MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – You still have time to enter the Middletown Days parade on Saturday, June 16, and enjoy all the other fun events associated with this annual fundraiser to benefit the town park and arena.

The fun begins with team roping on Friday, June 15, at 6 p.m. at the Central Park arena just south of Middletown.

The local volunteer firefighters will be hosting a dinner and auction at the Lions Clubhouse, also located in Center Park, and the Cowboy Cafe will be serving the usual barbecued delights.

The parade starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday in downtown Middletown. Get to town by 9:30 a.m. to find parking on the east side of town and avoid the detour that closes Wardlaw, Barnes, Santa Clara, and Central Park roads.

Parade applications are available by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling Martha Webster at 707-987-0470.

Parade entry cost is $5 for kids under 12, $7 for adults, and $10 for organizations and groups.

The barbecue starts at noon at Central Park, located just south of downtown Middletown.

Enjoy a delicious chicken or tri-tip meal with all the fixins while parade winners collect their trophies.

The cost is $12 for adults, $8 for children 12 and under. A karaoke contest follows at 1 p.m.

Fast action in the arena also starts at 1 p.m. with the Ranch Rodeo and Junior Rodeo.

Traditional rodeo events alternate with events for little cowboys and cowgirls throughout the day. Kid events include calf roping, muttton bustin', calf riding, and the hide ride.

Older cowpokes will compete in bronc riding, team roping, steer riding, and trailer loading events sanctioned by the Western States Ranch Rodeo Association (WSRRA).

Signups start at noon. For information contact Kevin Tighe at 707-355-2276.

The park will be filled with food, vendors and fun all day Saturday.

The dance Saturday night features Silver Creek band playing under the stars from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Cost is $15 for adults, $10 for teens, and free for kids 12 and under.

Sunday starts early with the Father's Day Breakfast hosted by the Middletown Lioness Club from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and entertainment in the park with a variety of music, food, vendors and the gymkhana beginning at 11 a.m. (signups at 10 a.m.).

Contact Johanna Snell for gymkhana information at 707-355-1276.

Middletown is the place to be June 15-17 for some good ol’ country western fun, and most of it is free.

NORTH COAST – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County during the coming week.

Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.

LAKE COUNTY

Highway 20

– Construction of a roundabout at the Route 20/Nice Lucerne Cutoff Road intersection will continue. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should
anticipate 10-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction Inc. of Ukiah.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been issued a Caltrans Encroachment permit for utility work from 0.3 miles west of New Long Valley Road to just east of Gravel Plant Road. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 175

– Natalie Kampa of Kelseyville has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to repave a private driveway 0.8 mile east of Wildcat Road. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

MENDOCINO COUNTY

Highway 1

– Greg Simpson Trucking of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to repave a private driveway near the Cal Fire station. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.

– Replacement of the Greenwood Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate
five-minute delays. Contractor – Golden Gate Bridge Inc. of Martinez.

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from 0.8 mile south of Little Valley Road to 0.5 mile south of Ocean View Drive beginning Monday, June 4. Work hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 101

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs near Hollands Lane (north) through Friday, June 1. Work hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Intermittent lane closures will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 128

– Caltrans will perform routine maintenance from Shearing Creek to the Yorkville Post Office through Friday, June 1. Work hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. One-way traffic control will
be in effect. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.

Highway 162

– Slipout repairs 1.6 miles east of the Rodeo Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate
five-minute delays. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

– PG&E of Ukiah has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit for utility repairs from 1.8 miles west of Poonkiny to end of highway through Friday, June 1. Work hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.

Highway 175

– A pavement repair project from the junction of Routes 101/175 to the Lake/Mendocino County line will continue. Work hours are 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. One-way traffic control will be in effect.
Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays. Contractor – Granite Construction of Ukiah.

Highway 253

– Slipout repairs about 5.6 miles west of Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate
five-minute delays. Contractor – Mendocino Construction Services of Willits.

Work on all these projects is weather permitting and subject to change. Caltrans advises motorists to drive with caution when approaching work areas and to be prepared to stop at traffic control stations.

The Caltrans Traffic Operations Office has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.

For information pertaining to emergency roadwork or for updates to scheduled roadwork, please contact the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 1-800-GAS-ROAD (1-800-427-7623).

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Lake County Alcohol and Other Drug Services (AODS) is offering responsible beverage service training for special events.

This training is for organizations or businesses that have a special event one day license to sell/pour alcohol.

It is free and will focus on alcohol beverage control laws, risk management, legal liabilities and server techniques.

The training will be held on Monday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to noon at the El Grande Inn, 15135 Lakeshore Blvd., Clearlake.

The deadline for the registration is Friday, June 8. There are only 30 spots available.

To register for the training or for additional information please call Carrie White or Jim Gessner with AODS at 707-994-6494.

You also can register for the training by emailing a request, with the names of the participants to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Wine Studio is hosting a wine tasting event featuring wines from Langtry Estate & Vineyards with winemaker Eric Stine and assistant tasting room manager José Vásquez, and artist’s reception with paintings by Nichol Robinson Friday, June 1, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Musical guest during the Friday evening reception will be acoustic guitarist Travis Rinker and during the Saturday evening reception will be the popular duo Majide!

Langtry Estate’s rich history dates back to 1888 when British actress Lillie Langtry purchased 4,190 acres in pristine Lake County.  

