In the photo above, Candidate Mike Stempe of Upper Lake and his Campaign Manager Donna Herndon are shown in their Hoedown garb at the recent Wild West Days parade in Upper Lake. Stempe is wearing the sombrero. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT – Several candidates are vying for the privilege of Kissing A Pig at the upcoming Hoedown Showdown.

The event will be held on Saturday, June 28 at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St., from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Candidates this year include Armand Pauly of Polestar Computers who has challenged Kenny Parlet of Lakeview Market. The challenge is that the one who gets the least votes between them, will have to shave their head. Given that both of these gentlemen have “movie star” locks, it's a hotly contested race which neither wants to lose!

Other candidates are Mike Stempe of Upper Lake, Clear Lake Chamber Executive Director Lori Peters, Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton, attorney Barry Parkinson, Karen Karnatz of Arbor House Bed and Breakfast, Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke, Joey Luiz of Shannon Ridge Winery and Victoria Young of Jones Mortuary.

Vote for your favorite candidate; it costs $1 per vote.

Sponsorships are available from $50 to $500 and you can designate which candidate receives credit for your sponsorship.

Hoedown Showdown will be fun for all ages, states Parlet, president of the Lakeport Regional Chamber, with pig races, coloring walls, dunk tank, Sumo wrestling games, inflatable jumping games, Oops Ranch Petting Zoo tethered balloon rides ($3) in the ReMax Balloon, wine tasting, Miss Piggy Lookalike Contest ($100 prize), Mom's Apple Pie Baking Contest ($100 prize) and Hog Calling Contest ($100 prize).

Jim Williams and Ranch House will be playing during Hoedown Showdown, so dancing could be in your future when you arrive!

Dinner tickets for adults are $15, children 7 to 12 years are $7 and for a $5 donation, you can obtain a chance to win 250 scratchers (need not be present to win).

Contact the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 263-5092 for dinner or scratcher tickets or for more information. You don't want to miss seeing who “wins” the contest to Kiss A Pig, yes a real, live pig!

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The class, which welcomes both beginners and experienced woodworkers, will run June 23 through July 28 on Monday evenings, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., or Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon.

Clear Lake High School's wood shop instructor, John Moorhead, will lead the class at his wood shop at the school, 350 Lange St.

Participants will learn safe and productive work habits, hand tool and power tool use, wood characteristics and selection, layout and marking, joinery (how it all fits together), and assembly and finishing.

There will be hands-on instruction for beginners, open shop time for experienced woodworkers, and lots of new tools in a clean and organized shop with an experienced instructor on hand. Students can attend one or two days a week.

For more information on how to enroll in the class, WOD 500, call the Mendocino College Lake Center, 263-4922.

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The event is a benefit for the Clear Lake Performing Arts (CLPA), and the purchase of a commemorative wine glass will allow event goers to taste any or all of the wines from the amateur winemakers at booths set up along Main Street in historic downtown Kelseyville.

In the morning before the festival begins, a professional judging panel will choose winners in several categories. Craig Renaud, wine critic and author of "Great American Wine: The Wine Rebel's Manual," will serve as one of the judges at this year's Lake County Home Winemakers Festival.

Renaud, one of the top wine brokers in California, challenges many of the ideas taken for granted by other wine experts and contends that price alone is a very poor indicator of a wine's quality. "Show me a bottle of $200 imported wine, and I can show you a dozen American wines just as good or better at a fraction of the price," he says. Renaud will have his book available for purchase at the event and be available for signing.

During the festival, guests vote on their favorite wines and other categories, and People's Choice awards will be presented at the end of the day to winners.

Local commercial wineries, including EdenCrest Vineyards, Dusinberre Cellars, Rosa d'Oro Vineyards, Shannon Ridge Vineyards and Winery, Steele Wines, Wildhurst Vineyards, Langtry Estate and Vineyards and Tulip Hill Winery and Vineyards will be present to support CLPA's event, and some will even pour their wines for tasting.

Wine isn't all that's on the menu, however. Several home-brewed beers will be available for sampling as well. In addition, local purveyors will be selling food during the festival, including John's Market, the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro, Studebakers, and St. Peter's Catholic Church serving Mexican food and more – all from Kelseyville.

A silent auction will take place during the festival with many donated items – including a timeshare stay in Hawaii, some overnight stays, wines from commercial wineries in attendance, and wine-related items.

A number of artists and artist groups also will set up booths to demonstrate their artistic processes, as well as exhibit and sell their art. Local pianist David Neft and Friends will perform during the festival. The music of the day will be light jazz, bluegrass, folk, and similar genres.

A benefit for CLPA, the Home Winemakers Festival is sponsored by the Kelseyville Business Association and CLPA, as well as the Lake County Winegrape Commission.

For more information on the Lake County Home Winemakers Festival or to register as an amateur winemaker, contact Ed Bublitz, 707-277-8172.

Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 from Catfish Books, 1013 11th St., Lakeport, or Wild About Books, 14290 Olympic Dr., Clearlake. Tickets will be $20 on the day of the event.

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LAKEPORT – The teams and volunteers of the Lake County American Cancer Society Relay For Life raised close to $50,000 which can still grow with donations submitted until the end of August.

The top five teams in fundraising are The Quick Steppers, raising over $7,500, Sutter's Angels Of Hope and Mom's For the Cause tied with over $4,000 each, Envision A Cure with over $3,500 and Wishing Upon A Star with over $2,500.

The 24-hour event had many opportunities to contribute with on-site fundraisers such as silent auctions, a water slippy slide, massages and goods for sale ... Popsicles and water guns being the most popular on a hot day. A Middletown Teen Team was quite innovative with their rickshaw pulling passengers around the track for $1 a lap.

