Like fine wine itself, a toast is an opportunity to savor. Over the next few weeks, countless people will stand up and say a few words at holiday meals, office parties and various New Year's festivities.

"Delivering a toast is a classic form of public speaking," says Gary Schmidt, president of Toastmasters International. "It's an easy way to connect with an audience."

In that spirit, Toastmasters offers these tips on the art of toasting:

• Be brief. Keep your comments short and they'll have a greater impact. Talk for more than a couple of minutes and the guests will grow antsy.

• Be bold. Step up and act confident. Speak loudly and clearly.

• Be prepared. Know what you want to say ahead of time. Your words might inspire reflection or provide some much-needed laughter, so make the most of the moment – don't wing it.

• Be fresh. Your drink shouldn't be stale and neither should your words.

• Cliches and platitudes mean little to listeners; be original and speak from the heart.

• Be you. Don't try to be hilarious if that's not who you are. Skip the serious message if it doesn't feel right. Just be yourself.

New Year's events are particularly ripe for a toast. Some celebrate family and friends, others talk about goodwill for the world. One suggestion is to touch on obstacles you've overcome in the past year. Then mention a few goals for 2010. End your remarks on a hopeful note.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs. The organization currently has 250,000 members in 12,000 clubs in 106 countries. Since its founding 85 years ago in October 1924, the organization has helped more than four million men and women give presentations with poise and confidence.

For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org .

There will be $20 a month fee with scholarships available.

The youth center will accept registration applications from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 28, through Wednesday, Dec. 30, at 12477 The Plaza, at the United Methodist Church grounds.

The center will offer homework help, career planning, job readiness, computer skills, Internet access, foosball, air hockey, mural design and much more.

The youth center of Clear Lake Oaks strives to be a safe and fun environment where our youth can learn grow and call their own.

This program is funded with newly available federal stimulus funds with the goal is to place qualifying participants in jobs and to stimulate the local economy.

If you are unemployed, have a child and your income is below the 200 percent federal poverty level, then this program may be able to assist you.

Informational meetings for potential employees will be held at The Job Zone, located at 9055 Highway 53, Lower Lake.

The dates for the informational meetings will be on Jan. 6 at 11 a.m. and Jan. 12 at 11 a.m.

This is an exciting new program that will assist many unemployed parents. Space is limited, so please, RSVP to Jeremiah at 707-995-9015.

Wood smoke is made up of a mixture of gases and fine particle pollution that isn’t healthy to breathe indoors or out – especially for children, older adults and those with heart disease, asthma or other lung diseases.

EPA has established the Burn Wise campaign to reduce wood smoke pollution, helping to protect your home, health and the air we breathe, while keeping those who use wood for heat warm throughout the winter.

If you’re burning wood, you can have a cheaper, safer and healthier fire by following these tips:

• Burn only dry, seasoned wood. It’s better for the air and your wallet. Look for wood that is darker, has cracks in the end grain, and sounds hollow when hit against another piece of wood. Dry seasoned wood is more efficient at heating your home and can add up to significant savings over the winter. Never burn painted or treated wood or trash.

• Maintain your wood stove or fireplace and have a certified technician inspect it yearly. A certified technician can clean dangerous soot from your chimney and keep your wood stove or fireplace working properly, which reduces your risk of a home fire.

• Change to an EPA-certified wood stove or fireplace insert. These models are more efficient than older models, keeping your air cleaner, your home safer and your fuel bill lower, while keeping you warm in the winter. An estimated 12 million Americans heat their homes with wood stoves each winter, and nearly three-quarters of these stoves are not EPA certified. An EPA-certified wood stove can emit nearly 70 percent less smoke than older uncertified models.

More information on Burn Wise is available at www.epa.gov/burnwise .

This program is funded with newly available federal stimulus dollars with the goal of placing qualified participants in jobs to stimulate the local economy.

The Lake County Department of Social Services will reimburse employers the wages and taxes for qualified employees.

The employer will, in turn, provide supervision and training to the participants.

They are offering informational meetings for employers about this program at the Job Zone, located at 9055 Highway 53, Lower Lake.

Informational meetings will be held on Jan. 7 at 2 p.m. and Jan. 13 at 6 p.m.

The agency is excited to present this new program and hope that any potential employers will attend.

Space is limited, so please, RSVP to Jeremiah at 707-995-9015.

The event begins at 7 p.m.

The dinner will be served in the Special Events Center by the stone fireplace and will feature blue cheese-stuffed figs with walnuts, seasonal greens with rosemary walnut vinaigrette and whole grain croutons, pork roast with winter fruits and port sauce, gruyere potato gratin, moscato roasted parsnips and sweet potato coconut cheesecake with dark chocolate crust for $35 per person.

The Lodge also is offering a special one night, all-inclusive room package, which will include dinner and champagne brunch.

Advance reservations are required; call Sylvia at 707-275- 2181.