LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – To help fund service projects and activities in the fall and winter, Girl Scouts from around Lake County will be selling nuts and magazines through Nov. 18.

Just in time for holiday entertaining and gifts, the Girl Scout sale includes new Dark Chocolate Mint Penguins, Blueberry Pomegranate Crunch and Morning Mountain Mix, plus returning favorites Chocolate Toffee Almonds, Butter Toasted Peanuts, Caramel Treasures, Whole Cashews, Salsa Mix, Cranberry Nut Mix, Chocolate Covered Raisins, Honey Roasted Peanuts and Gummi Berries.

Subscriptions to your favorite print and digital magazines also available. The Fall Nut and Magazine Prices ranging between $4 and $8.

You also can donate snacks to the food bank or military through the Care to Give program.

To find a troop near you and arrange purchases, visit  www.girlscoutsnorcal.org/pages/product_sales/fall_sale.html .

On Saturday an estimated 170,000 people, including many in California, will participate in the 18th annual National Public Lands Day.

Since 1994, nonprofits from across the country, as well as eight federal agencies, and state, regional and local governments have participated in the annual day of caring for public lands, making it the nation's largest single-day volunteer event for public lands.

“We’re thrilled that so many people are getting excited about improving and maintaining public lands,” said Sara Husby-Good, executive director and campaign coordinator of Tuleyome, a nonprofit located in Woodland and Napa, CA.

Husby added, “This is a beautiful place that is loved and utilized by so many people. We want these special lands to be protected for many future generations to enjoy.”

Tuleyome is working to designate the Berryessa Snow Mountain region as a National Conservation Area.

If designated, the Berryessa Snow Mountain region will become part of the National Landscape Conservation System, for federally recognized areas that are considered the crown jewels of the American West.

The purpose of National Public Lands Day is to educate America about the need for shared stewardship of these valued, irreplaceable lands; build partnerships between the public sector and the local community based upon mutual interests in the enhancement and restoration of America's public lands; and improve public lands for outdoor recreation, with volunteers assisting land managers in hands-on work.

This year volunteers in every state visited parks, lakes, beaches, wildlife preserves and forests to help protect these special and wild lands that belong to all Americans. They improved and rehabilitated the lands and facilities for public use; such as recreation, education, and exercise.

Here in Northern California, a crowd gathered to improve the network of trails in the public lands of the Berryessa Snow Mountain region.

They worked on clearing a section of trails that will stretch from Pope Creek to Putah Creek in Napa County.

With abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation, including hiking, biking, fishing, horseback riding, boating and swimming the area is already a prime, if little known, recreation destination. Just a stone’s throw away from Sacramento and the Bay Area, the public lands in the Berryessa Snow Mountain region are some of the most dazzling and diverse in the country.

Last year, National Public Lands Day contributed an estimated $17 million in volunteer services to public lands, which included planting about 100,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants, as well as building and maintaining approximately 1,500 miles of trails.

Volunteers also collected an estimated 23,000 pounds of invasive plants and removed about 500 tons of trash from trails and other places.

For more information about National Public Lands Day, please visit www.publiclandsday.org , or to learn more about protecting the public lands in the Berryessa Snow Mountain Region, visit www.berryessasnowmountain.org .

The American Red Cross has launched its official Earthquake App, putting lifesaving information right in the hands of people who live in or who visit earthquake prone areas.

This free app – available in English or Spanish – is the third in a series created by the American Red Cross, the nation’s leader in emergency preparedness, for use on both iPhone and Android platforms.

The Earthquake App comes on the heels of the highly successful First Aid and Hurricane apps, which have been downloaded more than 1 million times.

“This newest app gives instant access to local and real-time information on what to do before, during and after earthquakes,” said Ellen Maremont Silver, communications director, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake Counties Red Cross. “Local residents will receive earthquake notifications and can monitor activity where other family and friends reside. People who do not live in earthquake-prone areas can have peace of mind knowing they’ll have instant information about loved ones.”