An incentive for on-site fund raising was the Immunity Necklace earned by the team raising the most money that day. The winning team, The Quick Steppers, was immune from walking laps between midnight and 6 a.m.

Continuous entertainment by local musicians, dancers, vocalists, impersonators and a magician went on throughout the day, evening and Sunday morning. Chris Buehnerkemper and his Teen Teams kept the kids busy through the night in the Kid's Zone with DDR, games and music.

Theme Laps and Karaoke Contests were an added attraction. Prizes for winners were donated by local businesses, Konocti Resort and Spa, Lakeport Cinema, The Healing Earth, Danielle from Dream Beauty Store and Salon, Valentino's, Main Street Pizza, Bigg's 155 Diner, Jack's Gaslight and Cafe Victoria.

This year's event was a total success from the Opening "Celebration" Ceremonies on Saturday morning, the moving Luminaria "Remembrance" Ceremony Saturday evening to the Closing "Fight Back" Ceremony Sunday morning; an enjoyable, meaningful and entertaining experience for all who participated or attended.

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An alliance was formed in early spring between the City of Clearlake, Clearlake Chamber of Commerce and LCCC to create the Friday Night Farmers’ Market. The City of Clearlake generously offered the use of the property at Lakeshore Drive and Olympic, the former site of Austin Beach Resort. The Chamber and LCCC developed and distributed the posters and established the rules and vendor applications.

There was much excitement and energy when the Market kicked off on June 6 with live music by Don Coffin, organizer of the Old Time Bluegrass Festival. Visitors discovered a bright and lively array of food booths and informational booths as well as local farmers, producers and artisans selling their wares.

Much work is going on behind the scenes at LCCC to develop a Buyer’s Club. Once it is operational, members of the Buyer’s Club will have opportunities to purchase a large variety of healthy foods at discount prices.

This month, Lake County Community Co-op will be launching the logo design contest. The contest is being developed to increase awareness of the goals, mission and the vision of LCCC.

To download vendor applications for the Farmers’ Market, view the LCCC vision statement, join the Buyer’s Club or to learn more about this exciting new project in Lake County, please visit the LCCC website at http://lakeco-op.org.

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Mutton bustin' is one of the highlight events for children. Courtesy photo.

LAKE COUNTY – Rodeo... 79 years young this year in Lake County.

That’s right, the 79th annual Lake County Rodeo takes place at the fairgrounds in Lakeport on Friday, July 11 and Saturday, July 12. For the first time the rodeo is featuring free parking, assisted by the Early Lake Lions who have long been supporters of this rodeo.

If’ you have never seen a rodeo, mark your calendars now and attend this year's rodeo. It’s a tradition dating from the days of cowboys working on ranches beginning in the mid-1800s.

The Lake County Rodeo is an all-professional California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association rodeo, with cowboys and cowgirls participating during two nights of all-out excitement.

Events include steer wrestling, bull riding, bronc busting, team roping and barrel racing, to name a few. Lake County residents will recognize some local participants as the performances take place.

The rodeo's generous Platinum Sponsor for 2008 is once again Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino, according to Rodeo Association President John Fulton.

Without sponsorship from the community, it would not be possible to continue this Lake County Tradition, said Fulton.

Local businesses sponsor the various events which helps to offset the prize money that is paid to the participants.

For the youngsters, the Lake County Rodeo provides two events.

Each night youngsters, ages 8 or younger, can sign up for the mutton bustin’ event. The children will be weighed the evening of their ride and must not exceed 50 pounds. Applications are available at several locations around Lake County and this event is sponsored again this year by Chuck and Rose McCarley of CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown.

The second special event for kids is the Cutest Cowpoke Contest, open to girls and boys from age 4 to 8 years old (on the contest date). This event is sponsored by Theresa Harborth of South Lake Landscape and Lower Lake Feed. Applications are also available in a variety of locations throughout the county.

On the evening of Friday, July 11, there will be the grand entry during which all the competitors ride, along with the wonderful Clear Lake Junior Horsemen.

The crowning of Miss Lake County Rodeo Queen and Princess 2008 will take place at that time. Young women from around the county have been vying for these titles and will represent the Lake County Rodeo for the next year. Sponsor of this competition, for the second year is Tom Powers of Lake County Electric Supply.

On Saturday afternoon beginning at 4:30 p.m., the All-Horse Parade will travel from the fairgrounds on Martin Street to Main Street, traveling north to Clear Lake Avenue and return on Main to the Fairgrounds. All equestrians are encouraged to enter; there will be a special raffle for participants conducted by parade chair and organizer, Lonne Sloan of Lower Lake.

Returning this year and riding in the All Horse Parade will be the Diablo Ladies Drill Team who will perform both evenings of the rodeo. This team donates their time to travel from the Central Valley to participate in the rodeo. With great costumes and intricate riding routines, they always dazzle the crowd.

Another interesting event at the Rodeo is Cow Chip Bingo. Friday night the prize is $250 and Saturday the amount is $500. Come find out how this game works; you won’t believe your eyes.

A rodeo isn’t a real rodeo without a rodeo dance and they've got the best Rodeo Western Band to keep people dancing 'til the cows come home. Lou Derr and Bootleg will play on Saturday evening in the Theater Building beginning at 9 p.m. Their performance is sponsored by Eagle Distributing, Budweiser from Ukiah.

For more information on this exciting weekend event, contact the Lakeport Regional Chamber of Commerce at 707-263-5092 or visit www.lakecountyrodeo.com.

Applications for mutton bustin’, Cutest Cowpoke and pre-sale tickets will be available at the chamber, Red and White market in Clearlake Oaks, Lakeview Market in Lucerne, North Shore Sentry in Nice, CJS Ranch Supply in Middletown and others to be announced soon.

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