Jim Haggett, CASA's case manager, with the recently awarded national certificate. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Mendocino and Lake Counties has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.

This certification recognizes that CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties is in compliance with the high standards for quality child advocacy set by National CASA.

According to Michael Piraino, chief executive officer of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf. This certification says CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.”

CASA of Mendocino and Lake Counties, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), was established in 1994 and graduated their first volunteer advocates in 1995.

In 2010, CASA expanded their program into Lake County.

CASA volunteers are community members of all backgrounds, and educational levels working with the judicial system, with supporters, with policy makers and with the local CASA program to assure that every child has a voice.

One person can be the difference. We are accepting applications now for our fall training beginning late September.

Make a difference in a Mendocino or Lake County abused, neglected or delinquent child’s life.

For more information, contact Kimberly Smith at 707-463-6503, Extension 11 or email her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Konocti Art Society displays artsy gourds at Westamerica Bank in Kelseyville, Calif., to benefit Lake Family Resource Center. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Westamerica Bank in Kelseyville is displaying artsy gourds that are designed, decorated and painted by artists of the Konocti Art Society.

Thanks to bank manager Rhiannon Mitchell the gourds will be on display all of September.

Raffle tickets may be purchased from tellers – one for $1 or six for $5.

The tickets also will be sold at the Dave Stamey concert and barbecue on Friday, Sept. 23; for Dave Stamey concert and barbecue information call the Wildhurst tasting room at 707-279-4302.

Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Lake Family Resource Center in Kelseyville.

Winning tickets of the artsy gourds will be drawn at 3 p.m. inside Westamerica Bank at the Kelseyville Pear Festival on Saturday, Sept. 24.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, in Fritch Hall at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., Lakeport.

The extravaganza will provide direct financial assistance to the sports teams of Clear Lake High School just in time for the new school year.

Yummy food will be provided by Chic le Chef, with live music by the LC Diamonds, fun and unique sports themed games (with some fantastic prizes by the way), a silent and live auction and a new and exciting basket raffle.

Your favorite Clear Lake High School sporting teams are taking an active role in the event by providing the silent auction items – of which they keep 100 percent of everything their items bring – and they will be competing for your raffle tickets in the basket raffle showdown.

Tickets, which cost $20 presale and $25 at the door, are available at Linda’s Hallmark, Strong Financial Network and Plaza Paints.

If you have a son or daughter playing a sport this year, the school could really use your help.

Please contact Jennifer Strong at 707-349-0815 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

From 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, people will gather with their brothers and sisters on the shoreline all around Clear Lake, coming together as one, touching the water, and blessing the lake, the land and people as they heal in community.

Everyone is welcome to join in this sacred healing ceremony, which is nondenominational and open to people of all spiritual backgrounds.

Everyone shares this land and these precious resources – and all are participants in the healing that is taking place here. On Sept. 10 the community will come together through all of its differences, to honor that which unites everyone.

Meeting locations for the 10 a.m. ceremony include Library Park in Lakeport, Austin Park in Clearlake, Alpine Park in Lucerne, Keeling Park in Nice, Shi-Kom Village in Nice, Clarks Island in Clearlake Oaks, Ancient Lake Gardens in Kelseyville, Clear Lake State Park in Kelseyville, the Bluegrass Festival at Anderson Marsh State Park in Lower Lake and more.

For a full listing with directions to each site, or to start your own gathering, visit www.HandsAroundClearLake.com or find “Hands Around Clear Lake” on Facebook.

There will be people at each gathering site leading the ceremonies, and you are invited to be one of them.

Participants will be welcome to share words, or participate in silence – whatever is most healing and most true for each individual. Dance your prayers. Drum your prayers. Touch the water or don't. Be free. Every person has their our own ways of observing the sacred, and each must do what they are personally called to do.

The lake is listening, and "Hands Around Clear Lake" is a chance for the whole tribe to come together and speak our message to her. People everywhere are waking up to their sacred responsibilities, and coming together to build healthier communities and keep our environment clean and safe for all. This event is intended to unite the community for a brighter tomorrow.

