LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 13, has been canceled.

The next meeting will be on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at Lakeport City Hall. An agenda will be distributed in advance.

LAKEPORT – The Lakeport Library summer teen program donated a pickup truck load of items to Lake County Animal Care and Control this week.

The teens have set up a donation can in the library to collect clean bedding materials, newspapers, food bowls, carriers, unopened pet food and other items for the animals in the shelter.

Donations are being accepted at the library through July.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, noon to 8 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Chi Council for the Clear Lake Hitch will meet this week to discuss the hitch's potential listing.

The meeting will take place at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at the Lake County Agriculture Center, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

The main subject of discussion will be the state Fish and Game Commission's Aug. 6 meeting in San Diego, when the commission is expected to consider staff recommendations to list the hitch under the California Endangered Species Act.

The draft minutes from council's last meeting on May 28 meeting are available at
http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil/pdffiles/5.28.14minutes.pdf .

For more information about the group visit http://www.lakelive.info/chicouncil .

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The famous trio of NASA Space Probes Cassini, Curiosity and Kepler continue to provide exciting new information about the solar system.

Taylor Observatory's “Window to the Universe” on Saturday, July 26, will feature Steve Kane discussing new information from NASA's Curiosity, Kepler and Cassini missions.

The show will begin at 8 p.m. at the observatory, 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

Kane has a lifelong interest in astronomy and all things scientific.  

His lectures have been popular summer events at the Taylor and the observatory is pleased to have him return for a series of three summer lectures.

Window to the Universe Public Events are sponsored by The Friends of Taylor Observatory.

Events include a presentation, a planetarium show and astronomical viewing.

Ticket prices are $5 per adult and $3 per child under 12 years.

For more information, visit www.taylorobservatory.org .

NORTH COAST, Calif. – Tune in to KZYX&Z’s “Women's Voices” program at 7 p.m. Monday, July 28, when host Blake More will be talking with with women's health activist Becky Fein.

Fein is founder of The Powerful Voices Project, an empowerment based project working to enhance the conversation around sexual assault and its survivors.

They will be talking about cultural empowerment as a paradigm shifter and means to prevent future violence.

The show will air on KZYX&Z 90.7FM Philo, 88.1FM Fort Bragg and 91.5FM Willits, and will stream live on the Web www.kzyx.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – After a scheduling conflict prevented their participation last year, the beautiful and exotic Gypsy horses are returning to Fiesta of the Horse on Sunday, July 27.

For centuries, the nomadic people known as gypsies traveled the roads of Europe and the UK in beautifully decorated wagons.  

They created an extraordinary breed of horse, with enough endurance and strength to pull a heavy wagon all day, the ability to subsist on whatever grazing it could find on the side of the road, and an extremely calm temperament, since a moment’s panic could quite literally result in the destruction of its master's home.  

Hundreds of years of selective breeding created the beautiful, powerful and supremely gentle gypsy horse.

Judy Bennett of Kelseyville fulfilled a dream when she acquired her first Gypsy, a mare imported from Britain. The mare was in foal when Judy bought her, and gave birth to a filly (daughter).

Now, the two Gypsy horses perform as a beautifully matched set, ridden by Judy's daughters Joy and Jocelyn Bennett.

For two years, Lake County audiences have enjoyed watching their friends and neighbors put on a lively and entertaining show, Fiesta of the Horse, at Rancho de la Fuente.

This year, the horse show is serving as cornerstone of a new event, Californio Days, a celebration of California's agriculture and history from the Spanish period to modern day.

Admission is free for this family-friendly event.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a farmers' market including displays about history and heritage livestock conservation.

The fiesta show begins at 10:30 a.m.

Afterward there will be food, wine and other beverages for sale at the barn, a barefoot hoof trimming demonstration, and live musical entertainment courtesy of Irma Lopez and Rancho de la Fuente.

Irma Lopez, a well-known traditional Mexican singer, has participated in events such as The Rising Stars Competition, the annual Cinco De Mayo Celebration in Lake and Mendocino County, The Music Winter-fest, Relay for Life, and the Lake County Fair.

Lopez's musical passion has helped her gain recognition throughout her years in Lake County; her undeniable versatility has become popular among the general public, and will thrive for the years to come.

Californio Days/Fiesta of the Horse is offered free of charge as a gift to the Lake County community.

Attendees are encouraged to wear costume from their own favorite period of California history.

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

For more information, visit www.californio.us or call 707-275-9234.