Sonoma Family Life October 2022

Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten

KINDERGARTENERS

Take

of this important information!

MUST BE IMMUNIZED

California law requires children entering kindergarten to have these five immunizations:

• Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus (DPT)

• Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR)

• Polio

• Hepatitis B

• Varicella (Chickenpox)

Children cannot be enrolled in or attend kindergarten unless they have up-to-date immunizations and an immunization record on file at the school. Your healthcare provider will need to assist you with updating your child’s vaccines. If you do not have a doctor or have questions about immunizations in general, please contact the Sonoma County Immunization Coordinator, (707) 565-4573.

If your child is not immunized with one or more of the required immunizations due to a medical reason, you will need to have an electronic medical exemption on file with the State of California Department of Public Health (CDHP). The electronic exemption must be filed by a California licensed Medical Doctor (MD) or a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO). If your child previously had an exemption but is now being admitted to a new school, he or she will need to meet the new requirements for medical exemptions.

ORAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT REQUIRED

Your child should have an oral health assessment no later than May 31 of his/her first year in school. The assessment should be provided by a dentist or licensed dental health professional.

LOOKING AHEAD HEALTH CHECKUP REQUIRED FOR FIRST GRADE

A certificate verifying that your child has received a health checkup within the last 18 months is required within 90 days of entering first grade.

This notice is provided by

Make This School Year a

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BRING ON THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONFIDENCE!

Each year brings on new challenges, but adding Sylvan to your after-school routine will ensure your child gets the support they need to transition with confidence and stay on track all year long!

Each year brings new challenges, but adding Sylvan to your after-school routine will ensure your child gets the support they need to feel confident and stay on track all year long!

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Features

12 Say No to Sugar

Creative ways to loosen candy’s grip.

14 The Great Jack-O’-Lantern

How to pick and carve the perfect pumpkin.

16 Break the Spell of Nightmares

Four ways to help kids beat the boogeyman.

18 What’s in a Dream?

Figure out the meaning of your nighttime images.

20 Your Fire Escape Plan

Steps to take to keep your family safe.

22 Savvy Car Care

Save big on fuel and repairs.

24 Kid Cleaning Crew

Strategies for getting little ones to tidy their rooms.

2022

Every Issue

6 Dear Reader

8 Cooking with Kids

Sneaky Casserole

10 Bits and Pieces

Watch a Heroine’s Musical Journey Explore Spooky Science

Go to a Harvest Festival Dive into a Pumpkin Pool What’s It Like to Be a Bird? Honor the Ancestors

26 Calendar of Events

34 Humor Break Hallow-Crazies

Cardinal Newman High School is for any student interested in attending college. We are a diverse community of college-minded students led by a caring and compassionate faculty dedicated to helping students succeed. We have two full-time college counselors to help students navigate the college admissions and scholarship processes. Last year, our graduates earned $13.9 million in college scholarships. Plus, we offer confidential tuition assistance to qualifying families, and our tuition is among the lowest of Catholic high schools in the Bay Area. Perhaps best of all – our students also learn the essential life skills of hope, compassion, empathy, and resilience. So, if your child is serious about college, take a minute to get to know Cardinal Newman.

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

he pirates, witches, and ninjas will soon be out to play! Wondering where to go for some Halloween fun? Check out the Bits & Pieces section (pages 10–11) and the Calendar of Events (page 26) for a plethora of trick-or-treating and other events.

Worried about the post October 31 sugar rush? Intuitive eating coach Pam Moore shares some great ideas for sidestepping sweets in “Say No to Sugar” (page 12).

TSometimes it’s not sugar that gets the best of kids, but fear. The spookiness of the season can trigger bad dreams. In “Break the Spell of Nightmares” (page 16) local dream interpretation coach Melissa Grace outlines four ways to help kids ward off monsters and other scary creatures. Bad dreams or not, sometimes everyone gets a bit nutty around Halloween. Turn to “Hallow-Crazies” (page 34) and learn how humorist-mom Jessica Guerrieri learned to take it all in stride.

Marketing/

Sales/Events

Patricia Ramos

707-205-1539 patty@family-life.us

Features Editor

Melissa Chianta

melissa@family-life.us

Production Manager

Donna Bogener

production@family-life.us

Contributing Writers

America’s Test Kitchen

Katy M. Clark

Melissa Grace Jessica Guerrieri Cheryl Maguire

Pam Moore

Billing Jan Wasson-Smith

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

Santa

Rohnert

Santa

Santa

Sneaky Casserole

Slip Veggies into a Cheesy Dish

By America’s Test Kitchen

With tender rice, bites of fresh broccoli, and bold sharp cheddar flavor, this casserole is irresistible— nothing like the typical back-of-the-soup-can recipe. Instead of canned soup, use a mixture of half-and-half and chicken broth as the rich base, and then add plenty of extra-sharp cheddar and nutty Parmesan cheese. Using the sweet broccoli stalks as well as the florets really maximizes the broccoli flavor. Since the stalks take a bit longer to cook, sauté the chopped stalks in butter with onion before adding the rice, liquids, and broccoli florets (parcooked in the microwave for a jump start). For a substantial crowning touch, sprinkle on some garlicky fresh bread crumbs enriched with more Parmesan. This textural topping bakes up brown and crispy while the casserole bubbles enticingly at the edges.

Reprinted, with permission, from One-Hour Comfort by America’s Test Kitchen (America’s Test Kitchen, 2021), americastestkitchen.com

Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Total Time 1 hour

2 slices hearty white sandwich bread, torn into quarters

1½ ounces Parmesan cheese, grated (¾ cup), divided

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 garlic clove, minced

2 pounds broccoli, florets cut into 1-inch pieces, stalks peeled and chopped, divided

1 onion, chopped fine

1¼ cups long-grain white rice

4 cups chicken broth

1¼ cups half-and-half

1 teaspoon table salt

8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)

⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease 13 by 9-inch baking dish. Pulse bread, ¼ cup

Parmesan, and melted butter in food processor until coarsely ground, about 5 pulses. Add garlic and pulse to combine.

2. Microwave broccoli florets, covered, in large bowl until bright green and tender, 2 to 4 minutes; set aside. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and broccoli stalks and cook until softened, 8 to 10 minutes. Add rice and cook, stirring constantly, until rice is translucent, about 1 minute. Stir in broth, half-and-half, and salt and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often, until rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Off heat, stir in cheddar, cayenne, broccoli florets, and remaining ½ cup Parmesan.

3. Transfer mixture to prepared dish and top with bread crumb mixture. Bake until sauce is bubbling around edges and top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes. Serve. Serves 8 to 10

hours.

and

continuously,

themes that are inspired by the children’s and teacher’s interests. Homework support

Watch a Heroine’s Musical Journey

The sea has always called to Princess Moana. As she stares out at the surf, she longs to set sail and find the lost heart of the goddess Te Fiti. One day, she takes a boat and launches her quest. So begins the musical Moana Jr. A Theater for Children’s young players will perform the show, which is based on the blockbuster 2016 Disney film Moana, at the Steele Lane Community Center in Santa Rosa. Performances are on October 1 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and on October 2 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $7 and may be purchased at atheaterforchildren.com.

