Sacramento Parent October 2017

parent October 2017

Explore Mutasia!

TIME FOR A TUTOR? Fall Fun From Apples to Zombies sacramentoparent.com

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parent October 2017

How fun is the cover this month? Ryan McCulloch, of Vacaville is the Chief Artist & Designer, Co-Head Writer for Mutasia® Children’s Entertainment and the illustrator featured on this month’s cover! Of course, we want to give a shout out to Pirate Ayden (8) and Princess Brinley (4), too! We invite you to explore Mutasia and learn about these silly animals and their humorous adventures starting on page 22.

on our cover

Cover design by: Ryan McCulloch, Mutasia® Children’s Entertainment | www.Mutasia.com

contents OCTOBER 2017

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31

34

departments

features

around town

10 FUN FINDS

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A to Z Halloween Costume Ideas

34 SEASONAL

15 19 22 28

Should you Help with Homework?

38 CALENDAR

31

Overcoming Fear of the Dark

Toys that Teach

42 CRAFTY

BOOtiful DIY Mason Jar Lanterns

Annual Halloween Guide More Spooktacular & Seasonal Events

Is it Time for a Tutor?

Explore Mutasia

Foster Care: Finding Kids Stable Homes

40 SHOWS Fall Productions

41 EXHIBITS Exquisite Exhibits

special advertising section

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The Art of Advocating for Your Child

25 years

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Local Tutors & Learning Resources

What if all your little questions just tripled?

SOMETIMES, ESPECIALLY REGARDING YOUR HEALTH CARE CHOICE, ALL YOU HAVE ARE QUESTIONS. But when life comes knocking on your door in a big way, it’s very reassuring to know you can come right back with some big answers.

It all starts with choosing a health plan that connects you with a UC Davis doctor and an open door to an entire network of the brightest minds in medicine.

During OPEN ENROLLMENT, ask the most crucial question first.

The best answer…will immediately follow.

GET ALL THE ANSWERS YOU NEED TO THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION YOU CAN ASK. answers.ucdavis.edu

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Fun that you’ll flip over.

GYMNASTICS, DANCE & SWIM. Beginning at age 2.

Granite Bay 791-4496 • Folsom 351-0024 Sacramento 481-4496 • www.tricksgym.com

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October is probably my favorite month. Feeling the temperatures drop, seeing beautiful sunsets as the days grow shorter and taking a little time to breathe in that cool, calm, fall air before the holiday season is in full swing!

co-publisher | SUE LETO COLE co-publisher | SHELLY BOKMAN editor | SHANNON SMITH assistant editor | CHRISTINE QUARRY art directors | PATRICE VAN DAM

StudioPRDesign.com

JILL LENDAHL, JillLendahl.com event coordinator | MELEYA WALKER

contributing writers: Mali Anderson | Christa Melnyk Hines Janeen Lewis | Judy M. Miller | Bob Moffitt Christine Quarry | Jennifer Rodgers Susie Franklin Roeser | Shannon Smith Diana Watkins

advertising executives: RAYCHELL SARCOMO raychell@sacramentoparent.com LINDSAY TRENZ lindsay@sacramentoparent.com

This issue definitely captures the spirit of October from the trick-or-treating, whimsical characters of Mutasia on the cover to the realization that now that summer break is a distant memory, your child may need some extra help with school work.

And...of course it wouldn’t be October without our annual guide to everything Halloween!

Enjoy the tricks and treats inside this issue!

Shannon & the sac parent team

CHERYL WAPLES cheryl@sacramentoparent.com

BILLING QUESTIONS

Shelly Bokman | (530) 888.0573 shelly@sacramentoparent.com

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Sacramento Parent magazine is published monthly by Family Publishing, Inc. It is available free of charge at over 1,000 locations throughout Greater Sacramento.

Sacramento Parent magazine welcomes letters, articles, artwork and photos from our readers. Sacramento Parent is not responsible for the return of unsolicited materials. All rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission.

Opinions expressed by contributors or advertisers are not necessarily the opinions of this publication.

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fun finds

Learning is Easy When You’re Having

By Susie Franklin Roeser All work and no play can make for a grumpy child—but, who says learning important skills must be work? With this month’s picks, learning can be as easy as child’s play!

Chances are, your kids will have so much fun with these toys and games, they won’t even realize they are building their brain-power. Grown-ups can play along, too!

The ABCs of Play For kids just learning their ABCs, delicious looking Alphabet Cookies and Alpha-Pops from Learning Resources allow creative kitchen play time that doubles as letter recognition practice. Alpha-Pops look good enough to eat and the twin-pop design allows kids to match capital letters with their lowercase partner. Alphabet Cookies can be laid out on a cookie sheet in order or used to build words. Cook up even more fun using the two spinners to play additional letter and sound games.

Melissa & Doug’s Water Wow activity tablets come in a variety of educational topics including the ABCs. Apply just a little water to the tablet using a brush pen and letters magically appear making their discovery like finding hidden treasure! The letters disappear once the water dries and little learners can use this tablet again and again to reinforce letter recognition.

What’s the Word?

If they’ve got the ABCs down pat, expand their grammar and spelling skills with games such as Mad Libs and Word Pirates. Mad Libs are packed with grammar and writing practice, not to mention silly interactive fun for everyone within earshot! Take any kind of writing practice up a notch on the fun-meter with unusual pens, like a color-changing, tutti-frutti scented gel pen, or a pen in the shape of a word. Speaking of words, have some swashbuckling fun practicing spelling and vocabulary skills playing the Word Pirates board game from the Haywire Group. This intriguing game has two levels of play and will likely have nearby grown-ups wanting to join in!

3...2...1...FUN! Build number recognition as you build a tower of brightly colored garages and then drive in matching cars with the Nesting & Sorting Garage from Melissa & Doug. Their magnetic Tow Truck Game allows race car enthusiasts to “tow” broken down race cars. Each has a different number, so children can practice saying the numbers while lining them up in numerical order (or in reverse). And if cars aren’t their thing, who can resist practicing numbers when they look as delicious as the Number Pops from Learning Resources. These pops not only build number recognition and matching skills, the peek-a-boo element of revealing the color-coded dots on each pop makes even the youngest mathematicians “i-scream” with delight.

Do the Math...

Board and card games of all kinds allow for math skill practice while having fun! Haywire Group’s Robbin Eggs gives players addition and subtraction practice not only in scorekeeping, but also in combining positive and negative numbers to try to match a number rolled on a polyhedron die.

Card-type games (also from the Haywire Group) such as Beekeeper and Mars Needs Heroes focus on strategy skills to put cards in numerical order and make choices based on number values. For kids 12 and older, Dicecapades and Risk and Reward will have players so immersed in the fun and the challenge, they will probably never even notice they are also practicing valuable math skills.

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fun finds

Fun!

WIN IT!

Be sure to visit SacramentoParent.com and select WIN IT! to enter to win an awesome Game Tote loaded with games hand-picked by Gifts From The Heart of Elk Grove for one lucky Sacramento Parent reader!

Things are Shaping Up! Hands-on activities always make learning feel more like play, and this educational toy is no exception! Magformers Edu-Puzzle Set helps children improve spacial perception skills and learn about shapes, segmentation, ratios and probability. Ask a child about Magformers and they probably won’t mention any of these facts because they will be too busy having fun!

Practice Makes Perfect These products help make practice feel a whole lot less like work and more like play! Whether your child needs to work on math, spelling, handwriting, science or even history, practicing in a handson method will encourage students to want to “practice” while helping them remember the concepts they have been “playing.” Younger students can practice spelling words and writing math facts on the walls of the bath tub, or even on their arms, legs and tummy using Stephen Joseph’s Bath Crayons. Older students can use Scratch Art products from Melissa & Doug to write and draw the important concepts they need to remember. For tactile learners, try rolling out Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty to create letters, numbers, or even a model of an atom or a relief map of our great state!

Susie Franklin Roeser is a former elementary school teacher and owner of Gifts From The Heart Of Elk Grove. The fun finds mentioned above can all be found online or locally at Gifts From The Heart Of Elk Grove, 9685 Elk Grove Florin Road. Visit www.GiftsFromTheHeartOfElkGrove.weebly.com.

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Halloween Costumes from A to Z

By Mali Anderson

Interested in making a costume? Below are 26 creative ideas, one for each letter of the alphabet. Now that we’ve provided an outline, take it to the next level and fashion yours with whatever you have on hand. Have fun and be original!

Angel

Heavyweight Boxer

Use an oversized white dress, robe or shirt. Belt it with a thick gold ribbon. If desired add a chenille stick to the headband in form of a halo. Wings can be made by unbending and reshaping wire hangers, cover with netting or ribbon.

If someone in the house takes kickboxing or boxing; this is an ideal last minute outfit. Boxing gloves, satin shorts and satin cape or robe are the perfect additions to a white t-shirt. You can even use markers to draw a muscled chest on the t-shirt.

Bunch of Grapes

Invisible Man

Dress your child in green tights and leotard. Blow up blue, green or purple balloons and tie with string. Attach string to safety pins and fasten to leotard. Also looks great topped with a green pointed hat.

Dress in a dark suit. Wrap athletic bandage around your head, leaving areas open for eyes and mouth, and safety pin the ends of bandages into shirt. Wear dark glasses, preferably large ones, and a dark hat with a brim complete the look.

Caveman

Judge

Have any fake fur around the house? Fashion it into a toga style. Accessorize with a wig, toy club, bone jewelry or strips of leather.

To create a judge’s wig, cut off the brim of a cap and attach strips of white felt to the back and sides of cap, roll index cards into tubes and use a hot glue gun to secure them. Wear the wig with a black outfit and a white collar.

Dracula Wear a white shirt, dark pants, dark shoes and a bow tie. Use old jewelry to create a medallion and find fabric for a cape.

Apply white base make-up, use eye pencil for a widow’s peak and pointed eyebrows. Shade the areas under the eyes and on cheekbones in gray and use red lipstick on lips.

Kiwi

Elf

Laundry Hamper

First, cut the hems of a green turtleneck or vest into a zigzag pattern. If anything has buttons, replace them with oversized buttons and belt the waist. Then, add pompons or cotton balls to shoes. If you have a Santa hat, stuff it with paper and decorate it with glitter glue or plastic plants.

Simply cut off the top of a large box and poke two holes in front and back of box. Insert ribbon through holes and knot to create suspenders to hold up box. Paint box to look like hamper or cover it with shelf paper. Attach old clothes to the top of box to look like laundry spilling out.

Farmer

Monster

Start with overalls, a flannel shirt and boots. Add a straw hat and a handkerchief around the neck. For added authenticity, pin toy farm animals, such as chickens, cows and pigs onto pants.