The Sept. 10 healing ceremony is sponsored by three local nonprofits that are serving in this movement toward a healthier and more honest way of life: Transition Lake County, the Lucy Moore Foundation and the Clarks Island Sustainability Initiative.

The “Hands Around Clear Lake” event on Saturday will be preceded by a 6 a.m. sunrise ceremony at Shi-kom Pomo Village in Nice (follow signs from Highway 20 and Nice-Lucerne Cutoff Road).

Also, at the same location, on Friday, Sept. 9, there will be an all-night event entitled, “Campout on Clear Lake: Tribal Gathering, Concert and Celebration of Life.”

Folks will be gathering on the north end of the lake, at Shi-kom Pomo Village on the shore in Nice, starting at 3 p.m. on Friday. All are invited to share in a night of music, dancing, drumming, fire, food and camping, under the stars, as One People.

Beautiful music and art and storytelling and energy exchange with amazing people -- featuring music by The Human Revolution. Families and pets are welcome.

A $25 suggested donation benefits nonprofit sponsors. Pay what you can; no one turned away for lack of funds. Optional second night of camping Saturday.

For more information about these events, call 415-646-5630, find us on Facebook, or visit www.handsaroundclearlake.com.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – It just wouldn't be the Lake County Fair without a barn full of livestock raised by local youth, shown in fierce competition to see who has raised the best lamb, hog or steer, and then sold to the rhythmic patter of the auctioneers and the roar of the crowd on a warm Saturday afternoon.

The auction is sponsored by Umpqua Bank, which provides immediate payment to the youthful sellers, then collects from the buyers in the days just following the sale.

The annual Junior Livestock Auction kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, and is expected to offer around 230 lots of prize winning livestock, poultry and rabbits for potential buyers from throughout Northern California.

A registered buyer's luncheon immediately precedes the sale at 10:30 a.m., offering a tri-tip barbecue to all registered buyers under the auspices of the Kelseyville FFA boosters.

The luncheon is provided in part by Sentry Market of Upper Lake and Foods Etc of Clearlake, and ends when the sale starts at 1 p.m.

In recent years, the sale has been split into two sales rings which operate at the same time, making for a total sale length of around three and a half hours and providing buyers with plenty of time to visit the rest of the Lake County Fair. An average of around 230 lots have been offered for a number of years.

“It's a real indication that the community supports youth programs like 4-H and the Future Farmers of America,” said Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons.

He added, “Those programs teach kids about agriculture, which is Lake County's largest economic sector, and about teamwork, sportsmanship, honor and responsibility. We're hoping the community continues to support these programs, and we'd like to set a new record sale this year. Many of these kids save the money for college or other educational efforts, and eventually return to Lake County to become farmers and ranchers, so in the long run the whole community benefits.”

Steers, lambs, hogs, meat goats, turkeys, rabbits and chickens are offered during the auction, with grand champion winners crossing the auction block at the start of the program.

Two buyers are allowed to join together for the purchase of one lot, and buyers who are unable to attend can arrange for a proxy to buy on their behalf.

People who don't have enough space in their freezer to purchase at the auction may still have a chance to purchase prize winning meats, as a number of local grocers purchase at the sale and then offer the prime cuts at the meat counter in their stores.

Regular admission prices for the 2011 Lake County Fair are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60 and $6 for children ages 6 through 11.

Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 only on Thursday, Sept. 1, for “Kid's Day.”

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport. The 2011 fair dates are Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year. The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows.

The fair theme for 2011 is “Make Some Magic!”

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Hunger Task Force will offer canning lessons on Thursday, Sept. 8.

The canning of fruits and vegetables will be taught from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, located at Third and Church streets in Kelseyville. Call 707-277-9227 to register.

Pears and tomatoes will be featured, as that is the most abundant crop in Lake County at this time of year, and offer a well-rounded learning experience.

The Hunger Task Force feels that canning is one of the best ways to prepare healthy, nutritious food for your family.

All participants should come dressed for a hands-on experience in each step of the process.

Upon completion of the lessons, each participating household will be given a water bath canner, a book, a jar lifter and a case of canning jars to take home.

Participants must be preregistered, and space is limited to 12 per session.

The cost is $20, half of which will be refunded upon attendance.

Please call as soon as possible to register.