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BY DEBBIE YOCUM
GUEST AUTHOR

Last year one lucky golfer won a new BMW when he played in the Fourth Annual Riverside Poly Golf Tournament at the Victoria Golf Club. This year for the tournament, on May 7, there will be four cars waiting on the course to go home with other lucky winners.

Dealerships sponsoring the Poly High School football team this year are BMW of
Riverside, Acura of Riverside, Alvarez Lincoln-Jaguar and Fritts Ford.

The golf tournament is hosted by the Green and Orange Booster club, whose sole purpose is to fundraise and support the Poly High School football program and its coaching staff. The tournament will again be played at the Victoria Club, at 2521 Arroyo Drive in Riverside, with registration starting at 9 a.m. and a shotgun start at 10 a.m.

Lunch, games, prizes, snacks and beverages will be provided all day. For a tax-deductible donation of $125, each golfer will receive 18 holes of golf with a cart, one
set of season tickets to Poly football games, lunch, barbecue, awards banquet and a player gift pack.

All proceeds from the event support the students of the Poly football program. In years past, the school district was able to help support the athletic programs. With recent budget cuts, however, it now falls to players, coaches, families and friends to raise money for the various teams and programs. Without fundraisers like this one, there would not be a football team at Poly High.

Victoria Club, an exclusive private club, is located in the Tequesquite Arroyo, formerly surrounded by orange groves. The club was incorporated in 1903, making it the oldest private club in Southern California.

Riverside Poly is the oldest public high school in Riverside and it too has a rich history in the Inland Empire . Former students of Riverside Poly include basketball stars Cheryl and Reggie Miller and baseball great Bobby Bonds. Another baseball great, Troy Percival, will be among the golfers gathering on May 7 to golf on the course, which is usually closed to the public. Also attending the tournament will be Leonard Russell, former NFL Player of the Year.

Another reason to attend the event is to get a chance at winning one of other prizes, including a one-week stay in a Las Vegas or Cabo San Lucas condo; four passes to Disneyland; a flat-screen TV; two weeks of free tutoring at My Learning Studio; dinner at
Mario's Place Restaurant; tickets to Angels and Dodgers games; gift certificates to restaurants including Yard House, Spaghetti Factory and Ancho's; and more.

If you are not a golfer but want to take part in the award banquet, tickets will be sold for $25 each. Sponsors of the event include Burke's Auto Repair, Central City Enterprises, Teaman, Ramirez & Smith Inc., Adrenaline, DJO Global/Ortho Xpress and Premier Service Bank, among others.

For more details, see www.polybearsfootball.com. Click on the "Golf Tournament" link. Or contact Lisa Salamon at 951-212-7759 or email her at lisa.salamon@polybearsfootball.com.

It is a great way to enjoy the day, playing golf in a beautiful setting and supporting a high school football program. Space is limited; sign up now!

Join the conversation at blogs.inlandsocal.com/moms, PE.com or Momarama's page on Facebook. Or send an email to pe.momarama@yahoo.com. Momarama shares readers' emailed comments with their permission.

BY JANET ZIMMERMAN
Redlands mom Lara Carlos is part of a parenting movement that bucks the mainstream.

Her three children, ages 7, 6 and 4, have never touched fast food. They were breastfed well into toddlerhood, carried close to their mom in a sling and are home schooled.

The Carlos kids, whose father, Kerry, is an acupuncturist, have never been seen by a medical doctor or taken antibiotics. Discomfort from illnesses is eased with herbs and chiropractic adjustments, never Tylenol. The youngest was born at home with a midwife, as will a fourth baby due any day, and the boys are not circumcised. The family sleeps together in one bed.

"It's about going back to the way things were," said Lara Carlos, 30, a childbirth educator. "There are a lot of people trying to get away from not feeling like they have control of their health or their families."

Traditional thinking about child rearing is being turned on its head by the Carlos family and a growing number of others intent on natural, healthy lifestyles. Known as holistic parenting, this new generation of moms and dads are eschewing convenience and common practices in favor of toxin-free, earth-friendly living.

