10 • March 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


Sonoma County, CA. ~ Funky Fridays, the beloved summer concert series staged in 2016 at Hood Mansion, raised $50,000 for the Sonoma Coun- ty Regional Parks Foundation. The Parks Foundation staff and board members have re- viewed funding requests and will provide support for the following projects:


• Bear Aware Program


for


Hood Mountain Regional Park and


Sugarloaf Ridge State


Park, including bear-proof gar- bage containers at campsites, bear aware signage, and inter- pretive programs to educate the public about black bears. • Hood Mansion Interpretive


and surrounding properties. • Red Barn Campsite con- struction, to help Team Sug- arloaf create three new back- country


campsites at the


historic red barn compound near Bald Mountain. • “Sugarhood” Shuttle Ser-


‘Pre-Spring Guide & Whats UP!


Panels to provide permanent interpretive information related to the history of Hood Mansion


vice that will facilitate one-way hikes through Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Hood Mountain Regional


the


TM


Funky Fridays Awards $50,000 to Benefit Local Parks Park,


with hikers then taking the shut- tle back to


parking lot. • Sonoma Val- ley Hike-Ride- Trek Brochure to highlight out- door recreation opportunities


in


the Sonoma Val- ley. • Sonoma Val- ley Family Programs, sup-


porting outdoor programs for families from the Springs area. In addition to these parks programs, the Parks Founda- tion will pay for signifi cant upgrades at the Hood Mansion property to improve the Funky Fridays experience for the sum-


JOKES & Humor # 4


mer of 2017. Guests will enjoy a more amphitheater-like expe- rience, with the stage moved to the south end of the lawn. Responding to requests from many of last year’s attendees, Funky Fridays also will install a new dance fl oor in front of the stage. “The Parks Founda- tion is deeply grateful to Funky Fridays – including its orga- nizers, Linda Pavlak and Bill Myers, and all of the Funky Fridays guests and bands – for raising this substantial amount of money for our parks,” stated Melissa Kelley, executive di- rector of the Sonoma County Regional Parks Foundation. “We appreciate all the time and energy contributed by Funky Fridays volunteers, and the at- tendance and generosity of the audience.” “These Funky Fri- days events encapsulate one of the things we love about pub- lic parks,” said Richard Dale, executive director of Sonoma Ecology Center, which helps manage Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. “It brings people outside together and lets them relax in nature. We’re thankful to Bill and Linda for their hard work in creating this highly success- ful concert series, and for giv- ing back to Sonoma Valley’s open spaces.” Funky Fridays’ positive im- pact on local parks is even greater than this grant award ... continued next page


There was this guy at a bar, just looking at his drink. He stays like that for a half hour. Then a big trouble making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, & just drinks it all down. The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says, “Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I’ll buy you another drink. I just can’t stand to see a man cry.” “No, it’s not that,” the man replies, wiping his tears, “This day is the worst of my life. First, I oversleep & I go in late to my offi ce. My outraged boss fi res me. When I leave the building to go to my car, I fi nd out it was stolen. The police say they can do nothing. I get a cab to go home, & when I get out, I remember I left my wallet. The cab driver just drives away. I go inside my house where I fi nd my wife in bed with the gar- dener. I leave my home, come to this bar, & just when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up & drink my poison.”


Re-printed by demand!


“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know


better, I do better.” Maya Angelou


10 • March 2017 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


“I was gratifi ed to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn’t know.” ~ Mark Twain


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