LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center will host a toy drive this Saturday, Nov. 30.

The drive will take place at the center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m along with a craft faire.

Anyone who brings in an unwrapped new toy will receive a free game of bowling.

There also will be pictures with Santa and a handmade craft booth for children.

Lakeside Family Fun & Event Center is located at 872 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

For more information call the center at 707-263-4828.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Umpqua Bank kicked off its “Help Us Give” campaign this week, inviting its Facebook community to help decide which 20 nonprofit groups and schools should receive $2,500 grants from the company’s $50,000 Good Deed Fund, generated in October.

Between now and Monday, Dec. 2, community members can nominate a nonprofit organization or school deserving of a Good Deed Fund grant through the company’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/umpquabank .

The winners will be announced during the second week of December.

“Help Us Give” culminates Umpqua’s Good Deed campaign, which took place in October, during which the company encouraged customers and communities to join the company in giving back through simple good deeds.

For every pledge, Umpqua added $10 to its Good Deed Fund, and the community responded, pledging 5,058 good deeds in stores and on Facebook to create a $50,580 fund.

Grants will be given to qualified, community-nominated organizations and schools in areas where Umpqua Bank associates have a presence.

For grant guidelines and more information on eligible recipients, visit http://bit.ly/I1ZhJV .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Central Committee will hold its regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 5.

The monthly meeting will take place beginning at 6 p.m. at 1210 S. Main St. in Lakeport.

Guest speakers for the Dec. 5 meeting will be Matt Pope, running for State Assembly District 4, and Chris Lehman running for State Senate District 2.

Their campaign Web addresses are www.pope2014.com and www.ChrisLehman2014.com , respectively.

Please come and get to know these candidates, their positions on issues that you care about, let them know your concerns and ask questions.

Last month the Davis Mayor Joe Krovoza spoke at the group's meeting. He is running for State Assembly District 4, his Web site is www.joekrovoza.org .

Mike McGuire spoke with the Lake County Democratic Central Committee at the Best Western El Grande Inn Courtyard on Nov. 18. He is running for State Senate District 2 and you can find his information at www.MikeMcGuireForSenate.com or www.Facebook.com/SupervisorMikeMcGuire .

The committee also will be working on plans for its Affordable Care Act workshop in January.

The agenda for the December meeting also includes reports from representatives for Congressmen Mike Thompson and John Garamendi, Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada and State Sen. Noreen Evans, as well as reports from the Stonewall Democratic Club Chair Mark Wickhamshire and representative from the Lake County Democratic Club Paula Mune.

Meetings are open to the public and committee membership is open to all registered Democrats.

The Lake County Democratic Central Committee is the official governing body of the Democratic Party in Lake County.

For more information about the Democratic party in Lake County please visit www.lakecountydemocrats.org .

Contact the Democratic Party of Lake County at 707-533-4885 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting the annual Sol Rouge wine release party event on Saturday, Nov. 30.

The party will take place from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the studio, 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.

Sol Rouge is a family estate vineyard and winery located in the Red Hills Appellation at elevations over 1,800 feet.

North of Napa Valley in the foothills of the dormant volcano which formed the North Coast wine country, this land contains rich, red volcanic soil and, from this unique profile, Sol Rouge derived its name – translating to “red soil” in French.

This 70 acre estate is currently planted with Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise, Petite Syrah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Cinsault.

Nestled between Mt. Konocti and Benson Ridge, this aggressive site is all hillside with slopes up to 50 percent and is said to be the most tightly planted vineyard in the Red Hills American Viticultural Area, with nearly 6,000 vines per hectare in some blocks.

The $12.50 ($10 per person for studio club members) wine and appetizer sampler will introduce the new Sol Rouge releases – 2011 Viognier, 2010 Gypsy Rouge, 2010 Zinfandel, 2010 Syrah and 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon with a variety of appetizers including butternut squash soup and gluten free turkey meatloaf muffins. Sol Rouge wine club members are invited to attend at no charge.

Artwork on display at the studio is photography by Casey Carney and Saturday will be the final day of the current show.

Lake County Wine Studio is a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artist’s shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.

The gallery is open Monday 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In an effort to help residents in their cleanup efforts and prevent illegal dumping, the Lake County Department of Public Services has placed three large dumpsters at different sites in Lake County for the collection of storm-related debris.

The locations are:

• Upper Lake County Park, 575 East Highway 20;
• Lucerne Harbor Park, 6225 East Highway 20;
• Northshore Fire Department, 3708 Manzanita Drive, Nice.

No household waste, hazardous materials or green waste should be placed in the dumpsters.

There will be separate areas near the dumpsters that will be identified as green waste sites, where you may place tree limbs, leaves, bark debris or any other storm-related vegetation waste.

Volunteers are needed to monitor the dumpsters to make sure no hazardous materials are being placed inside, and answer any questions people may have.

If you’d like to volunteer your time to help the cleanup effort, please contact Lake County Human Resources Department at 707-263-2213.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County Youth Services is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m through Friday this week. The center serves children age 7 to 17.

Additionally, a free community dinner will be served from noon to 4 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone is welcome.

Donations for the dinner are being accepted at the center, 14750 Golf Ave. in Clearlake.