On Wednesday, First 5 commissions from both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties held a splash day event at the Riverside City and County YMCA, offering free swim lessons and water safety resources. The event was a big success according to First 5 representatives. Here are the details from First 5's Bonnie Woodrome:

Dozens of children and their caregivers or parents attended Summer's Last Splash, a special event stressing the importance of practicing drowning prevention strategies and water safety techniques year-round.

Visit www.first5safety.org for tips and information or call 2-1-1 for swim or CPR classes.

Learn the ins and outs of creating a sustainable garden at a one-day workshop offered at the Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center Saturday, Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The free workshop titled "ABC's of Sustainable Landscaping" will be led by University of California Cooperative Extension horticulturist Janet Hartin.

Participants will learn how to conserve water through proper plant selection and irrigation, make and use compost, select and apply mulch, keep surface and groundwater clean, grow a healthy pesticide-free garden and landscape plants, and conserve energy around and inside the home.

RSVP with Hartin at 951-313-2023 or jshartin@ucdavis.edu.

The Environmental Learning Center is located at 7863 Central Ave. in Highland.

First 5 will host the event Summer's Last Splash Wednesday, Sept. 1 from 3-5 p.m., as a farewell to summer and a reminder for those with young children to practice drowning prevention strategies and water safety techniques year-round. Water safety activities will take place at the YMCA of Riverside City and County, located at 4020 Jefferson Street in Riverside.

This event is presented by First 5 Commissions in both counties in partnership with the YMCA, 2-1-1, Riverside County Injury Prevention Services, Safe Kids Inland Empire and the San Bernardino County Drowning Prevention Network.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among California children under age 5. Continued deaths and injuries in Riverside and San Bernardino counties demonstrate the need for ongoing community awareness. First 5 and partners aim to increase knowledge and connect families to resources, especially before Labor Day weekend, a time of gathering around bodies of water.

Riverside County and San Bernardino parents of infants, toddlers or preschoolers, and caregivers are invited to participate. Admission is free. There will be free parent/child swim lessons at 3 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., kids activities, special guest-Stewie the Duck, water safety demonstrations, information about CPR and more on how to be water safe all year!

for more information call First 5 Riverside at 800-266-3880 or visit www.first5safety.com.

Got a little song bird? The University of Redlands still has openings in its fall Musikgarten classes for toddlers and young children. The early childhood music and movement classes are offered through the School of Music's Community School of Music and the Arts. The classes began Aug. 23 and will last through Dec. 6 (No classes Nov. 22-26).

"Family Music Toddlers: Sing with Me" is for children ages 16 months to 3 and 1/2 years. Toddlers will sing, chant, move, dance, listen and play simple instruments, learning through sound explorations and movement. Classes are Thursdays from 11-11:45 a.m. or Fridays from1-1:45 p.m. Tuition costs $225 (materials included in tuition).

"Cycle of Season: Wind Dancers" is for children ages 3 to 5. The curriculum celebrates the four seasons using activities that build on the child's growing independence and competencies. Classes are Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. or Fridays from 2 to 2:45 p.m. Tuition costs $265 (materials included in tuition).

For more information visit www.redlands.edu/Musikgarten.asp.

Written by guest author Dianne Bright:

The school year is back into full swing. And let's face it, it's just flat out hard to adjust. What this looks like for most families is cranky kids with breakfast on the go while racing out the door with strong coffee in hand.

Dianne Bright

Guest Author

It also means piles of papers: pink ones for the office, yellow copies for the teachers, and white ones for you. Be careful not to trip on the pile of backpacks filling the entryway. And can you believe they already have so much homework? So, in this moment of honesty, how's it going for your family?

We're actually doing relatively well. But, my brain is still on summer break. No matter how much coffee I drink, it stubbornly refuses to switch back over to the chaotic school routine. The grumpy zone is not a fun place to reside, but that's where we live these days.

