UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A natural building workshop will take place in Upper Lake on Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24.

Massey Burke will lead the workshop from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Dancing TreePeople Farm, 1445 Pitney Lane, Upper Lake.

Burke has been teaching and practicing natural building since 2003. She has designed and built structures in the Pacific Northwest, Washington DC, and different parts of Northern California.

Topics will include cob (clay/sand/straw) building, hands-on experience and discussions about business opportunities in Lake County.

The cost is $150 for the weekend or $80 for Saturday only.

Register online at http://www.verticalclay.com or call 707-275-8890.

 

For information on partial scholarships and payment plans contact Loretta McCarthy, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 707-275-8890.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Californians have been hit hard this year with ongoing high fuel prices, unemployment concerns and a sluggish economy, and AAA’s July 4 travel forecast survey reveals that these factors have helped to cause a decrease in overall travel plans for this upcoming Independence Day holiday weekend.

 

According to AAA, during the upcoming July 4 celebration holiday weekend more than 4.6 million Californians are projected to travel 50 miles or more from their homes. This represents a 2.3 percent decrease compared to last year.

 

“Travelers are definitely feeling the budgetary squeeze this year,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Although some Californians may be postponing their travel plans, many others are bucking the economic headwinds by opting for shorter vacations and by cutting back on travel expenditures in order to afford a weekend getaway.”

 

July 4 marks one of the busiest national holidays. This year, AAA projects more than 3.6 million Californians will drive to reach their holiday destinations. That’s a 2.9 percent decrease when compared to 2010.

Air travel will increase by 1.7 percent, with more than 541,000 Californians expected to take to the skies to reach their holiday destinations.

More than 430,000 state residents plan to travel by other modes of transportation, such as rail, buses and watercraft. This represents a decrease of 2.6 percent when compared to travel figures from last year.

 

Nationally, AAA forecasts just over 39 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the 4th of July holiday weekend, representing a 2.5 percent decrease compared to last year.

 

Independence Day holiday weekend airfares are expected to increase by 11 percent, with the lowest round-trip rate averaging $213 per ticket, to top 40 U.S. air routes, according to AAA Leisure Travel Index.

Hotel rates at AAA Three Diamond lodgings are increasing by 3 percent this year, when compared to 2010. They’re averaging $147 per night.

Weekend car rentals also are forecast to increase by three percent, to an average weekend rate of $56. A West Coast family of four is expected to spend an average of $782 over the weekend, while the average road trip will cover 602 miles.

 

According to AAA’s survey, the primary leisure activities for Californians celebrating the nation’s birthday will be dining, visiting family and friends, traveling to the beaches and waterfront areas, shopping, and sightseeing. Approximately 30 percent of California residents said they will be traveling with family members.

 

As part of AAA’s ongoing commitment to providing safety and protection to motorists, the AAA Tipsy Tow Program will offer a free tow for drinking drivers from 6 p.m. on July 4, until 6 a.m. on July 5, in Northern California, Nevada and Utah.

 

Members and non-members alike can call (800) 222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow of up to ten miles. “Just tell the AAA operator, ‘I need a Tipsy Tow’, and a truck will be on its way,” said Harris. “Service is restricted to a one-way ride for the driver and his or her vehicle to the driver’s home.”

 

AAA tips to avoid air travel delays

 

Avoid unnecessary frustration while flying, by following these defensive measures:

• Avoid delay-prone flights. Before you book, make sure you’re on a flight that has a decent arrival history.

• Know your airline. Avoid airlines that are known for labor disruptions or major instances where flights have been canceled.

• Book a nonstop. If you fly direct, you won’t get stuck in a connecting city.

• Fly mornings. Whenever possible, book the first flight of the day. Delays tend to worsen later in the day.

• Leave enough time for connections. Schedule at least one hour for a connection. Give yourself more time if you have to change planes and go through security again.

• Use small airports. Avoid airline hubs whenever possible. Secondary airports are usually less congested and less prone to delays.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The second annual Cowboy Cook-off will take place at Six Sigma Ranch in Lower Lake on Saturday, July 2.

The event will convene at the picnic area of Six Sigma Ranch’s historic stage coach stop tasting room for a battle of the barbecues.

Ranch manager Tony Moreno, Hospitality Manager Walt Campbell and Vice President Christian Ahlmann will vie for the honor of creating the “best” entrée.