Keep reading at:http://www.pe.com/local-news/breaking-news-headlines/20120303-region-parents-opting-for-natural-healthy-practices.ece

JANET ZIMMERMAN
Dorothy, Toto and the rest of the gang will take the stage this weekend and next in a production of "The Wizard of Oz" by Riverside Children's Theatre.

The musical will feature more than 110 cast members portraying the Tinman, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and other classic favorites.

Shows will be held in the theater at Ramona High School, 7675 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, on March 2-3 and 9-10. Evening performances are at 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and matinees are staged at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The production includes live orchestra accompaniment, elaborate sets and creative costumes.

Tickets are $10 pre-sale and $12 at the door. They are available in advance at Alin Party Supply, Ponies and Pigtails, the Riverside Plaza Kiosk and Capezio at Tyler, all in Riverside. For more information or to purchase tickets online using PayPal, visit the group's Web site at www.riversidechildrenstheatre.org.

The non-profit Riverside Children's Theatre is in its 57th year and includes a performing arts school for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Christian Arts and Theatre (CAT) will soon present "Honk! The True Story of Ugly the Duckling," opening March 2 and running for two weeks as its annual spring production.

Directed by Inland Theater League award winners Lori Henebelle, Brianna Lopez and Hollee Hennebelle, "Honk!" will take its audience back to Victorian England for a proper, yet rollicking good time.

"Honk!" is the story of Ugly, whose odd, gawky looks instantly incite prejudice from both family and neighbors. Lost and pursued by a hungry cat, Ugly must find his way home, back to the farm. But during his harrowing journey back, he not only discovers the meaning of true beauty, but also finds love and acceptance in all of its many forms.

The show, winner of the 2000 Olivier Award for Best New Musical, was written by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. The show provides a charming message of tolerance and is perfect for family audiences or anyone else who enjoys a good story.

Show times are 7 p.m. March 2 and 9; 2 and 7 p.m. March 3 and 10; and 2 p.m. March 4 and 11.

Tickets cost $12 to $16 and can be bought online at www.catcorona.org or by calling the box office at 951-279-2298.

Yesterday, the Carolina Journal ran a story about a preschooler at West Hoke Elementary School who was told to eat chicken nuggets from the school cafeteria because a state employee told her the lunch her mother packed her was not nutritious.

Here's what was in the lunch: a turkey and cheese sandwich, banana, potato chips and apple juice. Really? Doesn't that sound healthier than nuggets?

A U.S. Department of Agriculture agent was inspecting lunches in the little girl's classroom yesterday, and made that judgment.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the Department of Health and Human Services requires all lunches served in pre-kindergarten programs - including in-home daycare - meet USDA guidelines. The guidelines include one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain and two servings of fruit or vegetables - even if lunches are brought from home.

And if a lunch doesn't meet these guidelines, then a child care provider must supplement with the missing items.

In the case of this little girl, the mom was given a note that afternoon stating these rules - and the fact that she did not pack a "healthy lunch" - and was charged $1.25 for the cafeteria food.

I find this completely outrageous for so many reasons. No. 1: That was a healthy little lunch. Adding three nuggets didn't change anything. Were they fried? Baked? No. 2: Kids are picky. And while I believe in trying to introduce kids to a variety of foods, I don't believe in forcing. I know what my kids like and I get the healthy mix of foods they like into their lunches. Because I'm their mom. No. 3: What about the vegetarian and vegan families? I have a good friend who is a stanch vegetarian. He takes great care to feed his children very well, getting in all necessary nutrients. It's not a religious choice, but one made from years of research on the topic. He truly feels it's important to avoid all meat. And that choice should absolutely not be taken from him. No. 4: If I am able to provide for my child, I am responsible for his or her meals, no one else. For those unable to provide, then I understand that providers should be held to some standard of care.