Moonridge Animal Park in Big Bear is offering a flavorful adventure in its Ice Cream Wildlife Safari on Saturday, Sept. 4 beginning at 11 a.m. and lasting until the last scoop is gone.

Buy one or more tickets for $5 each and get 5 scoops of ice cream. There will be five Ice Cream Stations, each with a different flavor, located throughout the animal park.

This year the Ice Cream Safari is sponsored by Rite Aid, North Pole Fudge & Ice Cream Company, and an anonymous donor. The Friend of the Moonridge Zoo is hosting this event. Standard park admission applies: $9 ages 11-59; $6 ages 3-10 and seniors; free for children under age 3.

Teens with Juvenile Arthritis spent a week horseback riding, canoeing and working through a rope courses by day and practicing leadership skills by night at the Arthritis Foundation's Camp Esperanza, in Big Bear last week.

This year the camp dedicated to youth with arthritis celebrated its 25th anniversary. About 30 participants ages 15 to 17 were at the site - YMCA Camp Whittle - from Aug. 22 to 27.

Another week of camp for children of all ages took place at another site during the week prior.

"We accommodate every activity," said Camp Director Jennifer Ziegler. "For example, for horseback riding, they get on the horse from a platform. At high ropes, they'll keep the tension of the line tighter so they feel more secure.

"We want them to experience a normal camp. We have a pediatric rheumatologist up here that takes care of all medications, plus the regular first aid."

In addition to the specialist, about 75 percent of the staff and volunteers either have arthritis or are friends or boyfriend/girlfriend of someone who does.

In fact, Ziegler, who was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was nine months old, was herself a camper from age 9 to 15. She returned to volunteer as a college student in 2003 and became director in the summer of 2006.

Some of the symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis are inflammation, pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints. Damage to the joints from long-lasting inflammation and altered bone growth due to joint inflammation can also take place.

Ziegler recently had bilateral hip replacement surgery. She scheduled the procedure so that she would be recovered before the 2010 camp season began.

"This is a great opportunity for teen campers," she said. "It's unique, a different experience for them."

I visited the 91.9 KVCR News studio Friday to talk back to school with News Director Gina Diamante. Listen in for school test results, health warning and back-to-school tips!

Audio: Inland students perform well in recent testing

Audio: Back to School tips

The Western Science Center in Hemet hosts kids science activities on the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. . They are free and open to the public. Children under age 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Here's the fall schedule:

Sept. 4: Space and Astronomy
Explore space with hands-on activities that bring our universe to life.

Oct. 2: Mammoth Fest
Visit for a festival of mammoth proportions full of not only Science Saturday activities, but also carnival games, crafts and live entertainment.

Nov. 6: Electro-magnetism
A shockingly fun day of experiments that explain energy and magnetism.

Dec. 4: Biology
From micro-organisms to mammals and even human beings, discover what makes them unique.

The center is located at 2345 Searl Parkway in Hemet. For more information call 951-791-0033 or visit www.westerncentermuseum.org.

Big Bear resident Jordan Romero made history when at age 13 he reached the peak of Mt. Everest last May. Now his story will be told in a new book, "The Boy Who Conquered Everest."

When Jordan was 9 years old he set a goal to climb the tallest mountain on each of the continents, collectively known as the Seven Summits. Now age 14, he has scaled six of them, with the most recent being Mt. Everest.

Written by Big Bear author Karen Blanc, "The Boy Who Conquered Everest" takes the reader on a visual journey through Jordan's quest. There are pictures of everything from Team Jordan training and base camps to finally standing on the summit of Mt. Everest. There are also inspirational messages and tips on goal-setting from the young adventurer.

Blanc has followed Jordan since the beginning and decided she wanted to write about him.

To complete the Seven Summits challenge, Team Jordan plans to conquer Antarctica's Mt. Vinson Massif this winter. For more information visit www.jordanromero.com.

