Twin Pine Casino & Hotel will welcome food donations through December 11, 2009, to benefit Catholic Charities Lake County Programs Rural Food Project in Middletown. Courtesy photo.

MIDDLETOWN – As a traditional part of its holiday community involvement, Twin Pine Casino & Hotel has kicked off its annual effort to gather food items for local families in need.

Casino guests can bring in two cans or two boxes of non-perishable food any time during Harvest Club hours (8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.) through Dec. 11 and receive a drawing entry ticket into the casino’s current cash or merchandise giveaways.

Guests can earn two entry tickets per day in this manner, although additional food donations will be gratefully accepted. Other entry tickets can be earned through slot or table play.

“For the past several years this has been a popular way for our guests to enter our drawings, win cash or prizes, and also help the local community in the process,” said Phil Davis, Twin Pine’s marketing director.

Casino, hotel and restaurant employees are also participating directly in the food drive through an internal team competition to see which employee teams can raise the most donations from various sources. The team competition is voluntary, but the participation rate is good-natured and very high.

Twin Pine has chosen the Catholic Charities Lake County Programs Rural Food Project in Middletown to be the recipient of all of the food that is accumulated.

“We are so appreciative of the generosity of our neighbors and friends as we endeavor to stave off the hunger that record numbers of people are now experiencing,” said Hedy Montoya, regional director of the Lake County food project.

Twin Pine Casino has operated a Las Vegas-style gaming facility of the latest slot machines and table games since 1994.

The Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians recently opened its new casino/hotel/restaurant complex at its current Middletown location.

Twin Pine Casino & Hotel, with its pervasive wine-country theme, is located in Lake County, California at the northern gateway to the world-renowned Napa Valley and in the heart of northern California’s famous wine region.

For further information see www.TwinPine.com .

The ultimate goal of these groups is to make recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on the best methods and means to ensure the future safety, security and sustainability of Lake County.

In January of this year, the Lake County Energy Policy Council conducted its first meeting. The council is comprised of a group of people concerned with energy conservation including local government representatives, trade organizations, businesses, non-profit groups and individuals.

The council provides a forum for discussing ways to improve energy efficiency savings while maintaining a healthy economy and environment.

Our local businesses – including Lake County's chambers of commerce – are playing an active role, both by participating in the council discussions and promoting green practices and recycling throughout the county.

One of the council’s primary objectives is to obtain energy program funds including California Energy Commission (CEC) and PG&E Energy Watch partnership funding (block grants, low interest bonds, etc.).

These monies would be used for a range of purposes from county building (energy) upgrades to funding an energy coordinator position in the county to spearhead efforts to manage the implementation including commercial and residential retrofits, low interest financing opportunities, a green county Web site, training and education, carbon emission tracking, etc.

Recent council activities include the following:

– Pacific Gas & Electricity Energy Watch Partnership: The working subcommittee has prepared all the information necessary to apply for this funding. As soon as the California Public Utilities Commission publishes the specific requirements, the application will be submitted. The terms of the contract with PG&E must still be negotiated and approved by the Board of Supervisors prior to implementation.

– California Energy Commission (CEC) Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program: This application which is the funding that is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Lake County is awaiting response from the CEC. This Board of Supervisors request for funds to conduct energy audits on some county-owned buildings has already been submitted. County staff is working to answer remaining CEC questions and await their final approval.

– AB 811 Bonds: Sonoma County and the city of Palm Springs have launched energy efficiency programs under California Assembly Bill (AB) 811, which permits local governments to offer loans to residents and businesses for building upgrades and retrofits. These loans would be secured and financed by adding a tax lien to the property, enabling businesses and homeowners to make (renewable) energy investments and pay them off over the loan period as a recurring semi-annual tax assessment that remains attached to the property upon its sale to another party. Local government can then sell the government-backed, low-interest energy efficiency bonds to raise the money necessary to pay for the program in a financially sustainable way. Qualifying energy efficiency improvements include: windows, insulation, solar electric and hot water, wind power and water conservation measures.A regional group coordinated through a Mendocino-based non-profit agency is researching grant and funding opportunities with “pooled” cooperation from neighboring counties that may increase the chance of bringing the program to Lake County residents and businesses.