Explore Spooky Science

Smashing pumpkins is acceptable behavior at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. During the Pumpkin Plop, staff members drop pumpkins from a crane, delighting a crowd of little goblins, pirates, and ninja princesses. The event is part of Fantazmagoria, which includes science experiments, a black-light room, Halloween-themed inflatables, and other non-scary activities. The festivities happen October 28–30, 3–8 p.m., at the museum in Santa Rosa. General admission is $20 or $12 for members. For more information, go to cmosc.org

Go to a Harvest Festival

Courtney Jade Davis loved her community. Before the teen succumbed to Ewing’s sarcoma in 2008, she had organized Cloverdale High School’s first pumpkin patch fundraiser. In honor of her memory, each year her family runs a pumpkin patch, which raises money for the scholarship set up in her name. This year Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch is teaming up with the Kiwanis Club to present the Kiwanis’ First Annual Harvest Fair. The Poyntlyss Sistars and the Pulsators will play live music for the event, which will include vendors, children’s activities like face painting, and, of course, plenty of pumpkins. The festivities will be held on October 1, 11 a.m.–6 p.m., at the Cloverdale Plaza in downtown Cloverdale. For more information, go to courtneyspumpkinpatch.com

Fantazmagoria

Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch

June Grabill as Princess Moana

Dive into a Pumpkin Pool

Not all pumpkins live in dirt. Some hang out in water. What do we mean? Check out the Floating Pumpkin Patch and find out. It’s a pool full of bobbing orange squash ready to be plucked by young swimmers. The event will be held at Ridgway Swim Center in Santa Rosa on October 22 and has two time slots: 1:30–3:30 p.m. and 3:45–5:45 p.m. Tickets (available only in advance) are $12 or free for kids younger than 2. Choose a time slot and purchase tickets at srcity.org

What’s It Like to Be a Bird?

How do birds find and eat their food?

How do they decide where they want to live? These are questions that will be investigated at Little Parkies: Brilliant Birds. Participants will search for feathered friends and observe their behavior, and even imagine what it’s like to be a bird. Aimed at ages 4–6, the event also will feature games, activities, and a nature walk. It will be held on October 9, 10 a.m.–noon, at the Helen Putnam Regional Park in Petaluma. The cost is $10–$12 per family (up to four people); reserve a spot at tinyurl.com/yck5he8d

Honor the Ancestors

Different cultures have different rituals for honoring their dead. In Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries, it is Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. During the celebration, ancestors and other loved ones are remembered with altars or ofrendas (offerings) that are decorated with the deceased’s pictures and favorite foods as well as calaveras (skulls made from sugar). The Museum of Sonoma County will be displaying examples of these altars and other Day of the Dead art at the Dia de los Muertos Free Family Festival. In addition to art and altars, the afternoon will include family-friendly activities, and traditional Mexican dances performed by Paquiyollotzin, Ballet Folklorico of Petaluma. The festivities will happen on October 1, noon–4 p.m., at the museum in Santa Rosa (dance performances 2–3 p.m.). Find out more at museumsc.org.

Floating Pumpkin Patch

Say No to Sugar

3 Ways to Take Control of Halloween Candy

By Pam Moore

While Halloween might be spooky, what’s scary is how you feel after a candy binge. While being an adult means I have the freedom to eat candy until I’m sick, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. In fact, it is decidedly a bad idea.

The good news is that you don’t have to change the essential part of yourself that loves candy in order to ignore sugar’s siren call. Even when it’s marked way down come November first. The key to taking control of your candy consumption is to take the emphasis off of changing yourself and instead focus on changing your environment. Here’s how.

1. Get rid of the candy. The Switch Witch is an excellent “helper” for parents looking for a way to get rid of candy without being the bad guy.

The friendly witch simply takes the candy and leaves a non-food present in its place shortly after Halloween. Alternatively, you could have an “unofficial” switch fairy come to your house, akin to the tooth fairy. Though it was designed for parents wishing to keep their kids from eating too much candy, the Switch Witch concept also ensures that the parents don’t break into the kids’ stash.

2. Plan your meals and snacks. When you hit that late afternoon slump and you have

candy at your fingertips or a bag of unwashed, unpeeled carrots at the bottom of your vegetable crisper, it’s only human to choose the former. But what if your carrots were washed, peeled, sliced, and ready to eat in an easily accessible container? Prepping veggies as you need them only makes it easy to let them rot before you get to them. Instead, find a time or two each week to prepare a variety of healthy snacks at once. You could fill a gallon-sized plastic bag with sliced celery, carrots, and bell peppers and take out a few when you want a snack. Alternatively, you could put a handful of snap peas and cherry tomatoes into snack-sized Tupperware to quickly toss in your bag before you head out.

Similarly, a little meal planning goes a long way. While there are countless apps designed to simplify the process, choosing the “right” one might be overwhelming. If this sounds like you, it’s okay to keep it simple and keep technology out of the equation. Your system could be as low-tech as sitting down with your calendar and a piece of paper, noting which nights you will be eating out or too busy to cook, and which nights you will be available to cook. Then just plug in the meals you’d like to eat and the nights on which you’d like to eat them. After that, all you have to do is make a shopping list and hit the grocery

It’s just as easy to talk over a walk or a hike as it is over a meal.

store, or submit your order with your favorite online shopping tool. As long as you ensure there is enough food for leftovers or a simple meal (e.g. salad or a tuna melt) on the nights you’re pressed for time, you will be well on your way to avoiding the temptation of going out to eat, grabbing take-out, or worse, filling up on candy. As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.”

3. Take control of your schedule. When scheduling meetings or social engagements, take the opportunity to meet in places that won’t tempt you to overindulge. It’s just as easy to talk over a walk or a hike as it is over a meal. Meeting for coffee or tea in the morning might be a great alternative to meeting

for drinks after work, when the temptation to order a plate of wings or fries is strong. If a work meeting must be scheduled during a meal, take the initiative to suggest a place that has a selection of salads or a place that is

Fill a gallon-sized plastic bag with sliced celery, carrots, and bell peppers.

in walking distance from your office— and schedule the time it takes to walk there. If you’re meeting someone for a meal in a social context, you could suggest cooking together at your home or meeting for a picnic if the weather is good.

Whether you’re nuts about Paydays, wild about York peppermint patties, or crazy for Kit Kats, it’s normal to crave candy. While we have outgrown the thrill of walking outside past our bedtimes, wearing gauzy princess gowns or superhero costumes, a taste for candy is something most of us never outgrow. If, like most of us, you find it takes superhuman strength to resist sweets, try changing your environment instead of yourself and you might just avoid the scary sensation of going into the holiday season with a sugar hangover. ❖

Pam Moore is an award-winning freelance writer, intuitive eating coach, and host of the Real Fit podcast. Get her free guide to improving your body image at pam-moore.com

riding lesson as well as a horsemanship class.

6-week sessions and

be $840 per session.

per

to

Eric Cabalo is the classical guitar professor at Sonoma State University.