Author Katherine Blanc lives in Big Bear Lake with her husband Noel, son of Looney Tunes voice-actor Mel Blanc. Her previous books include "The Bad Puppy's Guide to Life," "The Bad Kitty's Guide to Life," "Today," "Big Bear Historical Museum Coloring Book," "Gold Mountain Girl," "No Baths For Betsy," "Cliff the Climber" and "Just One Vote."

The book is published by Balboa Press, a division of Hay House.

International Literacy Day is Sept. 8 and to celebrate the Highland Litaracy Coalition is hosting author Mary Skilling Prigger at the Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center in Highland.

Prigger, a professor at Cal State San Bernardino and children's book author, has written "Aunt Minnie McGranahan" and "Aunt Minnie and the Twister."

Adults and children are invited to meet the author at the library at 6:30 p.m. in the community room. The event is free and open to the public.

The Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Learning Center is located at 7863 Central Ave. in Highland.

Here's a school thinking outside the box. Love it! In response to budget cuts, Kimbark Elementary School in Devore will host a Fish 'N' Kids Catfish Derby on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino.

The community fundraiser for the science and environmental focused school is open to families all over the Inland region who are interested in a day of fishing fun. No experience is necessary - it's open to anglers at every level.

Families will spend the day fishing and learning about the local ecosystem and the life cycles of fish. There will be prizes for fishers of all ages, including those who catch the biggest, smallest and even the ugliest fish.

There will also be a special tribute by San Bernardino's Public Safety Academy commemorating the fallen Americans and marking the 9/11 anniversary.

Cost: $10, kids under 16 with a pole or $20 without a pole (you get to keep); $15 kids over 16 with a pole or $25 without; $5 spectators. For more information and to register for the derby visit http://kimbarkfishing.org.

Written by guest author Debbie Yocum:

School started today for my children and although I was excited for them, it was also a bittersweet morning because the first day of school is a marker for the passage of time.

Debbie Yocum

Guest Author

It seems that just yesterday my stepson was running through Target, looking for his school supplies and now he is going into his second year of college. When he was a senior in high school he asked his sister (my 17-year-old stepdaughter) who was a sophomore to breakfast on their first day of school. This morning my stepdaughter drove my 15-year-old son to breakfast keeping the tradition alive. In a couple of years my 15-year-old son will be a senior and he will be asking his little brother to go to the same breakfast spot when he enters his last year of high school and the tradition will continue until my youngest enters high school.

I have seen so many moments that have turned into cherished memories over the years that my kids have been in school and I know that there will be many yet to come. I enjoy watching my children's friends mature into young adults and I know that soon they too will be moving forward in their lives. I also know that when the kids move on that it does not mean that the door is closed. In a way, I can see the relationship changes to something even better because I think that the parent/child relationship evolves into a more mature relationship. The kids are taking on more responsibility and they appreciate their parents more than they did when they were teenagers.

Riverside Youth Theatre is auditioning for "13 The Musical," a story of growing up. It's about 13-year-old Evan Goldman who is forced to move from New York to a small town in Indiana when his parents divorce. It's a tough transition with a school full of bullies, some nasty rumors and even blackmail. The high-energy musical is for all ages and teaches its audiences that "cool" is sometimes found where you least expect it.

Here are the dates:
Auditions: 3-6 p.m. Sept. 1
Callbacks: 4-6 p.m. Sept. 2
Registration: 4 p.m. Sept. 7
Rehearsals: 4-6 p.m. Mon & Wed beginning Sept. 8
Dress Rehearsals: 6-10 p.m. Nov. 8-10
Performances: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12, 13, 19, 20; 3 p.m. Nov. 14, 21

No appointment is necessary for the auditions, which will be at the Fellowship Baptist Church back building at 3624 Arlington Ave. in Riverside. Be prepared to sing one minute of Broadway music for the audition. Bring your own Karaoke background track. Dance and acting skills will be evaluated at the callbacks.