– Green Web site development: The nearly-designed space is intended to be a local county resource guide including energy related events and announcements, public information, media releases, news articles, local green job postings, group recognition and achievement awards, volunteer opportunities, advertisements, school energy projects, career training venues, various links, blogs, etc. This Web site is still under construction and continues to seek design input from all community sectors.

The event is free, but voluntary donations are welcome at registration, with proceeds ti benefit troops through Operation Tango Mike.

Everyone is welcome to join the fun with the free bootcamp (a fun warmup for the plunge) at 10 a.m. The plunge will be at 11 a.m.

“Plungers” should wear a swim suit under warm clothing, old sneakers, bring towels and a big smile for the pre-plunge group picture.

To be “official” plungers must dunk in all the way. A whistle will blow the start!

Politicians, celebrities, police, firemen and the public are invited.

For more information call Becky Peterson 707-277-0720. Information will be available soon at www.garagebootcamp.com .

Caleb Blyleven, Chris Lasher and Brenden Allen were among 6,500 Scouts who traveled to Sacramento on Saturday, October 24, 2009, for the California Capitol March. Courtesy photo.

SACRAMENTO – On Oct. 24 Caleb Blyleven, Chris Lasher and Brenden Allen represented Lakeport's Cub Scout Pack 142 and were welcomed by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson and the Scouts of the Golden Empire Council who put together the California Capitol March.

Police cars and a United States Air Force Marching Band of the Golden West led approximately 6,500 Scouts on their mile-and-a-half-long trek from Raley Field to the west steps of the state capitol to the centennial ceremony.

The ceremony featured speakers including Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca as the “Boy Scouts of America California Report” was presented to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

This event marked the Boy Scouts' first observation of the organization's 100th anniversary, which is Feb. 8, 2010.

The youth group, which teaches children from ages 7 and up about the value of responsible citizenship, has had more than 110 million members since its founding in 1910.

Scouts walked a mile and a half from Raley Field to the west steps of the state capitol to the centennial ceremony. Courtesy photo.

WALNUT CREEK – Nobody wants to drive around in a clunker, but tough economic times mean many motorists are keeping their vehicles longer.

By following a few simple tips from AAA Northern California, you can help maintain your car’s appearance and even boost the resale value.

“When many motorists think of vehicle maintenance, the first things that come to mind are oil changes and other engine upkeep – things under the hood,” said AAA Northern California spokesperson Matt Skryja. “By extending vehicle maintenance to the interior and exterior of the vehicle an owner can reduce wear and tear and help preserve the vehicle’s value.”

AAA recommends motorists perform the following maintenance tasks:

• Clean the interior with regular vacuuming and shampooing as necessary. Clean soiled surfaces with a damp cloth and use protective UV coatings on vinyl and rubber surfaces.

• Use floor mats to protect the carpet. Use protective covers when transporting pets or items with sharp edges.

• Wash the exterior every two weeks and wax as needed to protect the car’s finish from contaminants and ultraviolet rays that fade paint. When washing, rinse out the wheel wells and accessible areas of the undercarriage to remove salt and prevent rust.

• Use care when removing bugs and tar to avoid damaging the paint by using products that are specifically designed for this purpose.

• Clean the windows inside and out with a product that reduces glare and does not leave streaks. Also, repair windshield chips quickly to prevent them from becoming cracks that require a complete windshield replacement.

Another easy way to improve the resale value of a vehicle is saving all of its maintenance records. Being able to produce a record of proper maintenance and repairs during ownership of the vehicle can add hundreds of dollars to a vehicle’s sale price.

Also, most repairs come with some form of warranty, and documentation of the repair will be needed to support any warranty claim that might arise.