NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Caltrans and the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) will hold a series of public meetings for the Pacific Coast Bike Route and California Coastal Trail Engineered Feasibility Study.  

The study will identify gaps in bicycle and pedestrian facilities along Route 1 in Mendocino County, develop a plan for prioritizing and implementing improvements, and establish realistic cost estimates for the highest priority projects.

The meetings will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Westport, Point Arena, Gualala and Caspar on the following dates: July 18 at Westport Community Church, 24900 Abalone St.; July 19 at Point Arena City Hall, 451 School Street; July 25 at Gualala Community Center, 47950 Center St.; July 26 at Casper Community Center, 15051 Caspar Road.

The public is encouraged to attend one of these meetings to learn about the study by reviewing educational displays and materials, and provide comments.

Caltrans and MCOG staff will be on hand to answer questions.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Rosa d’Oro Vineyards tasting room in Kelseyville is holding monthly “Flight Nights” showcasing their Italian-varietal wines paired with Italian-inspired cuisine.

The next event will take place Friday, July 13.

The pairing event is held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rosa d’Oro tasting room, 3915 Main St, Kelseyville.

Attendees will enjoy a flight of four wines paired with small plates of food in an intimate atmosphere with the winemaker and chefs.

Seating at handcrafted walnut bistro tables is limited. Cost is $20 per person.

For reservations please call 707-279-0483. For more information visit www.rosadorowine.com .

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Asia Jones, age 16, and a six-year member of the Blue Heron 4-H Club, has earned her All Star rank, the highest star rank in the 4-H organization.  

The award is available to youth who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, community service and participation in the 4-H organization on the club and country level.

Jones also designed and hosted a multi-county livestock quiz bowl, observed local government in action, authored three published news stories about local 4-H events, visited several local 4-H chapters, and produced a PowerPoint for the local clubs which explained the 4-H attire and star rank system.

She looks forward to continuing to serve as a 4-H teen leader throughout the county.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The next showing in Lakeport Cinema 5’s free Summer Kids Movie Series will take place Thursday, July 12.

“Puss in Boots” will be the featured show.

Doors will open at 9 a.m. The movie will show in as many theaters as needed; as each auditorium fills up, the movie will be started in that auditorium until the final auditoriums start at 10 a.m.

Admission is free for everyone, not just children. All the movies in the series are rated PG. There will even be a $4 drink and popcorn special at the snack bar.

The nine-week series takes place each Thursday through Aug. 16.

Remaining shows in the series include “Over the Hedge,” “The Lorax,” “Tale of Despereaux,” “Happy Feet 2” and “Yogi Bear.” None of the movies will be shown in 3D.

Additional information about the series, including running times, rating information and a printable schedule, is available at the theater Web site, www.lakeportcinema.com .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – When the defending Bass Bowl Champion Clear Lake High School varsity football team walks onto the Kelseyville High Schools home field on Oct. 26, it will encounter more than just the Kelseyville football team.

They will be looking down the barrel of a Civil War cannon.

The Bass Bowl Committee has announced a cooperative effort with the California Historical Artillery Society (CHAS) to bring Civil War living history to Lake County the week of the Bass Bowl.

“We wanted to have a Civil War cannon at the Bass Bowl to commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War,” Bass Bowl executive director Phil Smoley explained. “They needed additional event staff at their upcoming Civil War Reenactment in Duncans Mills. So we negotiated a ‘win-win’ deal where they will be getting extra staff help from Lake County for their ‘Civil War Days’ and they will bring a artillery team for the Bass Bowl to fire after each touchdown, and then do living history demonstrations the next day.”

At last years Bass Bowl in Lakeport, the cannon fired after every score, startling the overflow crowd.

“But the score was 7-3, so it did not get to fire very often,” Smoley said. “Hopefully there will be more scoring at this years game so we can give these guys a work out.”

On July 14 and 15, the quaint north coast town of Duncans Mills, Calif., will become the fields of Virginia circa 1863.

“Civil War Days” is one of the largest reenactments west of the Mississippi. The event will give visitors the opportunity to interact with the soldiers and civilians of the Civil War and witness the camps of the Union and Confederacy.

Visitors will see how civilians lived and served with the armies of 1863, in what was referred to as the first “modern war.”

This will be an event that will not only serve as an educational experience, but an unforgettable trip that will delight audiences of all ages.

The Bass Bowl Committee committed to providing 30 “man-days,” or an average of 10 workers for each of the three days the CHAS needs help.