Guests will vote for their favorite entree and the winning chef will have bragging rights for the next year.

The cookoff tasting will include salad, fruit cobbler for dessert and beverages.

Come dressed in cowboy attire to enter the awards competition for best-dressed cowboy, cowgirl and couple.

General admission is $25 per person and $10 per person for Six Sigma Wine Club Members. Advanced reservations are required.

To make a reservation, call 707-994-4068 or book online at www.sixsigmaranch.com/events.

ST. HELENA, Calif. – Unit Chief Tim Streblow of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit announced Monday that beginning at 8 a.m. Friday July 1, all permits for open burning within state and local responsibility areas under contract to Cal Fire are suspended.

Agriculture, land management, fire training and other industrial-type burning in those responsibility areas may proceed if a Cal Fire official inspects the burn site and issues a special permit.

Campfires are allowed in designated campgrounds, or in established facilities on private property, with permission of the jurisdictional authority.

Persons burning under special permit must also check with their regional air quality management district for additional regulations and requirements.

Experience has shown that suspending open burning is an effective way of preventing fire escapes, especially as California enters the summer season period of hotter and drier weather.

Although all fires cannot be prevented through a burning suspension, their numbers can be significantly reduced.

Cal Fire reminds everyone that it is each individual’s responsibility to use fire safely and to prevent fires that destroy lives, property and our wildland. Be fire safe.

Anyone with questions about this declaration is urged to visit www.fire.ca.gov or contact their nearest Cal Fire facility.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – At the recent Rotary District 5130 Conference the Clearlake Rotary Club received an award for outstanding community service during the past year.

The community service award as well as a presidential citation was presented by District Governor Jim Flamson. Rotary District 5130 includes 45 clubs in Sonoma, Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties.

Interim Clearlake Police Chief Craig Clausen has served as president of the Rotary club from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.

Clausen indicated that the club has set aside and spent more than $20,000 this year in community service projects.

The funds are earned through the annual seafood boil dinner held in February, sale of See’s Candy and donations from club members.

There were seven major projects in community service:

1. A teacher mini-grant program providing up to $200 per request submitted by classroom teachers in the Konocti Unified School District. Teachers make application for creative classroom projects and the applications are reviewed by Rotarians based upon the benefit to children and students as well as enhancing learning opportunities. This past year the club expended $ 6,419 on teacher mini-grants.

2. There were $5,500 in scholarship grants presented to graduates from Lower Lake High, Carlé High and continuing students at the Clearlake campus of Yuba College.

3. More than 900 adults and children from Clearlake received a free Christmas dinner and the children received a gift along with a photo with Santa Claus. This was the largest turnout for this annual event.

4. All third graders at Lower Lake Elementary, Burns Valley, Pomo and East Lake Schools received their own dictionary with their name on the inside front cover. Dictionaries were presented by club members in classrooms at each of the schools.

5. The Safe House for Homeless Youth in Clearlake has been a Rotary project for the past three years. This year the project was to construct a fence around the property. The club purchased all of the materials and provided the labor to construct the fence.

6. Club members have constructed bus stop shelters in the community in cooperation with the building and construction class at Lower Lake High School. These shelters will protect senior citizens and others from inclement weather and provide a place to sit while waiting for the bus.

7. Two years ago the club provided leadership to get an act of the state Legislature to designate state Highway 53 as the “Lake County Veterans Memorial Highway.” The bill was signed by the governor last year and the signs designating the highway will be erected in the near future. The Rotary Club will provide the funds for the signage and will hold a dedication ceremony.

Clausen praised the hard work of club members in completing these projects and was pleased that the club efforts were recognized by the district.

The Clearlake Rotary Club meets every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. at Howard’s Grotto.

For more information about the club see any Rotarian or visit the Web site at www.clearlakerotary.org.

 

LUCERNE, Calif. – A Lucerne family is seeking information on its missing German shepherd.

The dog, called Hailynn, went missing from her family's home on Country Club Drive on Friday evening, according to owner Theresa Skinner.

Skinner said she was told that a woman in a gold car had picked up the dog and had told a witness she would call the SPCA. Skinner also has contacted the SPCA, sheriff's office and Lake County Animal Care and Control seeking her pet.

Anyone with information about the dog is asked to call Skinner at 707-349-1216.