The Great Jack-O’-Lantern

Create Your Family’s Best-Ever Pumpkin

Never fear, though. Carving can be done indoors or out, especially with a well-prepared station. To make cleanup easier, go old school and line your tabletop with newspaper, or cut open a plastic trash bag and spread it over your surface. You will want to clean up quickly afterwards, too, since pumpkin flesh and seeds are super slippery.

Find one with a green stem, which means that the pumpkin has been freshly picked.

By Katy M. Clark

It’s pumpkin time! How can you make sure you pick the perfect pumpkin and transform it into a boo-tiful jack-o’-lantern? Check out these handy tips.

Fresh Is Best The best selection at your local pumpkin patch will probably be available in early October. Of course, selecting your gourd at the grocery store is convenient any time. My kids have found some of their biggest, best pumpkins at the local store.

No matter where you go, look for smooth pumpkins with no soft spots, which indicate rot. It is also ideal to find one with a green stem, which means that the pumpkin has been freshly picked.

Try not to let your kids pick up the pumpkin by the stem. If the stem

breaks off, it could take some of the outer pumpkin with it, making the inside rot faster.

Once you get your prized pumpkin home, store it in a cool, dry spot.

Aim to carve it just a few days before Halloween. This will ensure that it does not decay too fast (boo, black spots!) and looks frightfully good on the big night.

Get Ready for a Mess If you are lucky enough to set up a carving station outside, go for it! The mess from making a jack-o’-lantern is easier to handle on your patio or in your backyard than inside.

Make It Boo-tiful Have you ever seen a jack-o’-lantern with black lines on its face? I know when my family uses permanent markers to sketch our design, we are usually left with a couple mistakes that we must live with or cut out. Here’s a tip I wish I knew years ago: Try sketching your lines with a dry erase marker, instead. Yes, dry-erase marks are erasable even on pumpkins! Or use a template that you can attach directly to the pumpkin.

When it’s time to cut into your pumpkin, let adults take on the task; little ones should not handle anything sharp. Instead, let kids scrape out the seeds with big spoons or ice cream scoops. Save the seeds if you want to toast them later (more on that below).

Grown-ups, your goal should be to cut with short, controlled motions. Don’t forget to go slow! It’s not a race and you definitely want to avoid a serious hand injury.

Go for Glitter Another useful tip is to give kids their own small pumpkin to decorate with glitter and glue or foam stickers while you carve the family’s bigger pumpkin. That way they will stay engaged and not lose interest.

If carving is more trick than treat for your family, then you can always paint your pumpkin, instead. Note that you may need several coats to get the desired color and it can take a while for the paint to dry between coats.

Soak Seeds If you want to roast the seeds later, soak them in a big bowl of warm water. To separate the seeds from the goo, use your hands to swirl them around, and then let them sit for at least five minutes.

The goo will sink to the bottom while the seeds float to the top. Once dry, your seeds will be ready for whatever sweet or savory recipe you find on the Internet. Enjoy! ❖

Katy M. Clark is a writer and mom of two who celebrates her imperfections on her blog experiencedbadmom.com

Break the Spell of Nightmares

Help Kids Overcome Bad Dreams

By Melissa Grace

“Help! A monster is after me!”

It’s 2 a.m. and your child is freaking out, terrified by a nightmare. How do you help her process her dream? Follow the 4 Rs: reassurance, rescripting, rehearsal, and resolution.

It’s a protocol Drs. Alan Siegel and Kelly Bulkeley outline in their book Dreamcatching. Here’s what it looks like.

Reassurance A nightmare can be traumatic for a little kid. Validating a child’s feelings and letting them know they are not alone is very important. So is approaching the dream with unconditional acceptance, which not only validates your child’s feelings and supports their self-esteem, it also

opens the door to creatively exploring and working with the dream.

Rescripting Children have incredible imaginations. And, what’s more, they easily believe in what they envision. Rescripting takes advantage of a child’s impressionable nature and uses it for the good. It’s “like assertiveness training for the imagination,” Siegel and Bulkeley write. When children rescript dreams, they imagine different plots and/or endings.

Part of this process may be the use of imaginary magical tools, the variety of which is limitless. For instance, when a six-year-old little friend of mine had a dream about

a bad creature trying to hurt her, I asked her if there was some kind of magic object that could help her. “A wand,” she said. “How will it help you?” I asked. “I’ll use it to make the bad creature go away,” she replied. And in her mind’s eye, she did just that. When I asked her if she still felt afraid, she chirped “Nope,” and that was the end of that. Kids are quite resilient when it comes to recouping from nightmares. They just need a caring adult to help them out.

Rehearsing Nightmares don’t exist in a vacuum. They serve a purpose: to let the dreamer, and in a child’s case, a parent, know that something is wrong. It may be that there has been a sudden change in the child’s environment; the two biggies are usually a new sibling or school. But there could be a less dramatic change, such as a new teacher, or an upcoming event—a dentist appointment or a visit with a distant relative—that makes a child anxious, too. Also loss of any kind, big or small, can be overwhelming for a child. So a nightmare arrives to let the parent know that their kid isn’t coping well. Rescripting may make a child feel better, but it doesn’t address what’s really upsetting them.

Rehearsing different solutions to a nightmare’s threats, however, can help empower children to face real-life situations. Siegel and Bulkeley use the example of a seven-year-old boy who, sensitive to peer rejection, had reoccurring dreams about playmates excluding and, at times, rejecting him. In play therapy, the boy created magical

tools that helped him act out different ways to approach the kids rejecting him in his dreams. He even had imaginary conversations with the dream-kids. In the end, this repeated rehearsal helped him to confront his social fears and make friends at school.

Resolution Sometimes a child’s nightmare reflects a deeper psychological issue that must be resolved. Siegel and Bulkeley give the example of a nine-year-old child who had nightmares when his dad left on work trips. In one of his recurring nightmares, the boy would try to shout for his father but found himself unable to speak. Rescripting kept the nightmare from reoccurring, but it wasn’t until

the parents made an effort to keep father and son in contact while dad was away, that the source of the boy’s nightmares—his fear of abandonment—truly resolved. ❖

Source: Dreamcatching : Every Parent’s Guide to Exploring and Understanding Children’s Dreams and Nightmares by Alan Siegel, PhD, and Kelly Bulkeley, PhD (Three Rivers Press, 1998).

Melissa Grace is a Santa Rosa–based dream interpretation coach who has offered private sessions since 2007 and women’s dream circles since 2017. She holds a certificate in nonclinical Jungian studies and is a member of the International Association for the Study of Dreams. Find her at thenightisjung.com, on Facebook at The Night Is Jung, and on Instagram @thenightisjungdreamguide. Join the Night Is Jung Dream Discussion Group on Facebook. Subscribe to The Night Is Jung Dream Work & Divination YouTube channel.

Books on Dreams

For Kids

Terry and Eric Fan, Ocean Meets Sky (Simon & Schuster, 2018).

Angel Morgan, PhD, Dreamer’s Powerful Tiger (The DreamBridge, 2019).

Giselle Potter, Tell Me What to Dream About (Penguin Random House, 2015).

Benjamin Alire Sáenz, A Perfect Season for Dreaming/Un tiempo perfecto para soñar (Cinco Puntos Press, 2008).