Girl Gypsy Wear a white blouse and colorful full skirt. Add necklaces, bracelets, earrings, a shawl and/or a bandana.

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Dress in brown leggings and a brown shirt. Create a large green oblong circle, either with fabric or a piece of paper and attach it to the shirt. Add in a smaller white circle in middle and draw in kiwi seeds.

25 years

Start with a ripped flannel shirt and old jeans; add fake fur, make-up, or horns. Make huge claws with poster board and attach to the back of gloves.

Ninja Wear black sweats and socks, tucking the pants into the socks. Wrap red fabric around child’s waist and secure with safety pins. For the head cover, begin putting a black t-shirt over child’s head, but stop when face pokes through the front of the neck hole and tie arm sleeves loosely in back.

Ocean

Viking

Attach seaweed and sea creatures (either toys or made with art supplies) to a blue shirt or jacket. Wear sand colored leggings or pants and attach homemade shells, starfish or beach toys.

Drape a soft white material, or fake fur, over your child wearing a leotard and tights. Belt it with rope or a braided cord. Use vinyl strips or rawhide to make wrist cuffs and find plastic toys such as swords, helmets and spears. Braided yarn or a long wig can be added to the helmet, too.

Pirate Shred the cuffs of a pair of old, dark colored pants. Wear pants with a puffy white shirt, tie a belt around the waist. Then tie a bandana on your head and clip a large hoop earring on one ear.

An eye patch can be drawn on with make-up. Add a toy sword or a hook fashioned out of tin foil.

Queen Put on your fanciest dress and top your head with a play crown or create one with poster board, foil and/or paint. An Elizabethan collar can also be made with poster board or you can attach sheer scarves to the crown for an added effect.

Robot Cut a hole in the top of a box that’s large enough for a head to fit through. Next, measure where the armholes should be and cut those out, too. Decorate the box with markers or attach pictures of calculators and clocks.

Scarecrow Wear a flannel shirt and tights underneath torn overalls. Stuff the overalls with newspaper or raffia and tape in place. Use hairspray to spike your hair or wear a straw hat. Toy birds can be attached to the shoulders.

Tourist Put on your tackiest tops in mismatched layers with tan shorts and a straw hat. Additional props include sunglasses, cameras, leis and beach bags. Add a line of zinc oxide on the nose and the costume is complete.

Uncle Sam Take a pair of white pants and use masking tape to create stripes and then spray paint the pants red. When the paint has dried, remove the tape to reveal red and white striped pants.

Top the pants with a white shirt and blue jacket or vest and attach stars. Crepe paper can make a bow tie and a hat can be made with poster board.

Witch What else would “W” be? Put green make-up on your face and use black eyeliner to create warts. Dress in a black dress, stockings and boots. Make a black cone witch hat out of poster board. A toy cat, broom or an old wig can also be used.

Xmas present Cut the top off of a large box; poke two holes in front and back of box. Attach red or green ribbon to create suspenders to hold up the box. Then tape wrapping paper to your box. Wear it over a green leotard and red tights.

Yachtsman You’ll need a sailor hat, or a white cap with a nautical image, either drawn on, or a picture fastened with safety pins for this costume. Add a suit coat, white pants, and a scarf tied around the neck. Carry a compass to complete the look.

Zombie Pick an old outfit and tatter it. Rub it with dirt and put dried leaves in pockets. Use make-up to create a gray face and add fake bloody injuries, too. Make your hair all messy and use gel or hairspray to hold in place.

Mali Anderson loves Halloween costumes and scare-free decorations. She typically spends the holiday carving pumpkins in her ghoul-free home.

See more of her work at MaliAnderson.com.

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Homework Help

15 Ways to Suppor t Your Child

By Janeen Lewis

LET’S BE HONEST – sometimes parents dread homework as much as their kids do. But, homework connects parents to what their children are learning in school, and research shows that children are more likely to be successful in school when their families support them.

By following these tips, even the most homework-challenged parents can help their children have a successful homework year.

1. Understand the reason for homework. Homework reinforces what is being taught in the classroom and teaches students important life skills–responsibility, time management and task completion. Children should be able to complete the work with little help from parents, and they shouldn’t come home with an entirely new concept to learn. Homework should be practice or an extension of what they’ve already learned.

2. Know the teacher’s philosophy. Teachers have different philosophies about how much homework to assign. Some think piling on a ton of homework helps build character. Others think children have done enough work during the day and don’t assign any. Understand where your child’s teacher falls on the homework spectrum so you are not surprised as the homework does (or doesn’t) come home. If you are unsure what a reasonable amount of homework is, The National Education Association and The National Parent Teacher Association recommend 10-20 minutes of homework per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade after that.

3. Learn what the homework rules are. At Open House learn the homework policy of the school and your child’s teacher. What are the consequences for lost or forgotten homework? Don’t be quick to bail your child out every time you get a frantic text message about forgotten homework. One of the purposes of homework is to teach responsibility.

4. Get organized. Your child should have a backpack and homework folder to carry assignments between home and school.

Teachers of primary students usually send homework correspondence each night. If your older child’s teacher doesn’t require students to record school work in an assignment book, provide one yourself and teach your child how to fill it out.

5. Schedule a consistent time. With sports, service projects, church and community activities, it can be hard to schedule one set time every day to do homework. Aim for as much consistency as possible when scheduling homework around after-school activities.

6. Designate a study space. Pick a homework space free from distractions. However, consider your child’s personality and ability to focus when selecting a homework station. Some children concentrate best in complete quiet at the kitchen table or a desk.

Others study well on their bed with background music. And reading areas can be creative, like a reading tent or comfy bean bag.

Make study areas free from video games, television and the games of other siblings who finish homework early.

Homework continued on page 16

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Homework continued from page 15

7. Create a supply caddy. Fill a plastic caddy or bin organizer with items your child might need for homework. Some good supplies are pencils, markers, crayons, glue, tape, stapler, three-hole punch, paper clips, notebook paper, art paper, graph paper, calculator, protractor, compass, ruler and a dictionary/thesaurus combo. Also provide a wipe-off calendar for important due dates.

8. Be available, but don’t do the work. Helping your child with homework is a great way to connect with them, but don’t spoon feed answers. The whole point of homework is for children to practice skills independently.

9. Use a timer if necessary. Sometimes children like to procrastinate. Some children like the challenge of beating the clock. Either way, a timer keeps a child focused on the finish line.

10. Keep a resource bookshelf. Can’t remember what a gerund is? Are you a little rusty on what the terms perpendicular and parallel mean? Keep an assortment of reference books or save online references to your Favorites list on your computer. A good math dictionary for parents of elementary students is Math Dictionary: Homework Help for Families by Judith de Klerk. Another great resource is the Everything You Need to Know About Homework Series Set by Anne Zeman and Kate Kelly.

11. Create a phone chain. How many times has your child left their spelling words at school or forgotten a lesson? Help your child make a list of friends they can call or get to know other parents in your child’s class so you can have a phone chain to get answers about assignments.

12. Model learning as a priority. Let your child see you reading the newspaper or books. Discuss current events, politics or the new art or history museum you want to visit. Find exciting tidbits in their homework lessons and research them. Show by example that learning is fun.

13. Encourage. No matter how tired you are, have a positive attitude about the work your child is doing. Encourage their efforts and let them know you are proud of them.

14. Reward. Homework rewards don’t have to be elaborate, although you may want to up the ante for a struggling child or one who is hard to motivate. A reward can be something as simple as a fun activity when they finish. But you can also keep a homework incentive chart and let your child earn a special activity with mom or dad, some extra screen time or a dinner out.

15. Don’t be afraid to speak up. If you think too much homework is coming home, that your child isn’t familiar with the material or that they are struggling, don’t be too intimidated to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher. Most teachers welcome feedback and want to help your child succeed.

Janeen Lewis is a freelance journalist and teacher with a Master’s Degree in education. Because she loves to see her students get lost in books, reading is her favorite homework to assign.

Gifts From The Heart Of Elk Grove

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9685 Elk Grove Florin Rd. 95624 (916) 714-0914 www.giftsfromtheheartofelkgrove.weebly.com 25 years

Apps that Help with Homework Dictionary.com This app works just like a print dictionary without taking up desk space. myHomework This student planner syncs across devices and allows students to access classes and assignments and sends due date reminders.

My GradeBook Students or parents can keep track of grades with this app.

StudyBlue Provides tools including flashcards, notes and study guides.

Tinycards This flashcard app helps with memorization.

Meta Calculator A graphing, scientific, matrix and statistics calculator app, this will help in those challenging upper level math classes.

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TIME FOR A TUTOR? If your child needs a little extra help, look no further!

We’ve got a few local tutors and learning resources that you can check out right here.

A Brighter Child

916-722-2228 | Fair Oaks A large selection of books and educational supplies for parents, teachers and homeschoolers. Visit the website to browse fall classes for students in grades K-12. www.ABrighterChild.com Mathnasium 916-967-6222 See website for a location near you The Math Learning Center where math makes sense. Kids will love the personalized curriculum and one-onone instruction. Call to find out how convenient and affordable your child’s soaring self-confidence can be! www.Mathnasium.com Solano Learning Solutions 707-474-9104 Greater Sacramento Area If you or your child has difficulty with reading, handwriting, math, or attention deficits, there is finally real help. www.NorCalDyslexiaSolutions.com

Carden School

The Tutoring Center 916-771-4100 | Roseville Intense One-to-One Instruction and “The Rotational Approach to Learning™” provides your child with longterm skills that will last a lifetime. www.Roseville.TutoringCenter.com

of Sacramento

A Distinctive Alternative in Classical Education

If you or your child has difficulty with reading, math, or attention deecits, there is nally real help.

Davis Dyslexia Correction Programs® provide relief from the struggles with reading, math, and ADD or ADHD—See if this program is right for you.

Solano Learning Solutions

Call or email for a free consultation.

(707) 474-9104 | norcaldyslexiasolutions.com solanolearningsolutions@gmail.com

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Is Tutoring Right for Your Child?

By Jennifer Rodgers Do you think that your child is struggling in school? Is homework time a nightmare experience? Or maybe you see below average grades on his or her work? When is the right time to consider getting your child help with a tutor?

These were the exact questions that I contemplated with my first-grader, Aaron. He struggled in kindergarten to learn his letters and sounds. He visited the on-site reading specialist (at his public school) who tried to help him keep up with the rest of the class, and Aaron did; but he still wasn't at the same level as the other kids. His teacher didn't think that he needed to be held back, saying, "Oh, he'll catch up," but by the time he was into his second month of first grade, it was obvious that he was back in the same spot, and he knew it.

