CLEARLAKE – The Lake County Land Trust’s annual dinner, held Oct. 10, was once again a fun and successful evening. Over 100 Land Trust supporters gathered at the Clearlake Community/Senior Center in the City of Clearlake, to enjoy fun and fellowship; bidding on silent auction items, enjoying Lake County wines, and a delicious dinner prepared by the Blue Wing Saloon and Cafe in Upper Lake.

The silent auction is always a highlight of the evening and features an amazing array of new and donated items, ranging this year from beautiful art and photographs to a hand built craftsman style table and a beautiful original weaving by local artist, Sheila O’Hara.

The Blue Collar Band played during the social hour while volunteers from Carle High School, along with their teacher, Angie Siegel, served appetizers.

Wine was donated by the winery members of the Lake County Winery Association, including Ceago Vinegarden, Focused on Wine, Gregory Graham, Tulip Hill, Wildhurst, Six Sigma, Steele Wine, and the Kelseyville Wine Co.

The event was sponsored by The Livermore Family and the Lake County Wingrape Commission.

The hall was festively decorated with colorful tablecloths and beautiful centerpieces of pumpkins and natural flora.

Pete McGee, president of the Land Trust, welcomed the audience and Michael Friel delivered the keynote address, noting the many accomplishments of the Land Trust, a local, nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving land and valuable habitat in Lake County.

Friel also praised the many accomplishments and leadership of retiring executive director Susanne Scholz.

To conclude the evening, the Land Trust honored two of its stellar volunteers and supporters: Michele Quere and Pamela Capito. Michele lives in Upper Lake and Pamela resides in Scotts Valley.

Among their many contributions, they attend almost every one of the Land Trust’s “Volunteer Thursdays,” held at the Nature Center at the Rodman Slough Preserve. They do clerical jobs, help with land trust mailings, organize files, clean up the center and much more.

“If it weren’t for dedicated volunteers like Pamela Capito and Michele Quere, our job would be much more difficult. They make it possible for the Land Trust to carry on its important work of protecting land in Lake County,” McGee said.

The Lake County Land Trust is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to preserving important areas of natural habitat in Lake County. Go to the website at www.lakecountylandtrust.org  for more information.