LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Star Touring and Riding Clearlake Chapter No. 442 is having its first ride of the season on Saturday, April 14.

All motorcycle enthusiasts are welcome – all makes and models – to the group's meet and greet ride.

They will meet at Hillside Honda, 460 S. Main St., in Lakeport between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. with kickstands up at 11 a.m.

If you would like to see what Star Touring is all about bring your license and insurance along and join them.

If you would like more information, contact Phill Parriott, chapter president, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County District Attorney Don Anderson presented checks to local organizations that feed those in need across the county during the Lake County CAN! packing party in Upper Lake on Friday, March 30.

The funds come from a community diversion program Anderson implemented that allows offenders to make monetary restitution in lieu of community service.

Anderson presented a total of $3,600 in checks – $900 each – to the food banks with North Coast Opportunities and Middletown United Methodist Church, Lakeport Free Kitchen Project and the Lakeport Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.

Joining Anderson for the presentation were Tammy Alakszay, North Coast Opportunities' community action coordinator; Lou Denny, North Coast Opportunities' food packing coordinator; and Pastor Voris Brumfield of the Middletown United Methodist Church.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Doll Club will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 10, at noon.

The club meets on the second Tuesday of the month at selected locations around the lake.

The group shares dolls, has presentations about special dolls and occasionally gets together with other doll clubs. The club welcomes new members.

For further information about the club, please call club President Johanna Cramm at 707-279-9970.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Clear Lake Road Riders group will hold its monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 4.

The group will gather for dinner at 6 p.m. at Kelseyville Pizza, 5285 State St. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.

The Road Riders meet on the first Wednesday of each month.

For more information call Paul at 707-263-9000.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Saturday, March 24, quilt blocks were constructed, pencil toppers were built, and smoothies were judged.

This day was the 4-H Fling and Expo, an annual event put on at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church and coordinated by Peggy Alexander, community leader of the Blue Heron 4-H Club.

The fling gets bigger every year, this one in particular was attended by about 100 4-Hers and eight different 4-H clubs.

Judging is a big part of the 4-H Fling and Expo.

This year, members brought photographs, sewn items, decorated cakes, informational boards, and healthy muffins to be judged. One of the most interesting muffins was spinach and strawberries.

There also were members participating in an interview contest, run just like a job interview, and rated by if they got the faux job or not.

Another judging event was the smoothie blend off; five 4-h members vied for the title of champion smoothie. It’s a fun and popular contest since it is evaluated by both by judges and the audience, which means smoothies for all.

Other activities test your knowledge in decision making or teach you something new.

The decision making activities involve giving a situation and then showing four options, and the person rates the options best to worst.

One activity tested your knowledge of reptiles, identifying them and telling the differences between crocodiles and alligators.

More activities were learning new things. Members would take old newspaper and turn them into pots for young sunflowers, pumpkin plants or seeds.

Imagine turning screws, hooks, wire and pipe cleaners into cute insects attached to pencils or using Styrofoam trays, paper, straws and other common items to construct sail boats. These were put to the test against a fan and the other boats illustrating the power of wind.

Another activity was decorating deviled eggs, making edible designs of spiders and rabbits – a great idea since Easter is right around the corner.

Another great piece of the fling involved a group quilt project to be donated to a solder. Sewers and nonsewers alike  took a few bits of fabric and seamed them together. These patchwork pieces will eventually become quilts for soldiers that everyone had a hand in.

This great day ended in an awards ceremony with people’s choice awards and the judges’ results. Many 4-Hers won blue ribbons and medals and door prizes.

All and all, this year’s 4-H Fling was the biggest and best. Everyone learned something new and had a great time. They can’t wait to do it all again next year.

If you would like more information about 4-H, contact the county 4-H office 707-263-6838, online at http://celake.ucdavis.edu/4-H_Program/ or check out the Lake County 4-H program on Facebook.

On March 16, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bestowed Cal Fire and DynCorp International with the Diamond Award of Excellence for Aviation Maintenance.

The prestigious honor for aircraft maintenance results from a rigorous program requiring 100 percent of a company's maintenance technicians pass specialized, continuous training in aircraft systems, regulations and FAA rules over a 12-month period.

“Firefighting aircraft play a pivotal support role in helping our firefighters suppress California’s devastating wildfires,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, Cal Fire director. “We are proud that our aviation management staff and DynCorp International mechanics maintain the largest wildland air fleet in the world with an award winning safety and maintenance program.”

Cal Fire maintains 23 airtankers, 14 airtactical aircraft, 11 helicopters, and numerous other fixed-wing training and administrative aircraft.

All the aircraft are maintained at the department’s maintenance base at McClellan Air Park in Sacramento County. Since the beginning of Cal Fire’s air program in the 1970s, safety and superior maintenance has been a top priority.

Along with Cal Fire’s seasonal aviation experts, DynCorp International mechanics ensure that the state’s firefighting air fleet is kept in pristine condition.

“This award highlights the exceptional maintenance performed on all Cal Fire aircraft by DynCorp International (DI) team members and reflects the strength of commitment by both DI and Cal Fire working together in a public/private partnership,” said Jeffrey Cavarra, DynCorp International.

Over the next few months Cal Fire will finish the winter maintenance and safety inspections on the firefighting aircraft and beginning staffing them at the department’s 13 airbases and nine helitack bases across the state.

For more information on CAL FIRE’s firefighting air program visit www.fire.ca.gov .