His first grade teacher made recommendations on how to help him during his teacher conference, and I tried to follow them. Part of the problem was that he didn't want to work very hard for mom.

He wanted to finish as soon as possible so he could get on with his LEGOs or Minecraft. He would do the minimum for me and I dreaded the arguments that would ensue when I would hold up one last flash card.

Not only were his dad and I worried that he would fall further behind, but his confidence was suffering as well. He would watch the other kids performing so well and feel inferior.

It also didn't help that his fourth grade sister was reading at

a seventh grade level. He couldn't help but think that something was wrong with him. Couple that with the spelling tests that he was bringing home with two out of ten words spelled correctly and my concerns deepened. I decided to call around and find out about tutoring for him.

Here is how most places work: 1) Tutors will want to evaluate your child.

They need to have a baseline in order to know where your child falls in comparison to other kids at his or her age and grade. For my son, our assumption was confirmed, he was reading at a kindergarten level (and just barely at that). The evaluation can take a few hours depending on the establishment and your child.

There are also costs involved. You can expect to pay anywhere from $70-$175 for administering the evaluation and analyzing the results. I was shocked at this initially, but you have to consider the time spent in order to complete it. If they gave everyone a free evaluation, they

probably wouldn't get many sign-ups.

They would just have parents "wanting to know" then leaving it at that.

2) After the evaluation, they call parents or caregivers in for a meeting to discuss the results. My son was performing at least a grade below his level and his class was continuing to move on to harder material. My husband and I knew that it was just a matter of time before he fell too far behind to catch up. His frustration would grow and his confidence would sink further.

3) Based on their recommendations, you can choose a set amount of tutoring hours. Depending on what your child needs, the hours could range from a few to over a hundred (as in Aaron's case).

And here is where the costs can add up. For us, we would be making a small investment into our son's education. My husband and I sat down and looked at the numbers, figuring out how we could make it work. Even though the cost was more than we would like, we also wanted Aaron to excel and feel good about being in school. If this is what it costs, then we decided that we would find a way to make it work.

What next?

Aaron has been attending tutoring for about two months and we can see the positive results already. He is more interested in learning and trying harder in school. Little by little, his confidence is Tutoring continued on page 20

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Tutoring continued from page 19

growing too, as he is able to participate more in his class. I won't say that everything is perfect now. He often resists going to tutoring, feigning a stomach ache or sore throat, or saying, "I think I know everything and don't have to go anymore," but once he sits down with the tutor, he is engaged and works hard.

Having planned conferences with the director of the tutoring company helps us to see his progress, too. Ideally, by the end of his set amount of hours, he will be reading at or above his grade level and eager to learn more (so we hope).

If you are considering tutorin g for your student, here are steps you can take: 1) Ask your child how he or she feels about school and if extra help would be beneficial. Most kids know when they aren't performing well and would feel

better with help, but are afraid to try or ask. See what your child thinks before going ahead with any decisions, stressing that almost everyone needs help with learning at some point.

traditional route might be the best way.

I suggest doing some research before making a decision.

2) Speak with your child's teacher to see what he or she thinks. The teacher might have a solution that doesn't require tutoring, like extra work that your student can do, or help provided by the school.

Aaron saw a reading specialist in kindergarten who was very helpful, but by first grade he wasn't "low enough" for her help, but also not "high enough" to be at level with his class.

3) If tutoring is still needed, ask around and see if anyone has recommendations.

For higher grades, your child might be able to have a college student help him or her with chemistry or trigonometry.

If your student is young like mine, a

In the end, we all want our children to succeed and have the confidence to keep trying until they do. For our family, traditional tutoring for Aaron was the right decision, but you should know that there are also other options out there and, most importantly, that you and your child are not alone in this process. With a little extra help and a boost of confidence, your child could be on his way to enjoying learning for his entire lifetime.

Jennifer Rodgers is a full-time mom and parttime writer who lives in the Sierra foothills with her husband, two children, and too many animals to count. Visit her site and blog at jenniferarodgers.com

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Explore Mutasia with Fi Edited by Shannon Smith | Illustrations by Ryan McCulloch | mutasia.com

“Somewhere far away, in the uncharted realms of the ocean, lies the mysterious and are mixed up mixes of every type of animal imaginable. As you explore the are a lot more like you than you might think!” –Mutasia.com We were excited to hear that a local Vacaville dad, author and illustrator, Ryan McCulloch, had collaborated with author, Suzanne Cotsakos to bring children the island of Mutasia and all its imaginative animals. Their recently released book, Figley’s Search For The Perfect Pet became an Amazon best-seller this spring.

Together, they have been encouraging children to explore the outer limits of their imaginations through stories, music, and art. Dedicated to traveling to schools, libraries, bookstores, and homeschool conventions, Ryan and Suzanne have been busy talking to kids and parents about the creative process, teaching kids to draw, and helping parents and teachers harness and encourage their student’s creativity. Read on to learn more about the creative duo and get a glimpse of what adventures lie ahead for Figley and the rest of the unique and silly characters that can be found on the intriguing island of Mutasia.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES, MUTASIA. S: Mutasia is an island where everyone is a mix of two or more different animals, including our main character, Figley (who’s part possum, cow, and bird), and his friends.

The books are really funny, colorful, and unique!

R: Our main theme is embracing individuality, both in yourself and in others. The characters are unique individuals, just like the kids’ reading our books. Chadwick is a cheetah-elephant-frog, and Billie is a penguin-leopard-narwhal. None of us are exactly the same and that’s something to celebrate. Our goal has always been to be so entertaining, that the kids don’t realize they’re learning!

BRIEFLY SHARE HOW YOU CAME TOGETHER TO DEVELOP THIS WILDLY IMAGINATIVE CONCEPT FOR KIDS. S: Ryan and I met in an acting class back in 2003. I’d been studying acting and filmmaking, and he was creating clay-animated films. They were funny and weird, but had so much heart. We have a similar sense of humor, clearly, and I thought it would be great to collaborate. Soon, my husband and I convinced him to come work for our production company as an Animation Producer.

While working there, my mom (Co-Founder, Chief Executive & Creative Officer, Tami Cotsakos) had the idea of creating a children’s brand. We all put our heads together and… Mutasia was born!

R: We started coming up with these crazy creatures that were all different from one another. We talked about the things we used to feel as kids, like feeling different or left out. We talked about how important our friends were to surviving childhood. Our characters and stories grew out of those conversations, and the possibilities became endless!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK AND ITS MAIN CHARACTER, FIGLEY. R: Our book is called Figley’s Search For The Perfect Pet. When Figley’s friend tells him that she’s bored with her pet pugapillar (pug-caterpillar), he sets out to find her a new, more interesting pet. He brings a menagerie of bizarre animals to her house to see what might be a good fit. But since they’re all mixed-up animals, they come with a hilarious assortment of pros and cons. There’s a nice lesson in there too, but I don’t want to give it away!

S: Figley’s such a sweet character. He’s enthusiastic and naive, which means he’s constantly having to learn lessons the hard way. I think a lot of kids can connect with acting before you think and finding yourself in a tough spot. But Figley has the best intentions, and always ends up doing the right thing in the end. The fun part is watching him get there, and the hilarity that ensues in the process.

WHICH MUTASIAN CRITTER WOULD BE YOUR PERFECT PET? S: That’s a tough choice! I have a soft spot for the nibs (piranha-mouse-spider). They’re cute and really funny, but they would eat and demolish everything in my house. So, I would have to go with 22 OCTOBER 2017 sacramentoparent.com O Celebrating

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igley and Friends island of Mutasia. The inhabitants are called Mutasians island and meet the Mutasians, you’ll discover that they the pugapillar. I’m a dog-person, and whenever I see that sweet little pugapillar, I just want to cuddle it!

R: My son really wants to ride in the pouch of a tunaroo (tuna-kangaroo), but I don’t think I could handle that fishy smell in my house all the time! I’d choose the flickatee (manatee-firefly) because I love manatees and who wouldn’t want a pet that glows in the dark?

IS THERE AN IDEAL AGE GROUP YOU’RE TRYING TO REACH? S: Five to seven-years-old seems to be the sweet spot for the series. But we get great feedback from parents who read the books to their two-year-olds, and we have quite a few kids who are eight and older that love the artwork and humor. For our more advanced readers, we have some awesome chapter books!

IT'S MORE THAN JUST BOOKS, ISN'T IT? YOU HAVE STUFFED ANIMALS, CDS, DVDS, AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES. R: Yes! We currently have eleven different stuffed animals, so kids can cuddle with their very own Figley or Meowzer (lizard-cat). We have an animated special on DVD, and an album, Nature Calls, which is available on CD and digital download. That album is a fan-favorite. I can’t tell you how many times we have had parents thank us for creating a clever, catchy, non-annoying album of kid’s songs that they can enjoy as a family.

S: And, our books come with corresponding lesson plans and activities to incorporate into the classroom or homeschool setting. Our newest lesson walks kids through the creative process and helps them create their own mixedup creature. It’s so much fun!

Those can all be downloaded for free from our website.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE VISITING SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES. S: We’ve been so blessed with the opportunity to get out and visit schools, libraries, bookstores, homeschool conven-

tions and more. There’s nothing more valuable than getting out there and talking with our readers, as well as their parents and teachers. When we do readings, we find out what resonates with them and what they find important. That interaction has helped us make Mutasia stronger.

R: I do a lot of drawing demonstrations with kids. It’s so cool to see them realize they can draw, and all the possibilities that come with that. I’ve met a lot of parents and teachers who want to nurture their children’s creativity, but aren’t sure how. We’re trying to figure out ways we can help!

WHAT'S NEXT FOR MUTASIA? R: Our newest book, Figley’s Little White Lie, will be out this month (October 24th) and is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. To get out of trouble, Figley tells a little white lie, which forces him to tell another lie, and another, and another. Each lie backfires in such horrible and absurd ways. He’s really put through the ringer until he learns his lesson. It’s our funniest book yet!

S: And, we’ve recently partnered with Jung Gun’s Entertainment to develop a Mutasia TV series. The potential there has us really excited!

WHERE CAN FAMILIES ORDER YOUR BOOKS? R: Figley’s Search For The Perfect Pet and Figley’s Little White Lie are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other online retailers, as well as at Barnes & Noble Gateway Court in Fairfield, Barnes & Noble Arden Fair in Sacramento and Bubble Belly in Davis. All of our other products are available at Mutasia.com!

Mutasia continued on page 25

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Mutasia continued from page 23

S: Come and join us at one of our events coming up in November. We hope to see you there!

