Friday, 29 March 2024

Community

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From left, Val Schweifler, 4-H Council president, and Kimberly Walker of Wiloth Ridge 4-H Club. Courtesy photo.




LAKE COUNTY – Kimberly Walker of Wiloth Ridge 4-H Club received her All-Star Rank this past summer at the Lake County 4-H Council Meeting on June 22.


Kimberly's All-Star project was to start a new 4-H Club for handicapped kids within Lake County.


She decided to work with Susie Wiloth of Wiloth Equine Center to start the new club.


Kimberly's goal was to start small with about 15 kids and introduce them to what 4-H has to offer. She worked closely with Wiloth to coordinate the leader certification of her current staff and she and Wiloth designed the new club over the summer and started the club last September.


An active member of the club, Kimberly helps Wiloth work with the new 4-H members at the meetings. Kimberly also decided to be the spokesperson for the club within the community and 4-H to raise awareness about Wiloth and her effort at Wiloth Equine Center.


Kimberly wrote in her final All-Star report, “It feels kind of weird, knowing that my project is officially almost over. I say officially, because I know that regardless of whether the project is officially done or not, nothing is really going to change for me. I'm still going to look for and train volunteers so that they can eventually run it when I step down from my unofficial title of club leader. I'm still going to lead the 4-H club and write down everything that happens and take pictures and stick it all in one huge overwhelming book – because it's important that this 4-H club is here for many years to come, helping it's members to be accepted and to achieve anything that they set their sights on.”


She continued, “I like to be involved in stuff that I love doing – and I don't like to forget any of it. I have never finished any kind of project feeling that it was completely perfect. There is always room for improvement and life is never perfect, so that's what makes it great to have a 4-H club where our only vision is to give the members every opportunity to achieve their personal goals, while having fun, making friends and learning all along the way.”


Kimberly has been in the Lake County 4-H Program for seven years. The All-Star rank is the highest attainable honor in the Lake County 4-H Program. To apply for All-Star rank, a 4-H member must be 15 years of age, demonstrate leadership abilities, citizenship and community involvement, and have made a significant contribution to the 4-H Program.


The 4-H Youth Development is a program of the University of California Cooperative Extension.


For more information on the 4-H program contact U.C. Cooperative Extension, 883 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport, CA 95453, telephone 707-263-6838.


Nicole Gentry is 4-H Youth Development secretary.

KELSEYVILLE – Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium is presenting a special show for the holidays, “Mystery of the Christmas Star.”


“Mystery of the Christmas Star” allows audiences to journey back 2,000 years to Bethlehem as we seek to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find the baby Jesus.


This modern retelling of the Christmas story is sure to charm and captivate audiences of all ages.


The planetarium is a perfect place to study this because of its ability to exactly reproduce the skies as seen from Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago.


Public show dates are at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, from Dec. 20 through Jan. 10.


Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children less than 8 years old. The theater has a 34-seat capacity.


For private group reservations, contact the observatory coordinator at 707-262-4121.


For more information www.taylorobservatory.org .


The Taylor Observatory-Norton Planetarium is located at 5725 Oak Hills Lane, Kelseyville.

NICE – The Sons of Italy will hold a buffet-style winter dinner dance this Saturday, Dec. 19.


The fun will take place at the Sons of Italy Club Hall, 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.


Enjoy an early Christmas dinner of baked ham, mashed potatoes, yams, veggies, salads and rolls, topped off with a special holiday cake for dessert.


The bar is open for socializing at 5 p.m. then dinner will be served at 6 p.m.


Enjoy dancing to music of the Jim Williams Band right after the meal.


All tickets are $18 at the door. Everyone is welcome.


For information about this event or renting the hall for your own, call 707-274-9952.


Please call if you have donations for our food baskets for seniors and families in need.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. – Santa’s reindeer won’t be the only ones taking to the skies this year. After two consecutive years of decline, the latest survey from AAA Northern California finds the number of Californians expected to travel over the Christmas-New Year’s holiday is on the rise.

 

AAA predicts more than 11.3 million Californians plan to travel 50 miles or more this Christmas and New Year’s holiday. This represents an overall increase of 11.3 percent compared to 2008.

 

“The fact that more Californians are traveling during this holiday season appears to indicate that consumers are more willing to spend money on leisure travel,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Cynthia Harris. “Although many consumers are still feeling the pain of the current economic conditions, here in California they appear to be more focused on controlling costs rather than canceling trips.”


