UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio and artist Diana Liebe are presenting monthly Sip and Paint classes at the Wine Studio this year.

The wine and watercolor series of classes will launch with the first class to be held on the President’s Day holiday, Monday, Feb. 16, from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
 
The class fee of $40 covers all of the painting supplies needed along with Leibe’s step by step guidance and a glass of Lake County fine wine.

Reservations are required for each month’s class as participation is limited to 10 people.

The classes held during the months of March through December will be held on a Saturday.   

A schedule of dates and time are available at Lake County Wine Studio or by contacting Susan at 707-293-8752.
 
Liebe is a former art teacher at both the high school and college levels. She has been very involved in the Lake County Arts Community since moving here from Mendocino County 11 years ago, and actively teaches art workshops around the county.
 
The Lake County Wine Studio is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake and is open Monday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 7 p.m.; and Friday for 1 to 8 p.m.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The February program meeting of Redbud Audubon Society will give those attending the chance to learn about our own Lake County Land Trust.

The Land Trust recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and has been involved in some very important land conservation actions in Lake County.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 19. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m. The meeting starts at 7:15 p.m.

Redbud Audubon meetings through April will be held at the Lower Lake Community United Methodist Church Social Hall, 16255 Second St.

Land Trust Executive Director Catherine Koehler will present a power point and discussion about the Land Trust and review its latest projects, including the important Big Valley Wetlands Preservation project.

Over the past four years, the Land Trust has worked with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop a document which describes the need to protect the wetlands of the Big Valley, in particular the areas on the shores of Clear Lake and the riparian corridors of the creeks flowing through the valley.

This conceptual area protection plan, or CAPP, received final approval from the State’s Wildlife Conservation Board in the fall of 2014, which means the Land Trust will be able to move forward on requesting funding to assist with purchasing conservation easement or fee title rights on valuable wetland habitat. 

The first of these purchases will be a 31-acre parcel on the shores of Clear Lake for which the trust holds an option to purchase.

The Land Trust is now actively seeking additional opportunities for conservation of wetlands on this project. 

This program meeting will be an excellent opportunity to learn about the Lake County Land Trust.

The Land Trust is a nonprofit organization which owns and operates the Rabbit Hill Park in Middletown, the Rodman Preserve near Upper Lake, and works in cooperation with The Nature Conservancy to manage the Boggs Lake Preserve.

Visit the Land Trust's Web site at www.lakecountylandtrust.org .

EMERYVILLE, Calif. – The results from the AAA Foundation’s latest Traffic Safety Culture Index reveal that a majority of drivers regularly speed, run red lights, and use distracted driving devices or drive drowsy, even though one in three of those surveyed has a loved one who has been seriously injured or killed in a crash.

The study also indicates that one out of five drivers has themselves been involved in a serious crash, and one in ten has been seriously injured.

“It is very disappointing that we continue to see a prevailing attitude of ‘do as I say, not as I do,’ where large numbers of motorists seem to recognize the risks of certain behaviors, but do them anyway,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Creating a safer driving culture in our communities needs to begin with each individual.”

The prevalence of unsafe driving behaviors during the previous 30 days includes:

– Running red lights: More than a third (36 percent) of drivers admit to running red lights, yet 55 percent say it is a very serious threat and 73 percent say it is completely unacceptable.
– Speeding (10-plus miles per hour on residential streets: Nearly half of drivers report speeding (44 percent), yet 65 percent says it is completely unacceptable.
– Drowsy driving: About 3 in 10 drivers (29 percent) admit to drowsy driving, yet 45 percent say it is a very serious threat and 81 percent say it is completely unacceptable.
– Texting/emailing: More than a quarter (27 percent) of drivers report typing or sending a text or email, yet 79 percent of drivers say it is a very serious threat to safety and 84 percent say it is completely unacceptable.

When it comes to specific distracted driving behaviors in the past 30 days:

– Two in three drivers reported talking on their cell phone;
– One  in three drivers reported talking on their cell phone often;
– One in three drivers admit to reading a text message or email.

The study also offers insight about drivers’ attitudes related to cognitive distraction.

Two out of three drivers believe hands-free phone use is acceptable, and nearly half (46 percent) of drivers who report using speech-based in-vehicle systems say they do not believe these systems are at all distracting.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety research has indicated that talking on either a hand-held or a hands-free device while driving is not risk-free and both impose comparable levels of cognitive distraction.

Perceptions of cognitive distractions:

– Two thirds (65.7%) of drivers say hand-held cell phone use by drivers is unacceptable, while two thirds (65.4%) also say hands-free phone use is acceptable.
– Nearly half (46.4%) of drivers who report using speech-based in-vehicle systems say they do no not believe these systems are at all distracting.
– Support for texting bans for drivers is strong, with 89.2% support. Support for bans on hand-held mobile devices is 67.8 percent, and 40.4% support a total ban of hand-held and hands-free devices.
– Nearly three quarters (74.6%) say they believe hands-free devices are safer to use behind the wheel than hand-held ones.

For more information regarding the foundation’s work pertaining to traffic safety culture visit: www.AAAFoundation.org .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – For its upcoming March election, the Middletown Area Merchants Association is seeking nominations for the director's seats that are on this year's ballot.

Members may nominate themselves or other members they believe would be an asset to the MAMA Board.

Nominations can be submitted via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or US mail, P.O. Box 872, Middletown, CA 95461.

Nominations must be received no later than Feb. 28.

This is your opportunity to become more active in the association and help set its directions and activities.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Seventh-day Adventist Church will present a vegetarian cooking school beginning at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15.

The cooking school is offered on the third Sunday of each month. All are welcome.

There will be a medical doctor and a registered dietitian there also to answer your questions.

The church is located at 1111 Park Way, right off the Hill Road exit.

For more information please call the church at 707-263-6002.

LUCERNE, Calif. – The next general meeting of Lucerne Friends for Locally Owned Water – or FLOW – will held Saturday, Feb. 21.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. in the Rose Room at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, 3985 Country Club Drive.

Topics will include an update from the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water retreat in Sacramento.