UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The movie “Cold Mountain” opens up to a battlefield scene during the Siege of Petersburg during the Civil War.

Stalemated and hoping for a breakthrough to end the war, the Union army dug a tunnel under “no-mans land” and made an underground cavern under Confederate lines in which they filled with tons of explosives.

Early one morning 150 years ago this month, they set off the explosives, blowing a huge whole in the Confederate line, killing, maiming, and burying hundreds of men.

What followed is known to history as the “Battle of the Crater.”

Zane Jensen will go into detail regarding this gruesome and tragic event, and explain the circumstances leading up to it, at the next Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable on Monday, July 7, at 6:15 p.m. at the Tallman Hotel in historic Upper Lake.  

Jensen will utilize a multimedia presentation full of pictures and maps to help attendees understand what really happened in back in 1864, and how “Cold Mountain” captured the scene accurately (other than the movie shows it happened early dawn, when in reality it was still dark).

The roundtable meets monthly and is attempting to follow the Civil War month by month to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War.  

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.  

The information is presented in a manner that everyone from novice to expert will find interesting.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley at 707-349-1008 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Zane Jensen at 707-349-6360 and email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Dr. Glenn Benjamin of Upper Lake has been elected as the Lake County Horse Council’s interim president, following the resignation of Virginia Vovchuk.

Dr. Benjamin, Cornell University graduate and practicing veterinarian for 52 years, began his career in California as a restorative equine surgeon.

One of Safari West’s founders in Santa Rosa, and proud owner of a herd of Percherons, Benjamin, and his wife Dana DiRicco, care for and show their beautiful draft horses all over the Western U.S. and Canada, and among the herd are grand champions and reserve champions at Grass Valley and Calgary competitions.

Active in the SPCA and local Farm Bureau, Benjamin is a hard-working advocate for horses and other animals in Lake County.

Virginia Vovchuk leaves the board of directors after leading the organization since November 2012.

She will continue her volunteer support of the Horse Council, and retains a place on the Westside Community Park Board, working towards the development of a community equestrian center in Lakeport.

In the last year and a half, LCHC reached a total of 150 memberships, and the board’s fundraising efforts doubled revenues for the nonprofit Horse Council, enabling sponsorship of local equestrian activities.

A dedicated group of volunteers was responsible for organizing three major events that made LCHC a recognized organization in the community: The Fiesta of the Horse, the Horse Faire at Kelseyville’s Pear Festival and the Highland Springs Poker Run.

LCHC became a member of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, furthering its partnerships with local businesses and building awareness through marketing.

The LCHC Web site and equine calendar were relaunched and improved. A grant from AQHA and Tractor Supply made possible important trail preservation work at Highland Springs.

The Horse Council was founded in 2009 by a group of equine enthusiasts representing a variety of disciplines and interests.

They agreed on a common set of goals and articulated their mission as follows:

• Promote and preserve the horse as agriculture, industry and recreation;
• Inform the public about horse community goals, projects and events;
• Promote educational programs for the horse industry;
• Support private and public equine facilities and activities;
• Serve as a liaison between the horse industry, the community, and government agencies;
• Promote all aspects of the equine industry.

Go to www.lakecountyhorsecouncil.com for more information and the calendar.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club met at the Buckingham clubhouse on Tuesday, June 17, to install its new club officers.

Nance Benkelman, installing officer, installed Marva Brandt as the club's president.

Members of Brandt's leadership team are Debra Watson and Susan Buckles, vice presidents; Helen
Turley, treasurer; Michelle Wisler, secretary; and Ginny Cline, parliamentarian.

Forty members and friends enjoyed food, fun and fellowship while partying on beautiful Clear Lake.  

Brandt and her team promise an exciting year for the membership and those that have been waiting for the experience to “Bloom, Believe and Befriend.”

For more information call Marva Brandt at 707-279-1625.

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

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Shannon Michele of Cache Creek Catering and Lake County Wine Studio are presenting a monthly food and wine series featuring gourmet appetizers paired with select Lake County wines.

Locally produced foods are proudly featured as key ingredients in recipes created by Cache Creek Catering.

The series is held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of each month. The per person cost is $25 and $20 for Wine Studio club members. Reservations are required.

July 11 will feature Chacewater wines with a Pacific Rim-inspired menu.

The first course will be a citrus prawn hand roll with rice noodles paired with the 2013 Sauvignon Blanc, followed by fiery Thai beef salad paired with the 2013 Syrah Rosé.

The dessert course will be a coconut cake with mango lime creme paired with the 2013 Orange Muscat.

Ryan Kriken from the Chacewater tasting room will be on site to talk about the wines with guests.