Save the Date!

Mutasia Storytimes & Book Signings November 4th • 11am Barnes & Noble 1600 Gateway Boulevard Fairfield, CA 94533 November 11th • 11am Barnes & Noble Arden Fair 1725 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 95815

Ryan McCulloch

November 12th • 1pm Bubble Belly Shop 340 G Street Davis, CA 95616

Suzanne Cotsakos

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The Art of Advocating for Your Child with Special Needs

By Judy M. Miller

Parents are natural advocates for their children—we love our children, and we want the best for them. As a mother of four children, three with special needs, I know how important it is to advocate for my children. There is no one who will be more committed to making sure my children have access to the support, treatment, and education they are guaranteed more than me.

My youngest daughter was my second child to be diagnosed with special needs (each of my kids have different special needs). I was at first overwhelmed by my lack of knowledge and intimidated by how to best advocate for what she would need in school, when I did not yet know myself. I chose to dive in.

Great hope impelled me.

ACCEPT YOUR CHILD'S DIAGNOSIS AND BECOME THE EXPERT ABOUT IT. Gather information about your child's special needs diagnosis, recommended remedial techniques, and treatment. Learn all you can about your child's special needs. Break the information into terms that you can understand. This will help others appreciate your child's special needs when you share the information with them.

I needed to fully comprehend my daughter's diagnosis and the recommended care and treatments (therapies). I felt I would be a far more effective advocate for my child if my knowledge about my child's special need bordered on encyclopedic. I fasttracked my education. I purchased books, highlighted passages, and wrote in the margins where I required further clarification, discovered something I desired to learn more about, or wanted to share with others. I went online to reputable websites and printed out articles. And similar to my expanding collection of books about my daughter's special needs, I highlighted passages and made notes in the margins. I created an impressive section of resources in my personal library about each of my kids' special needs.

During each visit, I asked my child's therapists about treatment and outcomes, recommendations of what to read, what I might expect, and clarification of my questions. I did the same with my daughter's teachers and therapists when she attended developmental preschool. I took notes, notebooks full of notes. I was driven by my love for her as well as trying to assure she was physically, emotionally, and psychologically safe.

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BECOME ÜBER-ORGANIZED. I purchased two 3-inch, 3-ring binders and index pages with pockets. One binder contained written records-sections for my child's initial diagnosis and follow-up reports; therapy goals and therapy progress reports; copies of bills; medical paperwork; IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)—the original and future updates; and teacher emails, notes, and cards, etc. The other binder was my personal "education primer." It held 3-holed college lined paper full of my journal entries; questions and the answers to them; definitions of terms-technical and layman; and highlighted recommended resources; and the printed articles about the diagnosis my child had been given. I made sure every paper that went into both binders was dated.

LEARN ABOUT YOUR CHILD'S RIGHTS. Legally, children with special needs are entitled to an "appropriate" education. Your child should have access to "specially designed instruction" (20 U.S.C. §1401) to meet their unique needs. Learn what this means for your child. Become competent about the "rules of the game." Research and understand your state's and the federal education laws and regulations.

Do a search in your library or online to learn about cases similar to your child's to answer your questions. Be informed about the procedures you must follow in your school to protect your child's rights and yours. Print the legal rights, regulations and procedures out. Add these to the binder that has your child's diagnosis information.

BE PREPARED. Build healthy relationships with your child's team-therapists, doctors, and school. This encompasses preparation and planning for meetings with your child's doctors, therapist, and teachers and aides. Be polite, firm, and persistent.

Create a meeting agenda with your objectives: items such as addressing issues or test scores, clarifying treatment or goals, identifying problems, proposing solutions, or to firm up agreements. Focus on solutions. Share this ahead of time with the team members you are meeting with. This allows them to be prepared as well.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Parenting a child with special needs is challenging, sometimes downright exhausting. We moms typically give and give, until there is little to nothing left to give. And then we find we cannot be the parents we wish to be for our kids.

Give yourself permission to put yourself first for a minimum of an hour each day. Have someone you trust watch your child if she or he is at home while you embrace "me" time. Take a walk; sit in silence, garden, or do yoga. Do something that will replenish your mama stores and bring you back to balance.

Judy M. Miller savors time with her kids. She is a Certified Gottman Educator and the author of “What To Expect From Your Adopted Tween,” “Writing to Heal Adoption Grief: Making Connections & Moving Forward,” and “For Families and Friends: Advice, Suggestions, and Honest Dialogue About How to Best Support Parents on Their Adoption Journey.”

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OCTOBER 2017 27

FROM FOSTER CARE TO ADOPTION:

How New Laws Are Helping Kids Find Stable Homes

By Bob Moffitt Of the 64,000 children in the foster care system in California, less than three percent are in the adoption phase. This year, the system is undergoing changes that may help more kids find a stable home life.

the original purpose of why you wanted to adopt in the first place and realize that this fits well. This is why I'm doing this."

A new law is doing away with group homes, which are Benaiah Stoops, 7, and his considered a source of trauma little brother Salem, 5, live in for many children and do not El Dorado County. They hang provide the parent-child relaout with the chickens, watch tionships that child advocates Super Why, and await the say is required for a healthy arrival of their parents' first upbringing. More than 1,000 foster child. When Benaiah is children have been in group asked if he wants a little broth- homes in the state for the last er or sister, he responds with, five years. The homes have "sister." "Because I already have often been used by county a brother," he says. probation departments as landing Benaiah and Salem's parents, spots Janae and Ben, thought they would have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to adopt overseas before they discovered a foster-to-adoption program in their county costs only $145. "All of a sudden, adoption became… a possibility," says Ben. They went to an orientation and began taking classes.

Nine months later, Ben says they think they are prepared for a foster child. "Every child who comes in through the foster system, they've all lost something, whether it's a background, whether it's a history, whether it's more physical or verbal abuse that's been in their life and anticipating that," he says. "It can be something that's overwhelming or you can look back to

for kids in the criminal justice system.

The homes will not be allowed to stay open as is, but will be allowed to become temporary medical treatment facilities.

According to the UC Berkeley California Child Welfare Indicators Project, the number of children who are returned

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to their birth parents each year is about the same as the number adopted by foster families.

Janae says she hopes to adopt.

"I'm more looking at it as I am going to be fostering some kids and I will have the opportunity to possibly adopt one of them," she says. "So, that helps me...keep, I think, a good mindset so I'm not severely disappointed." But, Ben says it's going to be tough. "It's sort of slightly terrifying because I think both of us love pretty deeply, pretty fast," he says. "But, it is part of the pro-

cess.

It's part of the system. And, ultimately, we want what's best for the child."

Jennifer Nordquist works for Lilliput Children’s Services as a case worker. It's a non-profit that encourages its clients to set adoption as a goal. She visits each child once a week.

On a recent day, she visits

with a couple we will call Jay and CeCe. The identities of all parties are protected while a foster care case is open. The couple has been caring for an infant for about a month.

Nordquist has a mental checklist of things she's looking for, depending on the child's age and background.

"With a baby, are they following the parents with their eyes? Are they rolling over?

Are they grasping at things?

Are they gaining weight properly?", she says. Lilliput Children’s Services takes care of the court hearings and passes along status updates to the baby's biological family.

Jay and CeCe say it's difficult to feel like biological parents when they must strictly adhere to court orders and doctors’ orders. "It can get really stressful because...the child is not your own," says CeCe. "You're just a guardian of the child, so there could be things that you would do with your own child, that you're nitpicky about and you're calling your social worker going, “This is what happened. Is this okay?" Also, the baby could be reunited with her parents at any time. "Our philosophy is, we're going to give them care and love them as much as we can, for as long as we can,” CeCe says.

Another foster couple has recently opened adoption proceedings for a five-year-old

girl. “Marie” and “Richard” say they appreciated Lilliput's willingness to find a child who matched their parameters. "They really listened to things that are deal breakers for you or things that you've not experienced. You don't want to take on any kind of special needs or trauma that a kid has if you're not equipped for it and wouldn’t be willing to accept help from other people,” Marie says. “There are all kinds of factors. You don't want to damage the child by saying you'll just take them if you don't have the right tools to handle it."

Their adoption should be complete within six months.

The speed of that process has improved recently. California law now says foster parents' training before they enter the system is equal to the training any prospective adoptive parent would be required to complete. Previously, foster parents were required to take the same training twice. They no longer have to do so.

Patience is a virtue for any parent, especially one in the foster system hoping to adopt. In Yolo County, it took Darin and Stacey Nixon four years to go from the orienta-

tion phase to the adoption of their son Damian. He’s five and delights in anything related to the television show “Paw Patrol.” He also enjoys taking the hands of visitors to his new home and showing them around.

Stacey says Damian's adoption was pretty easy once they got to the process.

"The dad gave up his rights a long time ago and the mom basically stopped doing what she needed to do to get him back," she says. She agrees with other changes in the law that require biological family members to undergo the same training she did to be considered as a foster parent.

"I think families should be vetted because sometimes families stick together even when it's not the best-case scenario for the child,” she says.

The industry consensus remains that a foster child should be reunited with its parents if they can show they are fit to raise the child.

But, if that's not the case, the child should be kept in a single home and adopted out as soon as possible. Last year, about 30,000 children were placed in foster care in California.

Bob reports on all things northern California and Nevada. His coverage of police technology, local athletes, and the environment has won a regional Associated Press and several Edward R. Murrow awards.

Reprinted with permission, originally published at www.CapRadio.org.

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Are you interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent?

Find local resources in this issue and in Sacramento Parent's Foster Care Guide at:

sacramentoparent.com/foster-care-guide We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful foster parents in our community making a dierence.

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Seven Tips for Overcoming Fear of the Dark

By Christa Melnyk Hines

"Mommy, keep the hall light on," my six-year-old reminds me as I tuck his beloved blanket securely around his slender frame and lean over to kiss him good night.

I've plugged in a night light in his room and another in the adjoining bathroom and the orange glow of the street lamp outside bounces off the wall over his bed. He already seems bathed in light, but I flip the hall light on anyway.

Ten minutes later, I'm rewarded with the sweet, even-keeled breathing of a child asleep.

I'm one of the lucky ones. According to Dr. Jane Sosland, a clinical child and adolescent psychologist, nearly 30 percent of children have sleep problems and oftentimes, bedtime battles can last well past midnight.

Fear of the dark is a normal part of development and one of the most common childhood problems plaguing families of school-aged children. Kids who are afraid of the dark take nearly an hour longer than others to fall asleep. Without a good night's sleep, children can suffer behavior and mood issues and have trouble concentrating at school.

