KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Chapter of the California Retired Teachers Association will hold its quarterly meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

This luncheon meeting will be held at the Taylor Observatory, 5723 Live Oak Drive in Kelseyville.

Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. A business meeting will be called to order by President Joyce Anderson at a.m. A program in the planetarium will follow the business meeting.

Lunch, catered by the Kelseyville Unified School District Food Service Department, will be served at noon.

Election of officers for the 2015-17 term will be conducted during the business meeting.

The lunch menu consists of mushroom pork, garlic mashed potatoes and Caesar salad with cranberries, wonton crisps and mandarin oranges. Desert will be strawberry shortcake. Beverages are included. A vegetarian entrée may be requested. The cost of lunch is $15 including tax and gratuity. 

Reservations may be made by calling Julie at 707-279-2625 by Feb. 2.

Transportation can be arranged for those in need by contacting Julie at the above number.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Public Works Department reported that a closure is planned on High Street for part of the day on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

High Street between 14th and 17th streets will be closed from 8:15 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. as a crew takes down a tree in the area, the department reported.

Public Works will have traffic control in place and there will be alternate routes to Hartley Street.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio (LCWS) is hosting a wine release party and artist show reception with Bell Hill Vineyards and artist Carolyn Hawley on Friday, Feb. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 7, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Alex Maxwell representing Bell Hill, will be at the Studio for the Saturday evening reception.
 
Phillip and Julia Maxwell have been growing winegrapes for about 30 years and founded Bell Hill Vineyards in 2005.

The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards are located in the Kelsey Bench AVA at about 1,400 feet elevation in alluvial soils.

Originally growing the grapes for sale to other vintners, the Maxwells began making wine through the custom crush opportunity at Steele Wines.

Both the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced by the Maxwells have been consistent medal winners.

The wine sampler and appetizers, which cost $12.50 and $10 for LCWS club members, will showcase Bell Hill 2005 Merlot with Julia Maxwell's Chimichurri sauce recipe on crostini – steak optional, 2006 Merlot with roasted asparagus drizzled with a balsamic glaze, 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon with gourmet cheeses and the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon with double chocolate brownies.
 
Artist Carolyn Hawley is by profession a classical musician, but took up painting when she moved from the Bay Area to Mendocino and  Lake counties in the 1970s.

A former music professor and conductor of the Ukiah Symphony, she is a composer of more than 100 music works, is a concert pianist and a teacher.

Hawley has won many awards for her art, which critics have labeled “magic realism.”

“I am inspired to capture the true essence of my subjects, painting landscapes, seascapes, skycaps, animals, people and whatever grabs my attention,” she said.

Self-taught, she has learned from other artists such as Ukiah artist and friend Adele Pruitt and from Main Street Art Gallery friends.

She has shown her works at shows throughout Northern California at galleries, wineries, art groups, banks and other venues such as the Lake County Fair, and is a member of the Lake County Artists Guild and the Lake County Arts Council.
 
Hawley is mother of two grown children and grandmother of three, all of whom are also musicians and artists in San Francisco and Eugene, Oregon.

She lives in the hills of Nice with her pets and garden, as well as the many wild animals who pass through. She also is a published author of a book “Memoirs of an Aging Woodnymph” and six books of poetry.
 
The Hawley art show will be on display for the full month of February.

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

The gallery is located at 9505 Main St. in Upper Lake.

GLENDORA, Calif. – The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC) has elected Jerry Davies as the new chairman, effective Jan. 1.

Davies replaces Pat Kidder, who has served as chairman the past four years.

Kidder, a board member since the founding of CFSC, will remain on the board as an active member.

Davies has been a board member since 1995, when he was recruited to serve by the founder of CFSC, Bruce Turbeville.

Davies has an extensive insurance industry background and has served in key roles dealing with fire and disaster prevention as well as recovery operations.

He currently serves as co-chairman of the State Board of Fire Services and is a board member of the Fire Service Training Institute.

As chairman of CFSC, Davies will continue the mission of CFSC in working with fire safe councils and communities throughout California to reduce the impact of wildfire.

“I look forward to continuing the close working relationship between CFSC and local fire safe councils on shared efforts and common messages,” Davies said. “The local fire safe councils and Firewise Communities in California have become models for the rest of the United States.”

“The CFSC Board will also expand opportunities for the private sector to participate in CFSC’s many workshops, seminars, and community events,” continued Davies, “while CFSC continues to fund wildfire mitigation projects through the Grants Clearinghouse.”

CFSC is a statewide nonprofit organization. It currently receives grants from federal agencies to provide subgrants to fire safe councils and other organizations using CFSC’s innovative online Grants Clearinghouse system that began in 2004.