The most ridiculous part of this story was what the little girl actually ate that day. She came home with the lunch her mother packed still left untouched. When Mom asked, "What did you eat?" The little girl told her she ate the nuggets. She didn't like anything else on the tray. So her "healthy" lunch just consisted of nuggets.

AND, after talking to the spokesperson for the Division of Child Development, the mother found her lunch actually should have been fine. She assumed the potato chips and lack of veggies "disqualified" the lunch, but the spokesperson said the chips were fine, the turkey met the meat requirement, the cheese met dairy, and fruit met the fruit or veggies requirement. What a mess.

This isn't to say I don't understand the frustration childcare providers and many others feel with the parents who send a soda and Twinkie in their kid's lunch. Childhood obesity is a real problem. And I'm happy to see school campuses with healthier choices in the vending machines, rather than all junk, and offering good, healthy food for those who buy everyday in the cafeteria. I'm all for teaching children (and parents) as much as possible about the importance of eating right, exercise and all that good stuff.

But when you take choice away, I have a real problem with that.

For more on this and other family and health related topics, visit http://tsreads.com.

This weekend, the Theatre Arts Department at the University of Redlands will present a series of one-act plays written by university students call the New Works Festival. The plays, directed by Jennifer Stoessner, are all original works.

Showtimes at The Frederick Loewe Theatre are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. General admission costs $12; admission for students, faculty, staff and seniors is $8.

The plays include:
"The Knowing" by Ron Blakely
"The Unexpected Visitor" by Brianne Lopez
"Talthybius" by Aaron Stevenson
"Naptime" by Kelly Odor
"Studies in the Skies" by Kalehua Shamel
"Into the Rabbit Hole" by Sarah Perez
"Hatching Cocoon" by Olivia Spirz
"Mary" by Ryan Stewart

"My play, 'Studies in the Skies,' is about two strangers who are dissatisfied with their lives and the relationships they've formed," said Kalehua Shamel. "Their meeting is by pure chance and through a conversation they are each able to come to terms with the aspects of their lives that they're unhappy with."

Shamel hopes people who see her play will leave thinking about how day-to-day interactions with strangers can impact lives.

Sarah Perez hopes her play "Into the Rabbit Hole" will trigger discussions on mental disorders.

And Aaron Stevenson focused on the topic of war and its impact in his play, "Talthybius."

"This play is about humanity in war, its presence and its absence," Stevenson said. "An image I saw of a soldier carrying a civilian child in Afghanistan inspired me to try to create a piece that would bring the message Euripides sent the Greeks during the Peloponessian War back to the state in this time of war that is so familiar to history.

"It has been fantastic to have the opportunity to see my play in the process of production and I can't wait to see it on stage."

For more information on the productions, call 909-748-8728 or visit www.redlands.edu.

Artwork on an unusual canvas will be showcased at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art on the campus of Cal State San Bernardino beginning Saturday. The exhibit "Full Deck: A Short Story of Skate Art" will be open at the museum through April 21.

The show is an anthology of skate art from the 1960s to present day with nearly 300 decks on display from artists, skaters and companies from all over the U.S.

The opening reception will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16.

The exhibit will include hand-stained decks by Skip Engblom, co-founder of Zepher Skate Shop. The boards were seen in the film "Lords of Dogtown."

There will also be a collection of early boards on loan from pro skater Sam Cunningham, and a range of commercial decks from the collection of Mark Whiteley, editor of SLAP magazine in San Francisco.

More than 50 artists and lenders are participating in the exhibition.

In addition to the deck art, the exhibit will also include photography, painting, prints, sculpture and video displays.

The museum is located at 5500 University Parkway. For more information call 909-537-7373.

Kids can make something sweet for their sweetheart (or themselves) on Valentine's Day at the Murrieta Public Library. The library will host a holiday cookie decorating party for children in kindergarten through 5th grade at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 in the Library's Community Room.

The library will supply an assortment of cookies, trimmings and colorful icing. The activity will be limited to 50 children and tickets will be available 30 minutes prior to the program.