New “Shake Zone Impact Maps” show give users personalized local impact information to help them make crucial decisions.

Features of the app include:

• Earthquake notifications showing the epicenter, magnitude and intensity maps;
• One touch “I’m safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends via social media outlets that they are out of harm’s way;
• Options to view the app in English or Spanish based on user handset settings;
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters;
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create a family emergency plan;
• Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps, even without mobile connectivity;
• Information on events that may happen after earthquakes such as fires and tsunamis;
• Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm; and
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

Over the past three months, the Red Cross has made great strides in putting vital information in the hands of people who need it during emergencies.

More than 1 million people have downloaded the First Aid and Hurricane Apps. People have used the content in our First Aid App to control bleeding, care for broken bones and help people having seizures.

The Red Cross Hurricane App was used to find Red Cross shelters and to send “I’m safe” messages during Hurricane Isaac.

National Red Cross experts in health, safety and preparedness have thoroughly reviewed and field tested the information and advice provided in Red Cross apps.

“A recent Red Cross survey found that apps have tied social media as the fourth most popular way for people to get information during emergencies, making the Red Cross app development effort even more important,” added Silver.

The Earthquake App can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross. Apps can help prepare people for disasters, but they are not a substitute for training.

Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED training empowers people to know how to respond to emergencies in case advanced medical help is delayed. People can visit www.redcross.org/takeaclass for course information and to register.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters each year and helps people get ready to respond to emergencies by providing these apps for free. The Red Cross needs the help of the public to continue this lifesaving effort.

People can make a donation to the Red Cross by going to www.redcross.org , texting REDCROSS to 90999 or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS. Information about the local Red Cross is available at www.arcsm.org .

The California Emergency Management Agency announced Friday that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Sears Holdings Corp. (SHC), a move which builds on a continuing effort to boost emergency response capabilities and the availability of critical resources in times of emergency.

“When disaster strikes, private businesses play a significant role in protecting their employees and addressing the needs of the community,” said Cal EMA Secretary Mark Ghilarducci.

“Having organizations such as Sears and Kmart who are willing and able to help provide emergency assistance and resources to affected communities is a great asset, one which helps speed recovery and get local communities back on their feet,” said Ghilarducci. “Through these affiliations, resources are increased, and we are better able to coordinate and deliver the services our residents need during times of emergency.”
 
The MOU with SHC allows both organizations to better monitor disaster events and effectively provide necessary resources as a component of the state’s Standardized Emergency Management System.

As a major retailer with multiple locations throughout the state and country, Sears Holdings will be able to provide resources and assistance directly to impacted communities in times of need.

“In California, disasters are an unfortunate fact of life,” said William Titus, Sears Holdings vice president of Loss Prevention and Safety. “Californians need help to recover, and with approximately 270 Sears, Kmart and specialty stores throughout the state, we are ready to lend a hand whenever a community needs assistance. We look forward to working with Cal EMA and the other partners in helping California bounce back from disaster.”

Under the agreement, SHC will work with other business partners to ensure resources are most efficiently provided under the direction of Cal EMA. SHC will also have representation at the State Operations Center at Cal EMA Headquarters during emergency activations to allow for direct coordination with Cal EMA and other private business partners.
 
In an effort to enhance the role that the private sector plays in California’s ability to respond to and recover from emergencies, Cal EMA has worked to incorporate the private sector into the state’s disaster response system.

As part of these efforts, Cal EMA has actively pursued key partnerships with private industry. To date, Cal EMA has signed MOUs with private sector partners such as Wells Fargo; Bank of America; Time Warner Cable; Wal Mart Stores, Inc.; Gap, Inc.; California Grocers Association; Target Corp.; Home Depot; California Utilities Emergency Association; and several others.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Members of the Clear Lake Trowel and Trellis Club built two popular themed garden exhibits for the 2012 Lake County fair this summer.