For Parents

Denyse Beaudet, PhD, Dreamguider (Hampton Roads, 2008).

Kelly Bulkeley and Patricia M. Bulkley, Children’s Dreams (Rowman & Littlefield, 2012).

Jean Campbell and Clare R. Johnson, eds., Sleep Monsters and Super Heroes (Praeger, 2016).

cat. The images that draw you in the most may carry the most meaning.

2. Make associations. To figure out what a dream symbol means, figure out your associations to the image. For instance, when you think of your mother-in-law, what are the first words that come into your mind? Is she kind and

What’s in a Dream?

3 Ways to Unlock a Symbol’s Meaning

By Melissa Grace

Carl Jung’s protégé Marie-Louise von Franz said that trying to interpret your own dream is like trying to see your own back. This is because dreams carry messages from the unconscious, and the unconscious, by its very nature, does not want to be seen.

Still, having said this, it is possible to work on your own dream. Here are three things to keep in mind.

Figure out your associations to an image.

1. Focus on the dream’s images. Be open to the idea that every character, person, object, and animal in your dream may symbolize something about yourself. That may be hard to take when it comes to your in-laws or an obnoxious coworker, but it also applies to angels and your favorite

thoughtful or judgemental and intrusive (or a little of both)? Now translate this to your relationship to yourself. Are there ways you are kind to yourself? Are there ways you deny yourself kindness? Does self-judgment intrude upon your growth?

3. See the dream as a story. Look at the setting, character development, and conflict or drama with the awareness that each of these aspects of a dream has something to teach you. For instance, if the setting is your childhood home, you may be dealing with some issue or behavior pattern that began in childhood. Dream characters can give us similar clues. For example, if you dream of the cat you owned in college, you may want to ask yourself who you were when you owned her and how you’ve changed. If you dream of your college best friend, you may want to ask yourself how you perceived him: How would

Every character in your dream may symbolize something about yourself.

you have described him? And do any of those qualities apply to yourself or anyone in your life now?

Apart from setting and characters, it’s also important to look at conflicts in dreams. Perhaps it’s overt conflict, such as between alien invaders and vulnerable humans, or righteous warriors and a hidden oppressor. Or maybe it’s less obvious, such as a dreamer who finds herself trying to ride a bike that simply won’t go anywhere—a conflict between what the dreamer wants to do (get somewhere) and

It’s important to look at conflicts in dreams.

what the bike wants to do (stand still). In the latter case, perhaps the dreamer has distinct goals but something inside herself—maybe fear or bad experiences, or perhaps judgment from that intrusive inner mother-in-law—is holding her back and now she is like that bike that refuses to move.

In the end, remember, often in dreams, you are everything: You are the invader and the invaded; you are the in-laws and the one who is fed up with them; and you are the one who wants to ride the bike and the broken bike itself. Understanding this basic concept is one of the most important keys to successful dream work. ❖

Find out more about dreams and Melissa Grace at thenightisjung.com . Want a free 20-minute phone consult about your dream? Write Melissa at thenightisjung@gmail.com

REGISTER

REGISTER

REGISTER

REGISTER

Registration opens Sept.19 Ages 6-12

Registration opens Sept.19

Registration opens Sept.19

Registration opens Sept.19 Ages 6-12

GET IN THE GAME WITH Y YOUTH SPORTS…. more than just about a score. It’s teamwork, sportsmanship and developing healthy habits.

GET IN THE GAME WITH Y YOUTH SPORTS…. more than just about a score. It’s teamwork, sportsmanship and developing healthy habits.

GET IN THE GAME WITH Y YOUTH SPORTS…. more than just about a score. It’s teamwork, sportsmanship and developing healthy habits.

GET IN THE GAME WITH Y YOUTH SPORTS…. more than just about a score. It’s teamwork, sportsmanship and developing healthy habits.

Sonoma County Family YMCA 1111 College Avenue, SR • 707-545-9622 • scfymca.org

Sonoma County Family YMCA 1111 College Avenue, SR • 707 545 9622 • scfymca.org

Sonoma County Family YMCA 1111 College Avenue, SR • 707-545-9622 • scfymca.org

Sonoma County Family YMCA 1111 College Avenue, SR • 707 545 9622 • scfymca.org

Open Enrollment

-

Families looking to participate in Open Enrollment must do so during the window. Complete your enrollment at srcschools.org.

Your Fire Escape Plan

How to Make Sure Your Family Stays Safe

No one in Sonoma County has to be convinced about the importance of preventing fires. But the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Fire Prevention Week, October 9–15, is a good time to review your family’s fire safety measures: Make sure there is 100 feet of defensible space around your home and that your family has a home escape plan that all members know and regularly practice.

According to NFPA data, home— the place people feel safest from fire—is actually where they are at greatest risk, with three-quarters (74 percent) of all US fire deaths occurring in residences. When a home fire does occur, it’s more likely to be serious; people are more likely to die in a home fire today than they were in 1980.

“Today’s homes burn faster and hotter than they used to, minimizing the amount of time [people] have to escape safely,” says NFPA public affairs representative

Lorraine Carli. “In a typical home fire, you may have as little as two minutes to get out from the time the smoke alarm sounds.”

Developing a home escape plan with all members of the household and practicing it regularly ensures that, when the smoke alarm sounds, everyone knows what to do and uses that time wisely.

Here are the basics for an effective home escape plan:

1. Make sure your plan meets the needs of all family members, including those with sensory or physical disabilities.

2. Smoke alarms should be installed inside every sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area, and on every level of your home. Smoke alarms should be interconnected so when one sounds, they all sound.

3. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible. Make sure all doors and windows open easily.

4. Establish an outside spot a safe distance from your home to meet.

5. At least twice a year, practice your home fire drill with everyone in the household, including guests. Practice at least once during the day and at night.

As the biggest annual campaign at NFPA, Fire Prevention Week works to educate people about the leading home fire risks and how best to protect themselves and their loved ones.

To learn more about Fire Prevention Week, visit nfpa.org/fpw ❖

Founded in 1896, NFPA® is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. For more information, visit nfpa.org. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed online for free at nfpa.org/freeaccess

At least twice a year, practice your home fire drill.

Make sure to have enough coverage for car, home, medical, life, etc.

6. Use an electronic toll transponder. Using a toll transponder like FasTrak will save money, time, and gas. Crossing the Golden Gate Bridge costs 70 cents more for those without FasTrak ($8.40 vs. $7). It’s free to open a FasTrak account. (Go to bayareafastrak.org.)

Savvy Car Care

19 Tips for Saving Money on Gas & Maintenance

By Cheryl Maguire

While car ownership is expensive, you can save thousands of dollars a year just by following some of these tips.

1. Make your own repairs. These days YouTube videos demonstrate how to perform all kinds of different car repairs and common maintenance work. Recently, I changed an air filter with the help of YouTube. It took me about five minutes. I used a generic filter instead of the factory one, and, between labor and materials, saved almost $100.

2. Close windows. Leaving windows open while driving on the highway causes air drag, which reduces mileage by 10 percent.

