FINLEY, Calif. – This year’s annual Grange Christmas Craft Fair will help fund the Virginia Sills Scholarship, which will go to a Kelseyville High School senior pursuing further education in the field of agriculture.

Local artisans are featured at fair, which runs Saturday, Nov. 30, and Sunday, Dec. 1, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the grange hall, 1510 Big Valley Road in Finley.

The grange also is selling cracked walnuts, delicious baked goods and soups. The proceeds from these items will go directly towards the scholarship in honor of Sills, a longtime grange member and Kelseyville resident.

Sills, co-chairwoman for this year’s fair, has personally packaged several dozen bags of walnuts, cookies and other items for the fair. Her table will be on your right as you enter the hall.

A sluggish economy and concerns about disposable income have put a slight damper on Thanksgiving travel this year for many California families, according to the latest travel survey from AAA.

AAA Northern California’s travel forecast predicts that more than 5.1 million Californians plan to travel 50 miles or more this extended, four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This represents a decrease of -4.0 percent when compared to last year’s figures.

“Californians will set aside thoughts of fiscal uncertainty to gather and feast with people who matter most in their lives,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “While travel projections are lower than last Thanksgiving in 2012, this year’s travel forecast is still well above the 2008-2009 levels when the recession caused a drop in travel of more than 25 percent.”

According to AAA, more than 4.4 million Californians are projected to travel by motor vehicle during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. This represents a 4.6 percent decrease when compared to last year’s figures.

AAA projects that more than 500,000 holiday travelers will fly, which is a decrease of -4.9 percent when compared to 2012. Approximately 193,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as boats or trains. This represents an increase of 1.8 percent when compared to last year’s figures.

Nationally, AAA forecasts that more than 43 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the four-day weekend. This represents a -1.5 percent decrease compared to last year’s travel statistics.

An average West Coast family of four is projected to spend an average of $681 over the holiday weekend. Families who travel by car are likely to drive an average of 795 miles over the four-day holiday weekend.

AAA’s Leisure Travel Index reveals that prices at AAA Three Diamond lodgings are down about one percent from a year ago, with an average price of $143 per night. AAA Two Diamond lodgings are expected to be one percent higher, with an average room costing $104 per night.

This Thanksgiving weekend, those traveling by air will find airfares comparable to last year, according to the AAA Leisure Travel Index.

The average lowest round-trip price is projected to be $187 for the top 40 U.S. air routes. Car rental rates will average $50 for the holiday weekend, compared to $47 last year. For West Coast families, the expected primary activities this holiday weekend will be shopping and visiting family and friends, followed by dining and touring/sightseeing.

Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. Motorists should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. AAA reminds motorists to be cautious while driving in adverse weather.

AAA tips for long-distance winter trips

• Watch weather reports prior to a long-distance drive or before driving in isolated areas. Delay trips when especially bad weather is expected. If you must leave, let others know your route, destination and estimated time of arrival.
• Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition by having it inspected by a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility.
• Keep at least half a tank of gasoline in your vehicle at all times.
• Pack a cell phone programmed with your local AAA's telephone number along with your AAA card, plus blankets, gloves, hats, food, water and any needed medication in your vehicle.
• If you become snow-bound, stay with your vehicle. It provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you. Don't try to walk in a severe storm. It's easy to lose sight of your vehicle in blowing snow and become lost.
• Don't over exert yourself if you try to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn't clogged with snow, ice or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the passenger compartment with the engine running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. This could include floor mats, newspapers or paper maps.

AAA money saving tips for Thanksgiving air travelers

• Book your flight any day except a Tuesday or Sunday. This will save you up to $170 on average. Tuesday before Thanksgiving is the most popular day to fly and the airlines know it.
• Travel on Thanksgiving Day and return the following Tuesday for the cheapest fares.
• Plan ahead. The longer you wait, the higher the price as flights become booked. Surcharges increase from $10 to $30 dollars extra on peak travel days.
• Grab the deal. Don’t wait before others start booking flights and airlines shift their pricing to match booking trends.

AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays. AAA has been reporting on holiday travel trends for more than two decades.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The historic Stone House Museum will host an open house on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Join them at the HVLA Activities Center for holiday snacks, songs by the Angel Light Singers and other surprises.

Then tour Lake County's oldest building, the Stone House, to see what Christmas was like in days gone by.

Enter Hidden Valley Lake at the Hartman gate and proceed 1.7 miles to the Activities Center parking lot.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – TOPS Club 0890 Upper Lake is pleased to welcome several new members.

Maria Thoman, Norma Bethel, Char Rich, Carolyn Manley, Elisha O’Neil and Mary Nasar have all joined in recent weeks.

TOPS stands for “Taking Off Pounds Sensibly.”

It's a fun group of people who share the common goal of weight loss through supportive friendships and the accountability of a weekly weigh-in.

Weekly meetings are held at the Upper Lake United Methodist Church at 604 Clover Valley Road on Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Weigh-in begins at 5 p.m.

Each week one of the members gives a presentation on ideas or methods related to weight loss, and they play diet-related games each week with prizes.

Your first visit is free. Come check out TOPS for yourself. TOPS is an affordable alternative to weight loss groups with real results.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center plans a Thanksgiving closure.

The center, located at 15500 Central Park Road, will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 27, through Saturday, Nov. 30, so its team can enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

Calpine’s Geothermal Visitor Center will reopen again on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

They wish everyone a happy and safe holiday.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A caregiver support group for families dealing with memory loss or other cognitive impairments will meet on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

The group meets at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 14310 Memory Lane in Clearlake from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Social worker Jenny Johnson is the facilitator.

The groups are sponsored by Redwood Caregiver Resource Center (1-800-834-1636) and the Social Day Programs in Lake County.

For more information call Jenny Johnson at 707-350-3030 or Caroline Denny at 707-263-9481.

Respite is provided by the centers at no charge.