NICE, Calif. – Come to a fun dance on Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Sons of Italy hall.

The group will have a fun buffet of delightful holiday appetizers and dance music to 62Blues.

The bar opens at 5 p.m., snacking at 6 p.m. then followed by dancing until 9 p.m.

Tickets cost $15 per person. Everyone is welcome.

The Sons of Italy Hall is located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

Call 707-274-9952 to reserve a table or 707-274-2244 the day of the event.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The next HazMobile event will be held Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, at Highlands Senior Service/Community Center, 3245 Bowers Ave., Clearlake.

Hours will be from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Households can bring up to 15 gallons of toxic items free of charge.

Fees will be charged for amounts over 15 gallons.

Items that are accepted include paint, solvents, fuels, five-gallon propane tanks, pool chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, batteries, fluorescent light tubes (up to 60 linear feet), and other toxic materials that cannot be put in the trash.

Items that cannot be accepted include televisions, computer monitors, ammunition, explosives, radioactive materials or infectious wastes.

To learn how and where to properly dispose these items, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or contact the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

HazMobile services are provided to residential households by the Integrated Waste Management Division of the Lake County Public Services Department and the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Businesses also are welcome to use this convenient service to properly dispose of hazardous waste and protect our environment, however, businesses must pay for this taxpayer-funded service and first make an appointment.

Business appointments can be made by calling the Mendocino County Solid Waste Authority, the contracted agency that provides this service in Lake County at 707-468-9786.

Free recycling options for residents and businesses:

• Recycled paint is available to both residents and businesses at Lake County Waste Solutions on first-come, first-served basis in five gallon containers. Colors include tan, brown, gray and pink.
• Used cooking oil can be dropped-off by businesses and residents, which will be recycled into BioDiesel by Yokayo BioFuels. Drop-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and the Northshore Fire Protection District station at 6257 Seventh Ave. in Lucerne.
• Used motor oil can be dropped-off by residents for recycling year round at a number of sites in the county. Visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us for locations.
• Electronics (E-waste) can be dropped-off at Lake County Waste Solutions, South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center, and monthly at the Goodwill E-Waste collection held in Lakeport.

Lake County Waste Solutions
230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport
888-718-4888 or 707-234-6400
Monday – Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
www.candswaste.com  

South Lake Refuse & Recycling Center
16015 Davis Street, Clearlake
Open daily 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
707-994-8614
www.southlakerefuse.com 

The HazMobile program is subsidized by the Lake County Public Services Department, Integrated Waste Management Division and CalRecycle as a public service to Lake County residents.

For more information about recycling, reusing, and reducing, please visit www.recycling.co.lake.ca.us or call the Recycling Hotline at 707-263-1980.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lake County Historical Society will serve a complete Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, Nov. 10.

The group will gather at 1 p.m. at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, located at corner of 10th Avenue and Country Club Drive. The salad bar opens at 2 p.m.

Dinner tickets for LCHS members are $15 and tickets for non-members are $18.

The society invites the public to this dinner and to learn more about the society and Lake County history.

Call Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905 or 707-264-5507 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Senior Activity Center is seeking vendors for a holiday faire this December.

The Christmas Crafts Faire will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7.

The center is looking for local crafts people who make good quality, hand-crafted items only.

The fee is $25 per table and there will be space for 15 to 20 tables.

Applications are available at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave., or you may request a form be mailed to you by calling 707-263-4721.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 8.

Those who participated last year will have preference, so get you application in early to reserve your spot.

There will be food available during the day and Santa just may pay a visit in the afternoon.

Start the Christmas holiday season with a good old-fashioned faire and at the same time support your local senior center.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Library will host a free workshop on beading on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Class members will make an easy crystal bead bracelet under the direction of the library’s Amy Patton.

The workshop is free and all supplies will be provided.

The Friends of the Lake County Library will provide light refreshments for the workshop guests.

Signups are required. The library is located at 1425 N. High St. Patton can be reached at 707-263-8817, Extension 17105.

Visit the library on the Internet at http://library.co.lake.ca.us or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lakecountylibrary .

MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif.– As of Friday, Nov. 1, Christmas tree permits are available from the Mendocino National Forest for the 2013 holiday season.

Permits are available for purchase in person or by mail from Mendocino National Forest offices, as well as at area vendors. Vendors are listed below with contact information for the Forest Service.

Permits are $10 per tree at Forest Service offices. Customers are advised to call vendors to verify permit price and availability.

The permits will be sold at Forest Service offices through Monday, Dec. 23.

Trees may be cut and removed any day of the week in authorized areas of the Mendocino National Forest. Please check current forest fire closure areas in case your annual tree cutting spot is within the closure.

There is a limit of one permit per household, with each permit using a valid name and address. Up to four additional permits may be purchased for additional households, using separate names and addresses. Individuals must be 18 or older to purchase a permit.

All Christmas tree permit sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive a tree tag and forest map.

To purchase a permit by mail, send a printed name and mailing address for each permit purchased, a daytime telephone number, and a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for $10 for each permit to either the Willows, Stonyford, Upper Lake or Covelo offices with “Christmas Tree Permit” written on the outside of the envelope.

Mail-in requests received after Dec. 14 will not be filled.

A form can be found online at www.fs.usda.gov/main/mendocino/passes-permits/forestproducts under “Christmas Tree Permits.”

If you are planning on cutting a Christmas tree for someone who isn’t present, a Third Party Authorization must be in the possession of the cutter. This form is also available on the Forest website and should be completed prior to leaving for the forest.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino counties. Any Christmas tree cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Christmas tree permits can be purchased from the following forest offices for $10.

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office
825 N. Humboldt Ave.
Willows, CA 95988
530-934-3316
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Stonyford Work Center
5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road
P.O. Box 160
Stonyford, CA, 95979
530-963-3128
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-noon, 1- 4:30 p.m.

Paskenta Work Station
13280 Paskenta Road
Paskenta, CA 96074
530-833-5544
Hours: Saturday, Dec. 7 and 14 ONLY, 9 a.m.-noon, 12:30-3 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station
78150 Covelo Road
Covelo, CA 95428
707-983-6118
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-noon, 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Upper Lake Ranger Station
10025 Elk Mountain Road
Upper Lake, CA 95485
707-275-2361
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-noon, 1-4:30 p.m.

Christmas tree permits are available from the following vendors. Please call for prices and availability:

Sacramento River Discovery Center
(Only 40 permits available)
1000 Sale Lane, Red Bluff
530-527-1196
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hi-Way Grocery
160 E. Hwy 20, Upper Lake
707-275-2380
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

M&M Feed and Supply
74540 Hill Road, Covelo
707-983-6273
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Keith’s Family Foods
76201 Covelo Road, Covelo
707-983-6633
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Cutting a Christmas tree on the National Forest is a great holiday tradition for many families and also helps with hazardous fuels reduction by removing smaller trees from the forest.

Following are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.

• Plan your trip. Check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.
• Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree.
• Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.
• Make sure you are cutting a tree on approved areas on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.
• Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible.
• Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.
• To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .