LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Library invites the public to get to know Lake County better with “Know Lake County,” a free lecture series that begins Feb. 21.

The diverse programs will take place on the third Saturday of each month from February through December at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St.

Know Lake County delves into many facets of Lake County, including human history, natural history, outdoor recreation, science, performing arts and programs for children.

The family-friendly programs are designed to inform and entertain Lake County residents about Lake County.

Some programs will cover interesting lore about the county and others will cover the work that community organizations perform.

Speakers from an array of disciplines and organizations will deliver programs for Know Lake County.

Some of the speakers, such as Dr. Jamesina Scott, are already familiar to library audiences and others will be appearing there for the first time.

Linda Lake, curator of the Lake County Museum, will open Know Lake County with a program on Lake County’s historic one-room schoolhouses.

Succeeding programs will feature Dr. Harry Lyons on Lake County geology; Victoria Brandon from the Sierra Club speaking about the Berryessa Snow Mountain Region; Dr. Jamesina Scott from Lake County Vector Control on Lake County insects and other critters; Lake County’s Master Gardeners; representatives of the Taylor Observatory; and Gae Henry with the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association.

The year will conclude with archaeologist Dr. John Parker on Lake County’s prehistory; retired park ranger Tom Nixon representing Konocti Regional Trails; Mike Adams from the Soper Reese Theatre; and Carolyn Jarrett from the Children’s Museum of Art and Science.

Know Lake County’s full schedule is posted on the Know Lake County Web site, www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Lake_County_CA__Library/KLC.htm .

The schedule is subject to change without notice. For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 707-263-8817.

Library director Christopher Veach said, “It’s the mission of the library to meet the information needs of the county. Knowledge about Lake County appears to be an area where there is an information need so the library has created Know Lake County.”

The library has hosted one-time programs about Lake County in the past but this is the first time the library has presented a series of lectures focusing on Lake County.

Invitations to a wide range of potential speakers for Know Lake County’s first year generated enough responses to fill all of 2015’s openings and to begin booking for 2016.

The KLC committee welcomes suggestions for future programs.

The KLC committee consists of library director Christopher Veach, adult programs coordinator Amy Patton and library publicity coordinator Jan Cook.

The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.co.lake.ca.us and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary .

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

SACRAMENTO – State Sen. Mike McGuire has been appointed to four legislative committees, in addition to serving as the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus and chairing both the Human Services Committee and the Fisheries and Aquaculture Committee.

Senate President Kevin de Leon announced that McGuire has been appointed to the Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee, Transportation and Housing Committee, Governmental Organization Committee and the Public Safety Committee.

These committees are considered significant assignments and in just his fifth week on the job, McGuire has already established himself as a policy player in the Capitol.

“I am grateful to Sen. de Leon for the faith that he has shown in me and I know these committee assignments will benefit the hard working residents who proudly call Northern California home,” said McGuire.

As a former Sonoma County supervisor and Healdsburg mayor, McGuire has had considerable first-hand experience dealing with issues that fall under the jurisdictions of his committee assignments.

McGuire is eager to bring that experience to bear in improving the quality of life for the people of the diverse Second Senate District, one of the largest in the State.

“Moving vital transportation projects forward, such as the Marin-Sonoma Narrows, advancing the SMART Train and the Last Chance Grade Bypass is good for our economy and are among my top priorities,” McGuire said.

McGuire’s Senate district runs the span of the entire North Coast and includes all of Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity, Lake and Marin counties, and the majority of Sonoma County communities.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Join Tuleyome and the UC Reserve on Saturday, Jan. 24, for their first trail restoration day at Stebbins Cold Canyon in Winters.

Meet at 9 a.m. at the Stebbins Cold Canyon trailhead.

Receiving more than 50,000 visitors a year, this popular trail depends on volunteers to keep it beautiful and accessible.

This trail restoration day is the perfect opportunity to spend a Saturday morning outside, give back to the trails you love and start 2015 off right.

The first stage of the project is to tackle trail erosion by installing water bars as well as clearing the trail of debris.

If you cannot make it on Jan. 24, they will continue to have trail restoration days every third Saturday.

Be sure to bring lots of water and wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes. Rain will cancel the event.

RSVP is mandatory. Please email Program Coordinator Jordan Power at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Tuleyome’s Home Place Adventure program believes everyone deserves access to the outdoors. Tuleyome is a conservation nonprofit based in Woodland, committed to protecting the wild and agricultural heritage of our region.

