LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake Family Resource Center is proud to announce the 11th Annual Wine and Chocolate fundraiser, showcasing Lake County’s award-winning wineries and many other community partner organizations.

The event takes place on Saturday, Feb. 4, from noon to 4 p.m. at  Mt. Konocti Winery and Event Center, 2550 Big Valley Road, Lakeport.

“Wine and Chocolate” features 24 local wineries pouring their wines.

There also will be two workshops. Chacewater Mill Master Emilio de la Cruz will share his insights during an olive oil sensory workshop, and Sommelier Stephanie Green will conduct a workshop on the secrets of successfully pairing wine flavors with food.

Along with chocolate provided by local organizations, there will also be a silent auction.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for $50 each at http://www.lakefrc.org/special-events/ ; at the door for $60 each.

In addition, tickets will be available at Lake Family Resource Center's Kelseyville office, 5350 Main St.; the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, 875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport; the Lake County Wine Studio, 9505 Main St., Upper Lake; and Steele Wines, 4350 Thomas Drive, Kelseyville.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown will host its first Sober Grad Bingo Bash and Auction on Friday, April 22.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. at the Middletown Lion's Club, 15399 Central Park Road.

Tickets cost $25, and they come with four bingo cards with three games on each.

There also will be silent auction with a lot of community support and some food for sale at this event.

All proceeds go to Middletown's Sober Grad.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mike Sullivan, who has coached rowing at the college lever for many years, will be offering beginning rowing lessons this summer here in Lakeport as part of the Clear Lake Scullers summer season.

Saturday morning lessons are free on May 7 and May 14 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Everyone is welcome, including residents and visitors of all ages.

Kayaks and canoes will be available to try in addition to the rowing sculls. 

People are also welcome to try rowing on the team boat every Saturday at 8 a.m.; no experience is necessary.

Membership is open to the public and there is rowing year round, weather permitting.

The goal of Clear Lake Scullers is to provide broad access to beautiful Clear Lake and to expose people to a wide variety of aquatic sports with emphasis on safety and competence.

Sullivan also is available to teach the skills necessary for athletes to train and race.

The club is located in the city of Lakeport at the site of Natural High School on Main Street just north of Library Park. You will see the boats there in a fenced in yard.

For more information contact Sullivan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-9779.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The April 17 Green Party meeting will feature Don Saylor, candidate for Assembly.

The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. There will be no-host food and drink.

Saylor is running for Bill Dodd's seat since Dodd plans to run for State Senate.

This is the first state candidate the party has hosted at one of its meetings.

Meetings are free and require no party affiliation.

For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/118801344887472/?ref=br_tf or www.lakecountygreenparty.bravesites.com , or contact the group at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 707-263-3391.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Just as everyone from Cobb Mountain, down through Anderson Springs, Middletown and Hidden Valley suffered together through the Valley fire and its aftermath, now this same group of people can heal together throughout this long period of recovery.

Community gatherings will be held every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at alternating campuses within the Middletown Unified School District .

The first one will be this Monday, April 11, in the multi-use room of the new Minnie Cannon Elementary on Big Canyon Road, across from the Tallman Gym high school parking lot.

A free meal will be provided. Supervised games will be organized for the young and young at heart, and adult group counseling will be offered by a licensed therapist from Lake Family Resource Center.

These weekly gatherings will be a collaborative effort funded by the Lake Area Rotary Club Association, sponsored by Lake Family Resource Center and hosted by the Middletown Unified School District.

“Our team is ready to go and excited about this project. This is going to be awesome,” said Stephanie Lilly, programs director for Lake Family Resource Center.

On Monday, April 18, the community gathering will be at the high school multi-use room.

On Monday, April 25, the gathering will be in Coyote Valley Elementary's multi-use room. On May 2 it will be at Cobb Elementary.

This rotation will continue until the end of the school year, and then begin again in the fall.

Several gatherings may be scheduled in the summer.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Environmental Health has a new onsite wastewater treatment systems inspection program, called the Septic System Inspection Program, which is intended to speed up the septic permit process and will be funded by Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency funds.

Space in the program is limited, registration will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis through June 1.

Community members are encouraged to apply by filling out and returning a right of entry permit.

Specific objectives of this new program are to evaluate the septic systems to minimize safety and public health risks to the community and environment. Suitability of the system to be placed back into use will be assessed.

Please note, this program is a first assessment and does not include a septic permit or repairs.

Lake County Environmental Health is able to provide this program to property owners whose homes were damaged by the Valley fire and have not already paid for inspections or had septic permits issued.

To be eligible for this program your property must have been on a septic system.

To register for the Septic System Inspection Program, a right of entry permit must be filled out and returned to Lake County Environmental Health either by fax to 707-263-1681, by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by mail or in person to 922 Bevins Court, Lakeport, CA 95453.

Right of entry permits are also available online at the county’s Web site www.co.lake.ca.us or www.lakecountyrecovers.com .

Questions about the program or property qualifications can be directed to Environmental Health at 707-263-1164.