UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Redwood Empire Civil War Roundtable will have its next presentation at 6:15 p.m. Monday Feb. 3, at the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.

Dr. Mark Cooper and Phil Smoley will share presentation honors as they both are intimately familiar with the CSS Hunley, the Confederate submarine that sunk the USS Housatonic in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, 150 years ago this February.

Smoley attended the funeral of the Confederate sailors in 2004 following the removal of their remains from the vessel after it was raised form its resting place.

More than 10,000 reenactors participated in the funeral procession through the streets of Charleston.   

Dr. Cooper has since been back to Charleston and seen the progress of the restoration of the submarine. It is in remarkably excellent condition.

"Outside history circles, the story of the Hunley is little known," according to Smoley. "But it is a story that needs to be told and retold. It has elements of courage, heroism, ingenuity, patriotism, tragedy and a strong connection to our modern day. It will come across as imaginative fiction, but it all happened."

The Civil War Roundtable meets once a month to discuss topics related to that war. The group was founded to coincide with the Sesquicentennial of the conflict. Admission is free, and everyone is welcome.

For more information, contact Phil Smoley (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-264-4905) or Zane Jensen (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 707-349-6390).

SACRAMENTO- Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) will recognize Davis constituent and children’s book author, Dr. Loriene Honda, on the Assembly Floor on “Fred Korematsu Day,” Thursday, Jan.30.

Dr. Honda will be accompanied by her father, Mr. Lawrence Honda, who was interned at the Manzanar War Relocation Center during World War II.

Assemblymember Yamada’s family members also were Manzanar internees.

“In honor of Fred Korematsu Day, it is important to reflect upon our civil rights and the heroes  who stood up to protect them,” stated Assemblymember Yamada. “Inspired by illustrations by the late renowned artist and Sacramento native, Jimmy Tsutomu Mirikitani, Dr. Honda’s book, ‘The Cat Who Chose to Dream’ tells Jimmy the Cat’s tale of triumph over tragedy and freedom over fear during the Japanese American internment during World War II. My hope is that young readers will be empowered to stand up for themselves and for others by reading this story.”

Dr. Honda is a child and adolescent psychologist, using art to help children distance themselves from the pain of abuse and neglect so that they can make strides towards healing. Currently, Dr. Honda serves her community through her private practice in Davis.

In 2010, AB 1775 established the “Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution” to honor Asian American Civil Rights Hero, Fred Korematsu, who defied orders of removal during World War II.

His failure to report to the internment camp later became the subject of a Supreme Court case challenging the constitutionality of forced incarceration of Japanese American citizens.  

Assemblymember Yamada will host a reception in honor of Dr. Honda and her book at 10 a.m. in Capitol Room 317. Members of the public are invited to attend. Please RSVP by calling 916-319-2004.

More information about “The Cat Who Chose to Dream” may be found at http://www.martinpearl.com/childrensbooks/thecatwhochosetodream.html .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Democratic Club will meet on Saturday, Feb. 8.

The meeting will begin at 11 a.m. at the Russell Rustici Park Club House, Lower Lake Community Park, corner of Mill and Second streets.

The club's guest speakers are Davis City Council members Dan Wolk ( www.danwolk.org ) and Joe Krovoza ( www.joekrovoza.org ), both of whom are running for State Assembly District 4.

The Lake County Democratic Club meets every second Saturday of the month at 11 a.m.

The public is always welcome and membership is open to all registered Democrats.

Contact the Lake County Democratic Club at 707-533-4885, by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://lakecountydemocrats.org .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A fundraiser to benefit the family of Ronnie Dekeyser III will be held on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Color Organics, a salon located at 1775 S. Main St. in Lakeport, will host the benefit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Dekeysers lost their 11-year-old son on Jan. 20 after a long battle with cancer.

The stylists are offering hair services, food and a silent auction. They are soliciting donations from the public in exchange for the services and all proceeds will go to the family.

Drop by and just make a contribution to defray expenses and enjoy some snacks or bid on a silent auction item. There have been many prizes contributed by local businesses for the auction.

Donations also are being taken at Umpqua Bank in Ronnie’s name.

For more information on this event, please call Lynsey at 707-349-2454 or 707-263-1212.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Mixed martial arts is coming to Konocti Vista Casino on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Presented by Jameson’s Gym in Lakeport,” The Night of the Warriors VI“ features a lightweight tournament and both professional and amateur mixed martial arts matches.

Sanctioned by the International Fighting Council, the “Night of the Warriors” tournaments has produced some big name fighters including Gilbert Melendez and Josh Koscheck.

The next lightweight superstar could come to rise right here in Lake County at the Konocti Vista Casino on Feb. 8.

“Night of the Warriors VI” local Lake County competitors include: John O’Donnell, Keith Campbell, and Anthony Fernandez from Jameson’s Gym in Lakeport, Matt Weimar from Weimars Elite Cage Alliance in Lakeport and Jeremy Bryant from Lucerne.

Out of county competitors include Joaquin Lopez and Carlos Thompson from the Mendocino Training Center in Ukiah and Mike Martucci also from Ukiah.

Other professional and amateur fighters will be coming from all over Northern California.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the action begins at 6 p.m.

Tickets to the “Night of the Warriors VI” event are available at the Konocti Vista Casino players club, by calling the casino at 707-262-1900 X1118 or by calling Aaron Jameson at 707-245-5682.

Konocti Vista Casino is located at 2755 Mission Rancheria Road in Lakeport.

To stay up to date on local mixed martial arts action, visit www.jamesonsgym.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – On Saturday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. at Lakeport Library Peter McRae will present “The Poppies of Mohammed,” his novel about the heroin smuggling trade from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

McRae uses fiction to expose the heroin trade that finances the Taliban and al Qaeda.

While earning his master’s degree in international relations at San Diego State University, McRae became interested in terrorism and he says that “his academic specialty deals with the inability of international law to deal with twenty-first century violent conflict.”

This free program is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

Lakeport Library, located at 1425 N. High St., is open Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The phone number is 707-263-8817.