Casting will include 30-40 students between 7th grade and 20 years of age. Here are the part descriptions:

These seem like good, common-sense tips from the Emergency Nurses Association on school year safety. Here are the suggestions:

Getting to and from school. A child who lives within walking distance of school should always walk in a group, never by themselves. Children should know not to accept rides from people they don't know, even if the person says the parent asked them to pick the child up. Exchange a phone call or a text message if transportation plans change. Parents should wait with their kids for the bus in the morning, especially if the children are elementary school age. Make sure they understand the bus-riding process.

"They should know what to do when they get off the bus in the afternoons," says Deena Brecher, Emergency Department Clinical Nurse Specialist at Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware. "Are they expected to stay there and wait for you? Do they walk home by themselves?" Look both ways before crossing the street and be cautious when crossing in front of a school bus or other vehicle where the driver may not be able to see you.

What you can do at school. Parents should fill out a new emergency information card every year.

"Make sure there are real, working phone numbers on those cards," Brecher says, "and make sure the secondary contact you list is someone who is reliable and knows how to get ahold of you."

Performance Riverside has signed season 9 "American Idol" contestant Derek Klena and season 3 "America's Got Talent" contestant Stephanie Burkett Gerson for its season opener, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," September 17-26 at Landis Performing Arts Center.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's lively interpretation of the biblical story of Joseph of Canaan is suitable for all ages. The original 70's rock opera, Joseph has been given a 21st century makeover....watch out for woolly sheep, singing camels, Frenchmen in berets and a fantastic Elvis impersonator.

The production is directed and choreographed by John Vaughan, with music direction by David Lamoureaux.

Derek Klena is making his Performance Riverside debut in the role of Joseph of Canaan. Last year Klena was one of the twenty five contestants sent to Hollywood Week on FOX's "American Idol." This summer, he played the Prince in Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella" alongside Sally Struthers and Marcia Wallace. He's performed on NBC-TV's "America's Most Talented Kids," and he was one of Orange County Performing Arts Center "Tomorrow's Stars of 2008".

Stephanie Burkett Gerson is well suited for the vocally demanding role of the Narrator in Joseph. She traveled the globe for two years as a lead female vocalist for Holland America Cruise Line and has been a featured vocalist for Disney World Tours, in the Disney 50th Birthday Celebration, the Disney Spirit Awards, and the Disney Christmas Spectacular at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. She sang on Ed McMahon's "Next Big Star," Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power," and appeared in MTV's "Legally Blonde. In 2008, she sang on NBC's "America's Got Talent" with her husband Zane (Lt. Joseph Cable in Performance Riverside's Twenty-Fifth Anniversary production of "South Pacific)."

Performances of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" are Sept. 17, 18, 24, and 25 at 8 p.m., and September 18, 19, 25, and 26 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $27-$48, with group ticket pricing for 10 or more. Specially priced Discovery Theatre Previews for School Groups are available on Sept. 17 and 24 at 10 a.m.

Landis Performing Arts Center is at 4800 Magnolia Ave. in Riverside. For more information call 951-222-8100 or visit www.PerformanceRiverside.org.

Here's the scoop on the Lake Elsinore Storm promotions going on this weekend:

Saturday, Aug. 21 - 7:05 p.m.
-Star Wars Night presented by Coca Cola
Go dressed as your favorite character and receive one free box or reserved ticket. A special showing of Storm Wars Episode III will be shown throughout the game with a complete, uninterrupted viewing post-game. Special appearances by the 501st Legion and the San Diego Star Wars Society. For more information contact the front office at 951-245-4487. May the force be with you.

Also Saturday - 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
-7th ANNUAL STORM BLOOD DRIVE provided by Valley Blood Services
The annual Storm Tailgate Blood and Marrow Drive will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Diamond Club Restaurant. A free Storm t-shirt will be given to all donors. Free bounce houses and food will be provided for participants and their families. For more information call 951-245-4487 or visit valleybloodservices.org.

