LAKEPORT, Calif. – Clear Lake Cardinal wrestler Julian Lewis took home the bronze medal from Windsor’s King of the Mat Tournament, held on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Lewis pinned his way to the 220-pound semifinals, where he lost a close match.

He then came back to pin his remaining opponent to take the third place medal.

To date, Lewis stands at 17-5, with three first place tournament medals, one third and two fourths, along with an outstanding heavyweight award.

Also wrestling in the tournament at 113 pounds was Caleb Blyleven, who went 1-2 on the day; Jacob Caldwell, at 145 pounds; and Tyler Buchholz, 160 pounds.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The 2015 debut of the Taylor Observatory lecture series features popular local cosmologist Dr. Stephen Pollaine presenting “The Physics of Interstellar: Worm Holes, Spinning Black Holes, Time Dilation and the Fifth Dimension.” 

Join Pollaine at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, at Taylor Observatory’s “Window to the Universe” event in Kelseyville.

Christopher Nolan’s popular movie “Interstellar,” which premiered in Lakeport in December, challenges viewers to think beyond our current dimensions into the mysteries of worm holes, black holes, time dilation and the fifth dimension. 

But are these prognostications valid science or is “Interstellar” just another sci-fi flick?

Pollaine will answer these questions in his Taylor talk. Notably, Interstellar has the endorsement of Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium, and regarded by many as the modern day Carl Sagan.

Pollaine, who is both a qualified astrophysicist and amateur cosmologist, has special qualifications for this talk, having worked for 31 years in the laser fusion project at the Bay Area’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory.

Readers may also know Pollaine as a popular local pianist who plays regularly at Lake County events.

If skies are clear on Saturday visitors may be able to view comet Lovejoy, which is making its closest approach to the sun this week.

Admission for the talk, a planetarium show and night sky viewing through the Taylor telescopes is $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12 and under, and free to observatory members.

The location is 5725 Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.

For further information visit www.taylorobservatory.org or call 707-262-4121.

Friends of Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium organizes the Taylor Lecture series.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West will meet on Wednesday, Feb 9, for a membership gathering and information sharing session about the Native Daughters organization.

The group will meet at 6 p.m. in the meeting room of Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.

If you were born in California and are over age 16 you are a native Californian eligible for membership in the Native Daughters of the Golden West Organization.

The Native Daughters is a fraternal and patriotic organization founded in 1886 on the principles of:

– Love of home;
– Devotion to the flag;
– Veneration of the pioneers;
– Faith in the existence of God.

All Native Daughters are welcome to attend.

The group is excited to have 100-year-old Native Daughter Ruby Glebe as the Feb. 9 speaker.

Glebe will share her amazing stories about local history. She is sharp as a tack and still drives herself to the meetings. Come meet this very special Native Daughter.

For more information contact either Carla Dore, 831-524-5588, or Dee Cuney, 707-235-2902.

Visit the group's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LakecountyNDGW?ref=br_rs .

For information about Lake County Konocti No. 159 Chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West contact Tony Braito at 707-245-7663.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Lake County Library director Christopher Veach invites the public to “come play with an iPad, Galaxy Tab, Kindle Fire, and Nexus 7 tablet and learn how to download free e-books from the Library.”

Library staff will conduct a free “technology petting zoo” at Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St., in Middletown from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, to introduce people to an array of small electronic devices.

Patrons can try out the various devices in the library and can bring in their own devices to get help with them.

People can use their Lake County Library cards to borrow electronic books through the library’s Web site for free.

Library staff will demonstrate how to download e-books at the technology petting zoo.

For more information about the Technology Petting Zoo call Lakeport Library at 707-263-8817.

The other library branches will host technology petting zoos in rotation over the coming months.

In 2015 technology petting zoos will be held at Upper Lake Library on Feb. 28, Lakeport Library on March 28, Redbud Library on April 25 and at Middletown Library on May 30.

All technology petting zoos will occur from 1 to 3 p.m.

Redbud Library is located at 14785 Burns Valley Road in Clearlake. Middletown Library is located at 21256 Washington St. in Middletown. Upper Lake Library is located at 310 Second St. in Upper Lake.

Call Lakeport Library at 707-263-8817 for information about the technology petting zoos.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

Library events are posted on the calendar at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/Calendar.htm .

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – It’s been many years since some older Lake County residents got their driver’s license. 

Yet the driving experience is significantly different from even a decade ago with changing vehicles, changing technology, changing road rules and even changing roadways.

Residents can refresh their skills and have the opportunity to save money on their car insurance with the new, enhanced AARP Smart Driver Course being offered at the Clearlake Oaks Senior Center, 19502 Foothill Blvd., from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, and Thursday, Jan. 29.

The course helps drivers age 50 and older stay current with driving laws and new technologies inside and outside of vehicles.

Participants also will learn defensive driving skills, proven safety strategies and how to manage and accommodate common age-related changes in vision, hearing and reaction time.

The new curriculum was developed following a two year research study conducted by Eastern Virginia Medical School.

“Since 1979, AARP Driver Safety has helped over 15 million drivers stay safe, educated and confident behind the wheel. Every driver can benefit from a refresher,” said Julie E. Lee, vice president and national director of AARP Driver Safety.

Many participants may be eligible for a multiyear insurance discount after taking the course.

Participants are encouraged to check with their insurance agent to see if they are eligible.

Attendance is required but there are no tests required to pass the course.

To register, call class instructor Steve Hendricks at 707-972-7884.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Each year the California Robbery Investigators Association presents its Officer of the Year Award to a police officer or deputy sheriff working a uniform assignment who distinguishes themselves through an act of uncommon heroism or an outstanding investigation involving a robbery crime.

This year CRIA will honor three law enforcement officers from Mendocino County for their work in stopping a major crime spree involving homicide, robbery, kidnapping, which stretched from Eugene, Oregon to Fort Bragg, Calif.

This incident took place over several hours and several hundred miles and resulted in the death of the suspect and the ambush murder of a Mendocino County deputy sheriff.

These officers willingly put themselves in harms way and one gave his life to protect their community.

This year's recipients are Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino, who died during the incident; Lt. Gregory Stefani of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office; and Fort Bragg Police Lt. John Naulty.

The award will be presented during the annual training seminar award ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Harrah’s in Las Vegas.