KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Beautiful flowers and wonderful, warm, sunny weather were on the agenda on Sunday, April 22, when the Highland Springs Trails Volunteers hosted a Sierra Club Wildflower Hike at Highland Springs Recreational Area.

The 10 hikers wound their way up serpentine knolls, crossed seasonal runoffs, and meandered trails dotted with Bitter Root, Scarlett Larkspur, Fawn Lilly, and Serpentine Onion as well as Shooting Stars, Gold Field, Blue-Eyed Grass, and Ground Lily.  

Latin names were being tossed around as many of the hikers were well-versed amateur botanists.

Highland Springs Trails Volunteers has been recovering and maintaining the nearly 30 miles of horseback riding and hiking trails at Highland Springs for more than 10 years.  

Although members have been a presence and performed individual trail work at Highlands since the early 1990s, formal organization of public work days did not start until 2007.  

Recording of man hours worked began in 2010 with a total of 1,276 hours of trail work for that year with over 55 community members from multiple groups, as well as youth and senior.

The Highland Springs Trails Volunteers will be hosting a second Sierra Club Wildflower Hike at Highland Springs Sunday, May 6, at 9:30 a.m. Please email Karen Sullivan for reservations at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

These special hikes are limited to 12 participants. Find more information about Highland Springs Trails Volunteers at http://www.highlandspringstrailsvolunteers.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – California’s older driver population is approximately 2.9 million today and is expected to increase to 4 million by 2020.

Research groups such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety say that older drivers involved in collisions tend to be more vulnerable than younger people, meaning that they suffer more severe injuries.

Strategies to minimize these casualties and assist older drivers drive safe longer have become a priority for the California Highway Patrol.

The Clear Lake Area CHP is offering a free “Age Well, Drive Smart” course aimed at providing older drivers with KEYS to driving safer and driving longer.

The Clear Lake Area CHP is offering two Age Well, Drive Smart courses.

The first will be at the Middletown Senior Center on Tuesday, May 29, at 1 p.m.

Another course will be at the Lakeport Senior Center on Monday, June 4, at 1 p.m.

The course is approximately two hours long.

Age Well, Drive Smart is intended for drivers 55 and older. Discussion topics in the Age Well, Drive Smart program will include:

• How to tune up their driving skills.
• Refreshing their knowledge of the rules of the road.
• Learning about normal, age-related physical changes and how to adjust to them.
• When it may be time to limit or stop driving.
• Understand the alternatives to driving.

  For more information on the course or to register please call Officer Kory Reynolds at 707-279-0103.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Pine Mountain Lookout, located approximately 30 minutes northwest of Upper Lake in the Mendocino National Forest, will open for its tenth recreational season Tuesday, May 1.

In 2002 the Forest Service began renting the lookout for $50 a night with a two night minimum.

Inside, the lookout is furnished with four cots, two bunk beds and a small dining room set. Outside, the site has a picnic table, pedestal charcoal grill and fire ring.

There also is a vault toilet a short walk from the main building.

Visitors interested in using the facility should be aware that there is no electricity and no water available.

The facility can be accessed by car without requiring four-wheel drive or high clearance.

“The Pine Mountain Lookout is a lot like camping, only with the benefit of a structure to offer protection from the elements while enjoying the amazing views,” said District Ranger Lee Johnson.

The season for the lookout runs from May 1 through October 31.  Reservations can be made at www.recreation.gov up to 180 days in advance.

To prepare the site for the opening of the season, on Thursday approximately 15 Mendocino National Forest employees gathered to work on the site. This included opening up the lookout, cleaning, fuels reduction and other preparation projects.

Maintenance and upkeep throughout the season is funded in part through the $50 reservation fee. The entire fee is reinvested at the site.

However, public support has played a large part in funding improvements at the site and maintaining the historic integrity.  

The Lake County RAC in 2007 agreed to pay $13,000 for a new chemical toilet building and in 2009 approved $3,500 to paint the lookout.

The lookout’s olive green color is matched to the color used by the Army during its time as an aircraft spotting station.

“We really appreciate the hard work from all of the volunteers and the support of the local community,” said Johnson. “With recreation funds being stretched further each year, the commitment to preserving and maintaining this treasured lookout is an incredible help.”

At 4,400 feet in elevation, the Pine Mountain Lookout is unique in that it has a 180-degree view rather than the typical 360-degree view. The view looks out to the west, providing the opportunity to view spectacular sunsets.

The lookout is located in a mixed forest or Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, black oak and madrone.

The Pine Mountain Lookout was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs) for the U.S. Forest Service in 1933.  

From 1933 to 1941, the structure was used as a fire lookout. During World War II, the lookout became an aircraft spotting station for the U.S. Army. This task included watching for Japanese fire balloons.

After 17 years of use, the lookout was closed in 1950 and the building was abandoned.

The National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 required buildings 50 years or older to be evaluated for inclusion into the National Register of Historic Places.  

During the 1980s, this brought attention to many of the structures constructed by the CCCs in the 1930s.  

In 1987 the Mendocino National Forest began evaluating historic structures. The Pine Mountain Lookout met the standards for integrity and was determined eligible for listing on the National Register.

In 1989, intentions were made to put the lookout into the national rental program, which made historic cabins and structures available for public use.  

Following 13 years of restoration and work, the lookout finally entered the national rental program during the 2002 season.

Ten years later, the lookout is a popular destination not only for local residents, but also international visitors.

The lookout’s logbook has comments from visitors as far away as Australia, Japan, Denmark and England.

For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316 or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The Lower Lake Historical School Preservation Committee will present its annual Treasures & Trash Sale on Saturday, May 5, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the museum, 16435 Main Street in Lower Lake.

This event will occur rain or shine.

A large array of household items, tools, art, books, electronics, toys and live plants will be for sale. Proceeds benefit maintenance and improvements at the museum.

Donors may bring items to sell during regular business hours, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., up until Friday. Please, no large appliances or clothing.

For more information, please call the museum at 707-995-3565.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Chip Saucer will host the regular last Sunday of the month Flying Saucer Club meeting at McDonald's on Todd Road in Lakeport on Sunday, April 29.

Chip recently acquired some crop circle videos that cover the last five years of activity in an active area in England. The farmers really hate the circles and sometimes mow them over the next day.

Have you seen any crop circles in Lake County? Come to the meeting and talk about them.

The meeting runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Everyone is welcome. The meetings are free and are held in the meeting room at the back of McDonald's. There is plenty of parking in the lot.

For more information visit http://meetup.com/lcflyingsaucerclub , email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Chip at 707-263-3391.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Tickets for the 15th annual Stars of Lake County Community Awards on Sunday, May 6, are currently available through the office of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.  

Tickets may be purchased by calling the office at 707-263-5092 or coming to 875 Lakeport Blvd. at Vista Point in Lakeport.

Stars is being held this year at PSI Seminars in High Valley above Clearlake Oaks.

The reception begins at 4 p.m., with dinner at 5 p.m. The awards presentations begin at 6:30 p.m.

Apparel for Stars is what you would wear for a special event, dinner, birthday or anniversary.

For additional information call Melissa Fulton at 707-263-5092.