3. Change oil every 6,000 miles. When you get an oil change, most places put a sticker on your car to remind you to change your oil every 3,000 miles. However, many

car manuals recommend changing oil every 6,000 miles. If this is what your manual advises, you can cut back on at least two or more oil changes a year—a savings of $40–$60.

4. Drive the speed limit. Getting a speeding ticket or into a car accident increases your car insurance rate for a number of years. Speeding also uses more gas.

5. Get adequate insurance. Insurance is expensive but cutting corners can cost more in the long run.

7. Buy home & auto insurance together. Purchasing home and auto insurance from the same company can garner a 10–15 percent discount.

8. Raise insurance deductibles. Increasing insurance deductibles can yield as much as 15 percent in savings.

9. Ask for loyalty discounts. If you have been with the same car/ home insurance company for more then six years, ask for a 10 percent loyalty discount.

10. Don’t go below ¼ tank. By keeping the gas tank at least a quarter full, it’s less likely you’ll run out of gas and more likely that the fuel pump will work efficiently and for a longer period of time. (It costs hundreds to replace the pump.)

11. Use cruise control. My husband uses cruise control every chance he gets. It helps him to drive

YouTube videos demonstrate how to perform all kinds of different car repairs.

Did you know car parts stores diagnose problems for free?

the speed limit, which, in addition to preventing tickets, also uses less gas.

12. Get “diagnosed” for free. Did you know car parts stores diagnose problems for free? Even if you can’t make the repair yourself (see number 1), you can at least find out what the issue is and research repair costs to make sure mechanics charge the appropriate fees. Call at least three different reputable repair shops and ask for quotes. If a quote is high, state the price of the part and ask a staff member to explain the reasons for the fee.

13. The next time you buy a car, negotiate the price. It will save you thousands.

14. Don’t idle when waiting. Idling for ten minutes is the

equivalent of driving five miles—it wastes gas and pollutes the air.

15. Shop around for the best gas price. Gas prices can vary as much as 10–20 cents per gallon at

17. Use A/C sparingly. Air conditioning uses up a lot of gas. When not on the highway, try to drive with the windows open, and park in shaded areas when possible.

18. Use credit cards and earn bonuses. Some credit card companies offer extra money or rewards for purchasing gas with their cards.

each station. Use the Gas Buddy app to find the lowest price in your area.

16. Check tire pressure. Making sure that tires are inflated at the pressure level indicated in the car manual can save more than $100 per year on gas.

19. Use grocery rewards to get discounted gas. Some grocery stores reward shoppers with discounted gas. I’ve been able to save $1.50 per gallon—a $30 savings on a 20-gallon tank—just by purchasing food items I planned to buy anyway.

Find Cheryl Maguire on Twitter @ CherylMaguire05.

Kid Cleaning Crew

5 Secrets for Keeping Your Child’s Room Tidy

By Pam Moore

Dirty socks are mixed in with a pile of Legos. Shoes, barrettes, and random beads litter one corner of the room. Open books cover the bed, spines facing up, to hold the page in the absence of bookmarks. The dress-up basket lies upside down atop a sea of tulle, spandex, and polyester. My preschooler’s room drives me crazy.

How can we get kids invested in cleaning their rooms?

1. Make it simple.

• Have a place for things. It’s easier to tidy when there is a place for everything. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a complicated system. Boxes and baskets you already have will do the job. A shoebox can store blocks, or a laundry basket can house stuffed animals.

• Minimize stuff. Fewer things means less work, less overwhelm, and less chance of tripping. I do stealth purges, leaving my kids’ toys in a holding area before donating them, in case they ask for the missing toys before I get to Goodwill. However, my kids (ages 3 and 5) are often willing to collect toys for needy kids when asked.

• Break it down. The idea of cleaning a messy room is overwhelming (even for adults), until you break it down into smaller pieces. Child therapist Maria Arias recommends letting

kids choose a task. My daughter usually throws a fit when it’s time to clean her room, but if I ask, “Do you want to start with books or clothes?” she’ll pick one and get started. Often, children respond better to a task list, than to verbal instructions. You can write a to-do list with your child, or use a picture schedule for younger kids who can’t read yet. Executive function and organization coach

Kate Paisley Kennedy recommends breaking a project like room cleaning into time-based chunks, to avoid overwhelm. For example, you can set a timer for five minutes, and take a break at that point.

It’s easier to tidy when there is a place for everything.

2. Make it routine.

Some parents report a total absence of power struggles or negotiations in order to get their kids to clean their rooms. With kids 3–12 years old, these parents had one thing in common: They’d established a solid cleanup routine when their kids were very young.

Jill Ceder, a psychotherapist and parent coach, recommends not only expecting kids to do chores when they’re young, but also building cleanup into their schedule. For example, the routine could be to clean their bedroom every Saturday morning, every night before dinner, or before starting a new activity. What matters is that the routine is consistent and that kids know the consequence for not participating (e.g. they don’t get to go to gymnastics or have screen time if it’s not done).

3. Make it clear.

Arias emphasizes the importance of clearly communicating your expectations and why they matter. To do this, she recommends:

• Showing your child a picture of their clean room.

• Explaining the motivation behind the goal. Arias encourages parents to emphasize safety by saying something like, “Let’s pick up the toys so no one will fall.” (Note: This is very different than howling in pain and threatening to burn all the Legos when you step on one.)

• Putting it in the context of helpfulness by saying something like, “When the room is clean, we can be on time to school, which is helpful to the teachers and the other students.”

4. Make it fun. Parents reported the following strategies to infuse fun into the process.

• Set a timer and dare your kid to beat the clock (“I bet you can’t get this done in less than five minutes!”)

Child therapist Maria Arias recommends letting kids choose a task.

• “Race” to see who can clean up more blocks, while getting down on the floor to help younger kids.

• Load toys in a dump truck and let kids make the truck unload them into the appropriate bin.

• Play “cleaning crew.”

• Make a game of putting away specific items, like hunting for all the blue things or anything round.

5. Make it rewarding. According to Paisley Kennedy, “a positive reward works eight times faster than a negative consequence.” The reward can be as simple as stickers or verbal praise. Ceder agrees that it’s important to praise effort. She encourages parents to take note whenever their kids take responsibility for their messes, “and use this as a time to connect, engage, show appreciation and encouragement.” ❖

Pam Moore is an award-winning freelance writer, intuitive eating coach, and host of the Real Fit podcast. Find her at pam-moore.com

PLAY-BASED EMERGENT CURRICULUM

Our nurturing and qualified teachers have been serving Petaluma families of all faiths for over 45 years. With a 1/8 ratio and an emphasis on social and emotional learning, our program provides a positive first learning experience. Students enjoy, art, science, storytime, circle time, music and movement.

All COVID-19 and CCL guidelines are followed so that we can provide a safe and healthy experience for all.

optional.

• Paid sick leave, holidays, & vacations.

October

Calendar of Events

Saturday 1

Petaluma Pumpkin Patch & Amazing Corn Maze. Free parking & general admission. ATM on site (most vendors only take cash). Four-acre corn maze admission: $8–$12. No one younger than 16 is allowed into the maze without an adult 18 years old or older. Sundays–Thursdays: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Admission to the Corn Maze closes 30 minutes prior to closing. 450 Stony Pt. Rd., Petaluma (parallel to Hwy. 101 south). petalumapumpkinpatch.com.

