. • What did you like in this issue? • What do you want to see more or less of? • Know a teacher, coach, or special person who makes local family life better? • Know of an upcoming event or fun family outing? • Want to write stories, recipes, or blog for Family Life? e-mail melissa@family-life.us HEY MOM, GIVE US A SHOUT!

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FREE Meet the Authors: Sara & Ian Hoffman. Ages 4–8 & families. Authors of Jacob’s New Dress & Jacob’s Room to Choose will read from both books & present a “Love Is Love”–themed craft for kids. 10:30–11:30 a.m. Rincon Valley Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. sonomacounty. libcal.com.

Art Jam: Fairy Garden Creation with Flower Mart. Free with museum admission ($9–$12, free for babies younger than 12 mos.) 1–3 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

FREE African Village Celebration. Master drummer Onye Onyemaechi will use rhythm, music & instruments to explore the beauty & soul of the drum in African village life. 2–3 p.m. Rincon Valley Regional Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. Other libraries will host; see sonomacounty.libcal. com for branches/times.

Pudding Creek Express. Seven-mile round-trip train ride along the Pudding Creek estuary. Saturdays & Sundays plus Feb. 17. Trains at 11 a.m. & 1 & 3 p.m., depending on the day. $10.95–$41.95. Departs from Fort Bragg Depot. 100 W. Laurel St., Fort Bragg. skunktrain.com.

FREE I Heart Rohnert Park. Entertainment, activities, food & more. 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Rohnert Park Community Center. 5401 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. facebook.com/ rpcommunityservices.

Divorce Options. A panel presentation on divorce options by an attorney, financial professional & mental health professional. $35. 9 a.m.–noon. Collaborative Practice Center. 829 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. eventbrite.com.

Eco-Access Hike. Accessible hike for all abilities & ages. Bring a picnic. Event: free. Parking: $7. 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Spring Lake Regional Park. 5585 Newanga Ave., Santa Rosa. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Monday 10

Museum Mondays for Little Ones. Designed for children ages 1–5 & their caregivers. Stories, movement, games & craft activities. Also Feb. 17 & 24. $5 per child/free for up to 2 adults before 11 a.m. Regular museum admission prices apply after 11 a.m. Free for members. 10 a.m.–noon. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

Wednesday 12

FREE 3D Printing at the Library: Introduction to 3D Design & Printing. Ages 12 & up. Course covers the basic functions of TinkerCAD, a free online CAD program. Guerneville Regional Library. 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. Register at: sonomacounty.libcal.com/ event/6422401.

Thursday 13

Teen Anime Fan Club. Ages 12–18. 4–5 p.m. Northwest Santa Rosa Library. 150 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

Jeremy Denk. Pianist plays Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, Book One. 7:30 p.m. $25–$55. Green Music Center. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. gmc.sonoma.edu.

Friday 14

FREE Little Red-Haired Girls Day. In celebration of Valentine’s Day & Charlie Brown’s affection for a certain Little Red-Haired Girl, red-haired girls or boys receive free admission. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

Cloverdale Citrus Fair. Carnival, livestock displays, contests & live music. $5–$9; an additional carnival

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ride ticket book may be purchased for $20 or an unlimited rides wristband is available for $25–$30. Feb. 14: noon–9 p.m. Feb. 15 & 16: 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Feb. 17: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Cloverdale Citrus Fair. 1 Citrus Fair Dr., Cloverdale. cloverdalecitrusfair.org.

Chocolate & Wine Valentine’s Weekend. February 14–16. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Purchase the Casual Tasting for $15 or the Winter Small Bites for $30 & get the Chocolate & Wine Pairing upgrade for free. Dutton Estate Winery. 8757 Green Valley Rd., Sebastopol. duttonestate.com.

Valentine’s Day Sushi Making Class. 6 p.m. Instruction from chef Edward Metcalfe. Sushi dinner & a glass of sparkling wine included. $120 per person. Notre Vue Estate Winery & Vineyards. 11010 Estate Ln., Windsor. notrevueestate.com.

Saturday 15

Family Hikes. Short, family-friendly hikes with citizen-science projects along the way. 1 & 3 p.m. Event: free. Parking: $7. Spring Lake Regional Park. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Science Spark: NorCal Bats. 2–3 p.m. Free with admission ($9–$12). Babies younger than 12 months: free. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

Junior Ranger: Animal Tracking. Interactive program for youth ages 7–13. Ranger Darren & Ranger Assistant Michaela teach kids about animal tracks, scat & the other clues animals leave behind. 10 a.m.–noon. Event: $5. Parking: $7. Riverfront Regional Park. 7821 Eastside Rd.,

Healdsburg. Register: tinyurl.com/ w7je7n8. Info: 433-1625.

Zipline Improv. Sebastopol-based company performs storytelling-based improv that goes beyond comedy. $20–$25. 7:30 p.m. Spreckels Performing Arts Center. 5409 Snyder Ln., Rohnert Park. spreckelsonline. com. eventbrite.com.