How can parents best support a frightened kiddo?

Discuss the fear. Listen carefully to your child, without playing into their fears, to see if you can identify a trigger. Nighttime fear might be caused by a fairy tale before bed or even a stressful event during the school day.

"Maybe somebody was mean to them on the playground," Sosland says. "It could also be there's some separation anxiety that occurs during the day, as well as at night, in terms of being able to sleep by themselves." Other times, the fear won't make much sense at all.

"Just by hearing what kids are saying, helps them feel heard and validated, which can help eliminate irrational fears,"

explains Berkley James, a pediatric sleep consultant and owner of Sweet Slumber Solutions.

Beware of frightening images. As kids wind down after a busy day and the quiet of the night sets in, they may begin to replay scary images in their heads that they saw during the day in books, movies, video games or on the evening news.

Pair those visuals with the strange nighttime creaks of the house and a shadow suddenly appearing to move across the wall, and you've got a wide-eyed kid at midnight.

Limit exposure to violent images and turn off the news when your youngster

is around. According to a 2016 study published in Frontiers in Pediatrics, exposure to repeated images of terrorism in the media can negatively affect a child's emotional health. "These almost live events can cause feelings of being unsafe, hopelessness, and helplessness, which are often externalized by conduct problems," the researchers write.

But, alarming images aren't the only source of terror. "These kids are quite imaginative. They imagine all sorts of things in the dark that aren't there," Sosland says. Young children often can't distinguish between fantasy and reality.

Fear of the Dark continued on page 33

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Fear of the Dark continued from page 31

If they imagine a monster in the closet, in their mind it must be there. "Fears are not necessarily something that can be reasoned or rationalized, so reassuring them tends not work because they just look for more and more reassurance," adds Sosland.

Switch on the light. If your kiddo can only fall asleep if her ceiling light is on, relax. Over time, dim the light. Gradually move toward the soft, warm glow of a lamp, then a closet light, and finally a night light that is yellow or orange in color.

"Salt lamps are a great example of a soothing hue," James says. But avoid "bright or blue lights which stimulate the brain to produce cortisol, a wake-up hormone," she says.

Work on breathing techniques. If your child already struggles with anxiety, teach him coping mechanisms during the day that you can employ at night, too. For example, have a younger child blow bubbles to calm down.

Teach older children deep belly breathing. Have them breathe in for five seconds and slowly breath out as if you have a birthday candle in front of you.

"But you don't want to blow it out. You just want the 'flame' to flicker," Sosland advises.

Offer a transitional object. Comfort your youngster with a stuffed animal or a special blanket to help him sleep. If you've become your child's favorite teddy bear, begin phasing out his reliance on you by getting up just as he's falling asleep. If he starts to protest, promise that you'll check in on him in five minutes.

If he's in the habit of snuggling up with you in your bed and you prefer independent sleeping arrangements, have him transition to a pallet next to your bed.

Eventually, move his bed back down toward his own bedroom.

Set up a sleep-promoting environment. White noise, fans, sound machines and soft background music can push back the deafening silence of the night.

Also make sure your child's bed is comfortable, the temperature in the room is cool and put away any distracting electronic devices.

"Have your child take some control of the environment," James recommends. "Place the night light where they like it, bring their special lovey to bed, or even have a special blanket to 'keep them safe'. By letting them take some ownership in the organization and arrangement of their room, they will feel more comfortable in their sleep space."

Stick with a bedtime routine. Take time to reminisce about happy events from the day. Listen to soothing music and put aside electronics. Read a calming, uplifting book together before bed. And help them come up with a positive image that they can picture as they're drifting off to sleep like playing with their favorite pet.

If your child's night time anxiety continues to worsen, consult your family physician.

Freelance journalist Christa Melnyk Hines is the mom of two boys. She finds that the spooky Halloween season can make night-time's shadows, creaks and groans even creepier. Christa is the author of “Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World.�

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2017 October Guide to Halloween

APPLES & JACKS Pickin’ at “Apple Hill” Farms Open now! Ranches located northeast of Placerville Apple Hill is open all year long but everyone’s favorite season just started! Fall has been the most popular time of year for Apple Hill ranches for over 50+ years!

It’s when the air is filled with the wonderful smell of apple pies and folks are loading boxes of juicy apples into their cars. This time of year, take a stab at finding your perfect jack-o-lantern at some of the area’s finest pumpkin farms, too!

www.AppleHill.com Amador Flower Farm Pumpkin Patch

October 1–31, 22001 Shenandoah School Rd, Plymouth, 9am-4pm A day trip to this beautiful flower farm will have you surrounded in pumpkins and corn mazes. Visit the farm animals and take a free tram ride tour every weekend (weather permitting).

209-245-6660 | www.AmadorFlowerFarm.com Bastiao Farms Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch October 2–31, 3845 El Centro Rd, Sacramento, 10am-7pm Goblin Gardens Pumpkin Patch is a Halloween pumpkin patch that will provide a delightful fright for the entire family! Explore 4 mazes including 2 straw bale mazes, a corn maze and a maze for the train to twist and turn through. Activities for all ages including a hay bale pyramid, a toddler pedal car track and a sunflower pit.

916-925-2496 www.BastiaoFarmsGoblinGardens.com Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm

Now-November 5, 1415 Pumpkin Lane, Wheatland, 9am-6pm There are so many fun things to do at Bishop’s, you’ll definitely need a map! Not just your traditional pumpkin patch, here you can go on train rides, pony rides and hayrides. Cheer for your favorite squealer at the pig races, hide at “Fort Alotafun” or relax by the pond.

There’s so much more, we could fill the page!

530-633-2568 www.BishopsPumpkinFarm.com Bobby Dazzler’s Pumpkin Patch & Milo Maze Open Now through October 31, 23300 County Road 99D, Davis, times vary Enjoy acres of pumpkins, ride a cow train, work up an appetite in the milo maze and then head to the picnic area. This pumpkin patch has so much to offer including a petting zoo, face painting, pony cart rides, horse rides, hay pyramids & more.

www.YourPumpkins.com Branco Farms and the “Biggest Little Pumpkin Patch”

Open October 6-31, at The Fountains, Roseville, times vary Head over to The Fountains in Roseville for the Biggest Little Pumpkin Patch, just minutes from your backyard!

Pick your favorite pumpkin plus so much more! Follow them on Facebook for updates on scheduled events and activities this harvest season!

www.Facebook.com/BrancoPumpkinPatch

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Cool Patch Pumpkin Farm Now-November 1, 6150 Dixon Ave. West, Dixon, 9am-8pm Explore this you pick pumpkin patch featuring edible and non-edible pumpkins, gourds, squash, and more! Enjoy the fun zone, hay rides, pumpkin cannon, tasty food and drinks. A place where friends and family can celebrate fall and kick off the holiday season.

530-746-8725 | www.CoolPatchPumpkins.com Dave’s Pumpkin Patch

Now-October 31, 3010 Burrows Ave, West Sacramento, times vary Join Dave’s Pumpkin Patch this year for a day full of family fun! Check out the “Cornival,” made up of ten different fun filled family activities going on at once. There’s the jumping pillow, pumpkin princess castle, corn boxes, pony rides, hay rides, goats, pig races and so much more!

916-849-9450 | www.VierraFarms.com Fog Willow Farms

October 1-31, 11011 Cecatra Dr, Wilton, times vary At Fog Willow Farms, you and your family/friends can experience all of the fun and excitement of the old farm in the country. Fog Willow is a friendly, safe, exciting "Edu-Tainment" farm where you can celebrate all that is agriculture, all that is family and all that is fun, plus pumpkin after pumpkin!

916-687-4547 | www.FogWillowFarms.com Gibson Ranch Pumpkin Festival

Weekends September 30-October 31, 8556 Gibson Ranch Park Rd, 10am-7pm Featuring a kid zone packed with entertainment; bounce houses, a kiddie train, face painting, and much more. You will love the farmers' market and peddlers' fair we have arranged for your pleasure! Plus, holidays are just around the corner; your loved ones will be thrilled when they get one-of-a-kind gifts made by local artisans!

www.Eventbrite.com/e/gibson-ranch-pumpkin-festival-tickets-37010962786 Roemer Pumpkin Patch

October 1-31, 6851 Hedge Ave, Sacramento, times vary; closed Mondays Head over to Roemer’s Pumpkin Patch and enjoy a tractor hayride. Just climb aboard, sit down on the hay bales, and enjoy the 13 acre ride through pumpkins galore! After you pick your perfect pumpkin stick around for the corn maze plus more harvest fun!

916-381-4331 | www.RoemerPumpkinPatch.com The Flower Farm Pumpkin Patch October 1-31, 9280 Horseshoe Bar Rd, Loomis, 10am to 4pm; closed Tuesdays In Autumn, The Flower Farm comes to life with incredible fall colors and fun family activities. Enjoy a pumpkin patch filled with pumpkin people and a climbing haystack! Enjoy special activities on the weekends like, puppet shows, animal visitors, face painting, crafts and fall inspired food & beer in the café. A pumpkin patch that’s fun for the whole family.

916-652-4200 | www.FlowerFarmInn.com The Pumpkin Farm

October 1-31, 7736 Old Auburn Rd, Citrus Heights, 9am-6pm, closed Mondays The Pumpkin Farm is one of California’s oldest family-run pumpkin farms, celebrating its 43rd year. The farm offers everyone a unique experience located in the heart of

25 years

Sacramento, magically capturing the fun, festivities and traditions of the harvest season. Enjoy a hayride among blooming sunflowers, train rides, slides, corn maze, petting zoo and more!

916-726-1137 | www.PumpkinFarm.net Uncle Ray’s Pumpkin Patch

October 1-31, 5610 Garden Highway, near Sacramento Airport, 10am-6pm No matter how old you are, you're certain to have a great time at this pumpkin patch. Enjoy free tractor rides, hay rides and corn mazes. No admission or parking fees and there are plenty of pumpkins to carve!

916-997-8573 www.UncleRaysPumpkinPatch.com Zittel Farms

September 29 through October 31, 6781 Oak Ave, Folsom, weekdays 9am-5pm, weekends 9am-6pm Zittel Farms offers a quaint and picturesque farm and pumpkin patch in the heart of Folsom. It’s been a Folsom favorite since 1976, with lots of farm-style fun for the whole family. Head out and check out a great selection of pumpkins and fall décor including antiques from across the United States, Amish made decor and fine craft preserves and honey. Free hayrides on the weekends!