Aug. 8 will be the next date to follow for the Local Cuisine Scene event with local farm stand favorites paired with new summer releases.

For reservations and additional information, call 707-293-8752.

Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Due to the creative work of a few individuals in the community and the financial support of local businesses, fireworks will be happening at the Ukiah and Lakeport Speedways this weekend.

Fireworks on the Fourth of July in Ukiah is a memory for most Ukiah residents. Because of the daunting task of making all of the arrangements and providing the thousands of dollars in capital needed, most efforts to bring the fireworks back have lost momentum.  

Presented by Ukiah Ford and Hampton Inn of Ukiah with support from Furia Construction. Mendo Lake Credit Union, Ukiah Daily Journal, Max 93.5 FM, 94.5 Kwine, Advantage Towing and Transportation, Kelseyville Lumber, KXBX and True Country 103.3, fireworks will be taking place at dusk at the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds on Friday, July 4, and at the Lakeport Speedway on Saturday, July 5.

Engines will be revving Friday in Ukiah for “Blast From The Past” Car Racing and Saturday for the Deake Lyndall Memorial Race.

Divisions include, Bombers, Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Jammers, Bandos, Legends and Outlaws.

Gates will open at 3:30 p.m. and Racing will begin at 5 p.m. with the exciting ground show fireworks will take place at dusk both nights.

Tickets are $14 for adults, seniors and students $12, children 6 to 11 $8 and children 5 and under are admitted free. Family packs with two adults and three children’s admittance can be purchased for $30.

In recognition of their service and sacrifice, first responders and members of military with proper ID will be admitted for free.

Race promoter David Furia has been the mastermind behind bringing the fireworks to the speedways. With the support and assistance of Jennifer Seward and Mary Chadwick the groundwork has been laid for a not-to-miss patriotic celebration.

Furia is excited about this years show and said, “The ground show is an incredible in your face display of fireworks and pyrotechnics. The style of fireworks that will be presented will astound and amaze every person in the grandstands. This will be the fireworks show that will make people wish they had been there.”

Avoid the long drive home, keep fireworks in our community and support the local businesses that have brought fireworks home again. Make plans now to attend a night of racing and fireworks at the Ukiah Speedway Blast From The Past Races July 4 and July 5 at the Lakeport Speedway Deake Lyndall Memorial Race.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Rancho de la Fuente (Lakeport) and Rancho Californio (Upper Lake) present an exciting new event, California Days, to be held at Rancho de la Fuente on Sunday, July 27.

Festivities begin with the Fiesta of the Horse, a lively and entertaining show which begins at 10:30 a.m., followed at noon by more musical entertainment, wine, beverage and food sales, and opportunity to browse educational displays devoted to California history, agriculture, artwork and crafts.

Admission to this family-friendly event is free.

Event coordinator Deb Baumann has specialized in producing “edu-tainment” about early California history for 25 years, partnering with the Smithsonian Institute, the Autry Museum of the American West, the Santa Ynez Vaquero Show and Santa Barbara's Old Spanish Days Parade, where her 1820-era mounted color guard carried the four national flags that have flown over California.

Mexico won independence from Spain in the early 1800s, and the decades that followed are called “The Golden Era” of California – the Rancho period, a time of peace and prosperity, and an economy based on cattle and horses. Citizens were called Californios. Because Alta California was so remote from the rest of Mexico, they developed their own unique cultural identity.

Although taking its name from one era, Californio Days is intended to educate, honor and celebrate all aspects of our agrarian past, present and future, from the original native population to modern day market farmers and the organic, sustainable farming movement.

Rancho de la Fuente owners Frank and Rosanna Perez look forward to seeing Californio Days grow year after year, eventually expanding to include displays of heritage livestock and poultry, demonstrations of country crafts such as spinning wool, leather work, farriers and iron workers, musical entertainment and good food.

Fiesta of the Horse features exotic breeds, dancing horses, drill teams, giant draft horses demonstrating horse-drawn farming techniques and implements, cowboy mounted shooting, Annie Oakley & Friends, and the wonderful Hooves & Wheels Miniature Horse Quadrille.

There will be comedy and drama, pageantry and thrills, music and fun.

To add to the fun and enhance the ambiance, the public is invited to come wearing costume or clothing from their own favorite period of California history.

Parking begins at 9:45 a.m. and the Fiesta of the Horse starts at 10:30 a.m.

Rancho de la Fuente is located at 2290 Soda Bay Road, south of Lakeport.

Anyone interested in volunteering, participating, or contributing displays or expertise, please contact Deb Baumann at 707-275-9234 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .