Community members are invited to enter their favorite beer steins in the beer stein competition held during Oktoberfest, which takes place Saturday, October 1, 2011. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Do you have a favorite historical or humorous beer stein you think is worthy of winning first place in the annual Oktoberfest Beer Stein Competition?

If so, enter your stein at One Stop Party Shop, 120 Third St. in Lakeport.

Lyle Coburn, the shop's owner, will display all entries in one of his storefront windows.

Entrants can also go to the Lake County Chamber office at 875 Lakeport Blvd. with their steins.

The chamber asks for a two- or three-sentence description for each stein that will be displayed with them. The 2011 sponsor of the Beer Stein Competition is Westgate Petroleum.

If you’re interested in voting for your favorite stein, you may do so at One Stop Party Shop. Voting will close at 3 p.m. during Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 1, and the winners will be announced at 4 p.m. from the Mediacom Stage.

Prizes of $100 will be awarded in each category (historic and humorous).

Back by popular demand, Oktoberfest-Lakeport takes place on Oct. 1 in downtown Lakeport from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Join friends, neighbors and make new friends as you enjoy fun contests, great food and craft vendors, artists in Museum Park, microbrew tastings, dachshund races sponsored by Rainbow Ag and much more.

Two great bands will play on the Mediacom Stage in front of the museum, Showcase the Band will play German music in the afternoon and is sponsored by Eagle Distributing. The Jimi Z Band will play for the evening Street Dance, sponsored by the Golden Gate Meat Co.

Oktoberfest-Lakeport is a production of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

For more information, contact the Chamber at 707-263-5092 or visit www.oktberfest-lakeport.com.

Students participate in the 2010 Coyote Valley Elementary Jog-a-thon Fundraiser in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif. Courtesy photo.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – The students, teachers and staff of Coyote Valley Elementary are once again lacing up their sneakers and getting ready to run for fun and to raise funds for their school, as the highly-anticipated annual Coyote Valley Elementary Jog-a-thon Fundraiser is just around the corner.

Scheduled to take place on Friday, Oct. 14, students compete against classmates as they gather pledges from friends, family and businesses, and then race against one another in a timed 30-minute (or less) run.

Prizes are awarded to the student in each grade level who runs the most laps and raises the most amount of money.

Every student who raises at least $50 is treated to a root-beer float party.

Teachers and staff also may collect pledges and race against each other in order to win prizes. In fact, funds raised by the teachers are earmarked for use in their individual classrooms. And, as a bonus prize this year, an Astro-Jump party will be presented to the classroom that earns the most money.

Coordinated by the Coyote Valley Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), the jog-a-thon is one of the top school fundraisers with the entire profit going directly back to the school.

The money raised is used for school assemblies and field trips, library books, individual classroom needs, and more.

And, with the many budget cut-backs in recent years, the funds raised in this event have become more essential than ever. Last year, the event raised approximately $15,000 and the PTO is hoping to at least match that amount again this year.

“Coyote Valley is eagerly anticipating this year’s fall jog-a-thon fundraiser,” says Coyote Valley Elementary Principal Tom Hoskins. “The jog-a-thon is rich in tradition and exemplifies the community spirit of our school and Hidden Valley Lake. Combining fun, fitness and fundraising, the jog-a-thon has long lasting benefits for our school and children.”

This year’s jog-a-thon was generously sponsored by the Hidden Valley Lake Community Services District who made a large financial contribution toward the cost for the t-shirts that are provided to all of the jog-a-thon participants.

Judging on this year’s theme of “Water Up Coyote Valley!”, the CSD board selected the winning student artwork that will be featured on the front of the t-shirt.

This year’s winner was Hailey Wright, and the runner-ups were Taylor Harris, Erika Kinsel and Sophie Kucer.

The back of the t-shirts feature businesses that make a monetary donation of $250 toward the Jog-a-thon and the Coyote Valley Elementary PTO is asking that the community, in turn, support and thank these businesses for their support of our school.

Currently, the official t-shirt sponsors include: Affordable Plumbing, Astro Jump, Bennett Solutions, Big Chill, Bottle Rock Power, Classic Auto Body, Coyote Valley Pharmacy, Fitness First – Calistoga, Hardesters Market, Jan-Mar Construction, JT Auto Glass, Clearlake Dentistry, LedCor, Mugshots, Muscle Matrix, Personal Development Institute, Paul Davis Restoration, Reliable Plumbing, Stephen Hebert Painting, Tri-Counties Bank, Whispering Pines and the HVL Community Services District.