“Friday, the 13th, is the set up day, and then the next two days will be the actual event,” according to Bass Bowl President Rob Ishihara. “They need staff to help with setting up, parking, collecting entrance fees, hauling off garbage, bringing hay and water to the horses, and other needs. There will be plenty of time for event staff to enjoy the event and watch the battles. It’s light work, and it will be rewarding, educational, and it will be helping with Lake County athletics. We need volunteers to fulfill our part of the bargain.”

Besides historical reenactments, the CHAS is involved with horse rescue. They use Standardbred trotters rescued from California’s tracks and retrains them as artillery horses. These horses now live on a lush 40-acre ranch in the Salinas Valley.

They presently use more than 30 horses that were destined for an unpleasant demise. These ex-trotter race horses, typically of no use to anyone, are discarded at auction by the pound.

They are used exclusively by CHAS and given a second chance at life in the service of the “Army.” Horse enthusiasts can help support them by “sponsoring” a favorite horse and contributing toward its care.

In addition to bringing Civil War history to Lake County, the Bass Bowl is planning a series of events leading up the big rivalry game between the Clear Lake High Cardinals and the Kelseyville High Knights.

Events include a Kiss My Bass Pageant fundraiser, and a Bass Bowling event at Lakeside Lanes. Net proceeds of these events are to be split between the two schools athletic departments.

“Funding for local sports programs is nearly non-existent,” according to Bass Bowl Commissioner Boone Bridges. “Without strong local support, they will go away, and that would be a disaster. These events will go a long way to keep these schools athletic programs going.”

The “Civil War Days” event is just minutes from the ocean, along the Russian River.

“The location is beautifully forested, with lots of hiking trails,” Smoley said. “We can use all the help we can get. It is the perfect opportunity for a family to volunteer to help while learning about history. Students can earn community hour credits, too!”

Volunteers and event staff will be camping next to the event grounds.

To volunteer to assist in this event, contact Phil Smoley at 707-264-4905 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UKIAH, Calif. – The Mendocino College Foundation’s annual Gala on the Green fundraiser was held on Saturday, June 23, to a large crowd of more than 340 guests at Campovida in Hopland.

Richard Cooper, Special Events/Marketing Committee chair, and Katherine Elliott, Special Events/Marketing Committee vice chair, announced the foundation exceeded last year’s revenue in sponsorships from $12,000 to this year’s $33,000.  

The live auction earned more than $25,000, up from last year’s $18,000 and similarly the silent auction and wine raffle are up in overall revenue.

Proceeds from the gala fund student scholarships, book awards and provide much needed financial support to instructional programs at Mendocino College.

Mendocino College student speakers were Trevor Mockel, Hailey Young and Scott Wilson, who thanked the gala attendees for their support and encouragement.  

All three students recently received three of the most prestigious foundation scholarships.

This year’s live auction got off to a great start with emcee Sheriff Tom Allman auctioning off a trip to Mazatlan, followed by three Skunk Train packages which earned over $9,000 thanks to the generosity of Mr. Robert Pinoli.  

Other auction items included two sets of original John Bogner ties, Safari West package, two Westside Progressive Dinners, Condo at Squaw Valley, Jaxon Keys Getaway, and Tasting with Influence kindly donated by Sheriff Allman, Tour Mendocino Wines and District Attorney David Eyster.

Foundation Executive Director Katie Fairbairn and Event Coordinator Travis Scott expressed their gratitude to the Special Events Committee members, event sponsors, auction item donors, winning bidders, foundation board members, volunteers, participating wineries and all of the gala attendees for their wonderful support.

According to Cooper, this year’s sponsors included Campovida, Mendo Lake Credit Union, Skunk Train, TLCD Architecture, Wright Contracting, Richard Cooper, Lake County Friends of Mendocino College, Gary & Edelgard Smith, Jay and Lisa Epstein of State Farm Insurance, Frank R. Howard Hospital, Gary Nix, Midstate Construction, Savings Bank of Mendocino County, Ukiah Valley Medical Center, SHN Consulting Engineers, Weibel Winery, Stan’s Maple Café, Caito Fisheries, TJ Elton, Huffman for Congress, Wells Fargo Advisors John Goldsmith and Rand Rodgers, John Fetzer and Patty Rock of Saracina, Dandelion Floral, Diane Daubeneck and Lee Parker, Nicholas Petti, Coro Mendocino, Katherine Elliott and George Husaruk.  

Beer for the event was donated by Robert Pinoli and wineries that provided donations were Wildhurst Vineyards, Steele Wines, Parducci Winery, Lula Cellars, Barra of Mendocino, Truett Hurst, Rivino, Kendall Jackson, Vice Versa, Testa Vineyards and Weibel Family Vineyards & Winery.

The gala is one of many ways the Mendocino College Foundation obtains funding to support students and programs at Mendocino College.

For more information, please contact the foundation office at 707-467-1018.