LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Chapters of Sons In Retirement (SIR) group is sponsoring a bus trip to Golden Gate Fields on Thursday, Oct. 16.

This trip will cost $60 per person and includes round trip bus transportation, gourmet luncheon buffet in the reserved dining room, personal betting window and official racing program.

The bus leaves from the parking lot of the Rivera restaurant and stops at McDonald’s in Clearlake.

Dress code is simply no jeans or sneakers.

The bus will arrive with enough time to settle in before the first race at 12:45 p.m. 

Space is limited.

For reservations call Bob Specht at 707-279-0187, or Bill Magoolaghan at 707-277-8846 or 707-367-3352.

Sons In Retirement is a social organization for men of retirement age who are pursuing the goal of enjoying their later years. It has 142 branches with 18,000 members throughout the state.

Branch 168 holds a luncheon on the second Friday of each month at the conference room at Konocti Vista Casino. 

Anyone interested in learning more about Sons In Retirement in general are encouraged to contact Larry Powers, chair of the membership committee, at 707-263-3403 or to visit the state Web site at www.sirinc.org .

LUCERNE, Calif. – The Lucerne Alpine Senior Center is hosting its monthly Open Mic Lucerne on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Performers are on stage with house band FOGG, starting the evening at 6 p.m. with classic, heavy metal rock and roll with original numbers and covers of your favorites. FOGG and other entertainers will wrap up the evening by 11 p.m.

There is no charge for attending or performing.

Don’t miss this chance to showcase your talent. Music, comedy, mime, readings and any other activity that is family-oriented is appreciated.

Being in the audience also is great fun. Assistance is available with amplification. Room also is available for dancing and relaxing.

A spaghetti feed will be offered with traditional and vegetarian full meals available for $5 per person.

Open Mic Lucerne will cap an exciting day with the First Community Kids Carnival of food booths, craft stalls and more than a dozen game booths for kids of all ages. 

The fun will start at 9 a.m. with breakfast available and games and booths will open at 10 a.m. with the fun continuing until 6 p.m. Bring the whole family to this child friendly event.

On Sept. 20 there also will be a 50-percent sale at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center Thrift Store. Come shop through the collectibles, books, kitchenware, clothes and furniture.

Bands and individuals are already signing up for the Saturday show. The past events have seen full venues, so sign up early. Call 707-245-4612 or 707-274-8779 for your reserved time or come and sign-up beginning at 5 p.m. Saturday night.

All proceeds from Open Mic Lucerne, the dinner, the carnival, and the thrift store benefit the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center, a not-for-profit serving Northshore senior populations with on-site lunches, Meals on Wheels, personal advocacy and other services.

The center is located at 3985 Country Club Drive.

For more information about booth rentals for the Community Kids Carnival or Open Mic Lucerne, call the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center at 707-274-8779.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Save the Lake Yes on Measure S will throw a campaign event this Friday, Sept. 19.

It will be held beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, at Riviera Hills Country Club, 10200 Fairway Drive in Kelseyville.

Measure S is a proposal for a half-cent sales tax to benefit Clear Lake through water quality projects and other initiatives, such as invasive mussel prevention. More information can be found at http://savethelake.info/ .

The event will feature an Italian buffet, raffle, silent auction, and a sock hop to hits from the 1950s and 1960s.

Performers will include local piano man David Neft and the Jim Williams Band.

Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased in advance.

For more information or to purchase tickets call Tommy Harty at 707-277-7862 or Anita McKee at 707-277-7776, Extension 403.

SACRAMENTO – State Controller John Chiang announced that his office will be conducting qualifying examinations for Probate Referee appointments in Northern and Southern California on Oct. 18.

The probate referee is a state-appointed official whose job is to appraise most assets in a probate estate.

The probate referee appraises all property and assets except cash. There is a minimum of one probate referee in each county, while larger counties have more than one.

“I want to make this public service opportunity available to as many financial professionals as possible. We are looking for candidates with diverse backgrounds who want to help their communities by providing this important service,” said Chiang. “Please encourage your friends and colleagues who are interested in becoming a Probate Referee to apply and take the exam.”

Probate referees have been proudly assisting the courts, attorneys and the public for more than 68 years.

A probate referee is appointed to a panel in the county of his or her residence by the state controller for a term of four years.

Applicants must possess threshold academic and/or relevant professional experience in order to take the examination and be considered for appointment.

Applicants must meet at least one of the following:

– Bachelor’s degree plus at least 30 class hours in appraisal/valuation classes; or
– 2,000 hours of experience within the last four years appraising real and/or personal property; or
– Certified as an appraiser by the California Office of Real Estate Appraisers, the Appraisal Institute or the American Society of Appraisers; or
– Attorney with a minimum of three years as a member of the California State Bar, or
– Certified Public Accountant with a minimum of three years as a licensed CPA in California.

There are about 114 Probate Referee positions on county panels statewide; currently, approximately 25 of these positions will be available for re-appointment.

All applications must be received by Oct. 10.

Applicants must also submit five letters of recommendation from references listed on their applications. Those letters must be received no later than Oct. 24.

Individuals interested in becoming probate referees may obtain an application by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (916) 263-3624 and select option No. 7 and then No. 5.

The application and testing information is available at www.cpshr.us or www.sco.ca.gov .

Please return completed applications, along with a nonrefundable check or money order for $75 made payable to the State Controller’s Office, to CPS HR Consulting, Attention: Probate Referee Program, 241 Lathrop Way, Sacramento, CA 95815.

The five letters of recommendation must be received by the State Controller’s Office by Oct. 24. Please send the letters to State Controller’s Office, Probate Referee Program, Attn: Amber Camarena, 300 Capitol Mall, Suite 1850, Sacramento, CA 95814.

NICE, Calif. – Come join the Sons of Italy in Nice for its “Last Chance Dinner Dance” on Saturday, Sept. 27.

The meal will include pork loin, scalloped potatoes, vegetables, salad and dessert.

The bar opens at 5 p.m., dinner starts at 6 p.m. and dancing to live music after the meal with The High Notes.

Tickets cost $15 at the door.

The hall is located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.

Call 707-274-2244 on the afternoon of the event for more information.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Redbud Audubon Society Inc. is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. 

Redbud Audubon Society has the proud distinction of being the first conservation organization in Lake County.

Lake County continues to face challenges and threats to our beautiful natural resources but thanks to the dedicated individuals who donate their time and energy to groups like the Redbud Audubon Society and other conservation organizations in the county we will continue to be able to meet those challenges. Join us!

The group's next meeting will be held this Thursday, Sept. 18, with refreshments at 7 p.m. and the meeting at 7:15 p.m. in Glebe Social Hall, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, 4085 Main St., Kelseyville.

The group will view the documentary film “Rebels with a Cause.”

The National Audubon new member introductory rate is $20 for one year.