A past Umpqua Bank wish tree with the gifts it collected for local children. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Take the opportunity to make a child’s dream come true.

Umpqua Bank is once again promoting the Christmas Wish Tree for children under the care of Child Protective Services in Lake County.

These children range in ages from 2 months to 17 years. There are approximately 150 names on the trees located at the Lakeport and Kelseyville branches of Umpqua Bank. Hurry in to get your choice of tags!

The bank is reaching out to the community with the hope that you can join them to achieve our goal of giving a child their wish this Christmas season.

What a great way to teach your kids the gift of giving by getting them involved. It is so easy to do and very rewarding. Simply come into either of our stores, pick a child’s tag, and sign our register. Then return your gift by Dec. 10, wrapped and with the tag on it. If you don’t have the time to purchase a gift, you can make a monetary donation and the bank will be happy to do the shopping for you.

Umpqua Bank is located in Lakeport at 805 11th St. and in Kelseyville at 4280 Main St.

For more information call the Lakeport bank branch at 707-262-3342.

This year, permits will be available for purchase from area vendors, as well as either in person or by mail from Mendocino National Forest offices. Vendors are listed below with contact information for the Forest Service.

Permits are $10 per tree and will be sold through Friday, Dec. 18. The permits are good through Dec. 24, and trees may be cut and removed any day of the week in any authorized area of the Mendocino National Forest.

There is a limit of one permit per household and each permit using a valid name and address. Up to four additional permits may be purchased for additional households using separate names and addresses. Individuals must be 18 or older to purchase a permit.

The Mendocino National Forest only accepts cash or check as payment for Christmas tree permits and sales are final, with no refunds. Permittees will receive a tree tag and map of the forest.

To purchase a permit by mail, send a printed name and mailing address, a printed name and address for each permit purchased, a daytime telephone number, and a check or money order made out to “USDA Forest Service” for $10 for each permit to either the Willows, Upper Lake or Covelo offices with “Christmas Tree Permit” written on the outside of the envelope. Mail-in requests received after December 14 will not be filled.

A form can be found online at www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino/passespermits/christmas/ .

If you are planning on cutting a Christmas tree for someone else who isn’t present, a Third Party Authorization must be in possession of the cutter. This form is also available on the forest Web site.

Permit holders should be aware that federal and state quarantines to prevent the spread of sudden oak death (SOD) are in effect for Lake and Mendocino Counties.

Any Douglas fir Christmas tree cut in these counties can only be transported into other SOD quarantine counties, including Alameda, Contra Costa, Humboldt, Marin, San Francisco, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano and Sonoma.

All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26, in observance of Thanksgiving.

Christmas tree permits can be purchased from the following offices and vendors:

Mendocino National Forest Supervisor’s Office/Grindstone Ranger District Office

825 N. Humboldt Ave., Willows, CA 95988

530-934-3316

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Stonyford Work Center

5171 Stonyford-Elk Creek Road, Stonyford, CA, 95979

530-963-3128

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 1- 4:30 p.m.

Covelo Ranger Station

78150 Covelo Road, Covelo, CA 95428

707-983-6118

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 28, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; weekends, Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Upper Lake Ranger Station

10025 Elk Mountain Road, Upper Lake, CA 95485

707-275-2361

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 28, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; weekends, Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., 12:30-4:30 p.m.

Black Butte Store

34985 Etsel Ridge Road, Covelo, CA 95428

707-983-9438

Hours: Seven days a week, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

M&M Feed and Supply

74540 Hill Road, Covelo, CA 95428

707-983-6273

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Nancy’s Elkhorn Family Lodge

2745 County Road 306, Elk Creek, CA 95939

530-968-5312

Hours: Seven days a week, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Flournoy Country Store

16140 Paskenta Road, Flournoy, CA 96029

530-833-5305

Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sacramento River Discovery Center

1000 Sale Lane, Red Bluff, CA 96080

530-527-1196

Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Squaw Creek Inn & Resort

4425 Sites Ladoga Road, Stonyford, CA 95979

530-963-3483

Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Timberline Bar & Grill

279 Market St., Stonyford, CA 95979

530-963-3074

Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Hi-way Grocery

160 E. Hwy 20, Upper Lake, CA 95485

707-275-2380

Hours: Seven days a week, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

Woody’s Gas and Mini Mart

220 E. Hwy 20, Upper Lake, CA 95485

707-275-2045

Hours: Monday-Saturday, 5:30 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m.