Skunk Train Pumpkin Express. Ride Skunk Train to a pumpkin patch & pick a pumpkin. $10.95–$59.95. Dogs: $10.95. Infants on laps: free. Departing from Willits. Saturdays: 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Sundays & Wednesdays: 10:30 a.m. Oct 31: 10:30

a.m. 299 E. Commerical St., Willits. skunktrain.com.

FREE El Día De Los Muertos Family Festival. Exhibit of altars & other Day of the Dead art; family-friendly activities; traditional Mexican dance performed by Paquiyollotzin, Ballet Folklorico of Petaluma. Noon–4 p.m. Dance performance: 2–3 p.m. Museum of Sonoma County. 425 7th St., Santa Rosa. museumsc.org/ events/?eid=9555.

Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Show. Features Carrie Ann Fondi, Hawaiian Quilt artist. Adults: $10. Kids 11 & younger: $2. Oct. 1: 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Oct. 2: 10 a.m. –4 p.m. Lake County Fairgrounds. 401 Martin St., Lakeport. llqg.org.

FREE Annual Vikingfest. Celebration of all things Norwegian: Viking-era reenactments, arts & crafts,

displays & demos. Taste of Norway lunch available for purchase. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Norway Hall. 617 W. 9th St., Santa Rosa. freyalodge.org.

Moana Jr. Musical. A Theater for Children production for young audiences. $7. Oct. 1: 1 & 3:30 p.m. Oct. 2: 3 p.m. (Pre-show activities begin 30 minutes before show.) Steele Lane Community Center. 415 Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. atheaterforchildren.com.

FREE Windsor Day Parade. Presented by the Kiwanis Club of Windsor, the Town of Windsor & other local service clubs. Theme: Friends & Neighbors. Parade starts at 10 a.m. Route: Windsor High School to Windsor Rd. to Windsor River Rd. to McClelland Dr. & back to Windsor High School. tinyurl.com/dhhhrbkk.

FREE Courtney’s Pumpkin Patch & Kiwanis’ 1st Annual Harvest Fair. Pumpkins for sale. Live music, family activities & face-painting. Beer/wine & food vendors. 11 a.m.–6 p.m. Cloverdale Plaza. 122 N. Cloverdale Blvd., Cloverdale. courtneyspumpkinpatch.com

FREE Spanish Music & Movement. Music & movement with colorful scarves, instruments & animals. Presented in Spanish for families & kids ages 6 & younger. Do not need to speak Spanish to attend. Música y movimiento con coloridas bufandas, instrumentos y animales. Presentado en español para familias y niños de 6 años o menos. No es necesario hablar español para asistir. 10–10:30 a.m. Petaluma Library. 100 Fairgrounds Dr., Petaluma. Other libraries will host this event. See events.sonomalibrary. org for branches/times.

Monday 3

Mud Lab. Create mud sculptures, “cook” with mud—messy fun for all ages. Smocks provided. Free with museum admission ($11–$14, babies 0–11 mos.: free.) Mondays (except Oct. 31). 2–3 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.

Tuesday 4

Early Release Enrichment. For elementary school-aged children who have half-days on Tuesdays & Wednesdays. Provides farm, nature & art-based experiences. Sliding scale: $10–$45. 12:30–4:30 p.m. Veronda-Falletti Ranch. 175 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati. Registration required: tinyurl.com/5h84yw7p.

Center

Bobby Rogers, conductor

Wednesday 5

FREE Rec Party in the Park. Games, crafts, snacks & more. Hosted by the City of Windsor Parks. 4:30–6 p.m. Sutton Park. 1030 Robbie Way, Windsor. tinyurl.com/munvf56y.

Garden Party. Weed, plant, harvest & learn gardening practices at the edible garden. Free with museum admission ($11–$14; babies 0–11 mos.: free). Wednesdays. 10–11 a.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org

Thursday 6

FREE Sugar Skulls Workshop for Teens. Local artist/instructor Elsa Tapia will teach teens in grades 7–12 to paint sugar skulls. Space is limited. 4–5 p.m. Central Santa Rosa Library.

211 E St., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl.com/3eawz5bc Other libraries will host this event. See events.sonomalibrary.org/events/ month for branches/times.

FREE Maker Studio: Dino Stop-Motion. Kids film their own stories using stop-motion animation. They play around with story ideas and frame rates using model dinosaurs & a stop-motion app online. For grades 4–6. Rincon Valley Regional Library. 6959 Montecito Blvd., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl. com/3ad7mmnv.

FREE Intergenerational Chess Club: Teens & Seniors. Thursdays (except Oct. 13). 3:30–5 p.m. Sebastopol Library. 7140 Bodega Ave., Sebastopol. tinyurl.com/2p8ky8tt

Friday 7

Blind Scream Haunted House: House of Superstitions. This is not a haunt for the faint of heart. There is a high fear factor. Ages 12 & younger must be accompanied by an adult. $25–$35. COVID-19 protocol followed. Runs thru Oct. 31. Fridays & Saturdays: 7–11 p.m. Sundays: 7–10 p.m. Oct. 30 & 31: 7–11 p.m. Blind Scream Haunted House. 98 Santa Rosa Plaza. Corner of A St. & First St., Santa Rosa. Tickets: tinyurl. com/4j3h8a6t.

Saturday 8

Fall Farm Tours. Cuddle with baby goats, learn sustainable farming & shop for produce. $25–$40. Saturdays & Sundays. 11 a.m. & 2

p.m. Redwood Hill Farm. 5480 Thomas Rd., Sebastopol. Reservations required: redwoodhillfarm.org/tours/ visit-the-farm

FREE Walk Along the Farm Trails. Meet farmers; pick pumpkins, apples, & flowers; make flower crowns, pet farm animals; see how cheese is made; buy produce. Oct. 8 & 9: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Registration required for link to the tour directory & map: tinyurl.com/ y64nese7

SRJC Shone Farm Fall Festival. Wine tasting, U-pick pumpkins & apples, farm equipment displays, children’s activities, hay-bale rides, sheep shearing & wool spinning. Food & wine for purchase. No dogs allowed. $5 per vehicle. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Shone Farm. 7450 Steve Olson

Ln., Forestville. Tickets: tinyurl. com/5cfj684w

Science Saturdays: Slime Time. Kids-only, interactive science hour. For ages 6–12. Held the second Saturday of each month. $10–$12. Parking: $7. Two sessions: 11 a.m.–noon & 1–2 p.m. Spring Lake Regional Park. Environmental Discovery Center. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl.com/2m4mzvub.

Sewing Creations. Geared towards ages 4 & older. Sewing machines, embellishments & materials provided. Specialist will be on hand to support families. Free with museum admission ($11–$14, babies 0–11 mos.: free). 1–3 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/5n82zdd3

Sunday 9

Little Parkies: Brilliant Birds. For ages 4–6. Exploratory walkabouts in the park to search for birds & watch their behavior. Hands-on learning, nature-based games & unique crafts to take home. $10–$12 per family (up to 4 people). Parking: $7. 10 a.m.–noon. Helen Putnam Regional Park. 411 Chileno Valley Rd., Petaluma. Registration required: tinyurl. com/2p9k2vrd.

