MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The cutoff date is nearing to apply for funds available to help Lake County residents who are behind one month on their rent or up to three months behind on utility bills.

Funds are also available for residents in need of move-in costs, such as security deposit, related to a move to new permanent housing.

The last date to submit an application is Sept. 15.

Catholic Charities is administering the Federal Emergency Shelter Grant (FESG) funds, and applicants must qualify and meet state and federal guidelines. Needs and residency will also be verified.

To see if you qualify, go to www.srcharities.org/services and click on Lake County services to find FESG information.

You may also call 707-528-8712, Extension 126 for an application.

Federal Emergency Shelter Grant for Lake County is funded by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), via CA Department of Housing & Community Development.

The dance will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Main Street in downtown will be closed to vehicle traffic during the event.

Refreshments will be available for purchase – wine, beer and food – and many businesses will have extended hours. There also will be raffles.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year.

The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows.

The 2011 fair theme for 2011 is “Make Some Magic!”

Special features for the 2011 Fair include the annual Junior Livestock Auction, and more than 4,000 exhibits entered in various competitions.

Fairgoers can also expect appearances by a variety of local musical acts and attractions on three stages, as well as clowns, magicians, and other strolling performers.

Fiesta Latina activities will take place on the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Stage area on Sunday, Sept. 4, and are presented by Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino.

Events in the grandstand arena include the Lake County Lawn Mower Challenge Races on Thursday evening, a demolition derby on Friday evening, open mud bogs and a 4x4 truck pull on Saturday evening, and the California State Finals of the WGAS Motorsports Tuff Truck and Buggy Races on Sunday evening. All grandstand shows start at 7:30 p.m.

Local participants also are encouraged in the demo derby, truck pulls, mud bogs and the tuff truck races, and entry forms are available at the fairgrounds office.

Live local entertainment occurs continuously on two stages. The Sutter Lakeside Hospital Main Stage will host the likes of the Snake Alley Band, LC Diamonds, Bill Noteman and the Rockets, and the Mark Weston Band, among others. The Mediacom Stage will host a variety of acts including Mike Wilhelm and Hired Guns, Travis Rinker, the Don Carter Quartet, and Jim Williams on acoustic guitar.

A fair parade, the kickoff event for the annual Lake County Fair, starts at Natural High in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds with the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The parade occurs at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1. Upon arrival at the main gate, everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the Fair.

Fair buildings and grounds swell to bursting with the thousands of displays made, grown, or raised for entry by talented residents both young and young at heart.

Entries for judging in the fair include most types of fine arts, home arts and crafts, photography, amateur wine and beer, many types of agriculture and floriculture, livestock, small animals, and horses.

Walk on contests this year include a mystery pie contest, a scavenger hunt, a clay sculpting contest and, and an ice cream making contest.

The annual Junior Livestock Auction takes place on Saturday, Sept. 3, at 1 p.m. in the Baldwin Pavilion. Businesses and individuals are invited to bid on the prize-winning livestock raised and exhibited by local youth.

Various livestock species are displayed throughout the fair, including swine, beef, sheep, goat and horse exhibits from local 4-H and FFA exhibitors.

Small animals are represented as well, with chickens, turkeys, rabbits and cavies all residing in the barn areas.

Also in the Baldwin Pavilion, the annual Round Robin contests pit the best showmen and showwomen in each species against each other to be named the best showperson of the Fair. The Round Robin takes place at 6pm on Saturday, immediately following the Livestock Auction, and is presented by Calpine.

Regular admission prices for the 2011 Lake County Fair are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60, and $6 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day. Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, September 1st only, for "Kid's Day."

The effort will take place beginning at 10 a.m. at the agency's headquarters, located at 15975 Anderson Ranch Parkway in Lower Lake. It will continue until all food has been distributed.

Food as well as fresh produce will be offered.

Social Services is collaborating with the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Lake County Hunger Task Force on the food distribution.

Individuals do not have to qualify to receive the food, they simply have to show up.

The giveaway is taking place every Tuesday in August.

April Hansen (marketing/Lakeport Grocery Outlet), Jackie Hansen (owner, Lakeport Grocery Outlet) and team present Lynn Goos and Free Kitchen Project volunteers with a very large check to help support a great cause. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Every year, worldwide more than 15 million children die of starvation.

While most people are all aware of the worldwide struggle, think for a minute about the percentage of those who struggle to make ends meet right here in America.

The economic roller coaster has resulted in many local families to go jobless, hungry and even homeless.

Many times, people think of poverty and hunger on a much larger scale, which can divert attention from members of the local community who are suffering from poverty.

Recently the Lakeport Grocery Outlet joined forces with its friends at the Lakeport Free Kitchen Project in an amazing program known as “Independence from Hunger.”

