LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – As part of its ongoing efforts to provide special services to the community, Hospice Services of Lake County is offering a free volunteer orientation and training for adults aged 18 and over who feel like making a difference.

This nonmedical training program provides the new volunteers with knowledge and skills for visiting patients in hospice care and offering bereavement support to the patient’s loved ones and family members.

Patient support volunteers give direct, nonmedical support, companionship and practical, caring help to hospice patients and offer respite to the caregivers.

Bereavement volunteers provide support to loved ones and grieving family members at camps and support groups.

Training is provided by guest speakers who are experts in their respective fields.

The new volunteers will learn new skill sets and practical information to become successful hospice volunteers.

Orientation begins on Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The orientation is followed by two days of training on Saturdays, Aug. 8 and Aug. 15 from 9 to 4:30 p.m.

Orientation and trainings will be held at the Hospice offices at 1862 Parallel Drive in Lakeport.

All training materials and luncheon on both Saturdays will be provided free of charge.

To reserve space and for information contact Hedy Montoya at 707-263-6270, Extension 136, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A free screening of the film “Class Dismissed,” about homeschooling, will take place on Saturday, Aug. 1.

The screening will begin at 11 a.m. in the community room at the Middletown Library, 21256 Washington St.

Local families arranged the screening with the filmmaker’s permission.

Homeschooling is the fastest growing educational movement in the United States.

As facts are now available at our fingertips and employers are recruiting innovative employees to solve complex problems, more and more families are rethinking educational options.

The outdated notion of homeschoolers being unsocialized children sitting around a kitchen table is being turned on its head.

This film examines the changing face of homeschooling in America, as well as some of the diverse educational alternatives families are pursuing.

A discussion will follow.

For additional information contact Susan at 707-295-6018.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Bring your appetite for food and for fun to Westside Community Park on Saturday, say members of the Westside Community Park Committee.

The group is ready to present the sixth annual “Grillin’ on the Green” fundraiser featuring a friendly barbecue competition and entertainment for all ages.

The event will kick off at 5 p.m. at Westside Community Park, 1401 Westside Park Road.

Attendees will enjoy a variety of barbecued dishes, accompanied by side dishes and beverages, and three hours of entertainment including music by the LC Diamonds, children’s activities, a car show featuring vintage vehicles, and horse-drawn wagon rides touring the proposed horse facilities at the park.

Ticket prices for the event are $25 per adult, $10 per child between the ages of 5 and 12, and no charge for children 4 years old or younger.

Tickets are available in advance and will be sold at the function.

All proceeds benefit the Westside Community Park development. Call Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091, or Dennis Rollins, 707-349-0969, for more information.

Advance tickets for “Grillin’ on the Green” may be purchased at the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Main Street Bicycles, Lake Event Design, and The Travel Centers, all in Lakeport, and at Polestar Computers in Kelseyville.

Local organizations, individuals and professionals go head-to-head in the cookoff, preparing their best barbecue recipes for attendees who then cast People’s Choice votes for their favorites.

This year’s competition will include a rematch between last year’s top three teams: the Lakeport Fire Department (fixing chicken this year), which teamed with the Clear Lake High School Sports Foundation to take top honors in 2014; The Bru Cru (fish and shrimp tostados and tacos) led by Adam Bruch; and Still Smokin’ and Q-n with Adrian Hoaglen (not yet determined).

Additional cook-off challengers and their planned food items include the city of Lakeport (rosemary chicken), the Lakeport Kiwanis (pork ribs), the Early Lake Lions (beef), the Lakeport Lions (New York steak), Joe Wind (pork ribs and beans), Jessie Richardson (beef tri tip) and Fresh and Bangin’ Eatery (pulled pork and grits egg roll).

While attendees will vote for their favorites in the cook-off, three “celebrity” judges will select their favorite griller.

Michelle Malm, food services director for the Kelseyville Unified School District, Dave Faries, managing editor of the Lake County Record-Bee, and Michael Lunas, a Superior Court judge in real life, have agreed to put their “foodie” reputations on the line.

Side dishes including salads, beans, peach crunch and lemon bars will be provided by the Westside Community Park Committee, Lakeview Market, the Lakeport English Inn, the Kelseyville Unified School District, and Lake Event Design.

Beer, wine and other beverages will be available. Snow cones by Marta and Domingo Avillea may be purchased at the event.

Horse-drawn wagon rides by Andre and Ellen Boersma of Scotts Valley are new to the event’s featured activities this year. The wagons seat 12 and are pulled by the Boersmas’ Percheron horses.

Rides will begin at 6 p.m. Sponsored by the Lake County Horse Council, the wagon rides will offer 20-minute tours of the new proposed horse facilities at the park.

Members of local car clubs will park their vintage vehicles for viewing during the event. Grillin’ on the Green attendees will be able to vote for their favorite vintage vehicle and favorite “make-out” vehicle.

Information about the event can be found on the park’s Web site, www.westsidecommunitypark.org , or on Westside Community Park’s Facebook page.

Sponsors of the event will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event. The Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation is offering for the sixth year a match of $5,000, challenging local businesses and individuals to become sponsors and donors. Sutter Lakeside Hospital is a $2,500 sponsor this year.

Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500, $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000.

Contributions of any amount may be sent to 1350 Berry Street, Lakeport, and made payable to Westside Community Park Committee.

Westside Community Park is a City of Lakeport recreational facility that has been in development for 17 years.

The nonprofit Park Committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County 4-H Domestic Exchange Project will hold an all-you-can-eat pizza fundraiser on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

It will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. at DJ’s Pizza, 16135 Main St. in Lower Lake.

Tickets will be $8 in advance or at the door.

From June 24 to July 1 six members of the Lake County 4-H Domestic Exchange Project visited Meeker County, Minn.

They stayed with generous 4-H host families and learned about the agriculture, economics, culture and people of Minnesota.

The group also visited the Mall of America, an ethanol plant, a wind farm, The Iron Range, a goat dairy, the Soudan Iron Mine, a black bear sanctuary and a coffee roasting shop.

Next summer they will host the Minnesota 4-H teens here in Lake County.

Proceeds from the Aug. 19 fundraiser will go toward hosting the Minnesota visitors and showing them the wonders of California.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The American Legion Post No. 437 will hold its annual car show with barbecue and yard sale on Saturday, Aug. 29.

It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m at the Post Hall, 14770 Austin Road in Clearlake.

For more information including how to enter your vehicle, call 707-994-3677.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Finance Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 29.

The meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. in the front conference room at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.

The main item of business is discussion of the CalPERS side fund and accrued liability restructuring.

The committee also will receive comments from staff, consultant and committee members, and take citizen input.