For more information and event details, please visit our website at www.tuleyome.org and check out our upcoming events.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Wine Studio in Upper Lake will feature the release of R Vineyards 2012 Vineyard Select Cabernet Franc on Saturday, Jan. 17, from 2 to 5 p.m.
 
The Best of Class Gold medal-winning 2013 R Vineyards Viognier (vee-ohn-yay) will also be available along with a special sampling preview of the soon to be released R Vineyards 2013 Old Vine Zinfandel.
 
Cost for the wine sampler with paired appetizer bites is $10 per person.
 
“I am pleased with the Cabernet Franc,” winemaker David Rosenthal. “I have always been a fan of this varietal. It offers more flesh and sweetness of fruit than Cabernet Sauvignon.”
 
Longtime grape growers in Middletown, the Rosenthal family started a line of fine wines in 2014 under the brand name R Vineyards.
 
In 1997 they planted Cabernet Franc primarily to be sold as a grape blending component for Bordeaux-style wines.

As the vines matured, the Rosenthal’s realized the “stand alone” potential of the Cabernet Franc.
 
“Cabernet Franc has a distinct fruit forward style that is quite pleasing to the palate,” said Rosenthal. “Wines and Vines magazine listed Cabernet Franc as one of the best-selling varietals. They say this grape varietal had the fastest sales growth rate of any major wine type in 2014.”
 
The newly released Cabernet Franc and the 2013 Viognier are from the Rosenthal’s vineyard. Both wines are 100-percent Lake County fruit grown in the Jafa soils on the flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains in Middletown.
 
The 2012 Cabernet Franc is big and expansive yet remarkably graceful. The wine opens with a bouquet of black currants, plum and subtle spices. The tannins are firm and nicely structured delivering chocolate mocha, cassis and plum flavors with cedar notes and a vanilla bean finish.
 
The 2013 Viognier is the R Vineyards signature white wine and it is simply exquisite. The jasmine, honeysuckle and mango aromas lead to enjoyable mouth flavors and a creamy finish with a spicy note and a hint of vanilla. The wine is dry.
 
The soon to be released R Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel is from the Hoodoo Creek Vineyard block of the adjoining Rosenthal property. Its vines were planted in 1937.
 
To date, the Old Vine Zinfandel grapes have been bottled and released under the Medusa and Chef Tyler Florence wine labels.

The finished wine has received a 91 from the Wine Spectator and a 90 from Wine Enthusiasts. The Rosenthal’s will officially release the R Vineyards Old Vine Zinfandel in the spring of 2015.
 
During Rosenthal’s 30-plus years in winemaking, he has collaborated with a number of North Coast winemakers and consultants including Andre Tchelistcheff.

Today, Rosenthal handles the winemaking for Yokayo Wine Co. in Ukiah and manages the vineyards in Middletown along with his family. They have been growing winegrapes in Lake County since the early 1970’s.
 
R Vineyards wines are currently available at Lake County Wine Studio, 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.
 
For more information about R Vineyards wine tasting or Lake County Wine Studio contact Susan Feiler at 707-275-8030 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 10, the Clear Lake Cardinals hosted their third annual Michael Kroppmann Invitational Wrestling Tournament. 

With a handful of wrestlers unable to participate, the Cardinals were still able to take the fifth place team trophy, along with the outstanding heavyweight award for Clear Lake’s 220-pound wrestler Julian Lewis.

Lewis went 3-0, all by pin, to take first in his class.

Tyler Buchholz, 160 pounds, and Issac Lewis, 152 pounds, each brought home silver medals.

Emily Psalmonds pinned her way to gold in the 103-113 pound girls division, while Mariela Soto (3-1) took bronze.

Also wrestling in the tournament for Clear Lake was Jacob Caldwell, 145 pounds; and Caleb Blyleven, 113 pounds.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Law Library Board of Trustees will hold a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 15.

The group will meet at noon at the the library, located at 175 Third St. in Lakeport, across from the courthouse.

Agenda items include the financial report for the period Nov. 30 through Dec. 31; reappointment of trustees Shanda Harry and Dennis Fordham; the law librarian's log for December and January, which includes patron logs and vendor usage.

The board is next set to meet on Thursday, Feb. 20.

The library board includes President Mike Ewing, Secretary Dennis Fordham, Judge Andrew Blum, Judge Michael Lunas, Deputy County Counsel Shanda Harry and attorney Mary Heare Amodio.

For more information, contact the law librarian at 707-263-2205.

Visit the library online at www.lakecountyca.gov/law .