LAKEPORT, Calif. – The owner of a missing puppy is asking for the community's assistance in finding his canine friend.

The 11-week-old golden retriever puppy, named Oni, went missing on Thursday night on Central Park Avenue above Safeway in Lakeport.

Oni is very light – almost white – in color with no collar.

A reward is offered.

If he is found call Pam at Lakeport Furniture, 707-263-5145.

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

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

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

Upcoming “Flight Nights” will be held on Friday, May 18; Friday, June 15; and Friday, July 13.

The June “Flight Night” will have a Roman Toga Party theme.

Seating at handcrafted walnut bistro tables is limited. Cost is $20 per person. For reservations please call 707-279-0483.

Owned and operated by Nick Buttitta, a second generation Italian-American, Rosa d’Oro Vineyards is committed to crafting unique wines of historic interest, such as Moscato, Dolcetto, Sangiovese, Primitivo and Aglianico that honor traditional Italian winemaking while highlighting the superb growing conditions of Lake County.

Rosa d’Oro Vineyards is located at 3915 Main St., Kelseyville.

For more information visit www.rosadorowine.com .

LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Lake County Bumps and Babies Fair – the county's first- ever fair all about pregnancy, birth and child care – will take place on Saturday, May 12.

The fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brick Hall in Lower Lake.

Attendance and participation is totally free. Also, the first 100 people in attendance get a goody bag of free stuff and information from our vendors and others who were unable to attend.

There will be speakers every 30 minutes from noon until 4 p.m., talking about everything from midwifery to hospital births, yoga and dental health, and photographing your baby.

The event offers a great way for moms to celebrate Mother's Day, and a great chance for partners to do something nice for the mothers in their life.

There also are chances to win larger prizes as well, just fill out a small "passport" questionnaire and get a chance to win midwifery services, a goody basket from Zoe Organics and more.

This week Gov. Jerry Brown issued a proclamation declaring May 2012 as Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

The full proclamation follows.

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

The 4.8 million Californians of Asian or Pacific Islander descent constitute the fastest-growing ethnic group in our state. California’s social and economic ties to the Pacific Rim are strengthened every day through commerce, cultural exchange, immigration and the growth of our own Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

The United States Congress enacted Public Law 95-419, establishing Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, in 1978. They selected early May for this observance because of two important milestones in the history of Asians in America: the arrival of Manjiro, the first Japanese citizen to settle in our country, on May 7, 1843; and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, using a largely Chinese labor force, on May 10, 1867. In 1990, reflecting the growing numbers and diversity of Asians and Pacific Islanders in America, Congress expanded the observance from one week to the entire month of May.

Sadly, this time of year also recalls a darker aspect of the Asian and Pacific Islander experience in America: the misplaced fears and outright violence that often greeted these groups when they first arrived on our shores. On May 6, 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, the most infamous of many state and federal laws that unfairly targeted immigrants from Asia and the Pacific. As we celebrate the contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders this month, we should not forget the unnecessary suffering inflicted on these immigrant groups.

This pattern of discrimination began during the Gold Rush, when the Foreign Miners’ Tax, which unfairly targeted prospectors from Asia and Latin America, was signed into law by our state’s first governor, Peter Burnett. San Francisco and Los Angeles witnessed multiple instances of mob violence against Chinese immigrants during the Gold Rush era and after. In 1913, at the urging of Governor Hiram Johnson, the Legislature passed the state’s first Alien Land Law, which prevented land ownership by foreigners who were ineligible for citizenship due to discriminatory laws passed at the federal level. Seven years later, an overwhelming majority of the people of California voted for an initiative to extend the Alien Land Law and make it harsher, but this was not enough to appease the xenophobia that gripped California during these years. In 1923, Governor Johnson’s successor William Stephens devoted much of his State of the State address to what he called “The Oriental Problem” and described his efforts to get Congress to pass an even more draconian law. His efforts came to fruition in the form of the Immigration Act of 1924, which would prevent most legal immigration from Asia until the major reforms of 1965.

I urge all Californians to join me this month in reflecting on the part that men and women from China, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and other parts of Asia and the Pacific have played in our state’s history. We should also reflect on our propensity to view strangers from other lands through a distorted prism—too often leading to discrimination, injustice and violence.

NOW THEREFORE I, EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim May 2012, as “Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 8th day of May 2012.

___________________________________
EDMUND G. BROWN JR.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Do you value a healthy, thriving and robust local economy? Have you wondered about how you can do more, perhaps by investing some of your money in local businesses? You are not alone.

Thrive Lake County is starting a LION: a local network of potential investors and emerging or established entrepreneurs working to create a more just and sustainable local economy.

They believe savings and investments need to be working in alignment with their values, and they feel the best way to make this happen is to enable local investing.

Today’s SEC (Security and Exchange Commission) rules prevent people from investing privately in a business opportunity unless they are already in relationship with the owner of the enterprise. I

In several cities, supporters of the local economy movement have found a way to help people meet SEC rules by bringing them into relationship via fun social and educational gatherings called LIONs – Local Investing Opportunity Networks.

At a LION gathering, local residents come together to socialize, get acquainted and to meet local entrepreneurs. Out of these relationship networks, new opportunities for local investing naturally arise.

For example, if you are interested in supporting our local food economy, you might find yourself talking to a local farmer who is partnering with a young entrepreneur to start a food processing business using the farmer’s crops.

Without an established credit rating, the young business owner might not qualify for a bank loan. But perhaps you could provide the loan and offer terms that give you a return on your investment without draining the emerging business of the profits they need to grow.

Our local food system is strengthened. Jobs are created. You have the satisfaction of knowing your money is working in harmony with your values.

You can learn more about LIONs by visiting the LION Investing Web site at  http://lioninvesting.com/ourstory/the-concept/ , by emailing questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by leaving a comment on our blog post their blog at http://www.thrivelakecounty.org/2/post/2012/05/thrive-lake-county-starts-network-to-enable-local-investing.html .

The community is invited to a get-together for the group on Monday, June 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Lakeport Senior Center, 527 Konocti Ave.

They'll get acquainted with each other, learn more about how a LION works, and start the process of understanding how to evaluate risk and learn what to ask for from a prospective business investment partner.

There will be a $5 charge to cover the cost of refreshments, payable at the door. Please RSVP by adding a comment on our blog post.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Special Districts has implemented a project that includes line cleaning of the sewer collection system lines throughout Lake County.

These activities are part of the agency's Sanitary Sewer Management Plan in accordance with state and federal regulatory agencies.

This is a countywide project that will occur over several years.

Currently, the line cleaning crews will be working in the Clearlake and Lower Lake areas for the next two to three months.

This process involves a high pressure water system to clean the lines.

As water passes through the system pipes, residents may hear a gurgling sound in the sewer pipes of their residence.

On very rare occasions, when a home has minimal ventilation or lies at a lower elevation than the sewer lines, a vacuum effect may occur which can cause water to splash out of a toilet or sink.

If you experience this, please contact Special Districts at 707-263-0119.