UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio (LCWS) is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wines from Olof Cellars, and artist reception with artist Karen Mantele from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3.  

Olof Cellars owner Cindi Olof and owner/winemaker Eric Olof will be at the studio for the Friday event.

 The $12.50 ($10/per person for studio club members) wine sampler and appetizers designed by Cindi Olof will showcase the 2013 White Nebbiolo (Adelsdam) with grilled peaches and white cheddar, new release 2013 Chardonnay with prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe, 2009 Rosato di Barbera with Ceviché and the new release 2011 Barbera (Barberic) paired with chocolate mousse.   

The Olofs planted their first vines in the Lake County Appellation in 2000 and began making wines under their own Olof Cellars brand in 2002.  

With a view looking out over the Big Valley AVA and Mt. Konocti to the East, their St. Olof Vineyard estate is sited on the bench of a coastal mountain foothill that hosts two types of soils, gravelly clay and clay loam, which well suit the Barbera, Nebbiolo, Malbec and Petit Verdot varietals grown there. 

Three acres of the estate is also planted to the rare Lenoir varietal (red fleshed fruit), and is under contract to a Sonoma Winery. 

Olof is an adventuresome vintner and has dared to craft uncommon and unexpected wines such as their rosé of Barbera, a white Nebbiolo and a sparkling “methode champenoise” Nebbiolo. Futures are now being sold for their new blend called Malbera, and a release event is being planned for later this year.   

The Olofs report that the fruit set has been wonderful this year, with the Nebbiolo and the Malbec looking to ripen early. 

“As Eric makes small amounts of each wine, it is always pleasure to see them come to fruition; like watching your children grow,” said Cindi Olof. “Each grape and wine differs from year to year depending on weather. Letting the wines do what they are meant to creates much more complexity, and personality.”  

 The featured artist for July is Karen Mantele, a Lake County artist who creates vibrant paintings in multiple mediums under the Moon Star Creations brand name.

Her artistic process began as a child in rural Iowa when she would sketch out comic strips found in the Sunday paper.

Throughout her life she has explored many different types of art such as weaving and beadwork, and has realized that art is a way to express her inner joy and happiness. 

Mantele paints at her home studio in Lucerne and is inspired by her view of Clear Lake and Mother Nature, as well as music. 

“I paint from my heart and the purpose of my art is to spread love and happiness,” she said.

The subject matter of Mantele’s paintings is wide ranging. Her most well known series, "The Chakra Dancers" are done in vibrant acrylics and incorporate her love of dancing. 

“They are painted with the intention of sending good energy into the Universe,” she related.  

Another series she has created, titled "Bamboo Who" have Chinese newspaper incorporated into acrylic paintings of bamboo, while others have an Asian flair such as her "Tall Swan" piece. 

Most recently Mantele has been inspired to paint colorful buildings in watercolor and farm animals such as chickens and cows.

Mantele's work has been shown at the Lighting Rod Art Gallery in Upper Lake, the Catfish Coffee House in Clearlake, and the Featherbed Railroad B&B in Lake County. She also participated in the EcoArts Sculpture Walk in Middletown for two years. Her current exhibition at The Lake County Wine Studio will run from July 1 to 31.

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display and sale 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, with the exception of being closed on Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

 The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and is open Monday, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Friday from 1 to 8 p.m.

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030 or 707-293-8752.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Highland Springs Picnic Area, from the horseshoe pits to the bathroom facilities, will be closed this weekend due to a special event. 

The area will be closed from 6 p.m. on Friday, all day Saturday and will reopen at noon on Sunday, June 28.

For more information please call the Lake County Department of Water Resources at 707-263-2344.

California has 72 Officially Designated Scenic Highways, but only one has been named the “Ultimate Highway Trip,” by Sunset Magazine this June: Highway 1.

The curvy, two-lane Pacific Coast Highway hugs the western edge of where the ocean laps into California, sometimes just feet from the highway or below breathtaking cliffs. 

Since it was built, people have ventured along the coastal route to take in majestic sunsets, walk along trails, enjoy beaches and waterfalls, watch whales migrate and more.

“Highway 1 has historical significance for California. In 1912, it was the first highway we awarded a contract to build and in 1937 it was the first north-south state route completed,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “It also offers sights you just won’t find anywhere else.”

Sunset Magazine reported that of the 150 National Scenic Byways and All-American Roads across the United States, none have the “wind-in-your-hair charisma” of Highway 1.

The magazine’s editorial board selected California’s Highway 1 for its first 2015 Western Icon Travel Award.  