Ali Wong. Comedian performs as part of her Milk & Money tour. 7 p.m. $49.50–$119.50. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. lutherburbankcenter.org.

Sunday 16

FREE Day at Charles M. Schulz Museum. Free museum admission. All day (11 a.m.–5 p.m.) 1–3 p.m.: Kids learn to draw cartoon animals with Jeff Schinkel as he shares his new books A Kids Guide to Drawing Cartoon Animals & Mind-Boggling Animal Puzzles. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo. South African male a cappella group. 7 p.m. $35. Raven Performing Arts Theater. 115 North St., Healdsburg. raventheater.org.

Scenes in the Scenery: Fitness Hiking Series. Intermediate to advanced 4- to 5-mile excursions. Event: free. Parking: $7. Shiloh Ranch Regional Park. 5750 Faught Rd., Windsor. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Community Grief Ritual. Facilitated by Megan Eberhardt. Inspired by the Diagra tradition of Malidoma Somé. Large group sharing, movement, rhythm, song, sacred witness & community ritual. $40–$70. 9:30 a.m.–6 p.m. Sebastopol Grange. 6000 Sebastopol Ave., Sebastopol. eventbrite.com.

Children’s Social & Emotional Competence Workshop. Facilitated by licensed trainer Elizabeth Smith, the founder of the Whole Child Project. $50. 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Charles M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. eventbrite.com.

Tuesday 18

FREE P Is for Parks: Nature & Books Unite! Bilingual story time featuring nature stories, crafts & songs.

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This Boy Likes Dresses W hen Jacob decides he wants to wear a dress to school, his mom breaks out the sewing machine and they create an outfit just for him. Though his classmates tease him about his new duds, the dress becomes a kind of magic protector that gives him the freedom to be himself. This is the plot of the children’s picture book Jacob’s New Dress by Sarah and Ian Hoffman. The authors will read and discuss the inspiration for the book, and read from their new book, Jacob’s Room to Choose, on February 8, 10:30–11:30 a.m., at Rincon Valley Library in Santa Rosa. A “Love Is Love”–themed craft will follow the reading, which is suitable for kids ages 4–8 and their families. See sonomacounty.libcal.com for more information. ¶

10:30–11:30 a.m. Healdsburg Regional Library. 139 Piper St., Healdsburg. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.

Wednesday 19

FREE Pride Book Club for Teens. Discuss the latest queer young adult books. Pick up monthly selection at the reference desk. Snacks provided. 4–5 p.m. Guerneville Regional Library. 14107 Armstrong Woods Rd., Guerneville. sonomacounty. libcal.com.

Friday 21

FREE Parent Café. Based on the Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors Framework, where parents come together, socialize, share parenting ideas & learn ways to strengthen their family. Free child care./Los cafés para padres se basan en Strengthening Families Five Protective Factors Framework, donde los padres se reúnen, socializan, comparten ideas y aprenden formas de fortalecer a su familia. Cuidado infantil gratis. Cada tercer viernes. Every third Friday. 6–8 p.m. La Plaza (Lincoln Elementary School). Room 502. 850 W. 9th St., Santa Rosa. 522-1413, ext. 133. eventbrite.com.

Saturday 22

FREE Glow in the Dark Yoga. Playful yoga class for ages 13–17. Introduces yoga poses with cooperative games, breathing & relaxation exercises. Mats provided. 2–3 p.m. Cloverdale Regional Library. 401 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. sonomacounty. libcal.com.

to immigrant families in the North Bay. 8–11 p.m. $20. Congregation Ner Shalom. 85 La Plaza, Cotati. nershalom.org.

FREE Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. Girls in grades 6–12 will participate in an engineering competition & talk to professional engineers. 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Keysight Technologies. 1400 Fountaingrove Pkwy., Santa Rosa. eventbrite.com.

How to Kick the Sugar Habit. 11 a.m.–noon. $10. Lomitas Center. 2421 Lomitas Ave., Santa Rosa. eventbrite.com.

Sunday 23

Bond & Beyond. Music from Goldfinger, From Russian with Love, Diamonds Are Forever & Skyfall. Laura Dickinson, vocalist. $37–$90. 3 p.m. Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. 50 Mark West Springs Rd., Santa Rosa. lutherburbankcenter.org.

Inspired Birth. A 3-hour intensive for couples. Guided relaxation, partner communication, breathing techniques & massage & touch. $125. 3–6 p.m. Brigid’s Well. 1604 Gravenstein Hwy. S., Sebastopol. eventbrite.com. volunteer representative of the Laguna in area schools. Event prepares participants for training in March. 3–5 p.m. Laguna de Santa Rosa Foundation. 900 Sanford Rd., Santa Rosa. Registration required: eventbrite. com or lagunafoundation.org.

FREE Maker Studio: Code, Build, Play. Kids learn the basics of coding using a variety of online resources & play with a rotating selection of STEAM toys. Ages 7–14. Windsor Regional Library. 9291 Old Redwood Hwy., Ste. 100, Windsor. sonomacounty.libcal.com.