The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Murrieta Public Library, is free and open to the public.

The library is located at Eight Town Square in Murrieta. For more information call 951-304-2665 or visit www.murrietalibrary.info.

The Banning Cultural Alliance will present the 4th annual Black Heritage Celebration at the Banning Center for the Arts on Feb. 25. The event will honor three outstanding participants in the community.

Live entertainment will be provided by singer Zelyne Rudolph, Didi Jackson on the keyboard and a solo performance by Alliance youth, Kaylee Daugherty.

Tickets to the event, which cost $10, include a soul food dinner from Brandiva and Sir Jerks Catering.

The Banning Center for the Arts is located at 130 N. San Gorgonio in Banning. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 951-922-4911 or visit www.BanningCulturalAlliance.org.

Need to clear your head? Wake up? The Polar Plunge into Big Bear Lake might be the answer. And the plunge is for a great cause.

On March 10, the inaugural Big Bear Lake Polar Plunge will take place to raise funds to help sponsor year-round sports training programs and athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the Inland region of Special Olympics Southern California.

Individuals who take the polar plunge challenge are asked to raise at least $50 through pledges. Participants who reach this goal will get an official polar plunge t-shirt. Special Olympics supporters who prefer to stay out of the freezing mountain waters can still raise pledge money, but must register as a "chicken" and will still receive an "I'm too Chicken to Plunge" t-shirt.

"All it takes is a few seconds in the chilly water for plungers to discover why we refer to it as 'freezin' for a reason,'" said Abbey Leffler, Special Olympics Southern California regional director. "They will immediately feel their hearts warm up with joy because they know they are giving to a great cause."

There will be awards given out to best costumes and those who raise big money. Pledgers can invite friends and family to watch their jump. There will be a family fun area, guest emcee, DJ music, a souvenir stand, vendors and a raffle drawing. There will also be a free barbeque lunch for participants and spectators may purchase lunch tickets.

The event will take place at Meadow Park at 41220 Park Ave. in Big Bear Lake. Registration is from 10 a.m. to noon. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. To register as a jumper, visit www.sosc.org/bigbearplunge or call 951-672-7707 or email aleffler@sosc.org.

The Lake Elsinore Outlets Kids Outlet has a variety of activities lined up for the month of February. All activities, which are free and open to the public, take place in Suite 106 from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Fridays.

Each Wednesday throughout the month, Lake Elsinore Library will host a story time with interactive stories, familiar nursery rhymes and a craft.

Today, the Lizard Wizard will visit. Children can touch a python, an iguana and the shell of a giant tortoise. There will also be insects and other animals. Visit www.lizardwizardandfriends.com for more information about the Lizard Wizard.

On Feb. 10, children can visit the Kids Outlet to create a Valentine's Day Puppet or Card Bag.

On Feb. 17, young sports fans can scratch the name and logo of a favorite sports team onto a Magic Color Pennant and design a giant paper finger.

Lastly, on Feb. 24 children can participate in a panda jar craft to hold favorite cookies or other treats.

For more information call the outlet at 951-245-0087 or visit www.lakeelsinoreoutlet.com.

My 10-year-old daughter is involved in this GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) after-school program over the next few weeks. Every Tuesday afternoon they meet and do some sort of mad-cap science experimentation. The first week she needed an empty plastic container with a lid and three rocks for the class. So we tracked that down and she trucked it off to school to create crystals with some sort of salt and ammonia mixture. I'm not sure where the rocks came into play.

The next week (last Tuesday) they needed balloons and baking soda to make the balloons blow themselves up. They also learned how to make a homemade volcano explode. So all the kids went home ready to blow stuff up. Yikes.

Next week she needs another empty plastic container with a lid, an empty water bottle and a chicken bone - preferably wing or thigh. So now I'm wondering what kind of voodoo experimentation these kids will be doing Tuesday. Regardless, I stripped down a chicken bone for her, boiled it clean and have it ready for next week's class. At least she didn't ask for a rag doll and some pins.