Recognized throughout the industry for its comprehensive program, CFSC administers and monitors the subgrants, from application to closeout, in accordance with the federal grant regulations. CFSC staff provides unparalleled technical assistance and training to applicants and grantees. 

Since its inception, CFSC’s Grants Clearinghouse has funded over 850 subgrants totaling more than $81 million for projects to make communities across California safer from wildfire. CFSC will begin accepting grant applications this month for the 2015 Grants Clearinghouse cycle.

For more information on California Fire Safe Council and the Grants Clearinghouse, please visit the CFSC Web site at www.cafiresafecouncil.org .

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – Coyote Valley Elementary's Be My Valentine Father Daughter Dance will take place on Saturday, Feb. 7.

The dance will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the school, 18950 Coyote Valley Road in Hidden Valley Lake.

Girls can attend with their fathers, grandfathers, uncles or family friends.

There will be dancing, refreshments and photos by Bob Rider, all included in the ticket price.

The event is a fundraiser for Coyote Valley Elementary's sixth grade science camp.

Only 100 tickets are available. Tickets cost $25 per couple with advance purchase or $35 at the door. The cost is $5 for each additional daughter and $15 for a preordered corsage from Middletown Florist (order by Feb. 2).

To order tickets call the school, 707-987-3357, or Marinda at 707-508-9169.

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – On Saturday, Dec. 13, many gathered at the Lower Lake Cemetery to participate in the annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony to honor veterans.

Wreaths Across America was started in Arlington Cemetery to remember the fallen, honor those that serve, and teach the value of freedom to youth.

The Lake County 4-H Citizenship and Leadership Project (Lake County 4H C&L) has worked closely with community members for the last three years to lay wreaths at the Lower Lake Cemetery.

We would like to thank all those who sponsored Lower Lake wreaths including: Jen’s Little Bit of Everything, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Gail Lombard, Judy Fletcher, Ledra Lance, The Wright Look, Kerrie’s Quilting, Sharon Vizena, Lisa Tinkler, Kim Harris, Cynthia Ott, Joe Madrid, Jan Peterson, Doreen Walstadt, Marie Sager, Melissa Pack, The Carpet Man, Mark Cann, B&G Tires, Nottingham Nursery, Chatoff Properties, Jenny Lynn, Lisa McDonald, Copy Cat, Four Corners Builder’s Supply, David Hughes, Lakeside Appliance, Cindy Pina, Rotary Club of Clearlake, Ed Zander, Russ Perdock, Dr. Mark Cooper, Pepe Mendoza, Hank Montgomery, Elaine Tracy, Gary and Bethany Rose, Peggy Browning, Mary Woodward, Anne Garner-Austin, Charlotte Schlink, Century 21 North Bay Alliance, Sally David, Carol Whittingslow, Mark and Nancy Conrad, Betty Painter, Shannon Ollenberger, Shari & Dennis Sawle, Dorrie Walker, Suzanne Freeman, Angela Laws, Suzanne Robinson, Boy Scouts of America Troop No. 44, Jonnette Moffet, Dan Bergmen, Carol Whittington, Rick and Vicki Iversen, Janet Button, Dr. Debra Sally, Carey Hayes, Rowland Mosser, Stephen Hayes, Clearlake Automotive, Southlake Rentals-Greg Evans, Jones and Lewis Funeral Home, Lisa Nowak, Carolynn Michaels, Kyle Forti, Meredith Wiser and DJ’s Pizza.

The final wreath county for 2014 was 185, up from 150 for 2013 and 100 in 2012.

Special thank you to DJ’s Pizza for letting 4-H C&L host a pizza fundraiser last October – all proceeds were used to sponsor wreaths.

Thank you to Castle Donuts and Konocti American Legion Auxiliary for helping provide refreshments for after the ceremony; Bethany Rose for bringing Wreaths Across America to Lower Lake; Travis Air Force Base Honor Guard for presenting the colors; to Penny and Dave for opening the House of Flags and helping set up the flags and refreshments; to Dennis Alexander and the Konocti Legion 40-08 for allowing the use of the Locomotive to deliver ceremonial wreaths.

Thank you to Dennis Alexander for providing his truck and teaching our children about veterans laid to rest in the Lower Lake Cemetery; Chaplain TC Cara for officiating our ceremony; Eric Pearson, cemetery manager, for helping to facilitate the ceremony and wreath lying; and Joanna Parker for lending her beautiful voice to sing Amazing Grace and the National Anthem during the ceremony. 

Thank you to the Lake County Fire Department for joining the ceremony; and to Middletown FFA members, Anderson Marsh 4-H, Lake County C&L 4H members and community members for placing wreaths.

Katy Evans is a local 4-H leader.