Wednesday 12

FREE Walk Through the Grades Tours. Take a peek into Waldorf classrooms. 9–11 a.m. Summerfield Waldorf School & Farm. 655 Willowside Rd., Santa Rosa. Register: summerfieldwaldorf.org/visit-us

Friday 14

FREE Movies in the Park: Ghostbusters. Concession stand opens an hour before the movie begins. Bring low-back chairs & blankets. No pets, alcohol, smoking, or stick-leg chairs. Screening begins 7 p.m. Forestville Youth Club baseball field. 7045 Mirabel Rd., Forestville. facebook.com/ForestvilleYouthPark.

Saturday 15

Sonoma County Zombie Movement. Arrive “zombified” & ready to lurch, crawl & shamble. Costume categories & prizes for kids & adults. $10–$25. Portion of proceeds benefits Community Matters, Safe School Ambassadors. 2–6 p.m. Healdsburg West Park Plaza. 101 North St., Healdsburg. (Meet up behind Lucky

Heron & Dry Creek Kitchen.) Tickets: tinyurl.com/2p8bx27t

Sugar Skulls. Artist Diego Marcial Rios demonstrates how to hand paint & decorate a Mexican sugar skull. Sliding scale: $10–$75. Two sessions: 10 a.m.–noon & 1:30–3:30 p.m. Sonoma Community Center. 276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. Register: sonomacommunitycenter.org/events

FREE Cultivating Queer & Trans Community. This space is provided for LGBTQ2IA+ people to come together & explore the natural world while building supportive relationships. Parking: $7. Noon–2 p.m. Helen Putnam Regional Park. 411 Chileno Valley Rd., Petaluma. (Meeting place: Chileno Valley Rd. parking lot.) tinyurl.com/8rcc725k

FREE Common Ground Day of the Dead Celebration. For parents of disabled or special needs children. Decorate sugar skulls in celebration of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). All materials will be provided. 10 a.m.–noon. Keiser Park. 700 Windsor River Rd., Windsor. Register: tinyurl. com/582nc6m3.

Pumpkin Splash! Swim, pick a pumpkin & then decorate it. $15. 2–5 p.m. Honeybee Pool. 1170 Golf Course Dr., Rohnert Park. bit.ly/ RPPumpkinSplash

Sunday 16

Clo Cow Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Run thru rural Sonoma farm country. $55–$95. $10 discount for youth younger than 18. 7:30 a.m. Kentucky St. (between B St. & Western Ave.),

The YMCA Preschool provides your child with high-quality, age-appropriate activities and enjoyable experiences. Personal attention, rich sensory experiences, and a generous supply of giggles!

Infant-5 years

Petaluma. Register: clocowhalf.com/ registration

Friday 21

FREE Movies in the Park: Hocus Pocus. Bring chairs & blankets. 7–9 p.m. Lucchesi Community Center. 320 N. McDowell Blvd., Petaluma. tinyurl.com/y68fcxrz

Live Online: Jake Tapper Hosts “Charles M. Schulz: A Legacy.” CNN anchor Jake Tapper explores the impact of Charles M. Schulz & his comic strip Peanuts on cartooning, pop culture & the world today. Special guests: Garry Trudeau, creator of the comic Doonesbury; Jean Schulz & others. $15. 3:30–4:30 p.m. Registration required: tinyurl. com/49sntf38.

Saturday 22

Halloween Carnival. Haunted house, carnival games, bouncy house, food, music, raffles & more. $5–$8. Every wristband sold gets one raffle ticket. 3–6 p.m. YMCA. 1111 College Ave., Santa Rosa. scfymca.org

Annual YWCA Fun Run/Walk. Raising awareness about domestic violence. Approx. 2.3 miles. $20 registration/donation. 9:30 a.m. check-in. 10 a.m. run/walk. Spring Lake Regional Park. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl. com/2szkmbed

FREE Trick-or-Treat Trail at Keiser Park. The City of Windsor & local businesses hand out candy to kids 12 & younger. Noon–4 p.m. Keiser Park.

700 Windsor River Rd., Windsor. townofwindsor.com

Annual Cemetery Walk. Walk to gravesites while hearing stories of Petaluma’s historical families. $15–$20. 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Tour begins at Cypress Hill Cemetery office parking lot. 430 Magnolia Ave., Petaluma. Tickets: tinyurl.com/ym8wc4f7.

Floating Pumpkin Patch. Find pumpkin in pool & then decorate it. Games & prizes. $12. Kids younger than 2: free. Register for 1 of 2 time slots: 1:30–3:30 p.m. or 3:45–5:45 p.m. Ridgway Swim Center. 455 Ridgway Ave., Santa Rosa. Presales only. Tickets: srcity.org/2913/ Floating-Pumpkin-Patch

Pumpkins on Pikes. Live music, straw maze, games, pumpkin carving.

Food by Holistic Ag. $40. Ages 3 & younger: free. No pets. Oct. 22 & Oct. 29. 2–10 p.m. Tara Firma Farms. 3796 I St. Ext., Petaluma. tarafirmafarms. com/events-1.

Intro to Disc Golf. Learn how to play disc golf in a relaxed setting along with other beginners. Discs & baskets for practice provided. $10–$12. Parking: $7. 10 a.m.–noon. Andy’s Unity Park. 3399 Moorland Ave., Santa Rosa. Register: tinyurl.com/yfrn5ukn

Sunday 23

Zombie Escape 5K & Kids Fun Run. $45–$50. Proceeds support military veterans & their families. 8 a.m.–noon. 25 Old Courthouse Square, Santa Rosa. Registration: tinyurl. com/5b93wcxe.

Symphony Spooktacular. Santa Rosa Symphony performs music from Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone & Pirates of the Caribbean. Arrive 1 hr. early for Instrument Petting Zoo. $10–$20. 3 p.m. Green Music Center. Weill Hall. 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Rohnert Park. Tickets: tickets. srsymphony.org.

FREE High School Preview Day

Cardinal Newman High School. For eighth graders. Registered

students will take a tour & learn about academic & student life. Led by student ambassadors. 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Cardinal Newman High School. 4320 Old Redwood Hwy., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl.com/ fp5jk5us.

Tuesday 25

Junior Ranger’s Nature Exploration: Clamoring for Clams. Join ranger assistants & explore the tidal mud flats surrounding the Bodega Bay Harbor. $10–$12. Parking: $7. 5:30–6:30 p.m. Doran Regional Park. 201 Doran Beach Rd., Bodega Bay. (Meet at boat launch.) Register: tinyurl.com/33fbjcbs.

Friday 28

FREE Fall Youth Day. Kids meet animals & make crafts. 3:30–5 p.m. Veronda-Falletti Ranch. 175 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati. sandyloam.org/ workshops-events. RSVP at cotati. recdesk.com/Community/Program

FREE Trick-or-Treating at Santa Rosa Plaza. A map of participating stores will be posted at each entrance on Oct. 28 & Oct. 31, 5–8 p.m. Stores will have balloons outside & a pumpkin in the window. Costumes encouraged. Santa Rosa Plaza.