The first exhibit, “Pretty as a Picture,” featured a large lattice wood picture frame beyond which lay a typical Lake County summer day picnic.  

The background was comprised of a large scene on canvas with Mount Konocti in the background, handpainted by member artist Joyce Porterfield with the assistance of her granddaughter, Blair Brooks.  

In the foreground, members planted many native species plants including manzanita, shoreline grasses and tules. A blanket spread on the grass with utensils welcomed viewers into the scene, surely with fond memories of their own past picnics around the lake.

The second exhibit, for the “Summer’s Biggest Blast” fair theme, featured an exquisite antique quilt hung on the rear wall with the caption, “Summer’s Biggest Blast is Growing Fair Winners.”  

The scene delighted fair-goers, with themed organic gardens in the foreground complete with a gardener potting up plants at her potting bench, a compost bin, straw bale garden and flower-vegetable companion plantings.

Shelves at either side of the background quilt contained home-canned produce complete with ribbons suggesting many past fair entries from the garden produce.

CLT&TGC President Leanne Harvey is pleased with the club’s efforts and excited about the growing interest in garden exhibits at the Fair.  

“Last year we installed the only garden exhibit in the floral building; this year every garden exhibit space was filled and the response by everyone who came through the building was tremendous,” said Harvey. “We welcome the competition and are so excited about rolling up our sleeves and showcasing our Club’s gardening expertise and talent in an even bigger way at the 2013 Fair.”

The CLT&TGC welcomes new members; more information about the club is available at www.CLTTGC.org or by contacting Harvey at 707-263-0850.

The club meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the Month – except July and August – at the Scotts Valley Women’s Clubhouse, 2298 Hendricks Road, Lakeport.

CLTTGC is a member of the Mendo-Lake District, California Garden Club Inc., Pacific Region and National Garden Clubs Inc.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a special breast cancer awareness reception and fundraiser with local fiber artist Sue Wilson on Sunday, Oct. 7.

The event, which will take place from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., will include wine sampling, appetizer bites and music accompaniment by pianist Jim Waters.

Wilson started knitting at the age of 9 and knitted her first sweater at age 11. Her mother taught her how to knit initially and additional skills were learned from books and by trial and error.

When she first learned to knit in rural Iowa, basic yarns were available at the local dime store. Today, yarns from around the world add style and luxury to her projects.

As a child Wilson entered items in the local county fairs and she carries on the tradition by entering items in the Lake County Fair.

“Of course it is fun to see a blue ribbon, but I hope too, that people viewing these entries will be inspired to take up the hobby,” she said.

In the 1980s Wilson taught knitting at a yarn shop in Palo Alto. More recently she taught knitting at Perlz Beads and Yarn in downtown Kelseyville and taught the art to many Lake County residents. During that time a charity knitting group, Stitch & Give, was formed.  

Even though Perlz is no longer in business, the group continues to meet once a month. Donations of knitted items are made locally to Lake Family Resource Center, internationally to Afghans for Afghans and most recently, the group knit children’s hats for Dr. Paula Dhanda to take on her medical mission trip to Nepal.

Wilson also is a breast cancer survivor. During this October Breast Cancer Awareness month, Wilson will show her collection of items which she has knitted to be sold at Lake County Wine Studio.  

She is donating all the yarn, her hours of knitting and all of the proceeds from the sale of these knitted items to go to help fund breast cancer research projects.  

The one-of-a-kind items include hats, shawls, scarves, lap robes, and a few baby sweaters created with luxurious fibers such as cashmere and alpaca, as well as cotton and wool.

With the holiday season just around the corner, these items could be considered for gift giving.

Knitters are invited to bring their knitting and enjoy the music and wine.

The last of the Cleavage Creek wines in LCWS’s inventory will be available at special sale pricing beginning Oct. 7 and throughout the month until it is sold out – first come, first served.

Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County. Artists’ shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.  

The month’s artist on display for October is painter, Claudia Flood.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake. It is open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030.