The mission of the Lakeport Free Kitchen Project is to serve dinner in a welcoming atmosphere to anyone who wants or needs a free meal on Sundays in the community.

Throughout the month of July, the Lakeport Grocery Outlet encouraged customers to make food donations as well as cash donations at the time of their purchase. The cash donations came in abundantly and often daily customers graciously donated on more than one shopping trip during the month of July.

The Lakeport Grocery Outlet provided premade shopping bags containing $4.55 worth of groceries ready for purchase and immediate donation to save time for shoppers in a rush to still be able to participate. Customers who made any donation were entered into a drawing to win a Grocery Outlet gift card valued at $100.

One customer at a time, one can of beans here, a dollar there, and by the end of the month, it was clear how much shoppers wanted to help make a difference.

Not only were the donations abundant, but the outpouring of support by our community helped the store to raise cash and food donations totaling $1,306 in just 31 days.

It is truly amazing what people are capable of doing when they all work together. One dollar may not seem like much, but it all adds up and every little bit helped us support the very selfless and hardworking people at Lakeport Free Kitchen Project.

The store recently presented the wonderful folks with Lakeport Free Kitchen Project with a check and yet another large load of groceries as a final contribution to our month-long Independence from Hunger program.

“Until next time,” said April Hansen, who works in administration and marketing for Lakeport Grocery Outlet, to Lynn Goos, president of United Parish Church/Free kitchen Project.

After a fantastic turnout for a very special cause, the store will soon join forces again in the near future to help a community come together in making a big difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

Lakeport Grocery Outlet offered a very special thank you to all of our caring shoppers who graciously donated.

They also recognized the caring team of volunteers at the Lakeport Free Kitchen Project for collecting donations, preparing meals, and helping provide the program with locations to serve free meals: Lynn Goos, president, United Parish Church; Sharon Salvador, treasurer, Fidelity National Title Co.; Missy Hodder, secretary, United Parish Church; Marty Bardelmeier; Geri Crowshaw; Charlene Ellis; Tom Engstrom, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Danielle Erickson; Gloria Flaherty, Lake Family Resource Center; Chris Frediani, XIRHO Psi Sorority of Beta Sigma Phi; Mel Goos, United Christian Parish; Laisne Hamilton, Galilee Lutheran Church; Ken Hook, United Christian Parish; Pastor Shannon Kimbell-Auth, United Christian Parish; Katherine Lindsley, United Christian Parish; Wanda Lopez, St. Mary’s Church; Jennifer Petersen, United Christian Parish; Val Schweifle, Kiwanis; Jean Strak; and Bishop Tipton, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints.

LAKEPORT FREE KITCHEN PROJECT SCHEDULE

Meals are served from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• First Sunday: United Christian Parish Church, 745 N Brush St., Lakeport

• Second Sunday: Seventh Day Adventist Church, 3500 Hill Road East (corner of Parkway and Hill Road)

• Third Sunday: United Christian Parish Church, 745 N. Brush St., Lakeport

• Fourth Sunday: Lake Family Resource Center, 896 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport (entrance is in the back of building)

• Fifth Sunday: Lake Family Resource Center, 896 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport (entrance is in the back of building)

The Lake County Democratic Club is very honored to host Betty Yee, First District member of the California State Board of Equalization, as the event's keynote speaker.

State Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro will be in attendance and state Sen. Noreen Evans has been invited.

There will be time for those attending to talk face to face with with our guest speakers before and after their addresses.

Music will be by Lake County’s own fabulous “Blue Collar” band with Carl Stewart, lead voice, guitar and harmonica; Sue Condit on fiddle, mandolin and voice; Bill Bordisso on accordion, banjo, percussion and voice; Clovice Lewis on cello; and Bill MacDougall on double bass.

The Quitiquit family will prepare a classic summer dinner of chicken on a skewer, many fabulous summer salads and desserts.

Wines will be available from the following Lake County wineries: Konocti Growers, Steele Wines, Langtry Estates, Ployez Winery, Vigilance and Noggle Winery.

There also will be beer and other beverages available.

There will be a silent auction with some great stuff and works of art by local artists.

Reservations paid in advance before Aug. 17 are $15 and admission paid at the door is $20.

For reservations and more information, call 707-533-4885 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Event Sponsors are Congressman Mike Thompson, Assemblyman Wes Chesbro, Sen. Noreen Evans, California United Health Care Workers, North Bay Labor Council, Mendo-Lake Building and Trades Council, SEIU Local1021 and IBEW Local 551.

Community organizations that will be having informational tables: KPFZ 88.1 FM, Committee for a GE Free Lake County, Transition Lake County, Catholic Charities, Lake County Hunger Task Force, Community Care HIV Program and Free Kitchen Project.