Beyond the pursuit of happiness lies the bigger question of how to sustain it.

Read the article here:  10 Things Science Says Will Make You Happy

 

Sarah van Gelder, executive editor of Yes!Magazine says that one of her favorite things about this issue was learning about Colin Beavan,  the New York resident who calls himself "No Impact Man."

 

Beavan's article describes how he and his family observed a gift-less Christmas. You can read his blog here.

Researchers say thankful people tend to be happy people. Click here to take a test to find out your gratitude score. 

 The staff of Yes! has also prepared this Resource Guide for Sustainable Happiness.

 

 

40 years ago on the comics pages, Snoopy became the first Beagle on the moon; this weekend some real life astronauts are coming to Santa Rosa to acknowledge Peanuts' part in the space program.

Even before Cernan (right)  adopted the names of Charlie Brown and Snoopy for the spacecraft in the Apollo 10 mission, Cartoonist Charles Schulz had a warm relationship with NASA, developing the Silver Snoopy award for special recognition within the agency, and also contributing customized artwork on several occasions.   The NASA image below shows "Charlie Brown"  during one of its 31 orbits around the moon.

 

 

 

 

To the Moon: Snoopy Soars with NASA looks at the history of Apollo 10 and the Peanuts characters' role in that flight and in the NASA Manned Flight Awareness safety program. It will feature a one-third scale model of the Apollo command module from the Johnson Space Center, an Apollo-era flight suit, the actual image of Charlie Brown that was flown aboard Apollo 10, and a special children's area for creative play.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Curator Jane O'Cain describes some of the details of the exhibit in this audio clip:

 

As part of the Apollo 17 mission in December, 1976, Cernan became the last man to walk on the moon (above). He maintains an extensive archive of his experiences as an astronaut at his website , including rare and historic video footage, some of which can be seen here. Below, the crew of Apollo 10, taken shortly before launch: Cernan( left) John Young and Thomas Stafford.

 

 

As many as 25% of the homeless in Sonoma County are veterans, people who are entitled to services and assistance they often don't know about. But a new volunteer coalition is working to change that.

 

  One frequent obstacle that Vet Connect volunteers must often overcome, says Andy Pyburn, is a widespread reluctance to accept the services to which the veterans are entitled.

 

Vet Connect gatherings are held regularly at the following Sonoma County locations:
Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building
    Every Tuesday, 9 am to noon
Contact Dave: 694-7614
Guerneville Veterans Memorial Building
    Second Thursday of each month, 3-6 pm
Contact John: 869-9459
Sonoma Veterans Memorial Building
    Third Thursday of each month, Noon -3 pm
Contact Ted: 337-4518
Petaluma, next to the library (310 Payran St.)
    Fourth Thursday of each month, Noon -3 pm
Contact Andy: 763-9924
Participating agencies include: The Santa Rosa VA Clinic (left), Sonoma County Veterans Service Office, Sonoma County Department of Health Services, North Bay Veterans Resource Center, and the Vet Center of Rohnert Park.
All Veterans and family members are welcome! 

 

 

 

Public schools throughout Sonoma County are struggling to cut and balance budgets that depend on state funds, without a state budget to tell them what money will be available.

 You can view a map of Sonoma County school districts here.

 

The Santa Rosa City School District has posted the list of potential budget cuts they are weighing on their website. You can view it (pdf) here.

Santa Rosa City Schools Superintendent Sharon Liddell