Cutting a Christmas tree on the national forest is a great holiday tradition for many families and also helps with hazardous fuels reduction by removing smaller trees from the Forest. Following are some tips to make your experience more enjoyable.

• Plan your trip – check the weather, bring plenty of warm clothes, water, emergency food, tire chains, shovel, a saw or axe to cut your tree, and a tarp and rope to bring it home. Make sure you have a full tank of gas when you leave and are prepared for changing conditions in the mountains! Also, let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

• Keep vehicles on designated roads and be aware of changing weather and road conditions. Wet dirt roads can quickly turn to mud, making it possible to get stuck and causing damage to road, soil and water resources. If there are puddles in the road, mud flipping off the tires or you can see your ruts in the rearview mirror, consider pulling over and taking a hike to look for a tree, or turning around and finding a different area to cut your tree.

• Cut your tree early in the season before favorite cutting areas can’t be reached because of snow.

• Make sure you are cutting a tree on the Mendocino National Forest and not from other federal, state or private lands.

• Cut the tree as close as possible to the ground and leave as little of a stump as possible.

• Attach the permit on the tree where it will be easily visible with the tree packed or tied on your vehicle for transport home.

• To help keep your tree fresh, cut at least one inch off the base when you get home and stand the tree in a container of water in a cool, shaded area, checking the water level daily.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest or visit www.fs.fed.us/r5/mendocino .

CLEARLAKE – The city of Clearlake, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and Lake County Hospice have collaborated to host the Clearlake Christmas Light Parade on Dec. 5 at 6 p.m.

Join the community downtown for this family-friendly event featuring a parade of lights.

This year's theme is “Christmas in Paradise.” Visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Lakeshore Lions and Lioness providing cocoa and cookies, and a very special Christmas tree lighting by Lake County Hospice.

This year's event is going to be taped by TV8 and Carle High School so you can enjoy this event for the month of December.

Many businesses will have holiday open houses and invite you to shop and dine downtown to enjoy the festivities.

For more information about these and other events, please call the Clear Lake Chamber at 707-994-3600.

Join them for a holiday celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and, at the same time, help local community organizations.

Enjoy festive music provided by the Middletown Renaissance Pageant. There will be pictures with Santa Claus and the chance to purchase holiday gifts from local merchants, along with the opportunity to participate in the winery's wine sale.

Recommended donation items include unwrapped toys, nonperishable food items or a $10 monetary contribution. All donations will benefit local charities.

Langtry Estate & Vineyards is located at 21000 Butts Canyon Road, Middletown.

For more information, call the winery at 707-987-2385.

The Stone House, built in 1853-54, is located just inside the old main gate of Hidden Valley Lake and, because it is on private property, is available to visitors only by special appointment or at semi-annual open house activities.

Originally headquarters for the Mexican land grant know as Rancho Guenoc, the diminutive house was named State Historic Landmark No. 450 by the California Centennial Commission in 1950.

The Stone House has been restored by the Stone House Historical Society and furnished with donations to reflect the lifestyles of past generations.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m., guests may tour its five small rooms, which will be decorated for the holidays in appropriately old-fashioned style, and enjoy coffee, wine, soft drinks and homemade treats in the adjacent activity center.

Visitors from outside Hidden Valley Lake will be admitted at the Hartmann Road gate.

As one of its ongoing fundraisers to support continuing maintenance, the society will be raffling a gift basket filled with California wines, related accessories and munchies, and a movie filmed in the Napa Valley.

Tickets at $1 each may be purchased in advance (winner need not be present) from members or by calling 707-987-7370, 707-987-3535 or 707-987-4998.

Further information at www.lakecountystonehouse.com .