“This event is made possible solely through individual pledges for a student and/or teacher and through the sponsorship and donation of prizes by local businesses. And every year, this event is a testimony to how our community comes together to support our children’s education,” said Jog-a-thon Coordinator Jennifer Totten.

Now’s your chance to get involved. Call the Coyote Valley Elementary school office to pledge your support of a teacher or contact a local Coyote Valley Elementary student and make a pledge today.

The winning artwork for the 2011 Coyote Valley Elementary Jog-a-thon Fundraiser.

Special guest speaker will be State Controller John Chiang.

Scheduled to attend the event are Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, California Assembly members Wes Chesbro, and Mariko Yamada, and State Board of Equalization Member Betty Yee. Each also will address the group.

Tickets are available at $25 senior, $35 for general admission and $20 for students. Children under age 5 may attend for free.

Tickets may be purchased online at https://secure.Actblue.com/page/lakedembbq.

The event includes a barbecue dinner with all the fixings, hors de oeuvres, a silent auction and a live auction for a lunch or dinner for four with Yee, state Sen. Noreen Evans, Chesbro, Chiang and several others.

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Back by popular demand, educators Gabe and Barbi Kerschner will show some of their wild birds and animals whose permanent injuries prevent their return to living in the wild.

See Spirit, a young bald eagle; Shasta, a golden eagle; Archimedes, a great horned owl; Boo, a tiny Western screech owl; and Billabong, a red kangaroo.

The Kerschners will display each animal individually, relate its personal history and explain what life is like in the wild for these magnificent creatures.

And for a special treat, if you are reading Edgar Allen Poe for The Big Read, come meet the raven.

Most of these species live around us in Lake County, but in their native habitats you would never see them at close hand like this. These amazing birds and animals serve as ambassadors for their wild species. Redbud Audubon is proud to bring these unique educators to Lake County.

All seats are free. The show is appropriate for all ages and is sure to be enjoyed by children.

The Soper Reese Community Theatre is at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, 707-263-0577, www.soperreesetheatre.com.

This program is funded by Redbud Audubon Society’s Jeanne Wall Children’s Nature Education Fund. Visit www.redbudaudubon.org for photos and information.

The Soper Reese Community Theatre is a restored, historic, performing arts venue established in 1949 and seating 300 patrons.

Run by an all-volunteer organization, the theater operates under the guidance of the non-profit Lake County Arts Council.

The Soper-Reese brings dance, music, plays and poetry to all members of the Lake County community and to visiting tourists.

The event takes place at the Lakeport Library, 1425 N. High St., from from noon to 4 p.m.

Early bird sale for members starts at 11:30 a.m., so join Friends of Lake County Library.

Membership categories: student/senior $15, adult/family $25, donor $50 and other. A membership table will be set up from 10 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. the day of the event.

The popular friends book bag sale continues. For $15 buyers can stuff as many books and videos as their new book bag will hold. In addition a silent auction will feature local art and crafts, and more.

Proceeds from this event support the libraries in Lake County.

Friends of Lake County Library generously provides books, children’s tables and chairs, and display items that would otherwise not be available to the libraries.

Friends are a group of volunteers that are dedicated to supporting and expanding what the library offers to children and adults.

Since the public library is one of the main cultural and informational centers of the community, the group realizes that a community with a strong library system is a better place to live.

They appreciate donations of books in good condition. Please drop off at any library branch.

Friends of the Lake County Library is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization.

For more information, call 707-263-8817 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Joe Fernandez before the IOOF building in Upper Lake, Calif., with its new paint job which he raised funds to complete. Courtesy photo.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Upper Lake IOOF building has a bright new coat of paint thanks to the efforts of community member Joe Fernandez.

Fernandez – aka Hippie Joe and The Egg Man – worked with Wilder & Son's Painting to complete this community project.

Mostly he paid out of his own pocket, but many community members have contributed to the cost, including a contribution from the Upper Lake Community Council and town residents.

Wilder & Sons contributed a reduced cost of labor and added trim colors at no additional cost to bring the building back to a distinguished look.

Joe has been a Upper Lake community member for more than 30 years. This was a way for him to show how much he loves and supports the community.

The IOOF building in Upper Lake, Calif., before its new paint job, with Joe Fernandez in front. Courtesy photo.