My Learning Studio in Woodcrest is bringing back its Workshops and Classes for kids starting in February. The weekly classes combine creative fun with educational topics using art and science experimentation. Here's the lineup for what's coming.

On Feb. 6, the S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Workshop "States of Matter" will begin, with classes every Monday afternoon. This advanced science workshop is for youth ages 11 and older will focus on the connections between classroom subject content and the real world.

The "Silly Science Workshops" begins Feb. 7 and will continue every Tuesday afternoon. Students will explore and create science projects every week.

On Wednesday afternoons beginning Feb. 8, "Simply Creative Art Class" will include projects such as making butterflies out of coffee filters and creative mosaics from craft paper.

And lastly, on Thursday afternoons starting Feb. 9, the "Creative Arts Workshop" will include glass painting, character drawing and working with clay.

The classes cost $49.99 for five weeks. For further details visit www.mylearningstudio.com or call 951-789-5402.

Riverside Art Museum has some sweet stuff going in on February for children with Youth Art Classes "Valentine's Day Crafts" and "Imagine Edible Art."

"Valentine's Day Crafts," geared toward children ages 6 to 12, will take place Feb. 11 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1:30 to 4 p.m. Children will create memorable treasure boxes, as well as special cards. Class costs $30. ($27 for museum members)

"Imagine Edible Art" will take place Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the class, children will make a color wheel out of frosting, mix the colors to make new colors, and then paint color wheels made out of cookies.

Students will also "paint" with spaghetti. After the spaghetti dries it becomes a work of art.

Class costs $30 or $27 for museum members.

The museum is located at 3425 Mission Inn Ave. in Riverside. For more information call 951-684-7111.

BY ANIMAL DR. AMBER
GUEST AUTHOR

Parents can relate to their children begging to take home that adorable animal they see in the store window. Bringing a new pet home can be an exciting and memorable time for your family. Animals provide us with companionship and teach children compassion and responsibility. However, parents must research and prepare before adding feathers, scales or fur to their families.

Animal Dr. Amber's offer four steps to successfully bringing a new pet into your family:

1. Pets should be based on your lifestyle

If you live in a one-bedroom apartment with no patio and minimal space, a 100 lb. Great Dane may not be the best choice for you. Maybe start with a goldfish? A pet is a lifelong commitment. You must realistically evaluate your housing, available time, finances and overall obligations. After assessing your lifestyle, you can find a perfect pet to match.

2. Select the right type of pet for your family

Different species and breeds of animals have diverse needs. It is an amazing experience for a family to raise a puppy or kitten. However, parents should be aware that this takes as much commitment as a new human baby! Juvenile animals not only require preventive health care, but also make it necessary for you to baby-proof your home. Older pets can be trained and established as wonderful new family members, but may require specific medical care as they age. Rodents, reptiles and birds are unique pets for small spaces. However, they can require very specific care and your family should investigate their needs before deciding. Lastly, I highly encourage you to save a life by adopting a new pet from your local animal shelter!

3. Family meeting about new addition

It is best to have your whole family in agreement about bringing a new pet into the home. The family should talk about who will be responsible for walking, grooming, training and cleaning up the adorable animal's potty mess. Young children should be taught how to interact with the pet, including gentle touching and waiting to play with the pet until it is finished eating. Puppies should have socialization and training classes. The entire family should attend to learn how to consistently train a new dog. Note to parents: No matter what your children promise you about caring for an animal, you, the parent are ultimately responsible for the care of a new pet. Sometimes you are relied upon during your child's college years to care for the pet. My mom was an expert bunny keeper when I ventured off for an academic summer in South Africa!

4. Prepare your home and other pets

Know where your animal will sleep, eat and live in your home. Prepare space and remove any hazards including toxic plants, wires or cords -- and your favorite shoes, which puppies love to chew on. Introduction to other pets should be a slow process. Dogs should first meet outside the home in a neutral space. Cats and other animals should be introduced through a fence or baby gate placed in the home.

