NICE – A campaign kickoff event to launch District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing's 2010 reelection campaign will take place on Sunday, March 14.

The event will being at 2 p.m. at the Sons of Italy Hall in Nice, 2817 Highway 20.

The event will include a silent auction to raise funds for the campaign, and will feature music and refreshments.

Rushing invites all interested community members to attend to learn more about her candidacy, celebrate progress thus far and help launch the 2010 campaign.

She is dedicated to promoting sustainable local economy and community self-reliance in Lake County. Rushing believes that, together, we can make changes that strengthen local community, support local economy and lead to more healthy, secure and meaningful lives.

The election is June 8.

For more information about her campaign, call 707-275-8892, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.deniserushing.org .

UPPER LAKE – The Northshore Dive Team will hold a dive training on Friday, March 5.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at Upper Lake's Station 90 on Main Street.

Training will follow. Bring PSD textbooks required for training.

Anyone who is interested in the team is encouraged to attend.

For more information contact the Northshore Dive Team at 707-275-2446 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The inaugural Kelseyville Olive Festival is looking for a few good pit spitters for its pit spitting contest. Courtesy photo.

KELSEYVILLE – Organizers of the inaugural Kelseyville Olive Festival are looking for local celebrities and business owners who would like to compete against each other in the festival's pit spitting contest. The glory could be yours!

The first-ever Kelseyville Olive Festival, an event which focuses on the olive industry in Lake County as well as other local agriculture, will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 21, at the Kelseyville Olive Mill located at 5625 Gaddy Lane in Kelseyville.

There is no cost to attend the festival; samples and demonstrations are free of charge. Wine and beer tasting will be available for a $10 fee. Please visit www.kelseyvilleolivefestival.com .

To sign up for the pit spitting contest contact Livia Kurtz at Rosa d'Oro Vineyards, 3915 Main St., Kelseyville, telephone 707-279-0483 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

KELSEYVILLE – County superintendent of schools candidate Dr. Judy Luchsinger will speak Saturday, March 6, at a fundraising event at the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville.

The event, sponsored by Roland and Nell Shaul and Bill and Dana Kearney, begins at 6 p.m. and will include wine and appetizers.

Luchsinger will speak about her goals and objectives and her campaign for the office of superintendent of schools.

She previously served 16 years as county superintendent and she has spent the last 13 years providing quality management consulting services to businesses around the world.

"I am convinced that the county schools office can do a much better job of supporting local districts and seeing that money ends up in the classroom and not in the superintendent's office growing that bureaucracy," Luchsinger said. "School budgets are facing historic challenges this year, and the county superintendent can be of great help to local districts by offering to consolidate certain functions and eliminate wasteful redundancies. I am determined to put students first."

Luchsinger has set three simple priorities for herself:

• Reestablish fiscal accountability and transparency;

• Reinstate meaningful services to districts and teachers;

• Revitalize education by providing leadership and resources from the county schools office to the classroom.

Tickets for Saturday's event are $35 and can be reserved by calling 707-349-2919.