916-989-2633 | www.ZittelFarms.com Machado Apple Festival

Saturday, October 21, 100 Apple Lane, Bowman, 9am- 6pm This is Machado’s 7th Annual Apple Festival and aside from the assortment of tasty apples waiting for you to bite into, there will be more activities for the whole family to enjoy. The mood is set with live music, artists in the orchard and food sampling. There will be alpacas and facepainting for the kiddos so head to the foothills for a day of harvest fun!

530-823-1393 | www.Facebook.com/ MachadoAppleBarn

HAUNTED HOUSES, TRAINS & BOATS CemeTarium Haunted House Now through November, 7983 Arcadia Dr, Citrus Heights, times vary Check out this Haunted House, you’ll love it to death!

Presented by Terror in the Night Halloween Productions featuring Psycho Circus and Zombie Heights! Cemetarium Haunted House offers Low Scare Family Friendly Tours and Full Scare Tours.

916-223-9080 www.TerrorInTheNightHalloweenProductions.com DireWorld ScarePark

Varying days & times in October, 800 All American City Blvd, Roseville Survive 8 masterfully menacing attractions, all packed with hordes of terrifying creatures and wicked special FX that will leave you crying for mummy! Enjoy live fire shows and musical acts on the DireStage, exotic vendors, food court, the Zombie Western Ghost Town of Modoc, V.I.P. Lounge Scare Station and more. Scare you there!

www.DireWorld.com Fright Fest at Six Flags

Through October 31, 1001 Fairgrounds Dr, Vallejo-various times Enjoy thrills and activities for the whole family throughout the day and come back for a truly frightening evening of fun after the sun goes down. Fright Fest offers a wide

Haunts & Harvests

It’s back...the annual Harvest Guide has you covered from Apples to Zombies! variety of places to get your scare on including several haunted houses and scare zones located throughout the park. The stuff of nightmares lurk around every corner as the dark of night washes over the park. The ghouls are set free for their daily hunting rituals.

www.SixFlags.com/discoverykingdom/ special-events/fright-fest-night Fright Planet

Weekends October 6-31st at Cal Expo, times vary At Fright Planet Park, you will jump and scream, and laugh at your friends when they do the same! Explore countless haunted houses and attractions. Take a breather and enjoy some delicious and Halloween inspired food, dessert, and drinks. The Park also features numerous photo opportunities to capture the haunted memories that your group will make.

916-678-0266 | www.FrightPlanet.com Ghost Tours at Sacramento History Museum

Tours begin October 13-28 at Sacramento History Museum, times vary Join the “ghosts” of early Sacramento on an eerie journey back in time every Friday & Saturday! Beware of wayward miners, murder victims, and other colorful Gold Rush characters that may cross your path on this mile long guided walk. Not recommended for children under 8 years.

916-808-7059 | www.SacHistoryMuseum.org/ tours/ghost-tours Sacramento Spooky Halloween River Cruise

Three weekends in October, L Street Dock in Sacramento, twice daily The Hornblower will be cruising along the Sacramento River with a fun, family-friendly Halloween River cruise.

Spend one hour cruising along the Sacramento River as the evening creeps in with the chilling sounds of background Halloween-themed music. Take your family to the coloring area where spooky Halloween-themed coloring sheets will be available or stop and have your faces painted! As you disembark, all of the children on board will receive a fun Halloween party favor.

888-467-6256 | www.Hornblower.com Spookomotive Train Rides

Saturdays & Sundays October 14-29 at California State Railroad Museum, 11am-4pm This delightful, not frightful train is just the ticket for the whole family. The diesel-powered train is decorated for the season with cornstalks, scarecrows, skeletons, bats and spiders. Each operating weekend the Spookomotive will have a special theme, and includes exciting on board entertainment and a tasty Halloween treat.

916-445-5995 | www.CSRMF.org Ultimate Terror Scream Park Sacramento

September 29-November 11, 4909 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, times vary As seen on Forbes, CBS, ABC, and Fox News, Ultimate Terror Scream Park unleashes three ridiculous haunted houses for the 2017 Halloween season. This October, they bring to you the signature attraction: The Superstition Killer. It’s time to scream.

530-794-8511 | www.ScreamParkCalifornia.com

MONSTER MASHES & WITCHY BASHES 9th Annual Antelope Crossing Spooktacular Saturday October 14th, 11am at Antelope Crossings in Citrus Heights This family-friendly harvest and Halloween event features live entertainment, carnival games, face painting, holiday shopping at the vendor craft fair, and other fun activities.

www.AntelopeCrossing.net All New Boo at the Zoo

Saturday & Sunday, October 28-29, 11am-5pm (Members Only Hour 10-11am) Enjoy trick-or-treating throughout the entire zoo at 15 different candy stations, face painting for kids, festive games, themed stage shows, magic shows with Trevor the Magician, keeper chats and even animal enrichments. Top off a perfect day with a ride on the spooky zoo train or the creepy carousel for an additional fee.

916-808-5888 | www.SacZoo.org Annual Scarecrow Contest

Thursday October 19, CSD Quad, 1021 Harvest Way, 4:30-6:30pm Have you always wanted to create your very own scarecrow? Here’s a chance to let your imagination run wild!

Gather up your supplies and enter the EDHCSD Annual Scarecrow Contest! There is NO entry fee, and you can use supplies scavenged from the barn or storage shed. Borrow Grandpa’s old straw hat, maybe Grandma’s old apron... even the dog’s bandana... just be sure to ask first!

916-614-3215 | www.ElDoradoHillsCSD.org Carden School Harvest Faire

Saturday October 14, Carden School Sacramento, 11am This fall event will be a family friendly fair with games, raffles, food, silent auction, games, bounce houses, and vendors.

916-488-1313 | www.CardenSac.com Citrus Town Center’s Harvest Festival

Saturday October 28, 7925 Greenback Lane, 1-3pm Celebrate the season at Citrus Town Center! Enjoy a Harvest Festival made for the entire family!

www.CitrusTownCenter.com Day of the Dead Party 2017

Friday, October 13, 1020 O St, Sacramento, 6-10pm Join the California Museum’s annual Día de Los Muertos Fiesta including entree plates, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase. Face painting and hands-on kids’ activities, including a sugar skull workshop session.

Costume contest featuring prizes plus much more!

916-653-7524 | www.CaliforniaMuseum.org Forever Halloween At Monster Mini Golf

October 1 - 31 at 12401 Folsom Blvd, times vary Monster Mini Golf is an 18 hole indoor, monster themed, glow in the dark miniature golf course! The course is scary but cool monster décor with custom and animated props. In addition to mini golf, we have an arcade game area, private event rooms and an unusual gift shop! Visit website for more details.

916-294-0000 | www.MonsterMiniGolf.com/ rancho-cordova/

El Panteon de Sacramento: Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos Sat & Sun October 28 & 29 at 20th St and J St, Sacramento Two days of remembrance and festivities at the region’s largest Dia de los Muertos celebration. El Panteon de Sacramento includes a Saturday evening desfile (parade) of mojigangas (giant street puppets), live music, and traditional dance performances replicating Mexico’s most popular holiday.

916-446-5133 | http://www.LRGP.org/ Fairytale Town’s 31st Safe & Super Halloween in Space

Friday, October 20-22 at Fairytale Town, Sacramento, 5-9pm Take off to a galaxy far, far away for three nights of trickor-treating and family fun in space! Enjoy 15 treat stations, photos with some of your favorite intergalactic characters, Jedi training, a costume parade, magic show, and more.

Advance tickets are $7-$10 per person. Beginning October 20, tickets are $12 per person. Magic show tickets are $1-$2 per person.

916-808-7462 | www.FairytaleTown.org Fall Festival

Sunday, October 15 at Palladio, Folsom, 1-5pm A great afternoon of family fun with hayrides, a petting zoo, a hay town, crafts & games, plus more for the entire family!

916-542-7408 | www.gopalladio.com/events Floating Pumpkin Patch

Sunday, October 22 at Mike Shellito Indoor Pool, Roseville, 1-4pm Hunt for your pumpkin in the pool this year! Once you pick your pumpkin, you can decorate it at our decorating station. The lap pool will be open for recreational swim throughout the event. There are carnival games, bounce houses and story times. Costumes are encouraged and preregistration is required.

916-774-5200 | www.Roseville.ca.us Fremont Presbyterian Church Trunk or Treat

Saturday October 28, 5770 Carlson Dr, Sacramento, 4-6:30pm Fremont Presbyterian Church will have tons of elaborately decorated trunks to “trunk or treat” in. Bring the whole family out for a evening of fun including bounce houses, food trucks, a balloon artist and more!

www.FremontPres.org Halloween Breakfast with Mr. Jelly Belly

Saturday, October 28 at One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, 9:30am Enjoy a delicious breakfast, interactive activities and entertainment. Costumes are encouraged. Includes participation in the Munchkin Masquerade parade. Pre-registration required with limited seating.

800-522-3267 | www.JellyBelly.com Halloween Carnival

Tuesday, October 31 at 10219 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks, 11am-4pm A free family event! Enjoy games, face painting and more!

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fair Oaks and the Fair Oaks Theatre Festival.

www.FairOaksPark.org

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3010 Burrows Ave, West Sacramento, CA 95691

vierrafarms.com

Come and pick your very own pumpkin straight off the vine!

All ages are welcome to this true working family farm.

Pack up the family and head out to Dave's Pumpkin Patch to create memories for years to come.

Look who's coming to Dave's Pumpkin Patch every Sunday from 10am til dark! (weather permitting)

(530) 867-5077

www.DillyDallyTheClown.com

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25 years

MORE MONSTER MASHES & WITCHY BASHES Hope for Hearing Halloween Run Saturday, October 28 at William Land Park, Sacramento, 8-11am Children’s Choice for Hearing and Talking Center-Sacramento and Hope for Healthy Families Counseling Center is hosting a timed 10K, 5K, and 1K Kid fun run. P​ ost-race festivities include goodies, music, costume contest (costumes are optional), trick or treating for children 12 and under, prizes, and vendor giveaways!

916-361-7290 | www.HopeForHearingHalloweenRun.org Pumpkin Nights

October 13-29 at 1273 High St, Auburn, 6:30-10:30pm From the creators of The Color Run comes Pumpkin Nights, 17 days of Halloween enchantment, transporting participants into immersive lands of wonder and nostalgia over a half-mile walking path. Over 3,000 artistically, hand-carved “funkins” and pumpkins with multi-sensory elements, and a festival area with food, vendors and activations make Pumpkin Nights the Most Delightful Halloween Tradition.

www.PumpkinNights.com Punkin Chunkin

Saturday, November 4 at World of Wonders Science Museum, 10 am Don’t toss out those post-Halloween pumpkins or let them waste away on your porch. With the power of simple machine science like levers, wheels & axles, and pulleys, visitors can load them into the various WOW trebuchets and launch them down Sacramento Street! It’s only $1 to launch, and extra pumpkins will be available for purchase. We must be out of our gourds!