Center Court. 1071 Santa Rosa Plaza, Santa Rosa. List of stores available on website: simon.com/mall/ santa-rosa-plaza

FREE Beetlejuice at the Drive-In. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds. 1 Citrus Fair Dr., Cloverdale. tinyurl.com/m3b5y9cy

FUNtazmagoria. Spooky, but not scary, activities. Glow-in-the-Dark Lab, Mad Scientist Lab & Pumpkin Plop (the staff drop pumpkins from a crane or the roof). Members: $12. General admission: $20. Oct. 28–30: 3–8 p.m. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. tinyurl.com/4s6rfd4y.

FREE Fall Fun Fest. Family fun with lots of activities & trick-or-treating downtown. 5–8 p.m. Old Courthouse Square. 600 4th St., Santa Rosa. downtownsantarosa.org

Saturday 29

FREE Halloween Carnival with Día De Los Muertos Celebration. Live DJ, costume contest, carnival games, haunted maze, community altars & more. Food available for purchase. Noon–5 p.m. Rohnert Park Community Center. 5401 Synder Ln., Rohnert Park. facebook.com/ rpcommunityservices.

FREE Farmers’ Market Pumpkin Festival & Costume Competition. Competitions: pumpkin decorating with wheels, pumpkin carving & costume (no commercial kits). Competitions divided into 3 age groups. Registration: 8:30–10:30 a.m. Judging: 9:30–11 a.m. Healdsburg Farmers’ Market. West Plaza Parking Lot. North & Vine Streets, Healdsburg. tinyurl.com/2y4pwdu5

FREE Family Bike Workshop. Learn tips, tricks & tools for bicycling safely. Children & parents must participate together & bring their own bikes & helmets. 10 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Santa Rosa French-American Charter School. 1350 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa. Registration required: tinyurl. com/mry2r9yb.

Monday 31

Trick-or-Treat at Schulz Museum. Come in costume & trick-or-treat all over the Museum. Make a goodie bag, assemble a spooky bat & mad mummy, make a witch’s broom & more. Ages 1–5. Before 11 a.m.: $10 per child & free for up to 2 adults per child. After 11 a.m. regular admission applies ($5–$12 or free for ages 3 & younger). 10 a.m.–noon. Charles

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You’ve found your community

M. Schulz Museum. 2301 Hardies Ln., Santa Rosa. schulzmuseum.org/ museum-mondays.

FREE Cotati Candyland Trick-or-Treat. Safe & fun trick-or-treating adventure through Cotati. Registration not required. 2–5 p.m. La Plaza Park. 201 W. Sierra Ave., Cotati. cotati.recdesk.com/ Community/Calendar

FREE Petaluma Halloween Trick-or-Treat. Downtown merchants give out treats to costumed kids 12 & younger. Download trick-or-treat map from website (available after Oct. 24) or just follow the black & orange balloons. 3–5:30 p.m. Downtown Petaluma. petalumadowntown.com/ trick-or-treat-trail

FREE Trick-or-Treating at Coddingtown Mall. Costumes encouraged. 4–7 p.m. Coddingtown Mail. 733 Coddingtown Center, Santa Rosa. facebook.com/ CoddingtownMall

When you have a child with a disability, medical complexity, or any sort of unique need, it can be hard to navigate alone. Join our local Sonoma County Facebook group and subscribe to our emails. Stay connected and learn about the resources Common Ground Society™ has to offer. You are NOT alone.

Ask

HallowCrazies

We’re All a Little Batty

By Jessica Guerrieri

When it’s November 1, the big question will remain: How do I explain to my three-year-old that Halloween happens only once a year? When it’s 6:30 a.m. and she has changed herself out of her witch costume, which she will have slept in, and then crawled back into her cat costume, the answer will be: I will not. I will accept that it will likely be Halloween in our house until Santa arrives.

Since I’m in it for the long haul, why not get into it? In college, I was absolutely that girl who used Halloween as an excuse to rock Daisy Dukes or fishnet stockings. But as a mom, I have different reasons for celebrating the holiday (and it’s not just because Reese’s peanut butter cups become my main source of protein).

First of all, I adore a good family costume. My girls love to dress up; it is something of an Olympic event in our household. This means we have no fewer than ten costumes to choose from when the big day arrives. So just like celebrities photographed on the red carpet, my daughters are never caught in the same outfit twice. Our best efforts, by far, were the year when my girls were paw-deep in their feline phase, and I, as the crazy cat lady,

was just along for the ride. (I didn’t have the heart to tell them that we are actually dog people.)

Second, I secretly like to judge costumed couples. You can always tell the husbands whose wives have their little pumpkins in the palms of their hands; they begrudgingly become the Aladdin to their wife’s Jasmine or the Adam to their Eve. But the men who dress up for their kids get my serious respect. It takes a dedicated father to rock his shirtless dad-bod as Maui from Moana, all so his daughter can feel like a princess. I see you Dad people.

Third, I enjoy knowing the answer, for once, to the oft-asked question: Why is my child acting like a wild animal? Anytime around Halloween, I don’t

have to guess. Sugar, costumes, and the overuse of pumpkin spice are the causes of most insanity. Yep, in October and slightly beyond we are all a little batty.

During my Daisy Dukes days, I was fully convinced that being seen and partying into the night was exactly what the smashing-pumpkins holiday was all about. But as a mother, I’ve experienced the true magic of Halloween. You know, letting kids express their imaginations and teaching them about manners, gratitude, and, of course, the most important lesson of all: I gave you life, therefore you give me all your Reese’s. ❖

Jessica Guerrieri is a mom, humorist, and writer. Find her at witandspitup. com and on Instagram @witandspitup.

The author and her kids, during their “feline phase.”

Light Up a Pumpkin on a Pike

At the end of October, a field at Tara Firma Farms is aglow with little orange orbs—carved jack-o’-lanterns on poles. It’s part of the Pumpkins on Pikes event at the Petaluma farm. Families carve the farm’s organic pumpkins on-site and then illuminate them en masse. The event also features live music, a straw maze and other games, and food by Holistic Ag. It all happens on October 22 and 29, 2–10 p.m. Tickets are $40 (free for ages 3 and younger); paid admission includes an organic pumpkin. No outside alcohol or dogs are allowed. Purchase tickets at tarafirmafarms.com.

WE

LOVE TO DANCE AND

CAN TOO!

The Keenan School works to bring the fun and joy of traditional Irish dance to all! From the age of 3 to the teen years, dancers of all levels of interest and experience have a place here.

PLEASE CALL FOR COMPLIMENTARY CLASS

326 Petaluma Blvd. North • (707) 479-1128 Keenan5678@att.net www.keenanirishdanceschool.com

Grab a Goodie

F

or families who don’t relish going door-to-door during Halloween, Petaluma has a solution: the Trick-or-Treat Trail. During the event, downtown Petaluma businesses hand out goodies so hairy monsters, one-eyed pirates, and bespectacled Harry Potters don’t have to travel too far to get goodies. The free event will be held on October 31, 3–5:30 p.m. For more information, go to petalumadowntown.com .