AAA’s projections are based on research conducted by IHS Global Insight. The Boston-based economic research and consulting firm teamed with AAA earlier this year as part of an agreement to jointly analyze travel trends during the major holidays.

 

AAA projects that more than 9.9 million Californians traveling during Christmas and New Year’s will travel by car to reach their holiday destinations. Driving is by far the most predominant mode of travel, and has seen a 12 percent increase compared to last year.


More than 633,000 Californians are planning to travel by air, which is an increase of 9 percent compared to 2008. Approximately 800,000 state residents are expected to travel by other modes of transportation, such as boats or trains. This represents an increase of 5 percent compared to last year.

 

Nationally, AAA projects 87.7 million people will travel 50 miles or more during the holiday festivities. That’s a 3.8 percent increase compared to last year.

 

Family travel constitutes 39 percent of total travelers during the year-end holidays. An average West Coast family of four will save money by staying with friends and family, with overall expenditures of $1,135. An average West Coast road trip will consist of approximately 800 miles. Those planning to stay in hotels will spend an average of $119 on accommodations. AAA Three Diamond lodgings are expected to be 10 percent lower, while AAA Two Diamond lodgings are expected to drop 6 percent from last year. Car rental rates are up 2 percent compared to last year’s holiday prices.

 

Although there continues to be a reduction of flights and destinations by major airlines, many air travelers are becoming more flexible as they plan their trips by changing their travel dates. Californians who take to the skies during this holiday season will pay an average price of $179 per round trip ticket.

 

As part of AAA’s ongoing commitment to provide safety and protection to motorists, AAA’s Tipsy Tow Program offers a free tow for drinking drivers in Northern California from 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 until 6 a.m. Dec. 25 and from 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 until 6 a.m. on Jan. 1. Members and non-members alike can call 800-222-4357 (AAA-HELP) for a free tow of up to five miles.

 

“Just tell the AAA operator, ‘I need a Tipsy Tow,’ and a truck will be on its way,” said Harris. “Service is restricted to a one-way ride for the driver and his or her vehicle to the driver’s home.”

 

Tips for holiday road travel


  • Watch weather reports prior to long-distance drives. Delay trips in especially bad weather.

  • Always make sure your vehicle is in peak operating condition before starting a trip.

  • Keep at least a half tank of gas in your vehicle at all times.

  • Pack a cellular phone and car charger. Have emergency numbers available.

  • If you become snowbound, stay with your vehicle. It is an excellent shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to find you.

  • Stay focused. Avoid distractions such as texting, talking on the phone and adjusting the radio or other electronic devices.


Air travel tips


  • New TSA regulations require the name on your airline ticket/boarding pass to exactly match your name as it is printed on your government-issued identification.

  • Make reservations for accommodations and rental cars ahead of time so prices can be locked in. Air fares are typically cheaper if arrangements are made early.

  • Liquids and gel carry-ons will only be allowed in containers no larger than 3 ounces and must be placed in a quart-size Ziploc clear plastic bag.

  • Know your airline’s policy regarding extra baggage and fees and plan your packing accordingly so you avoid these extra costs.

LAKEPORT – The city of Lakeport, the Lakeport Main Street Association and Lake County Regional Chamber of Commerce and City of Lakeport recently sponsored their fifth annual holiday decorations contest.

Winners were announced during the council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 15.

Jan Bruns of the Lakeport Main Street Association handed out the awards, which included $300 checks to first place residential winners Tiffany and Jared Bussard of 842 Central Park – the Bussards were second-place finishers in 2008 – and business winner Flower's By Jackie, 108 S. Main St.

Inspirations Gallery, 165 N. Main St., took second place in the business category, winning a $100 check, and Tracy Stephens, whose home is located on N. Main Street, received $100 for winning second place in the residential contest.

The judging panel included Councilmen Roy Parmentier and Bob Rumfelt, City Clerk Janel Chapman, April Knoll of the Lakeport Main Street Association and Cheryl Herrick.

LAKE COUNTY – The Board of Supervisors is seeking to fill two vacancies on the Lake County Vector Control District Board of Trustees.

All appointments to the board will be made on or after Jan. 5, 2010.

Applications are available at the Lake County Courthouse, Clerk of the Board's Office, Room 109, 255 N. Forbes St, Lakeport.

All memberships on the Vector Control District Board of Trustees are voluntary.

For information regarding the positions, please contact the Clerk of the Board's Office at 707-263-2371.

Upcoming Calendar

30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

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