Following these guidelines will help your family have a lifelong relationship with your new pet.

Dr. Amber Anderson has a clinical practice at Point Vicente Animal Hospital in Rancho Palos Verdes. She is a member of the American and California Veterinary Medical associations and American Veterinary Family Practice. See www.animaldramber.com

Join the conversation at blogs.inlandsocal.com/moms, PE.com or Momarama's page on Facebook. Or send an email to pe.momarama@yahoo.com

Three San Bernardino County schools are showing great achievement in areas of disadvantaged students - and the state's department of education is taking notice.

These schools have been selected as nominees to be named National Blue Ribbon Schools. The California Department of Education announced the nominees in a release earlier this month.

The three schools are Judson and Brown Elementary in the Redlands Unified School District; Lytle Creek Elementary in San Bernardino City Unified; and University Prep in the Victor Valley Union High School District.

This year's National Blue Ribbon Schools will be named in September. The three San Bernardino County schools are among 35 in the state to be considered for the honor.

Those awarded each year with the title are elementary and secondary schools that are academically superior and have demonstrated great gains in student achievement in an economically disadvantaged population of students.

Keep up the great work!

BY CANDI WINGATE
GUEST AUTHOR

You want your child to learn responsibility, compassion, and the joy of
giving and receiving love. One way to help your child learn these
valuable life lessons is to adopt a four-legged family member and have
your child absorb some caregiving responsibility for the newest member
of the family. Here are some tips to accomplish that.

First, let your child bond with the pet. Your child will need to
feel a connection to the pet before life lessons will be
meaningful for him.

Teach your child about what your pet needs from his human
family -- for example, fresh food and water every day, lots of love and
attention, play time, sleep time, personal space, periodic visits
to the veterinarian and respect for the pet's reasonable
personal boundaries. Sometimes, for instance, the pet doesn't feel like being handled. Draw a parallel between the needs of the pet and your child's needs.

Talk to your child about the privilege of taking care of a loved one. Tell your son or daughter how much you love attending to him or her, the way you feel knowing that you love them, that you're responsible for them and the value of love nurtured and reciprocated.

Ask your child what pet care he or she would like to take responsibility for. Does he want to take the puppy for daily walks (or in the case of a cat, clean the
kitten's litter box)? Would your child prefer to feed and water the new pet? Will he spend at least a half hour of active play with the pet each day?

Ensure that your child follows through on the chosen responsibilities. All children will, on occasion, fail to meet these responsibilities adequately. In these circumstances, let
your child know that your pet depends on them for their needs. This is a relationship between your child and a four-legged sibling; it is a matter of trust and love between them, not just another household chore for your child.

If your child cannot fulfill their pet-care responsibilities, they should let you know so that you can step in at least temporarily so you take care of the pet yourself or find someone else to do it. For example, if your son has a big game scheduled at a time when the puppy is due for his evening walk, your son should let you know so that you can arrange for a neighbor's child or your babysitter to walk the puppy on your son's behalf. If your child frequently fails to live up to his responsibilities, explain how those choices hurt the pet. Help your child understand how getting his own needs met is important to him, and that the pet feels the same way. Ask your child if they'd prefer a different pet-related task (for example, trading walking duty for feeding and watering duty).

You may need to employ redirective techniques such as time-outs to help your child understand that there are consequences for poor choices. If after multiple attempts your child does not experience a sense of responsibility for the pet, then his responsibilities toward the pet should be removed and traded for different responsiblities in the household. Perhaps your child is too young for this lesson. Wait a while and try again.

By following these tips, you can foster a bond between your two-legged and four-legged children that will be a bonding, nurturing life lesson for all involved.

Candi Wingate is a mother and president of Care4Hire, a Norfolk, Neb.-based service providing petsitters, nannies and babysitters. See www.care4hire.com

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International chorus champions, The Masters of Harmony, will hold the 12th Annual Young Men's Harmony Festival on Feb. 18 at the Robert B. Moore Theater at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa. The event, an all-day clinic and rehearsal for over 230 young men from high schools from all over Southern Calif., will culminate in a joint performance with the Masters that is open to the public.

