Lincoln and his people live across the street from the Fort Bragg Dog Park - when they come to play people smile and tails wag. People and dogs of every shape, size, and attitude love Lincoln. He runs fast with the speedy guys, wrestles with the big boys, even just walks around, sniffing and hanging out if that’s what a little one prefers.

When I suggested we should make Lincoln Mayor of the Dog Park, Jim (Lincoln’s human) said Lincoln sees himself more as the Activities Director… he just wants to have fun and make certain other dogs do too. Good enough.

Meet Lincoln and the other well-behaved dogs at the Fort Bragg Dog Park. It’s easy to find, Maple St east from Main Street in Fort Bragg, until it dead-ends at the dog park parking lot - the cross street is South Lincoln - just like everybody’s favorite dog! Open daily, dawn to dusk, free to well-behaved dogs and their people.

Tom and Penny Honer of Fort Bragg, owners of Harvest Markets, are two of the most generous people on the Mendocino Coast. And they are at it again: Harvest Market is helping the Mendocino Coast Humane Society (MCHS) by allocating 10% of all Pet Supply Sales from June 17th through June 24th to MCHS from both Harvest Market in Fort Bragg and Harvest Market – Mendoza’s in Mendocino. You can be of help by making your pet supply purchases during that time period. A nice deed, indeed.

When reading the San Francisco Chronicle the other day, I was surprised to find a long article in the 96 Hours weekend section about a new independent film, which held its world premiere June 7 at the Another Hole in the Head Festival at the Roxie theater in the City. Made in 30 days for $25,000, the filming of the sci-fi flick took place, according to the article, “mostly on a privately owned campground in Fort Bragg.” Director Phillip Hudson, 35, says the movie has brought in $97,000 in international sales (with much of it going to film sales agents). More at www.sfindie.com. Or email the story writer, G. Allen Johnson, ajohnson@sfchronicle.com. Aliens in our woods? One more reason to get off the couch and explore.

Paul Bunyan Days, the oldest small town festival on the Mendocino Coast, includes some events that have been around for a very long time… the Belle of the Redwoods Competition is one of those events. Right now, for the 69th time, the Paul Bunyan Days Association is issuing a call for young ladies who’d like to be this year’s Belle. 

The Belle of the Redwoods Competition is not a beauty contest. Rather, it’s a way for young women between the ages of 16 and 20, who live anywhere on the Mendocino Coast, to have fun and make money. Contestants compete by selling raffle tickets, and the girl with the highest sales is crowned the Belle of the Redwoods during the Paul Bunyan Days Labor Day Weekend festival.

All contestants keep 10% of their ticket sales, and the winning Belle keeps 20%. What’s more, the winning Belle receives an additional $300, second place gets $150, and third $50.

If know someone who’d like to participate in this time honored tradition, they can download an application from the festival web site.

There is probably no community friendlier to families than Fort Bragg, California, a small seaside town on the rugged Mendocino Coast.

Whether you ride the Skunk Train through the redwoods or horses on the beach, there is plenty to keep both kids and parents moving at a full gallop for a weekend or a week. Because the city of 6,000 is compact, it’s easy to get around with everything within minutes of a motel, inn or campground.

Seventeen family-friendly activities:

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If you missed the local Audubon Society’s pelagic bird trip, consider joining internationally known Shearwater Journeys on one of their exciting trips to observe mega-rarity wildlife off Fort Bragg’s special coast.

Debbie Shearwater recently had this to say about birding out of Fort Bragg’s Noyo Harbor…

“Fort Bragg trips have one of the highest potentials for finding rare North American seabirds, indeed, we were able to follow a HAWAIIAN PETREL for a record 17 minutes on an August trip! The birding along Highway 1 between these two places is just fantastic during fall migration. The scenery is pretty spectacular, too!”

Her Fort Bragg trips are scheduled for AUGUST 8 & 10, with the day in between trips as a day for birding on land, always exciting in this region. Fort Bragg trips depart from Noyo Harbor in Fort Bragg about 6:30 am and return about 4-6 pm.

The 122-foot square topsail schooner Lynx, an interpretation of a privateer or naval schooner from the War of 1812, was at Point Cabrillo Light Station this week posing for publicity photos. Accompanied by a 47-foot motor life boat from the U.S. Coast Guard Noyo Station in Fort Bragg, the Lynx crew manuevered on calm seas back in forth behind the lighthouse May 28 for a half dozen photographers taking photos to be used to promote Point Cabrillo’s centennial planned for 2009. The Lynx is fitted with period ordnance and flies pennants and flags from the 1812 era making her one of the first ships to defend our freedom. Her crew wears period uniforms and operate the ship in keeping with the maritime traditions of early 19th Century America.

The Mendocino Coast Audubon Society’s pelagic birding trip from Noyo Harbor had great sea conditions - just a light wind and small swell, plus fog of course. Here’s their sighting report, with thanks to Kerry Ross and Ron LaValley for their Mendobirds report. Number of species: 22

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The California State Park and Recreation Commission today voted to approve “Point Cabrillo Light Station State Historic Park” as the park’s new name. The vote was unanimous after the commission visited the light station and heard impassioned pleas from a wide range of supporters to keep “Light Station” in the name despite a park staff recommendation to leave it out. Mendocino County Supervisor Kendall Smith appeared in support as did representatives for Congressman Mike Thompson and State Senator Patricia Wiggins. Point Cabrillo Light Station draws nearly 100,000 visitors a year, many of whom stay and eat in Fort Bragg.

One of the world’s most beautiful gardens is the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens on Highway 1 in Fort Bragg and it’s open free to call locals (Mendocino and Lake Counties) from 9am-5pm Sunday, May 18th.

The only catch: you need to bring a non-perishable food item to benefit Fort Bragg’s Hospitality House.

Subsidizing the day are three other Fort Bragg organizations: Fort Bragg Electric, Surf Motel and Gardens and the Mendo Lake Credit Union, which has brand new offices on Main in downtown. The Gardens will offer tours at 10am, 1pm and 3pm. I took a walk in the there last week and everything is blooming and beautiful. The Rhodies are still radiant.