209-368-0969 | www.WowScienceMuseum.org Sacramento Children’s Museum Monster Bash

Saturday, October 14 at Sacramento Children’s Museum, Rancho Cordova, 6-8pm Join the museum for a night of ghoulish fun at Sacramento Children's Museum's Monster Bash! Gear up for Halloween and wear your best costume and play the night away. They will have a DJ, dancing, refreshments, and of course - Museum play!

916-638-7225 | www.SacKids.org Safetyville Annual Halloween Haunt

Saturday, October 28 at Safetyville USA, 11am-4pm SSafe Family Fun, Since 1991. Halloween Haunt at Safetyville USA offers a unique setting and safe alternative to Trick-or-Treating for families with young children. The event features carnival games, a costume parade, safety demonstrations and activities, and of course, Trick-or-Treat stations! Admission is $5 per person (ages 3 and older).

916-438-3357 | www.SafetyCenter.org Southgate Recreation and Park District Halloween Carnival

October 31, 7320 Florin Mall Dr, 5:30pm - 8pm Enjoy a Halloween evening and ghoulishly good time with your family and friends. Each year, Southgate Recreation and Park District offers a fun and safe environment for kids to go trick-or-treating. They will offer games, arts and crafts, a haunted house, a photo booth and a candy walk where kids can fill up their pillow cases with some of their favorite candy.

www.SouthGateRecAndPark.net Spooktacular Halloween

Harvest & Halloween Fun for the Whole Family

Open October 1st - 31st 9am-6pm

(Closed Mondays)

Saturday, October 28-29, 1350 17th Ave, Sacramento, 10am-5pm Trick or treating, Hay maze, meet Wonder Woman & Spiderman, costume contests, crafts, and more.

916-456-0131 | www.FunderlandPark.com The Elk Grove Pumpkin Festival

Saturday & Sunday, October 7-8, 9950 Elk Grove Florin Rd, 10am-5pm Adventure awaits you at the 23rd annual Elk Grove Giant Pumpkin Festival hosted by the Cosumnes Community Services District (CSD). CSD event organizers were inspired by nature when choosing this year’s theme, “Giant Pumpkins in the Great Outdoors!” Among the GIANT pumpkins will be log cabins, fishing poles, tents, lumberjacks and more! Plus, pretty much everything pumpkin!

916-405-7150 | www.Yourcsd.com Trick-or-Treat in Old Sacramento

Saturday, October 28 in Old Town Sacramento Little ones are invited to trick-or-treat on the streets of Downtown Mall is Old Town Sacramento. Participating stores will have treats for your littles, come dressed to impress!

916-442-8575 | www.OldSacramento.com Wee Halloween

• Bounce House • Go-Kart Train Rides • Hayrides & Train Rides • Farm Zoo • Tower & Slide • Haunted Barn • Corn Maze • Hay Pyramid • Weekend Snack Bar • Large Pumpkins, Indian Corn & Gourds

Schedule Your School Tours Today!

FREE Parking First 2 Weekends, Last Weekend & All Week Days

$5 Parking

Wednesday, October 25, 216 O St, Sacramento Don’t miss one of Sacramento’s major Halloween happenings for children 3 to 5! Costumed kiddos and their grownups take a delightful stroll through the Museum and encounter enchanting music and dance performances by Sacramento’s most beloved entertainers and artists. At each stop, children receive a small gift for their specially decorated treat bag. The magical tour ends with sweet treats and a silly dance party. This program sells out annually, space is limited, and advance registration is required. Siblings under 18 months are welcome to tag along for free (treat bag not included).

916-808-1182 www.CrockerArtMuseum.org

The Pumpkin Farm

Only on the 3rd & 4th Weekend

Serving the Sacramento Area for 43 Years!

(916) 726-1137 www.PumpkinFarm.net

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sunday

Sometimes plans change, don’t forget to check the event’s website before you go!

You’ ll have a howling good time this month with a calendar full of sweet, spooky and seasonal fun!

Don’t be scared to peek at the BOOtiful round-up of annual Halloween themed events we’ve compiled for you in this issue, too!

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International Festival Davis 2017

Little Friends Open Gym

Full STEAM Ahead

12pm at Central Park

10am at Folsom Sports Complex

3:30pm at Southgate Library

Celebrate world cultures with an international fashion show, parade of flags, arts & crafts, international food, cultural booths, local businesses, activities for children and music and dance groups performing non-stop. www.InternationalFestivalDavis.org

Entertain your preschooler while they burn off some of that boundless energy! Enjoy all kinds of fun, like bounce houses, tricycles, hula-hoops, and other play equipment. www.Folsom.ca.us

With critical thinking and hands-on activities, design, build, experiment, and maybe get a little messy! Children ages 6 to 12 are welcome. www.SacLibrary.org

All Aboard for Storytime

10am at Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary

Leo’s Amazing Race

11 and 11:30am at the California State Railroad Museum

2pm at Sacramento Children’s Museum

Teams of four race against the clock to compete in different challenges including anything from dancing to balloon twisting (all ages). www.SacKids.org

8 Barktoberfest 9am at at Maidu Park in Roseville

A free family festival for canines and their well-behaved human companion that kicks-off with a 2.5/5K Fun Run at Maidu Park in Roseville. Stay for the community festival after the race. www.PlacerSPCA.org/barktoberfest/ Naturefest 2017 10am at Effie Yeaw Nature Center Leo’s Amazing Race, October 1st

A wonderful annual event with activities, live animal presentations, guided nature walks and demonstrations. www.SacNatureCenter.net

15 2pm at John Smith Hall

Dancing for all ages! Featuring the John Skinner Band, plus contests, prizes and free family fun! Seating provided. Refreshments and snacks available for purchase. www.CarmichaelPark.com Going Batty

9 Free Yoga Class with Yoga Moves Us 6pm at Colonial Heights Library

Yoga Moves Us has a mission to build healthier, stronger communities by making the gift of yoga accessible to all members of our community by offering free classes throughout the greater Sacramento area. Bring a mat, a water bottle and a friend! www.SacLibrary.org

16 3:30pm at Franklin Library

Celebrate fall and decorate a pumpkin to take home at this free program for teens hosted by the Franklin Community Library. www.SacLibrary.org

23 2s and 3s on the Go! 10:30am at Cameron Park Library

1:30pm at Effie Yeaw Nature Center

Explore the mysteries of bats and discover why they are so misunderstood. www.SacNatureCenter.net

22 3D Printing at the Library 12pm at Folsom Public Library

The library’s 3D Printing Lab has six 3D printers: four PrintrBot Simples and two PrintrBot Plays and is open every Sunday. www.Folsom.ca.us

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Visit the Museum the first and third Monday of each month and Museum staff will read a railroad-related book.

Afterward little ones can enjoy the Museum with their parents. This month’s book is “Pancake Express” by James Scott. www.CaliforniaRailroad.museum

Pumpkin Decorating

Carmichael Community Dance

Aloha Festival, October 7th

tuesday

monday

25 years

This interactive, hands-on program is perfectly suited for toddlers ages 2 and 3 years-old. Sing songs, discover new books and explore the many ways to build a solid early literacy foundation in your child. www.EngagedPatrons.org

30 Dia de los Muertos 3:30pm at Franklin Library

Decorate a sugar skull in honor of Dia de los Muertos. This free program for teens is hosted by the Franklin Community Library and requires registration. www.SacLibrary.org

Half Price Zoo Day On the first Tuesday of the month (from September through February) entrance to the zoo is half price! www.FolsomZooFriends.org

10 Kids Sew Trick or Treat Bags 4pm at Folsom Jo-Ann Crafts

Learn to piece different fabrics together with a machine to make a sweet treat tote. www.Stores.joann.com/ca/ folsom/2203/

17 Tuesday Tutoring 2:45pm at Folsom Public Library

Volunteer tutors including high school students and retired teachers are ready to help your child complete homework assignments, practice reading skills and review math facts.

Library meeting room, appointments not needed. www.Folsom.ca.us

24 Yoga for Children and Adults 6 and 7pm at Southgate Library

Children ages 8 to 12 will receive transformative life skills through yoga and explore stress reduction, self-awareness, emotional regulation and more. For adults, EmBody Yoga is Hatha inspired Yoga for all body types, designed so you can go at your own pace. www.SacLibrary.org

31 MallStars Mall-O-Ween 3-5pm throughout the Solano Town Center Mall

Boys and ‘ghouls’ 10 years-old and under are invited to show off their favorite costumes for mall-wide trick-or-treating and snap a photo in a free Halloween-themed photo booth (no full facial masks or toy weapons please). www.ShoppingSolanoTownCenter.com

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saturday

friday

thursday

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Learn to Knit for Kids

NorCal Bats

Art Studio for Teens

4pm at Folsom Jo-Ann Crafts

4pm at North Highlands-Antelope Library

4pm at Arcade Library

7th Annual Sacramento Aloha Festival

No experience needed, this class is where your kids (ages 8 and older) will learn to fall in love with yarn. Free supplies (while they last). www.Stores.Joann.com/ca/ folsom/2203/

A fascinating program, which will dispel fears and myths about bats.

Observe live bats and learn about their environmental benefits. Free for the whole family! www.SacLibrary.org

Make duct tape crafts and Frankentoys. All materials provided! www.SacLibrary.org

Music with Anne

Toy Time

11:30am at Arden-Dimick Library

Join local favorite, Anne Howard! (For kids 5 and under and their grownups.) www.SacLibrary.org

11 Masters of Disguise 4pm at Arden-Dimick Library

Come hear the story “Hoot Owl, Master of Disguise” by Sean Taylor and then make a mask to disguise yourself.

