SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Families needing assistance for the holidays are urged to sign up for the annual Spirit of the Season program this Wednesday, Nov. 18.

The sign up event will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Middletown Community United Methodist Church, 15833 Armstrong St.

The event will be the last day for signing up for the program.

Spirit of the Season provides a food box for a complete Christmas dinner, including a turkey and all the fixings.

For youngsters still in high school and younger a gift is also included. 

Applicants are asked to bring proof of residence for the program is limited to folks who live in Middletown, Cobb or Hidden Valley Lake.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services' interim Director Kim Clymire announced that the Historical Courthouse Museum in Lakeport and the Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The museums will reopen Saturday, Nov. 28.

Normal operating hours at the Courthouse Museum are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The Historical Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake is normally opened 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and closed on Sunday.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please call the Historical Courthouse Museum in Lakeport at 707-263-4555 or the Historical Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake at 707-995-3565.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Public Services' interim Director Kim Clymire announced that the Eastlake Landfill and the Lakeport Public Services office will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 27, for the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

The landfill will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 28, and the Public Services office will reopen on Monday, Nov. 30.

Normal operating hours at the landfill are 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

The Public Services office is normally open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If you have any questions regarding this subject or any of the solid waste issues in Lake County, please call 707-262-1760.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Losing all your possessions in a devastating fire is likely one of the worst things that many of us can imagine, but what is far worse is losing the memories captured in those items.

The baby albums, the wedding photos, the photos of cherished vacations; those are the items that chronicle the most important moments in our lives and the fires in Lake County took those from many families.

As a part of International Help-Portrait Day, a team of professional photographers from Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties are volunteering their time and talents to provide families in Lake County with free professional-quality photos.

Each of the 250 families that will be photographed on Saturday, Dec. 5, will have a private 15-minute session with a professional photographer and then will receive free copies of the photos taken during the session.

Bay Photo of Scotts Valley has generously offered to print 1,000 photos for the families. Families interested in participating in the photo session must register at www.helpportraitlakecounty.org .

Donations are currently being requested to help cover the help cover the costs associated with the event.

Donations will help provide water and snacks to families while they wait to be photographed, cover the cost of shipping and delivering the donated prints, and provide food for the volunteers.

Tax-deductible donations may be made by visiting https://www.purecharity.com/help-portrait-lake-county-california .

Help-Portrait is a global movement of photographers using their time, tools and expertise to give back to those in need.

Help-Portrait is a United States based 501(c)(3) Not-For-Profit corporation, tax ID 27-1476015. Your donation is tax-deductible in the US only.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Luncheon Club will host a discussion of plans for this year's Christmas in Middletown event at its meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Lunch will be served at noon at the Middletown Senior Center, 21256 Washington St. The program will end promptly at 1 p.m.

Christmas is coming to Middletown this year in a big way. The Middletown Area Merchants Association sponsors Christmas in Middletown every year on the second Saturday of December. 

Come hear what is in store for you this year on Dec. 12.

In addition, many area merchants will be in attendance to introduce themselves and tell you about how they are recovering and supporting the community recovery from the Valley fire.

Here's your chance to chat with and show your support for the folk who keep our south Lake County economy humming. Get a sneak peak by visiting the Middletown Area Merchants Association Facebook page.
 
For only $5 per person, enjoy beef lasagna, garden salad and cantaloupe for lunch.

Reservations are required. Please call 707-987-3113 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to make a reservation.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Parade entries are now being sought for the Upper Lake Holiday Light Parade.

This year's theme is "A Country Christmas."

The parade will take place beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.

There will be trophies for different categories and there is no sign up fee.

The Upper Lake Holiday Light Parade is sponsored by the Upper Lake Community Council and North Shore Fire.

For more information please call Sarah Sanchez, 707-900-8585, or Debbie Hablutzel, 707-275-2000.