Saturday 29

Fairy Tale Ball. A dance party for kids ages 4–12 & chaperones. 5–7 p.m. Adult/child pair: $35. Additional adult: $10. Additional child: $35. Max 2 kids to 1 adult. Finley Community Center. 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa. Registration required: srcity.org.

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Plus, join the St. Patrick’s Day 5K presented by Fleet Feet to benefit Rec & Parks Scholarship Fund. Visit SRCity.org/SPDRun.

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Wednesday 26

FREE Walk Through the Grades Tour. 9–11 a.m. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm. 655 Willowside Rd., Santa Rosa. Sign up: summerfieldwaldorf.org/ admissions/visit-us.

Thursday 27

FREE Learning Laguna Docent Training Orientation. Learn to be a

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Fun with Hearts DIY Gifts that Spread Love Around

By Denise Yearian

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show others you care. Here are a couple hearty gift and greeting ideas to make and share with “family” and even outdoor-feathered friends! HEART STRINGS CARD Cardstock, white Pencil Ruler Scissors Heart template or cookie cutter Large sewing needle Eraser Yarn, various bright colors Glue 1. Measure and cut a 7- x 10-inch piece of cardstock. 2. Fold cardstock in half to create a 7- x 5-inch card. 3. Open card and lay on flat surface, so the fold is in the center. 4. Place heart template on one side of the card. Trace around the heart with a pencil. 5. Use needle to punch small holes that are evenly spaced along the heart outline you drew. 6. Carefully erase any remaining pencil lines. 7. Cut a long piece of yarn then thread it through the eye of the needle. Tie a knot at the bottom of the long end of the yarn. 8. Thread yarn in and out through the holes, stretching the yarn

across the heart shape to create a criss-cross pattern. 9. Continue with step 8 until all holes have been threaded. Tie a knot on the backside of your design. Set aside.

10. Cut another piece of card stock that measures 6 ½- x 4 ½-inches. 11. Place glue around the perimeter of the paper in step 10. Then glue over the backside of your heart design to cover the underneath threading. Let dry.

12. Fold card back in half and write a Valentine greeting. Place card in an envelope and give to someone you love. 13. Repeat steps 1–12 to make other cards, using different colored yarn, if desired.

HEARTY BIRD FEEDER Pipe cleaners Ring-type cereal (Cheerios, Fruit Loops, etc.) Scissors Twine 1. Form pipe cleaner into the shape of a heart, making sure the two open ends are at the bottom.

2. String cereal onto the pipe cleaner until it is full. 3. Bring bottom open ends together and twist together to close the heart.

4. Cut and tie a piece of twine to the top of the heart. 5. Hang on a tree.

Denise Yearian is the former editor of two parenting magazines and the mother of three children and four grandchildren

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Catch Some Couple Time Just Don’t Wake Up the Kids

By Jill Morgenstern

Some parents have nearby family or grandparents ready and waiting to whisk off the kids so Mom and Dad can luxuriate in the quiet of a child-free home for a weekend. Others of us are not so lucky. But with a little creativity, each of us can get that much needed time with a significant other, even without hiring a babysitter. Here are some dos and don’ts for sneaking in a few moments alone together: Do try to spend time together while the kids are at activities. A parent doesn’t need to watch each and every soccer practice or ballet class. Most parents have taken this time for an occasional quick trip to the grocery store or other errand anyway. Why not spend a little of that time with your spouse? Don’t forget to pick up your child! Do use TV for a babysitter, but use it judiciously. Most children watch some TV each week. Why not take advantage of that? Try to save your child’s TV time for when both you and your spouse will be home together. Don’t leave your child unattended in front of the TV for more than six hours. The skipped meals may be cause for concern. Do hit the gym. Many gyms offer free childcare as part of their services. Take them up on it and meet your spouse for a game of basketball, a weight-lifting session, or an aerobics class. Don’t hide out in the locker room reading a magazine. Just kidding!

You can hide out if you want. After all, you’ve already paid the gym membership. Do reinstate nap time. Even children too old to nap can take advantage of a scheduled rest time. Engage the same routine as you do at bedtime. Then let your children know that it’s fine to play quietly in their rooms as long as they only come out for a trip to the bathroom.

Don’t forget to let them know when they can come out of the bedroom. Do try to meet your spouse for lunch. If your children are school-age, a lunch date is the perfect opportunity to grab a few quick moments together.

Don’t abandon preschoolers or infants in favor of a lunch date. Soon they will be in school and this option will be yours for the taking. Do enjoy an early breakfast together on the weekend. If you’re not too sleep deprived, try waking up extra early one weekend morning and indulging in a child-free breakfast.

Don’t make too much noise. Some children seem to have a sixth sense about when their parents awaken, and even tiptoeing around the kitchen might set off their ESP.

By following these simple tips, you too can gain some alone time with your spouse. Be sure to follow only the dos and not the don’ts to create a healthy environment for your marriage. ¶

Freelance writer Jill Morgenstern is a mother of four and has 13 years of experience as a teacher. Find her at dotrythisathome.net/p/featured-on.html.

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