UPPER LAKE, Calif. – One hundred and 50 years ago this month, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which altered the course of the Civil War and changed America forever.

The Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable will be discussing this momentous document at their next gathering on Tuesday, Oct. 2, beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the historic Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

The Emancipation Proclamation was somewhat of an enigma and a paradox. Common understanding is that it freed the slaves.

“In reality, it freed very few, as it declared as free only those slaves that were in Confederate control and beyond the power of Lincoln to free them,” Roundtable Co-founder Phil Smoley said.

“It maintained slavery in areas under United States control,” he said. “In fact, the Emancipation Proclamation maintained slavery in the states of Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and much of Louisiana and Virginia. Freedom did not come to the slaves in those areas until months after the war was over and Lincoln had died. Thus, the Emancipation Proclamation had the strange effect of attempting to free the slaves where it couldn’t, while maintaining slavery in the United States where it could free them.”

In addition, at the time Lincoln issued the proclamation, it did not take effect until Jan. 1, 1863. Lincoln’s goal was to give the southern states 100 days to return to the Union, and if they did, they could keep their slaves. This element further clouded the motives and priorities behind the proclamation, according to Smoley.

At the time, the Emancipation Proclamation was highly controversial, even in the North. Since Lincoln bypassed Congress, there were questions of whether he had the Constitutional power to make such a proclamation in the first place.

“But it had a powerful effect internationally, and it changed the war’s focus from solely a war of conquest and forced reunion to adding the element of emancipation, which undoubtedly ended slavery in America years earlier than would have occurred without the war,” Smoley added.

Tallman Hotel proprietor and avid historian Bernie Butcher will lead the discussion and analyze the events leading to the proclamation and its impact on the war and the people it affected.

There also will be a review led by local historian Zane Jensen of other events of October 1862, including the Battle of Perryville, the biggest and bloodiest battle to occur in Kentucky.

The meeting is free and open to anyone attending.

For more information, contact either Phil Smoley, 707-264-4905, or Zane Jensen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Acme Foundation recently celebrated its 4th Anniversary Celebration of Caring, which took place on Sept. 16 at Rob Roy Golf Club on Cobb Mountain.

The delicious champagne lunch was prepared and served by Rob Roy staff. The event was organized and coordinated with the help of Rob Roy’s Sue McDonald.

Thanks are extended to John Zimmerman for providing his wide array of wonderful music. Founders Pat and Jon Meyer and Paul Woycheshin from San Leandro all took part to emcee the event. Woycheshin also was the event photographer.

Volunteers included Lilo Hansen, Paula Werner, “head cashier” Jan Woycheshin and from Clearlake Veterinary Clinic were Yvonne Scott, Kristin Westcott and Alanna Bobbitt.

The “Acme Store” offered attendees items from all over the United States including pet items, home décor items, art, gift baskets, wine and numerous gift certificates. Thanks go to Ann Aldridge from Berkeley who was responsible for obtaining most of the donated items.

A raffle was held for many fun items and a special raffle for 4 tickets to Disneyland was held at the end of the event.

The successful event raised funds to help continue providing grants to Lake County’s low income seniors and the disabled to help with the expenses incurred for the treatment of their seriously ill cats and dogs.

The Acme Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and 100 percent of all net proceeds are given to qualifying grant applicants. The foundation’s Website is at www.AcmeFoundation.org .

NICE, Calif. – The Sons of Italy host a spaghetti feed on the first Sunday of every month.

The next spaghetti feed will be from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Sons Of Italy hall, located at 2817 Highway 20 in Nice.

The menu consists of spaghetti, salad, sausage, meatballs, garlic bread, dessert and coffee.

The bar is open for those who wish to purchase a beverage.

Everyone is welcome to come sing and dance with Roland and his karaoke machine for a fun afternoon.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – At the Monday, Oct. 8, meeting of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club, attendees will learn how to start plants from cuttings.

Fall is the perfect time to plan for next year. Propagating now provides gardeners with young plants that will be ready to set out next spring.

The HVL Garden Club meets in the activity room of the HVLA administrative building, 18174 Hidden Valley Road. Social gathering with refreshments begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by meeting and program at 10 a.m.

All meetings of the Hidden Valley Lake Garden Club are open to the public. The organization meets on the second Monday of each month.

For further information please contact HVL Garden Club President, Angela Birk, 707-987-0195 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Soroptimist International of Clearlake recently presented a $500 check to Dr. Paula Dhanda who later this month will travel on a mission with Worldwide Healing Hands.

Worldwide Healing Hands’ mission is to improve the health care for women and children in the most underserved areas of the world.

The group will go to the town of Ilam in the Himalayas in Eastern Nepal. Severe poverty and harsh conditions prevent most of the people there from receiving medical care, a situation Worldwide Healing Hands hopes to change.

While there Dr. Dhanda will perform approximately 50 surgeries and will provide a two-week training program for midwives.

In addition the group plans to leave behind hundreds of birthing kits that fit into a sandwich bag, work that fits wonderfully with the goal of Soroptimist International which translates to “Best for women.”

Soroptimist International of Clearlake has a goal of helping to promote the health of all women, locally nationally and internationally and to promote the advancement of women through volunteer service to the community and to serve as a global voice on issues of importance to women.

Dr. Dhanda’s daughter will accompany her mother on this mission, having raised half of the money needed to make the trip – quite an accomplishment for an 11 year old girl.

Another program sponsored by Soroptimist International of Clearlake assists women who need help paying for mammograms which are done at St. Helena Clearlake Hospital.

Women in need of this program should contact Kelley Slater, who chairs the mammogram committee, at 707-994-9174.

There are three classes of membership in Soroptimist International of Clearlake: regular, retired/unemployed and embarking. The group meets twice monthly at noon at Howard’s Grotto.    

Women who are interested in learning more about the organization are encouraged to contact President Wanda Harris at 707-987-9027 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH A NEW LOCATION.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The recently formed Camaro Owners of Lake County (COOLC) invites the community to come and meet the group at twice-a-month gatherings.

The club has a drop-in event from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. every second and fourth Friday.

Its next gathering will take place on Friday, Sept. 28, at Tatonka Land Mini Golf, 14240 Lakeshore Drive, Clearlake.

At the drop-in meetings people are invited to come and see cool Camaros and Firebirds, meet the club and even sign up.

Visit the club’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Camaro-Owners-of-Lake-County/270189973068944 and the Web site at http://www.windandfunkites.com/club/camaro.htm .