The magazine is a guide to living in the West and the first-time awards honor the West’s top destinations in lodging, dining, cultural tourism, outdoor adventure, environmental stewardship and more. 

Highway 1 is featured in the June print and online editions, reaching more than 6 million viewers.

The most famous segment of Highway 1 passes through Big Sur along the Central Coast. 

The Pacific Coast Highway starts at Dana Point in Orange County and hugs the coastline up through Southern California beaches, hidden Central Coast coves, the bustling city of San Francisco and tunnels through the once-treacherous Devil’s Slide.

While thousands of motorists partake in the experience, many of its travelers are bicyclists riding along a longer route along the Pacific Coast Bike Route from Canada to California’s southernmost beach.

SACRAMENTO – The California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection adopted an emergency regulation for the removal of dead and dying trees at its June 17 meeting.

The adoption was made in response to the ever-growing number of drought-related dead and dying trees across the state that are mounting concerns over intensifying wildfire conditions. 

Under the regulation, drought has been added as a condition that can constitute an emergency action. 

This will allow individual landowners or Registered Professional Foresters (for projects that require an RPF) to apply for an exemption to cut and remove dead and dying trees of any size without the typical timber harvest plan preparation and submission requirements as well as completion and stocking report requirements.

The US Forest Service, Forest Health Protection Program conducted special early season aerial surveys of Southern California and the Southern Sierras in April to get a preliminary assessment of forest conditions in some of the most severely drought-impacted areas of the State. 

Approximately 12.5 million dead trees were identified – four times that of all of California’s tree die-off in 2014. 

In 2014, an estimated 3.3 million trees died throughout the state, nearly double 2013 mortality rates.

“When you follow the trend of what is happening in California’s forests, it is clear we have a big problem,” said George Gentry, California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection executive director. 

“The drought is having compounding effects on the landscape, with more and more trees becoming stressed and dying directly from the drought as well as from the ever-increasing beetle populations as more trees become weakened and beetle populations are able to expand and thrive,” Gentry said. “By implementing this emergency regulation, the Board is empowering people to protect their homes and land this summer from catastrophic wildfires and hazardous falling trees.”

On average more than 100 habitable structures are destroyed each year by wildfires. These regulations will help to immediately facilitate the cutting and removal of dead and dying trees, which will reduce the risk of large, damaging wildfires; decrease home and structure losses; enhance firefighter and public safety; and reduce fire suppression costs. 

It will also help to prevent negative impacts to watersheds; fisheries and wildlife habitat; public health; water supply and quality; and local economies, while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

This regulation will be submitted to the Office of Administrative Law on July 1, 2015, and the public comment period will close at 5 p.m. on July 6. 

The emergency rule may be approved as early as July 11, and will be in effect for six months, after which time the board has the option of two additional 90-day re-adoptions. The board has not yet determined if they are going to pursue permanent rulemaking.

For the exemption application (1038(k)), go to http://calfire.ca.gov/resource_mgt/resource_mgt_forestpractice_harvestingforms.php after July 11.

For more information on California’s forest health conditions or the emergency rule, contact Katie Harrell at 510-847-5482.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 of the Native Daughters of the Golden West will meet on Thursday, July 9, for a membership social and organizational meeting. 

Members meet at 5:30 p.m. for social time and 6 p.m. for the business meeting at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.       

If you were born in California and are over 16 you are a native Californian eligible for membership in the Native Daughters of the Golden West Organization.

The Native Daughters is a fraternal and patriotic organization founded in 1886 on the principles of :

– Love of home;

– Devotion to the flag;

– Veneration of the pioneers;

– Faith in the existence of God.

All Native Daughters are welcome to attend.   

For more information contact Parlor Worthy President Carla Dore, 831-524-5588, or Dee Cuney, 707-235-2902, or visit the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Lupoyoma Parlor No. 329 Facebook page.

For information about Lake County Konocti No. 159 Chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West contact Tony Braito at 707-245-7663.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Kelseyville Methodist Thrift Shop will sell everything inside the shop for 25 per item from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, June 29.

Outdoor items are not part of the 25-cent sale.

This is a special sale that happens periodically throughout the year.

“We appreciate giving our customers these 25-cent sales,” said thrift shop contact Dorothy Braun.

The Kelseyville Methodist Thrift Shop has been serving the community since 1962 and gratefully accepts donations on Monday and Wednesday mornings.

The shop is located at 5250 First St. off Main Street behind the Methodist sanctuary.