Mrs. Langtry pioneered a long tradition of winemaking in today’s Guenoc Valley by making the finest claret of that era.  

After Mrs. Langtry sold the Estate in 1906, winemaking did not return to the Guenoc Valley until the early 1980s.  

Langtry Estate and Vineyards is located in the picturesque Guenoc Valley. With more than 21,349 acres (approximately the size of the city of San Francisco), Langtry’s borders extend to southern Lake County and into the northern Napa Valley.  

In addition to its breathtaking natural beauty, the estate is unique for becoming the first winery in the United States to have its own appellation with the approval of the Guenoc Valley AVA in 1981.    

While Langtry has enjoyed significant critical success, the winery has emerged as one of the top producers of two of the hottest varietal wines on the market today, Petite Sirah and Sauvignon Blanc.  

Each year, Langtry ranks among the top medal winning wineries at professional wine competitions, and the winery’s Petite Sirah has won more gold medals and show awards than any other Petite Sirah in the world.  

Tasting room assistant manager José Vásquez will be representing the winery during the Friday evening reception. Winemaker Eric Stine will join us for the Saturday evening reception.

Our June artist, Nichol Robinson, painted her first work of art on her bedroom wall at the age of 5; the rendering of a three-headed rhinoceros was not well received at the time. However, not one to be discouraged by the scouring and repainting of the bedroom wall, princesses, goblins and fairies often found their way to her private three-dimensional canvas.

Robinson’s predilection for decorating three-dimensional spaces led to a degree in three-dimensional design from CSU Northridge and a job with an interior design firm located in West Los Angeles. She later returned to school and became a nurse practitioner and physician assistant with a specialized training in surgery.  

Near the end of her medical career, Robinson picked up a brush and began to study botanical illustration under the tutelage of the talented Lisa Pompelli at the Huntington Library in San Marino.

Robinson’s efforts at the Huntington found one of her paintings selected for presentation in the Boone Gallery at the Huntington, in the show “A Passion for Orchids” in 2006.

Upon retirement, she moved to Lake County where she became involved with the Lake County Arts Council and Serendipity Gallery in Lucerne, and has sold works at the Main Street Gallery in Lakeport and to private collectors.  

Her art has been displayed at Fieldstone Winery in Healdsburg and one of her abstract paintings became a wine label for a special edition Muscat wine at the Perry Creek Winery, where her work has also been displayed.  

Robinson uses a variety of materials in her works including oil, watercolor, acrylic and mixed media with very different results – a progression toward full realization of her artistic potential. Each new piece is a new adventure in self-discovery, always with an element of surprise.  

The $12.50 ($10 per person for studio club members) wine sampler with paired appetizers will feature 2011 Guenoc Sauvignon Blanc, 2008 Langtry Chardonnay, 2010 Guenoc Cabernet Sauvignon and 2007 Langtry Petite Sirah.  

There is no charge to those who wish to view the artwork and meet the artist without partaking of the food and wine.  Reservations are not required.

Lake County Wine Studio is both a gallery for display of arts and a tasting room, wine bar and retail shop for the fine wines of Lake County.

Artist’s shows are held on a monthly basis with art and wine receptions held the first Friday and subsequent Saturday of each month.

The gallery is located at 9505 Main Street in Upper Lake. It is open Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Robinson art show will be on display for the full month of June.  

For more information call Lake County Wine Studio at 707-275-8030.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – “Earthwise” on KPFZ 88.1 FM will host a show on autism on Friday, June 1.

Autism affects one out of 110 children. It is a serious genetic disease and hurts the black community even more due to delayed diagnosis and lack of treatment.

Camille Proctor, founder of “The Color of Autism,” will be the call-in guest on Earthwise to discuss this subject from 5:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.

KPFZ's call-in number is 707-263-3435.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Most youngsters have played at being cowboys and cowgirls as they were growing up. Being a rodeo performer is also a dream for many.  

When the 83rd annual Lake County Rodeo comes to Lakeport on Friday, July 13, and Saturday, July 14, that dream can come true for those who enter the mutton bustin' competition.  

CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown is the continuing sponsor for this very popular event.

The competition will take place each evening between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Contestants should check in at the rodeo office no later than 5:15 p.m. on the day of their ride.  

Boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 8 years old, who must weigh in on those dates at no more than 50 pounds, can have the thrill of their life seeing how long they can ride a sheep.

The entry fee is $10 per youth, not including rodeo admission.

Contestants must be dressed in long sleeved shirts and jeans, sturdy boots/shoes, with a properly sized helmet.

The winners will receive a silver buckle. Every rider will be given an authentic mutton bustin' tee shirt, courtesy of CJS Ranch Supply.

Winners' buckles sponsored by CJS Ranch Supply will be awarded Friday and Saturday night to the youngsters who have the longest ride of the night.

This event fills up fast and contestants – or their mom and dad – should get signed up early.

The applications are available at www.lakecountyrodeo.com , just click on “Rodeo Forms.”

The applications also will be available at CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown; Marie's Feed in Clearlake, Barreda's Lower Lake Feed, Rainbow Ag in Lakeport and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce at
Vista Point in Lakeport.  

For questions concerning the mutton bustin' competition, please contact Chair Angel Purdy at 707-228-6322.