Guest clinicians Dave Tautkus, Ken Potter, Jason Remley and Mark Freedkin with members of the quartet, OC Times will serve as leaders for the participating students. Award-winning quartet, The Crush and OC Times will perform on the evening show.

The purpose of the event, co-sponsored by the Southern California Vocal Association, is to expose young men and their choral music teachers to the barbershop style. All proceeds from the performance will go toward supporting choral music education throughout Southern California.

Interested singers who wish to participate in the festival can download the registration form from the SCVA website at www.scvachoral.org.

The theater is located at 2701 Fairview St. in Costa Mesa. Tickets for the evening performance at 7:30 p.m. cost $5. There is no reserved seating. Parking is free.

For tickets and information, call 949-559-9621.

First Sundays in downtown Riverside is back after a missed month in January (for New Years Day). On Feb. 5, six downtown organizations will host free family programs from 1-4 p.m.

The seasonal family program, sponsored by the Riverside Arts Council, will continue on the first Sunday of every month through May. Participating organizations include Riverside Metropolitan Museum, Mission Inn Museum, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside Public Library, UCR ArtsBlock, and Riverside Fox Theater Foundation.

Here is the list of upcoming activities:

"Chinese New Year," Riverside Public Library
Celebrate the year of the Dragon at the Library by creating a Chinese New Year picture frame craft from 1 to 2 p.m., listening to Chinese New Year stories performed by Karen Rae Kraut from 2 to 3 p.m., and then continuing to make Chinese New Year picture frames from 3 to 4 p.m.

"Wood, Rocks!" UCR ArtsBlock (Culver Center, Sweeney Art Gallery, and California Museum of Photography)
The ARTSblock First Sunday DIY team will be assisting participants in taking natural substances and turning them into artistic sculptures. Workshop participants can choose from various wood and rock samples to construct sculptures that honor both the great mysteries of the natural world as well as human creativity. "Wood, Rocks! will be lead by Maxwell H. Gluck Fellows Zachary Leener Ashley Ferriera,and Kimberly Zarate.

"For the Love of the Stage," Riverside Fox Theater Foundation at Fox Theater
The Fox Foundation will host a craft that includes Shakespearian crowns of Romeo & Juliet. and participants can also learn to recite some of their famous lines. Families are also invited to place their family's name on the Fox Theater's "Walk of Fame."

"Tiffany Stained Glass Windows with guest Artist Samantha Hart," Mission Inn Museum
Among the many treasures at the Mission Inn are eight stained glass windows by the famed glass artist, Louis Comfort Tiffany. This month, the Mission Inn Museum invites families to learn about these amazing windows and make their own "stained glass" artworks inspired by the Tiffany windows.

"Create Your Own Valentine Craft," Riverside Art Museum
The Riverside Art Museum will welcome back face painter Miss Pamela. Visitors can tour the museum's galleries and create a Valentine craft.

"Papermaking & Music," Riverside Metropolitan Museum
Families will create Valentine's Day cards from scratch and this crafting event. Learn how to turn junk mail into beautiful paper. Use pressed flowers to create a unique gift for special someone. Visitors can also enjoy music (including love songs) from local band, Lucky Cricket.

Got a little artist in training? Jo Thompson Art his hosting Kids Art Adventure Saturdays at the Life Arts Building in downtown Riverside on Saturdays through March 31. Classes began Jan. 14. The workshops are from 11 a.m. to noon every Saturday.

The classes are open to children ages 5 to 13 of any skill level or experience. Participants will use paint, mixed-media, clay and more while learning about color, shape, line and pattern to create 2-D and 3-D art works. All materials are provided.

Classes are small, relaxed and focused on individualized instruction.

Tickets cost $10 per class or $30 per student for the 5 class pass. The Life Arts Building is located at 3485 University Ave. in Riverside. For more information, call 951-660-4925.