Sunday, Aug. 22 - 5:05 p.m.
-Sunday Funday, sponsored by Rady Children's Hospital
Kids run the show by becoming an announcer, a grounds crew member, a bat boy/girl and much more... Plus free fun zone until the National Anthem and post-game kids run the bases.

Also Sunday
-US Bank Kids Club
Free stadium tour for kids club members. Please RSVP with Caila at cgorniewicz@stormbaseball.com or call 951-245-4487.

Also Sunday
-Dog Day
Bring your dog Sunday and join big green dog Thunder at the Diamond. For $10 get a reserved ticket for one plus K9 friend. The day will include daschund races on the field and micro chipping by Animal Friends of the Valleys. All dogs must be on a leash and each person can only bring one dog.

OC ICON has its 30 finalists for its third annual Solo Vocal Competition, which will take place Saturday, Sept. 11 at The Irvine Barclay Theatre. About 75 semi-finalists between the ages of 7 and 18 competed Saturday at the Orange County High School of the Arts. Those contestants were selected out of hundreds who auditioned in the months prior.

The 30 finalists will perform in front of a panel of celebrity judges and an audience - each of which will vote to determine winners in each age category.

The winner from each age group will be awarded a trophy and a prize package consisting of a professional headshot package, a vocal coaching session, two songs professionally recorded and one original song written and produced with or for the artist.

Finalists
7-10 year old age category
Madisen Fragosa of Riverside
Christine Panlasigui of Buena Park
Renzo De la Pena of Whittier
Cassandra Pyle of Anaheim
Joshua Dominick of Azusa
Athena Navarro of Irvine
Michael Bautista of Monrovia
Robynne French of Temecula
Wesley Ruby of Fullerton
Denisse Alvarado of Norwalk

11-14 year old category
Kyler McKessy of Torrance
Samantha Mauriss of Brea
Cole Fletcher of Huntington Beach
Kayla Anderson of Nipomo
Robbie Crebar of Laguna Niguel
Adanna Duru of Walnut/diamond bar
Kendall Reusing of Corona
Devin Griffin of Norco
Heather Leach of Garden Grove
Alissa Mimm of Mission Viejo

15-18 year old category
Dani Poppitt of Lake Forest
Paolo Kespradit of San Dimas
David Ruby of Fullerton
Janelle Madsen of Corona
Kindal Tate of Granada Hills
Katerina Villegas of Chino
Gabrielle Jackson of Laguna Hills
Danzell Patterson of Chino
Eileen Mirabal of Cypress
Melanie Cuevas of La Mirada

For more information visit http://OCicon.com, http://wbzb.net or call 951-371-5239

The Lake Elsinore Outlets has some family-friendly activities coming up. Here are the details:

Wednesday, Aug. 18: Storytime with the Book Warehouse, 11 a.m.-noon
Visit Suite 106 where the Book Warehouse will host an event where kids can enjoy interactive stories, sing familiar nursery rhymes, and color or create a craft.

Friday, Aug. 20: Anthony the Magician, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
See a family magic show full of audience participation in Suite 106. Visit www.Anthonythemagician.com for more information. My kids and I saw Anthony at Tom's Farms once and he was great! We've still got the signed poster hanging in my kids' room. :)

Wednesday, Aug. 25: Storytime with Book Warehouse, 11 a.m.-noon
Visit Suite 106 where the Book Warehouse will host an event where kids can enjoy interactive stories, sing familiar nursery rhymes, and color or create a craft.

Friday, Aug. 27: Pacific Animal Productions, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
This is a multi-age program that features a python, giant millipedes, a monkey and a hedgehog.

Sept. 3-6: Labor Day Weekend Sidewalk Sale
Back-to-school sale over the holiday weekend.

For more information, please visit www.LakeElsinoreOutlet.com or call (951) 245-0087.