Materials provided. Open to kids and their families. www.SacLibrary.org

18 Art Lab 4pm at Arden-Dimick Library

Rock Friends and Monsters, come paint rocks at the library! Bring your own rocks if you’d like. Additional materials will be provided. Open to kids and families. www.SacLibrary.org Early Literacy Storytime 10:30am at Cameron Park Library

Build your child’s pre-reading skills with this engaging and interactive program designed to support early literacy development for a lifelong love of reading and learning. Suitable for children ages 3 to 5. www.EngagedPatrons.org

25 Exciting Evenings 6pm at Southgate Library

Kids ages 4 to 18 are invited to join an evening of process-based arts, engaging games, amazing stories, and library adventures with special guests, Art Beast! www.SacLibrary.org Halloween Crafts 3:30pm at Elk Grove Library

Make cool Halloween crafts at the library! All ages welcome. www.SacLibrary.org

10am at Folsom Public Library

Enjoy a morning at the library playing with your child! The library will provide puzzles, building blocks and a fun selection of early learning toys in the Storytime area. www.Folsom.ca.us

12 El Dorado Hills Carnival (10/12-13) 4pm at El Dorado Hills Town Center

This Carnival will include thrilling rides and fun for the whole family! http://EDHTownCenter.com Gather: Oak Park 5pm at Historic Oak Park

A unique food event includes communal tables for outdoor dining, a craft beer area, artisanal food vendors, designers, food demos, interactive art, live music and a modular kids park. www.GatherNights.com

19 Fun with Letters 10:15am at Carmichael Library

A fun, hands-on early literacy workshop featuring the alphabet for kids ages 5 and under! Bring your child for stories, songs, and play, and explore five activities you can do at home to help your child get ready to read. www.SacLibrary.org Candy Catapults 4pm at Arden-Dimick Library

Calling all tweens (ages 8 to 12)! Build a catapult and launch (or eat) candy!

Materials will be provided for this STEM program. www.SacLibrary.org

26 Harry Potter Halloween 5pm at El Dorado Hills Library

Gryffindors, Slytherins, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and muggles alike are invited to our Hogwarts themed halloween party! Participants must register by 5:30pm to join the costume contest. Awards will be given for Scariest, Funniest, Best DIY, Best Duo/ Group, and Best Character from Harry Potter. www.ElDoradoLibrary.org

Baby & Me 10am at Mercy Hospital Folsom

Bring your new baby for support, friendships and baby enrichment and playtime. Dignity Health Women’s Services New Moms Support group can help new mothers learn about themselves, their new roles and coping with the changes and challenges new mothers experience. www.DignityHealth.org Sacramento Greek Festival 11am at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church

The village-style atmosphere of the festival perfectly represents the historical and epic Greek passion for life, food, drink and dance. www.SacramentoGreekFestival.com

13 Halloween Art Workshop 3:30pm at Jamie’s Painting & Design

A one-day Halloween Art Workshop where the students will make two projects and be given a snack and drink. The projects will be based on “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” www.JamiesPnd.com

20 Paper Crafting 2pm at Valley Hi North Laguna Library

9:30am at Cal Expo

The Ka`onohi Foundation presents the Sacramento Aloha Festival including cultural resources, workshops, food, crafts, shopping and education!

Free with $10 parking fee. www.SacAlohaFest.org 9th Annual Cruise Fest 3pm at Fulton Avenue

This years’ Cruise Fest promises to be the best one yet, with 500 classic and custom cars of every make, model and era, cruisin’ down the Avenue. www.CalAutoMuseum.org

14 Rocklin Mini Maker Faire 2017 10am at Sierra College

From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these “makers” to show hobbies, experiments, projects. A family-friendly showcase of invention, creativity, and resourcefulness. www.Rocklin.Makerfaire.com

21 Sacramento Women’s Expo 10am at Sacramento Convention Center

Designed specifically for women, enjoy shopping, fashion shows, a beauty bar, lifestyle and business workshops, prize drawings, health and wellness, cooking demonstrations, live entertainment, activities, crafts, and more! www.SacWomensExpo.com

Turn old books into works of art. All materials will be supplied. Teens and adults are welcome. www.SacLibrary.org

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Decorate Sugar Skulls (Calaveras) and learn more about Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), a celebration that honors loved ones who have passed on. www.SacLibrary.org

Haunted Library 8pm at Arden-Dimick Library

Bring the whole family out to the Haunted Library. They will lead small groups through your choice of a scary tour for the brave-hearted and a more light-hearted tour for everyone else.

Costumes encouraged. www.SacLibrary.org Messy Halloween Crafts 3:30pm at McKinley Library

Create some spooky, gooey, and downright messy Halloween-inspired arts and crafts. Make pumpkin playdough, monster putty, marble painted spider webs, spooky pictures using paints, and more! www.SacLibrary.org

Dia de los Muertos Arts & Craft 3pm at North Sacramento-Hagginwood Library

Hope For Hearing Halloween Run 8am at 3800 Land Park Dr, Sacramento

A morning of fun, fitness and family, supporting children with hearing loss and families in need of mental health services. ​Post-race festivities include music, a costume contest, trick-ortreating (children 12 and under), prizes, goodies, and giveaways! www.HopeForHearingHalloweenRun.com

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calendar/shows

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

October 15-November 16 at Sutter Street Theatre In this delightful adaptation of her popular book, Judith Viorst sets Alexander’s rather trying life to music and brings to the stage one of America’s feistiest characters. Alexander’s struggles with life’s daily dramas will not only entertain but educate young audiences as they identify with Alexander and the obstacles he encounters, encouraging them to share their feelings and to realize that bad days happen—even in Australia. www.SutterStreetTheatre.com

Beauty and the Beast

October 28-November 5 at El Dorado Musical Theatre Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the stage version includes all of the wonderful songs written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice. This production by El Dorado Musical Theatre features colorful costumes and sets, stunning choreography, and exceptional performances. www.EDMT.info

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

October 20-November 19 at Chatauqua Playhouse Experience the creation of literature’s most memorable monster. Local playwright Jerry Montoya brings his unique take on the age old story to the Chautauqua stage. www.CPlayhouse.org

Blithe Spirit

October 13-November 5 at Woodland Opera House After a kooky clairvoyant’s “spirited” séance goes decidedly wrong, a cantankerous novelist suddenly finds himself haunted by the ghost of his winsome first wife, much to the chagrin of his jealous second. One of the most beloved stage comedies of all time, Blithe Spirit is the supernatural choice for hi-jinks and hilarity at Halloween time. Recommended for audiences ages 10 and up. www.WoodlandOperaHouse.org

The Diary of Anne Frank

Dirty Dancing

October 5-7 at Harris Center for the Arts Dirty Dancing is an unprecedented live experience, exploding with heart-pounding music, passionate romance and sensationally sexy dancing. Seen by millions across the globe, this worldwide smash hit tells the classic story of Baby and Johnny, two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives. Featuring the hit songs “Hungry Eyes,” “Hey Baby,” “Do You Love Me?” and the heart-stopping “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life.” www.HarrisCenter.net

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Through October 22 at Sacramento Theatre Company Based on the real-life story told in one of the most famous books of all time, this play dramatizes the 1942-1944 writings of a Jewish schoolgirl, chronicling her fate and that of seven other friends and family members who are in hiding from the Nazis. Commemorating the 75th anniversary of Anne Frank beginning her unforgettable diary, this drama reminds us that forgiveness and faith in the good of people is what keeps the world in balance, even when all seems lost. www.SacTheatre.org

calendar/exhibits

It’s always a good idea to check the website before you head out!

Arte y Almas: Dia de Los Muertos 2017 October 13-December 30 at California Museum

A journey through life, love and death, this exhibit features contemporary installations by artists’ collectives Sonrisa de la Muerte and Lapiztola from Mexico and California artists Luis Campos-Garcia and Oscar Magallanes. www.CaliforniaMuseum.org Bold Expressions Exhibit October 3-29 at Sacramento Fine Arts Center

“Bold Expressions 2017” is the 62nd open show that features international art pieces. It is open to the public, as well as all fine artists who wish to submit their art. Event will be juried by David Lobenberg.

Northern California Arts, Inc. sponsors this show every year at The Sacramento Fine Arts Center. www.SacFineArts.org

Journey of Hope 2017: Real Life Stories of Living with Mental Health Issues Portrayed through Art October 7-October 21 at Elk Grove Fine Arts Center

The Elk Grove Fine Arts Center is excited to be partnering with the Sacramento County Division of Behavioral Health Services and The Stop Stigma Speakers Bureau to bring this event to the public.

The purpose is to share real life stories of hope and recovery to give others insight, inspiration, understanding, strength, connection and to raise awareness. www.ElkGroveFineArtsCenter.org Recent Acquisitions from the Northwest Coast October 3-December 8 at C.N. Gorman Museum

A selection of recently acquired works from the Pacific Northwest Coast. Works in the collection

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reflect several different mediums and most have been created since 1990. The collection is accessed for university teaching and research, and is regularly exhibited at the C.N. Gorman Museum and through loans to the UCD Chancellor’s Residence and other institutions. www.GormanMuseum.ucdavis.edu Richard Diebenkorn Beginnings 1942-1955 October 8-January 7 at Crocker Art Museum

A look at the artist’s early work and evolution to maturity through 100 paintings and drawings that precede his shift to figuration. Many of these pieces will be unfamiliar to the public, yet they offer a fuller picture of Diebenkorn’s precocious achievements and set the stage for what was yet to come. www.CrockerArt.org

Looking .. . d a e h A

Looking Ahead November Season of Giving

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Spooky Candle Votives

By Lady DIY Just in time for Halloween, these Spooky Candle Votives are fun for kids of all ages! The simple shapes of the facial features, as well as the squares of tissue paper, are a great opportunity for young hands to practice their scissor skills. Make one, two, or all three, of these spooky buddies!

Supplies Needed: Mason jars Flameless candles White school glue Paintbrush Scissors Tissue paper, cut into 1” squares

• Frankenstein – light green

• Ghost – white

• Pumpkin – orange Construction paper

• Frankenstein – black and white

• Ghost – black

• Pumpkin – black

Instructions: Step 1: Cut out construction paper facial features to your liking.

Step 2: Mix white school glue with water, in an approximately 2-1 ratio (about twice as much glue as water). Paint a bit of the glue/water mixture on the INSIDE of the Mason jar. Attach the facial features.

Step 3: Once the facial features are in the desired location, it’s time to add the tissue paper. Working in one area at a time, paint a bit of the glue/water mixture on the INSIDE of the jar, and then add the tissue paper, overlapping pieces. You can add as many layers of tissue paper and glue/water mixture as you’d like, but keep in mind that each layer lessens how much the candlelight will show through. The glue/water mixture will dry clear.

(HELPFUL TIP: I find it’s easier to work from the bottom of the jar to the top. It keeps the fingers slightly less sticky! I also like to use a chopstick or pencil to help smooth the pieces of tissue paper in the bottom of the jar, where it’s harder for hands to reach.)

Step 4: Once the glue/water mixture has completely dried, add a flameless candle and enjoy your Spooky Candle Votives!

Lady DIY lives in Rocklin and stays home with her three boys. When she’s not too busy with DIY projects around the house, she enjoys gardening, fitness and living the glamorous life of a baseball/soccer/football mom.

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